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AUGUST 2, 2004 – FOURTH BRP GRANTEE MEETING CONDUCTED ON JULY 29-30

The Fourth Bioengineering Research Partnership (BRP) Grantee Meeting was conducted on July 29-30, 2004, at the Bethesda Hyatt Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland. The Bioengineering Research Partnership Program is coordinated by the NIH Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) and requires research teams (academic, industrial, clinical, and national laboratory partnerships) with clinical and quantitative science components to conduct biomedical research. A total of about 200 people attended this meeting including about 140 BRP grantees. The purpose of the meeting was to facilitate communication (l) among the grantees with the intent of generating additional research collaborations and (2) between NIH and grantees to discuss research results, research policies, and program input.

The program consisted of oral summary presentations of projects in their second and fifth years and poster displays for projects in the first, third, and fourth years. A “NIH Update” session was conducted to communicate the latest information on NIH extramural policy, technology transfer, NIH Roadmap initiatives, and review of bioengineering proposals. A featured luncheon presentation on “Bioengineering and the Whitaker Foundation” was given by Dr. Peter Katona, President of the Whitaker Foundation. Special awards were presented to Dr. Katona for his many contributions to the field of bioengineering and to Mollie Sourwine of the NIBIB for her valuable contributions to the NIH Bioengineering Consortium.

Details of the meeting including the program; conference book (includes summaries of all BRP grants); PowerPoint files of the grantee presentations, “NIH Update” talks, and featured luncheon presentation; and photographs of the meeting are available at http://www.nibib.nih.gov/events/BRP2004/index.html .

The BECON is administered by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. The Chair of the BECON is Dr. Daniel Sullivan of the National Cancer Institute. Details about the Consortium are available on the BECON Web site at http://www.becon.nih.gov .

JULY 7, 2004 – REPORT ISSUED FOR INTERAGENCY WORKSHOP ON RESEARCH AT THE INTERFACE OF THE LIFE SCIENCES AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES

The final report has been issued for the “Interagency Workshop on Research at the Interface of the Life Sciences and the Physical Sciences”. The workshop was held on May 10, 2004 on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Main Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The workshop was coordinated by the NIH and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in response to language in the House of Representatives reports accompanying the FY2004 Appropriations Bill which suggested that the NIH and NSF convene an interagency conference to discuss how agencies can effectively facilitate research at the interface of the life and physical sciences. The final report, as well as additional information about this meeting, can be accessed at http://www.nibib.nih.gov/events/interagency.

JUNE 22, 2004 – JOINT BECON/BISTIC SYMPOSIUM CONDUCTED ON JUNE 21-22

A symposium on “Biomedical Informatics for Clinical Decision Support: A Vision for the 21st Century” was conducted on June 21-22 at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. The Symposium was jointly conducted by the NIH’s Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) and the Biomedical Information Science and Technology Consortium (BISTIC). The purpose of the meeting was to identify opportunities, needs, and directions for applying computer science and informatics principles and methods to clinical decision support. Specific areas covered during the meeting included data management (databases and digital libraries), enabling technologies (modeling, software tools, and techniques), and translational informatics. Approximately 400 people attended the symposium. NIH Co-Chairs were Drs. Laurence Clarke (NCI) and Peter Lyster (NIBIB), Extramural Co-Chairs were Drs. Ruzena Bajcsy (UC-Berkeley) and Michael Vannier (University of Chicago), and Organizational Co-Chairs were Mariaileen Sourwine (NIBIB) and Anna Retzke (NIBIB). Information about this meeting will be posted on the SYMPOSIA page of this Web site in the near future.

JUNE 4, 2004 – CONFERENCE ON SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION BY ENGINEERED EXTRACEULLAR MATRICES SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 27-JULY 2

The Third Gordon Research Conference on Signal Transduction By Engineered Extracellular Matrices will be held on June 27-July 2, 2004, at Bates College in Lewiston, ME. The conference focuses on the converging roles of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and growth factors in the repair and replacement of tissue lost or damaged due to disease or injury, and systems bioengineering approaches to analyzing and manipulating these systems. The program will include oral sessions (each with three to four internationally recognized speakers and a discussion leader), as well as poster sessions (most participants will be expected to present a poster). In these contexts, there will be discussion of the state of the art, unpublished research in signal transduction, the mechanisms by which growth factors and the ECM regulate cell fate, and their application to tissue regeneration and engineering. The meeting will be small by conventional standards (approximately 100-130 participants) and includes a diverse group of junior and senior investigators representing academic and government institutions, and biotechnology companies. Application/registration materials, travel information, and a description of the meeting site may be found at the Gordon Research Conference website (www.grc.org). Please direct any questions regarding the program to Drs. David Mooney (mooneyd@umich.edu) or Michael Sheetz (ms2001@columbia.edu).

March 29, 2004 - Registration Open for Joint BECON/BISTIC 2004 Symposium on Biomedical Informatics for Clinical Decision Support

Registration is now open for the Joint NIH BECON/BISTIC 2004 Symposium titled "Biomedical Informatics for Clinical Decision Support: A Vision for the 21st Century" to be held in at the William H. Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, Maryland on June 21-22, 2004. The symposium is the seventh annual conference coordinated by the Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) and the first joint symposium with the Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative Consortium (BISTIC). The event will be held on June 21 and 22, 2004, at the William H. Natcher Conference Center on the NIH main campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This symposium will focus on software tools and approaches needed to deliver biomedical information technologies to clinicians and patients at the time and place where decisions are made regarding risk, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. For more information about the symposium, including the agenda, scientific poster session, and on-line registration, please visit http://www.becon.nih.gov/symposium2004.htm.

March 22, 2004 - Planning Continues for BECON 2004 Sympoisum on Bioinformatics for Clinical Decision Support

The seventh in a series of annual symposia coordinated by the NIH Bioengineering Consortium on emerging topics of national interest is scheduled for June 21-22, 2004, at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This year’s conference is titled “Biomedical Informatics for Clinical Decision Support” and is a joint effort with the NIH Biomedical Informatics Science and Technology Initiative Consortium (BISTIC). The symposium focuses primarily on the software tools and approaches that will ultimately deliver the benefits of biomedical information technologies to patients at a time and place where decisions are made regarding risk, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The conference format includes plenary talks and topical breakout sessions aimed at developing a vision for addressing clinical needs that emphasizes the potential benefits of bioinformatics. Extramural Chairs for this symposium are Dr’s. Ruzena Bajcsy (UC Berkeley) and Michael Vannier (Iowa). NIH Chairs are Dr’s. Laurence Clarke (NCI) and Peter Lyster (NIBIB). Details concerning registration, agenda, and local arrangements will be available on the symposium Web site which will be accessible through the SYMPOSIUM page of the BECON Web site.

March 22, 2004 - IEEE/EBMS Plans Conference on Inter-Disciplinary Biomedical Research

The IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EBMS) will hold its 26th annual international conference during September 1-5, 2004, at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, California. The conference will focus on inter-disciplinary biomedical research and will encompass such areas as diagnostic and molecular-level imaging, bioinformatics, tissue engineering, nanotechnology, and bioengineering. The program will include plenary talks, focused topical sessions, and special sessions of education and funding opportunities. Details concerning the agenda, registration, paper submittal, and the venue are available on the conference Web site at http://www.ucsfresno.edu/embs2004

FEBRUARY 25, 2004 – SURA to Conduct Terahertz Applications Symposium – March 16-17

The Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA) will conduct a meeting titled “Terahertz Applications Symposium: Bridging the Gap from R&D; to the Marketplace” on March 16-17 at SURA Headquarters (1201 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC). The purpose of the symposium is to bridge the gap between the growing base of scientific research and the potential marketplace applications for terahertz technologies. Leading THz researchers will present fundamentals of generating, detecting, and applying THz technologies. Specific examples of work being done by the commercial sector will be discussed by industry panelists. Information about the program and registration can be obtained at http://www1.sura.org/2000/THzSymp.html.

FEBRUARY 24, 2004 – 2004 IEEE Symposium on Biomedical Imaging Scheduled for April 15-18

The 2004 IEEE International Symposium titled “Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: From Nano to Macro” is scheduled for April 15-18 at the Marriott Crystal Gateway Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The meeting is aimed at enhancing communications between quantitative scientists and biomedical imaging researchers and practitioners to advance the field of biomedical imaging. Specific areas to be highlighted include molecular-level imaging, functional imaging, optical technologies, and imaging informatics. The General Chair is Dr. Richard Leahy of the University of Southern California. Details about the meeting including the program and registration are available at http://www.biomedicalimaging.org.

FEBRUARY 4, 2004 - AIMBE Annual Event Focuses on Partnerships in Imaging and Bioengineering

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) Annual Event is scheduled for February 26 to March 1 in Washington, DC. The title of this year's event is "Imaging and Bioengineering: Partners for the Future". The program focuses on two main topics - (l) new frontiers in imaging and bioengineering especially as related to discoveries across length scales and (2) best practices for translating discoveries from the laboratory to the industry and clinic. Roles of imaging and bioengineering disciplines and the interactive and symbiotic relationships will be highlighted. Related activities at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) including the growth and development of the National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and the NIH Roadmap Initiative will be emphasized. Details concerning this meeting are available at http://www.aimbe.org/meeting2004.htm.

FEBRUARY 2, 2004 - Final Report from the BECON 2003 Symposium on Catalyzing Team Science Released

The final report from the BECON 2003 Symposium titled "Catalyzing Team Science" has been released. This symposium focused on examining the forces that encourage and discourage team approaches to biomedical research and explored ways in which the NIH, academia, and others can stimulate and reward team efforts. The symposium was held on June 23-24, 2003 on the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, MD and attended by over 350 representatives from academia, government, and industry. The final report, along with speaker presentations, breakout session summaries, and a videocast of the event, can be accessed at http://www.becon.nih.gov/symposium2003.htm.

JANUARY 13, 2004 - Student Applications Open for 2004 NSF/NIH Summer Institutes

JANUARY 13, 2004 - STUDENT APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2004 NSF/NIH SUMMER INSTITUTES Applications for students who would like to attend the NSF/NIH Bioengineering and Bioinformatics Summer Institutes (BBSI) in the summer of 2004 are being accepted by the nine grantee institutions. The BBSI is a joint NSF and NIH program that provides a ten-week summer biomedical research experience for rising juniors, rising seniors, and students in the first two years of graduate school who are majoring in the quantitative sciences. The first BBSI programs were held during the summer of 2003, and the second BBSI Grantee Meeting was conducted on November 21, 2003. The nine grantee institutions where the summer programs are conducted include California State University - Los Angeles, Clemson, Iowa State, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Minnesota, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Details about the individual programs including application information are available at http://bbsi.eeicom.com?nsf02109 .

JANUARY 7, 2004 - Dr. Danield Sullivan Named New Chair of the BECON

Dr. Daniel C. Sullivan of the NIH's National Cancer Institute (NCI) has been named the new Chair of the Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) effective January 21. He is the Associate Director of the Cancer Imaging Program at the NCI. Dr. Sullivan has been very active in BECON activities since the Consortium was established and was the NIH Chair for the BECON Symposium on "Catalyzing Team Science" in June 2003. He succeeds Dr. Jeff Schloss of the National Human Genome Research Institute who has chaired the Consortium since October 2001. Under Dr. Schloss' leadership, several trans-NIH biomedical research opportunities were initiated and implemented, two major BECON symposia were conducted, and the Consortium continued to develop and function as an effective and visible entity that coordinates focused research, multi-disciplinary and team research, trans-NIH activities, and inter-agency activities related to bioengineering.



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