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LinksNational Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (www.nibib.nih.gov) Contact UsSpecial AnnouncementNIH and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need. Click here to learn more about ARRA. Click here to read a message from the NIH Director on NIH's role in ARRA. NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science ResearchThe NIH has designated at least $200 million in FYs 2009–2010 for a new initiative called the NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research. This new program will support research on topic areas that address specific scientific and health research challenges in biomedical and behavioral research that would benefit from significant 2-year jumpstart funds. Click here for more information on Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research. Click here to view NIBIB Broad Challenge Areas and Specific Challenge Topics. Click here to view grant funding opportunities supported by ARRA. Science HighlightsListening for One Cell in a Billion Photoacoustic flow cytometry is based on an optical effect discovered by Alexander Graham Bell and conventional flow cytometry (left), which simultaneously measures and analyzes single cells as they stream through a beam of light in an artificial tube. The technique takes advantage of lymphatic anatomy and physiology to count and identify individual cells in lymph flow (right). Alexander Graham Bell's first telephone was a success because Bell was able to generate sound from light. That was 1880. Today, researchers at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, are using the same principle to create a novel, highly sensitive diagnostic tool that may detect cancer and other diseases before they become life-threatening. The researchers' new "phone" combines a laser and an ultrasound transducer, and allows them to listen for both normal and abnormal cells flowing through the lymphatic system, an intricate network of lymph vessels, nodes, and organs. In addition to its other functions, this second circulatory system works closely with the body's primary circulatory system to transport cell waste products and nutrients throughout the body. Although researchers know the lymphatic system plays a role in cancer, inflammation, and fighting infections, little is understood about the cellular composition of lymph and how cells move through this network. This novel technique, in vivo photoacoustic flow cytometry, was developed by Vladimir Zharov, director of the Philips Classic Laser and Nanomedicine Laboratories at Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and professor of otolaryngology and radiology at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and colleague Ekaterina Galanzha. The technique will allow researchers to identify and count a wide range of cell types, including those related to infection, cancer, and the body's immune system. The research is based on Zharov and Galanzha's previous experiments with in vivo blood testing in which they were able to find one cluster of skin cancer cells in a billion blood cells. Read the full story at http://www.nibib.nih.gov/HealthEdu/eAdvances/25Feb09. NIBIB News2009 NIBIB Forum for Technology TranslationOn April 2, 2009, the NIBIB will host a forum in Seattle, Washington, on the role of public-private partnerships in the development and translation of in-vitro diagnostic technologies. This forum is the first in a series on technology translation through which the NIBIB hopes to achieve the following goals:
The technology focus for this forum will be in-vitro diagnostics with applications in point-of-care settings, more specifically, development efforts in multiplexed diagnostics. The program will feature presentations by NIBIB grantees, representatives from industry, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) staff. Key topics to be discussed will include:
The forum is open to all interested parties. Participation by prospective collaborators in the industrial sector is particularly encouraged, especially representatives from research, business development, and technology transfer interested in the field of in-vitro diagnostics. A poster session will also be held. Meeting attendees from all sectors (academic, public, private, and government) are invited to present their research and development efforts on new in-vitro diagnostics technologies. The poster session will provide an additional avenue for dissemination of recent advances in the field and to foster prospective collaborative networks. There is no registration fee, but we encourage early responses so that we can finalize meeting plans and logistics. The preliminary program and meeting logistics will be available shortly. For registration and information, please contact Todd Merchak at merchakt@mail.nih.gov or 301-496-8592. NIBIB and India Hold Joint Workshop on Low-Cost Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medical Technologies Attendees of the Joint Workshop on Low-Cost Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medical Technologies
The NIBIB and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of India held a joint workshop on Low-Cost Diagnostic and Therapeutic Medical Technologies in November 2008 in Hyderabad, India. The workshop was a result of a bilateral agreement between the NIBIB and DBT to develop low-cost technologies to improve the quality of health care for underserved populations. Around 60 scientists, engineers, and clinicians from the United States and India attended the workshop. The workshop sessions focused on areas of opportunity for improvements in health care delivery for chronic diseases, potential appropriate technologies to contribute to care within remote and low-resource settings, technological challenges, partnership areas between U.S. and Indian researchers, and next steps in implementing collaborative programs and joint activities. Over the course of the two-day meeting, attendees discussed clinical needs and technological opportunities and participated in panel discussions on ideas and recommendations. Two key areas of opportunity resulted from these discussions: 1. Low-cost, continuous glucose monitoring
2. Platform technologies for multiple diagnostic tests, such as infectious agents, lipid profiles, and genetic screens.
As a result of the workshop, NIBIB and DBT plan to jointly fund initiatives in the recommended priority areas. A final report from the workshop will be released in the near future. NIBIB-RSNA RadLex Ontology ProjectThe NIBIB-supported RSNA RadLex Ontology project was developed to provide a uniform source of terms and concepts for indexing and retrieving a variety of imaging information sources, such as imaging research databases, educational materials, and clinical imaging reports. When completed, the RadLex Ontology will be capable of describing the salient aspects of an imaging examination, including modality, technique, visual features, anatomy, findings, and pathology. The RadLex Ontology will be available for use by a wide variety of software tools and web-based information resources, including major NIH bioinformatics projects (e.g., caBIG, BIRN, CTSA). This project creates the RadLex Ontology of interconnected radiology concepts from the list of RadLex terms in different domains, such as Cardiovascular, Musculoskeletal, Neuroradiology, Abdominal, Pediatric, and Thoracic Systems. The NIBIB-RSNA RadLex Ontology project leverages the current RSNA RadLex effort. The RadLex project has enlisted the collaboration of other radiology organizations, including RSNA and the American College of Radiology, to develop a comprehensive radiology lexicon. It has been designed to satisfy the needs of software developers, system vendors, and radiology users by adopting the best features of existing terminology systems. The RadLex terms have been mapped to SNOMED-CT of the College of American Pathologists. It will also be part of the DICOM Content Mapping Resource. RSNA has aggressively promoted RadLex Ontology to RSNA members at the RSNA annual meeting each fall. The RadLex Ontology has been disseminated through the RadLex web site, BioPortal web site, the National Center for Biomedical Ontology, the caBIG, and the NCI Metathesaurus. RadLex Ontology has been adopted by commercial companies, academia, and societies. Visit the RSNA RadLex web site at: http://www.rsna.org/RadLex/ NIBIB Welcomes New Ex-Officio from the National Science Foundation John J. McGrath, Ph.D., has been appointed National Science Foundation ex-officio representative to the National Advisory Council on Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. He is currently director of the Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport (CBET) Division at the National Science Foundation, as well as a professor in the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Arizona. He previously served as the department head from 2002 to 2008. Dr. McGrath received his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University. His master's and doctoral degrees are from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both in mechanical engineering with a focus on cryopreservation. His research interests include the response of biomaterials to thermal/chemical treatments (cryogenic and hyperthermic) as well as the development and application of instrumentation—including cryomicroscopy, diffusion chambers, optical diagnostics, and image analysis. He is currently involved in research in two main areas: (1) modeling human acolyte cryopreservation protocols and (2) developing cryopreservation processes to preserve signaling pathways in tissue samples used for cancer diagnostics. The Council, which meets three times a year, provides recommendations to the NIBIB on research priorities and funding opportunities in biomedical imaging, bioengineering, and research training. Council members are drawn from the scientific communities, appointed for 4-year terms, and represent all areas within the Institute's research mission. Funding Opportunities & UpdatesNIH Announces the Availability of Recovery Act Funds for Competitive Revision ApplicationsNIH Announces the Availability of Recovery Act Funds for Administrative Supplements Providing Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science EducatorsNIH Announces the Availability of Recovery Act Funds for Administrative SupplementsRecovery Act Limited Competition: NIH Challenge Grants in Health and Science Research (RC1)Recovery Act Limited Competition: Core Facility Renovation, Repair, and Improvement (G20)Recovery Act Limited Competition: Extramural Research Facilities Improvement Program (C06)Recovery Act Limited Competition: High-End Instrumentation Grant Program (S10)Addition of Recovery Funds to the Shared Instrumentation Grant ProgramAdvanced Neural Prosthetics Research and Development (U01)Small Business Innovation Research to Develop New Therapeutics and Monitoring Technologies for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Towards an Artificial Pancreas (SBIR) [R43/R44]Development and Translation of Medical Technologies that Reduce Health Disparities (SBIR [R43/R44])Innovation in Molecular Imaging Probes (R01)NIH Roadmap for Medical ResearchThe NIH Roadmap is a series of far-reaching initiatives designed to build on the progress in medical research achieved through the doubling of the NIH budget. NIBIB plays a significant role in Roadmap activities in many areas. More information on current NIH Roadmap funding opportunities is available at
nihroadmap.nih.gov/grants/index.asp. NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience ResearchThe NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research is a cooperative effort among the 16 NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices that support neuroscience research. By pooling resources and expertise, the Blueprint supports the development of new tools, training opportunities, and other resources to assist neuroscientists in both basic and clinical research. More information on current NIH Blueprint funding opportunities is available at neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/blueprint_funding/index.htm.
Names in the NewsNew Faces at NIBIB Mr. Jeff Domanski was recently appointed NIBIB's executive officer. He was previously with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, where he served in various capacities including deputy executive officer, acting chief administrative officer for the Division of Intramural Research, and section chief for the Grants Management Branch. Mr. Domanski holds a master's degree in administrative management and a bachelor's degree in business management with a minor in economics.  Ms. Truc Le has joined NIBIB as an administrative officer. Ms. Le began her career with the NIH in 1991 after graduating from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) with a bachelor's degree in health science administration. She brings over 15 years of experience in personnel-related administrative and managerial experience to the job. Prior to joining the NIBIB, Ms. Le served as a management analyst at the Office of Human Resources in the NIH Office of the Director. GranteesNOVA Film - "Hunting the Hidden Dimension" The NOVA film can be viewed at 60 Minutes – "Brain Power" The 60 minutes segment can be viewed at http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4564186n Nicholas A. Peppas Elected to the Institute of Medicine Nicholas A. Peppas, Sc.D., was recently elected to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Peppas, a professor of biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, and pharmaceutics and the Fletcher Stuckey Pratt Chair in Engineering, is the first faculty member from The University of Texas at Austin to receive this honor. Election to the IOM is the highest recognition a scientist or engineer in the medical sciences can receive in the United States. One of 65 IOM members elected this year, Dr. Peppas was cited for "seminal contributions and visionary leadership in pharmaceutical sciences, drug and protein delivery, and biomaterials science, and for pioneering fundamental work on drug delivery that has led to numerous pharmaceutical products or devices." Dr. Peppas’ NIBIB-supported work involves the design and development of novel hydrogel carriers for oral delivery of proteins, drugs, and peptides. His work on the design and synthesis of polymers to deliver insulin has led to a series of novel controlled-release systems and provided the fundamental basis for the rational design of "intelligent" biomaterials. Cato T. Laurencin Receives Pierre Galletti Award from AIMBE Cato T. Laurencin, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President for Health Affairs at the University of Connecticut Health Center and dean of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, received the 2009 Pierre Galletti Award from the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) at their recent annual meeting. Established in 1999, the Pierre Galletti Award is given "in recognition of an individual's contributions to public awareness of medical and biological engineering, and to promotion of the national interest in science, engineering, and education." Dr. Laurencin was cited for "seminal contributions to tissue engineering and international leadership in biomedical engineering." Dr. Laurencin's NIBIB-supported work involves the design and development of novel matrices for bone tissue engineering. He is also working in the timely and important areas of "smart" biomaterials for controlled drug release and vascularization of scaffolds. The NIH CornerLawrence Tabak Appointed NIH Principal Acting Deputy Director NIH Acting Director Raynard Kington, M.D., Ph.D., has appointed Lawrence Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., as the Principal Acting Deputy Director for the NIH. Dr. Tabak has served as the director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) since September 2000. Prior to joining NIH, Dr. Tabak was the senior associate dean for research and professor of dentistry and of biochemistry and biophysics in the School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester. His major research focus has been on the biosynthesis and function of mucin-glycoproteins. While serving as the Principal Acting Deputy Director, Dr. Tabak will also continue his role as the NIDCR Director. Linda Birnbaum Appointed Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIH Acting Director Raynard Kington, M.D., Ph.D., has appointed Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., as the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Dr. Birnbaum has served at the Environmental Protection Agency for the last 16 years, most recently as a senior advisor. As the NIEHS Director, Dr. Birnbaum will oversee a $730 million budget that funds multidisciplinary biomedical research programs, prevention, and intervention efforts that encompass training, education, technology transfer, and community outreach. The full press release is available at http://www.nih.gov/news/health/dec2008/niehs-03.htm |
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