PRCTRC News

The PRCTRC held a press conference to announce the MOU with HIMA San Pablo.  To watch the video access the following link: http://www.wapa.tv/noticias/salud/consorcio-investigativo-clinico_20121210225654.html

As stipulated in the Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences Non-Faculty Manual, we hereby invite applications for one NIH NCI-funded full-time job as a Research Laboratory Technician in the laboratory of Dr. Pedro Santiago, in the Biochemistry Department at Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The selected applicant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Routine laboratory management, including the evaluation and maintenance of laboratory stocks and supplies.
• Ordering of supplies and management of laboratory records and laboratory documents.
• Cell culture maintenance including the handling and culturing of several human and mouse cell lines.
• Conducting experiments using cell and molecular biology tools including molecular cloning, cell and tissue culture, protein expression and purification, Western blots, ELISA assays, qRT-PCR, RNAi, etc.
• Conducting experiments in coordination with graduate students, and teaching, training and assisting undergraduate students and other members of the laboratory under the direction of the principal investigator.

Candidates must meet the following requirements: Bachelors degree in Biology, Biochemistry,

Molecular Biology, or a closely related field from a fully accredited institution; computer literacy and proficiency in applications such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Power Point; fully bilingual (Spanish and English), highly organized and motivated, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, people- and team work-oriented; previous cellular and molecular biology laboratory experience in a research setting is mandatory.

The position is immediately available and the salary, which will depend on the qualifications of the successful candidate, can be guaranteed for up to three years depending on his/her satisfactory performance. Qualified candidates must submit a letter of interest describing their competencies for this position, and a curriculum vitae including contact information for at least three (3) references. Applications must be sent via e-mail to Dr. Pedro Santiago (psantiago@psm.edu), Biochemistry Department, Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences. For more information, please call Dr.Pedro Santiago at 787-840-2575, ext. 2208.

As stipulated in the Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences Non-Faculty Manual, we hereby invite applications for one full-time NIH NCI-funded position for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Pedro Santiago, in the Biochemistry Department at Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The selected applicant will form part of a research team investigating the molecular etiology of lung cancer among Puerto Ricans, using genetics and cellular and molecular tools.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a closely related field. Strong expertise in general cellular and molecular biology and cell culture techniques is mandatory. Also mandatory are computer literacy and proficiency in applications such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, Power Point, and to be fully bilingual, highly organized and motivated, and with excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a people and team work-oriented mentality. Proficiency in protein biochemistry, protein-protein interactions, RNAi, protein phosphorylation analysis, bioinformatics and molecular imaging are desired. The successful candidate is also expected to work closely with graduate students, and to train and supervise undergraduate students under the direction of the principal investigator.

The position is immediately available and the salary, which depends on the candidate´s qualifications, can be guaranteed for up to three years depending on satisfactory performance of the chosen candidate. Interested candidates must submit a letter of interest describing their competencies for this position, and a curriculum vitae including contact information for at least three (3) references. Applications must be sent via e-mail to Dr. Pedro Santiago (psantiago@psm.edu), Biochemistry Department, Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences. For more information, please call Dr.Pedro Santiago at 787-840-2575, ext. 2208.

The Science of Team Science Team (SciTS) in the Science of Research and Technology Branch (SRTB) of the National Cancer Institute’s Behavioral Research Program in the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences is seeking a post-doctoral fellow for a Cancer Research Training Award (CRTA) fellowship. The focus of this opportunity will be evaluating and supporting transdisciplinary research and collaboration.

This full-time position is based in Rockville, Maryland and provides outstanding opportunities for training and professional development in behavioral research and team science. The SciTS fellow will interact daily with researchers from a broad array of fields such as, medicine, basic sciences, psychology, epidemiology, public health, nursing, social work, sociology, and information sciences, as well as with various extramural scientists at the National Cancer Institute and across the National Institutes of Health.

See http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/brp/docs/SciTSCRTA2012.pdf for more information about this opportunity.

We are looking for candidates with a Ph.D. or equivalent in relevant areas such as network/system science, scientometrics, bioinformatics, evaluation, social epidemiology, health communication, policy, behavioral and preventive medicine, and psychology. A strong interest in multiple research methods to investigate/evaluate team science initiatives. Knowledge and expertise in one or more of the following techniques is preferred, but not required: network analysis, systems dynamic modeling, data visualization, bibliometric analysis and portfolio analysis, science mapping, quantitative data analysis, measurement development/validation, psychometrics. Strong interpersonal skills are required as this team works in a highly collaborative manner. The candidate must be a self-starter who is comfortable taking initiative and who can play a major role in helping to develop new projects and bring multiple ongoing projects to completion.

The application deadline is November 1, 2012 with a flexible start date (earliest possible is January 2013).

Please check this next link for more information: Funding Opportunity Announcements

Conference Announcement

Scholarships to Support Attendance are Available!

Engaging the Community for Research Success: What Scientists and IRBs Need to Know

South Atlantic National Research Conference

March 21-22, 2012

Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, North Carolina

Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) has announced that Early Bird Registration ($150) has been extended to March 4, 2012!!!! SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS, POST DOCTORAL FELLOWS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS for the OHRP Research Community Forum entitled, “Engaging the Community for Research Success: What Scientists and IRBs Need to Know,” co-sponsored with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 21-22, 2012.

The dynamic multi-faceted agenda will provide a Keynote Address: “Defining the Spectrum of Community Engaged Research: What is it? Who are the stakeholders and their roles?”  and, a “Discussion of Ethical Considerations.”  There will be 3 Plenary Sessions: 1) Does the Belmont Report Provide Considerations for Community Risks and Benefits? 2) The Role of IRB’s in Reviewing Community-Engaged Research; and 3) Ask the Feds.

In addition, there will be 14 Breakout Sessions: 1) Community Engaged Research in the Era of Genomics; 2) Working With Local IRBs in International Research; 3) Protecting Communities from Harm: Data Security in the Digital Age; 4) Evaluating Psychological, Social, or Legal Risks in Community Engaged Research: How Do We Protect Communities From Exploitation?; 5) Ethical Challenges When Conducting Research in the Midst of Social Injustice; 6) Nuts and Bolts of 45 CFR Part 46; 7) Community Engaged Research:  Partnerships with Schools; 8) Ethical Challenges to Conducting Research in Resource Poor Settings; 9) How to Use/Apply the Flexibility in the Regulations at 45 CFR Part 46/What Needs IRB Review?; 10) Doing Community Engagement: A Community Engagement Exercise; 11) Working with Community Advisory Boards in Community Engaged Research; 12) FDA: Community Consultation and Public Disclosure in Emergency Research; 13) Definitions, Policies and Potential Solutions Regarding IRB Review of Community Engaged Research; and 14) Ethical and Regulatory Considerations in Human Environmental Exposure Research.

See Save-the-Date flyer at: http://orrp.osu.edu/irb/workshops/documents/OHRP-SANC-SaveDateAd-final.pdf

See full website at: https://www.team-psa.com/sancconference2012/home.asp

Technologies and Resources for Core Laboratories have a collaborative agreement between PRCTRC institutions (UPR-MSC, UCC, and PSM & HS). By this agreement we have also established a mutual collaborative agreement with the RCMI and INBRE Programs at UPR (See Agreement).  This initiative includes:

• Bioanalytical Core Lab, UPR Medical Sciences Campus
• Clinical Core Laboratory, Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
• RCMI Core Facilities, Universidad Central del Caribe
• RCMI Program, Medical Sciences Campus
• Puerto Rico INBRE, UPR Río Piedras

For more information contact:

Marcia Cruz Correa, M.D., Program Co-Director  (marcia.cruz1@upr.edu)
Jose R. Rodríguez Medina, Ph.D., Key Function Leader (jose.rodriguez123@upr.edu)
Nilda L. González, M.T., Key Function Coordinator (nilda.gonzalez1@upr.edu)

Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) have been identified that may be of interest to our research community.  Please feel free to disseminate this information to those who may also have an interest in applying.  Please do not hesitate to contact the PRCTRC, if you have questions.

Dear colleagues,

The Meharry-Vanderbilt Community Engaged Research Core of the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research invites mini-grant proposals for activities that promote on-going, mutually beneficial, health research partnerships between community organizations and academic researchers.  Submissions must be received by midnight on the following dates: August 1, 2011, November 1, 2011, February 1, 2012, May 1, 2012.

These grants are intended to build the capacity of community organizations to engage in health research while, at the same time, building the capacity of academic health researchers to work with community organizations.  The maximum grant amount is $5,000 for one year. The average grant award is $2,000.

Who may apply:  Community and faith-based organizations, including advocacy groups, coalitions, neighborhood  associations and service providers with tax exempt status. Prior mini-grant funding does not exclude application, but priority will be given to organizations that have not been previously funded.  At this time, partnerships must include a researcher from either Meharry Medical College or Vanderbilt University, but need not be limited to these academic institutions. Graduate students are also eligible to apply, but they should indicate their year of study, identify their research mentor, and provide evidence that mentor(s) is/are available to support student throughout the processand willing to maintain the relationship should students move on

For more information, see the attachments and visit the "news" section at http://bit.ly/lMdoTR

Thanks,

Rahma Osman
Program Assistant

Community Engaged Research Program Mini-Grant Application

CERC Mini-Grant Guidelines

Dear Community-Engaged Scholarship Colleagues,

The International Public Health Journal intends to publish a special issue that addresses the following theme: Lessons learned in building community capacity to address persistent public health problems. This theme is intended for academicians and practitioners who work on persistent public health issues in diverse urban and/or rural communities across the globe so that evidence-based and practical solutions that have improved the health of their populations can be shared. These lessons may have come about as a result of surveillance, policy, collaborations, education, research, management and/or a combination thereof.  Describe the unique community-based methods that you implemented to have a positive outcome on the public health issue(s) that affects your population of interest.

Manuscripts should be around 4,000 words in length and should be in the Vancouver style (http://www.icmje.org/index.html; please see the attached sample chapter format and reference style guide).  Manuscripts are due no later than November 15, 2011 and should be sent electronically to the attention of Dr. Rosemary M. Caron, who is the guest editor for this special issue (Rosemary.Caron@unh.edu). Manuscripts from academic and community collaborators are encouraged. The expected publication of this special issue in the International Public Health Journal is July-September 2012.

The International Public Health Journal is a peer-reviewed Journal aimed at the scientific community interested in the broad area of public health. This Journal provides an international multidisciplinary forum with a holistic approach to public health issues, health and medicine, health and social policy, service aspects, developmental aspects, epidemiology, rehabilitation, family and social issues, quality of life, and all other aspects of public health over the whole age spectrum.

With Best Wishes from the Guest Editor,
Rosemary M. Caron, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
University of New Hampshire
College of Health and Human Services
Department of Health Management and Policy
319 Hewitt Hall
4 Library Way
Durham, NH 03824
USA

Office:  603-862-3653
Fax:  603-862-3461

The creation of the Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium was the subject of a recent article published in International Innovation. The article highlights the potential impact of the PRCTRC to integrate and enhance the translational research infrastructure in Puerto Rico.

International Innovation is the leading global dissemination resource for the wider scientific, technology and research communities.

Article reference: International Innovation. Healthcare 2011, Issue 1

PRTCRC laboratory core core leaders met at the Puerto Rico Cancer Center to share information about their facilities with the Medical Sciences Campus research community. This is the first outreach activity of the Consortium.

Dr. Marcia Cruz-Correa, PRTCRC Co-Director, gave a general introduction to the meeting, abd was followed by Dr. Walter Frontera, PRTCRC's, Principal Investigator, who gave a general overview of the project. Dr. Emma Fernández-Repollet, Director of the RCMI Program, then gave a presentation on RCMI laboratory cores collaborating with the PRCTRC. Dr. Eddy Ríos Olivares and Dr. Yasuhiro Yamamura provided information about PRCTRC cores at Universidad Central del Caribe and Ponce School of Medicine respetively. Finally, Dr. José Rodríguez-Medina presented information about PRCTRC's Clinical Laboratory Core and UPR's Puerto Rico Alliance for the Advancement of Biomedical Research Excellence Instrumentation Core. Videos from the five of presentations are available at the Medical Sciences Campus RCMI YouTube Channel.

The National Institutes of Health approved a $13 million proposal to create the Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium. The Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium (PRCTRC) is an innovative concept among the collaborating member universities in that it will provide a unique opportunity to incorporate resources and impact a state-size territory composed primarily of a minority population. The Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium (PRCTRC) is an innovative concept among the collaborating member universities in that it will provide a unique opportunity to incorporate resources and impact a state-size territory composed primarily of a minority population.