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News for BCM Faculty, April 18, 2019
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Ask Me About My Research: Dr. Sameer Sheth, associate professor of neurosurgery, joins special guest Naina Sheth to show the importance of talking with members of the public about your work in this episode of Ask Me About My Research. You can pick up your own “Ask Me” button in the Office of Communications & Community Outreach, Room 176B, main Baylor.

Faculty Senate: The Faculty Affairs & Benefits Committee of the Senate proposed a resolution requesting that the College conduct an analysis of the impact of the Faculty Group Practice compensation plan on FGP members’ compensation, retention and prior academic activities. Senators are reviewing and voting on the resolution this week.

  • Randy Langenderfer, chief compliance and audit officer, presented the tool for implementing the Disclosure of Outside Interest policy, which requires faculty members, residents, graduate students, fellows, post-doctoral candidates and staff members receiving Staff 1 or Staff 2 benefits to annually disclose any financial interest over $250 value that is related to job duties and responsibilities or could be perceived as a conflict of interest. The centralized, web-based tool includes a mechanism for pre-approval of speaking, consulting and advisory industry events and expert witness and legal consulting activities. It will go live in October with annual compliance attestation/certification set for March 2020.
  • Mike Layton, executive director of enterprise technology, discussed Digital Governance policies and procedures that the College has put in place to establish accountability, roles and decision-making authority for its websites, mobile sites, social channels and other internet and web-enabled products and services that are externally available.
  • Senate Chair Oluyinka Olutoye announced that nominations are open for the Senate officer positions of Chair-Elect and Secretary as well as for seats representing faculty in Family & Community Medicine, Medicine (2 seats), Molecular & Human Genetics, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Center for Space Medicine, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Institute for Clinical & Translational Research and faculty at large. Additionally, the School of Health Professions, School of Medicine, Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Ben Taub Hospital and DeBakey VA Medical Center have open seats on the Senate. Information about the elections is online. Applications are due by noon Wednesday, May 1.

Faculty Kudos

Dr. Ben Arenkiel, associate professor of molecular & human genetics and neuroscience and a McNair Scholar, participated in the McNair Science Education Collaborative in March, visiting public middle and high schools in North Carolina. The collaborative is an effort of The Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation to expand hands-on learning opportunities and cultivate real-world connections in the medical research field. Learn more about the McNair Foundation in the April BCM Family.

Dr. Nicola Hanania, associate professor of medicine – pulmonary, recently was featured in MD Magazine’s Peer Exchange video panel discussion, “Identifying the Biomarkers for the Treatment of Severe Asthma.” The panel reviews the biologic therapies that are now available to treat patients with asthma and discusses the significance of identifying and using biomarkers to help guide clinicians through important treatment decisions.

Dr. Joanna Jankowsky, professor of neuroscience and molecular & cellular biology and a faculty senator, was awarded a Zenith Fellows research grant from the Alzheimer’s Association on Tuesday. One of the most prestigious awards in Alzheimer’s research, the grant will provide $450,000 to support Dr. Jankowsky’s investigations into the causes and progression of Alzheimer’s with a goal of uncovering potential new therapy targets.

DeBakey Research Awards: You are invited to attend the 2019 Michael E. DeBakey, M.D., Excellence in Research Awards Ceremony & Symposium, 2 – 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, in DeBakey Auditorium, Room M112, main Baylor. The awards recognize faculty members who have made significant, published scientific contributions to clinical or basic biomedical research during the past three years. This year’s honorees are Dr. Carl Allen, assistant professor of pediatrics – oncology, Dr. Christie M. Ballantyne, professor and vice chair of research in medicine, chief of the Sections of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Research and holder of the J.S. Abercrombie Chair, Dr. Robert A. Britton, professor of molecular virology & microbiology with the Therapeutic Microbiology Laboratory and Alkek Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Dr. Aleksandar Milosavljevic, professor of molecular & human genetics and director of the Program in Quantitative and Computational Biosciences, and Dr. Marco Sardiello, assistant professor of molecular & human genetics. Drs. Allen, Britton and Milosavljevic are also members of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. A reception follows the research symposium.

College Events

Lunch & Learn: The Faculty Senate presents “What’s New in Education?” with Provost Alicia Monroe discussing the education mission of the College at noon Tuesday, April 23, in Room M323, main Baylor. All faculty are welcome to attend this brown bag event.

McLean Lectures: The 47th Annual Verna and Marrs McLean Lectures in Biochemistry are set for the afternoon of Thursday, April 25, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. At 2 p.m., Dr. Nahum Sonenberg, professor and Gilman Cheney Chair in Biochemistry and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, speaks on “TOR’s translational branch: a key regulator of cancer progression and neuronal function.” He is followed at 3:35 p.m. by Dr. Michael N. Hall, professor of biochemistry at the University of Basel and 2019 recipient of the Brupbacher Prize for Cancer Research, whose topic is “mTOR signaling in growth and metabolism.”

Quality & Safety Conference: The College’s Sixth Annual Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Conference is set for 4 - 8 p.m. Thursday, April 25, at Onstead Auditorium, 6767 Bertner Ave. Led by Dr. Nana Coleman, assistant dean for Graduate Medical Education, the event focuses on the value of teamwork in improving healthcare quality and safety as well as preparation, accreditation and educational compliance. Register online to attend.

Burnout & Compassion: Dr. Lobsang Tenzin Negi, professor at Emory University, presents “Transforming Burnout: A Guide to Developing Sustainable and Nourishing Compassion in Healthcare Practice,” an introduction to cognitively based compassion training, at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in Room 201A, as part of the Profiles in Professionalism series.

Faculty Opportunities

Curriculum Committee: The Medical School Curriculum Committee is soliciting nominations for one faculty member position. Interested faculty members from all disciplines are encouraged to consider applying for this important leadership role by close of business Monday, April 30. The Curriculum Committee has the integrated institutional responsibility for the overall design, management and evaluation of a coherent and coordinated curriculum. For more information, please see Faculty Opportunities.

Faculty Resources

The Partnership: “Micro-What? The Microbiome and Your Health,” is the topic of The Partnership for BCM’s lunchtime lecture. Dr. Joseph Petrosino, interim chair of virology & microbiology, speaks at the event, which begins at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, at the Briar Club, 2603 Timmons Lane. Register online.

Health Equity Grand Rounds: Dr. Jamie Freeny, population health manager at Harris Health System, discusses “Adverse Childhood Experiences and Depression in African American Adolescents” at noon Wednesday, April 24, in Cullen Auditorium, main Baylor. CME credit is available.

For a Good Cause

Multicultural Festival: The Association for Graduate Student Diversity hosts the Multicultural Festival from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, April 19, in Rayzor Lounge at main Baylor. Student and campus groups will share their culture through food, performances, artwork and more.

Earth Day: Drop off laboratory coats, small electronics, eye glasses and other recyclables, learn about the College’s sustainability efforts and visit vendors selling locally sourced and organic products at the Earth Day celebration, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday, April 22, in Rayzor Lounge, main Baylor.


Attention Clinicians: See Clinical Events

Clinical Seminars

Surgery Grand Rounds: Dr. Leonard Girardi, chairman of cardiothoracic surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine, speaks on “Is Open Repair of Descending Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Emergencies a Viable Option in an Era of Endovascular Therapy” at 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 24, in Room N315, main Baylor or via Zoom, meeting I.D. 517 471 817.

Informed Consent: The Texas Medical Center Clinical Research Professional Training and Education Committee presents “Informed Consent: Where We Were – Where We Are – And Where We May Be Going” with Daniela Westerhold, director of protocol and regulatory affairs at Texas Children’s Hospital Cancer and Hematology Centers. The seminar starts at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Third Coast Restaurant, 6550 Bertner Ave. Register online.


Attention Researchers: See Research Calendar

Research Resources

ResRadar: A new resource is available to link members of the Baylor community with research opportunities. Created by Baylor students, ResRadar is a website that serves as a central platform for active research projects, allowing students to easily find research projects to work on, while providing researchers a channel to broadcast their project and identify students to help complete them. This interactive site allows BCM faculty, fellows, residents and graduate students with a research activity to post a research opportunity.

Junior Faculty Seed Award: The College supports new investigators at the assistant professor level who are beginning their careers as independent researchers with the Junior Faculty Seed funding program. Several awards of $30,000 each are available for fiscal year 2020 to help junior faculty prepare to submit applications to obtain independent research funding. The deadline to apply is Thursday, April 25. Application instructions and more information are available on the website.

Pediatric Device Grants: The Southwest National Pediatric Device Consortium (SWPDC) is pleased to announce pediatric device seed grant awards sponsored by the College. Four seed grant awards of $25,000 each are available to Baylor faculty members to foster the innovation of pediatric medical devices specifically designed for children. Applications are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, and will be evaluated based on significance, innovation, feasibility. See Faculty Opportunities for more information and the required SWPDC intake form.

From the Labs: Read how Dr. Susan Rosenberg, professor of molecular & human genetics, biochemistry & molecular biology and molecular virology & microbiology, untangled the molecular events that allow bacteria to survive antibiotics in this blog post. Receive From the Labs via email by entering your email address in the box at the end of any article and clicking the "subscribe" button.


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