Post on 20-Aug-2015
Developing Directions for Translational Biomedical
Research at the University of Illinois
Town Hall Forum
Agenda1:00 p.m. Welcome and Introduction
Charles Zukoski, Vice Chancellor for Research
1:10 p.m. Overview of Illinois Translational Research Activities
Herbert Whiteley, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Chair, Campus Translational Research Advisory Committee
1:20 p.m. NIH Roadmap for Medical Research
William Heetderks, Associate Director for Scientific Programs at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH
2:20 p.m. Strategic Planning for Translational Research at Northwestern University
Holly Falk-Krzesinski, Director, Life and Biomedical Sciences Strategic Initiatives, Northwestern University
2:30 p.m. Break
2:45 p.m. Panel Discussion with the Campus Translational Research Advisory Committee
4:00 p.m. Illinois Overview and Priorities
Richard Herman, Chancellor and Jesse Delia, Acting Provost
4:15 p.m. Wrap-up
Charles Zukoski, Vice Chancellor for Research
4:30 p.m. Adjourn
Campus Translational Research Advisory
Committee (CTRAC)Committee Members
Herbert Whiteley, ChairSharon Donovan
Albert FengTanya GallagherMartha Gillette
John KatzenellenbogenCharles Miller
Lawrence SchookBradford Schwartz
Bruce WheelerJennifer Eardley
Charge of the CTRAC
To develop a process for leading the campus toward a strategic
plan for present and future investment in translational
biomedical research that will impact human health and society.
CTRAC Process
• Initial Meetings• Call for Campus Advice• Focus Group Meetings• Open Forum/Symposium• Recommendations to Vice Chancellor
for Research, Provost, and Chancellor
Translational Research Definitions: NIH
• Studies at the interface of the bench and bedside.
• Information flow at this interface is bi-directional, requiring close interaction between clinical and bench scientists.
• In translational research, clinical and bench scientists advance the diagnosis of disease and use their knowledge of natural history and pathogenesis to investigate the effects of novel interventions in early-phase clinical studies.
• Complementing these clinical studies are laboratory investigations of clinical specimens that contribute to a fuller understanding of the diseases, their etiology, pathophysiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.
From Re-engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise NIH Roadmap Initiative www.nih.gov
Translational Research Definitions: UIUC
…those activities or resources that facilitate the ability of fundamental research to impact biomedical science and human health
Focus Groups• Applied Social Sciences
• Discussion Leader: Tanya Gallagher (11 participants)• Biosensors and Devices
• Discussion Leader: Al Feng (29 participants)• Host-Microbe Interactions
• Discussion Leader: Charles Miller (16 participants)• Bio-Imaging
• Discussion Leader: Bruce Wheeler (29 participants)• Therapeutic Agents/Delivery Systems
• Discussion Leader: John Katzenellenbogen (24 participants)• New Directions
• Discussion Leader: Herbert Whiteley (12 participants)• Stem Cell Biology
• Discussion Leader: Lawrence Schook (15 participants)• Medical Informatics
• Discussion Leader: Brad Schwartz (10 participants)
Questions for assessing Translational Research needs and
opportunitiesWhat do you need in your area that would move
your ideas toward application to the human condition? For example what facilities, resources or expertise are missing?
Do you need a mechanism to identify areas of clinical relevance that could be applied to your area of interest?
To move forward should we build on existing strengths or invest in new areas? What are our existing strengths? If we pursue new areas, what are the opportunities, is it feasible to pursue these opportunities?
Recommendations
• Communication• Research Resources & Infrastructure• People• Space• Long-term strategy
Communication
• Create a centralized service to facilitate internal and external interactions and assist faculty with related regulatory and ownership issues
• Encourage cross-disciplinary exchange through departmental seminars
Research Resources & Infrastructure
• Develop a strategic process for identifying necessary biomedical research facilities
• Provide seed funding for evaluating the translational potential of specific projects
• Develop strategic partnerships with clinical institutions
• Expand opportunities for partnership with NCSA on life sciences computing projects
People• Recruit faculty investigators having the
ability to bridge basic and clinical sciences through ongoing translational research programs
• Determine mechanisms for recognizing impact of translational and interdisciplinary research activities when evaluating faculty achievements
• Develop educational opportunities and training programs that expose students to the clinical research relevant to their basic science studies
Space
• Provide project-based swing space for researchers without ready access to wet-lab research space
• Identify a process to fund and construct a biomedical research building that mixes bioengineers, pathobiologists, clinician scientists, basic biologists, biological chemists and biophysicists
Long-term strategy
• Make biomedical research a priority for the next fund-raising campaign
• Fellowships ,facilities, programmatic support, professorships, and a biomedical building
Focus Groups• Applied Social Sciences
• Discussion Leader: Tanya Gallagher• Biosensors and Devices
• Discussion Leader: Al Feng• Host-Microbe Interactions
• Discussion Leader: Charles Miller• Bio-Imaging
• Discussion Leader: Bruce Wheeler• Therapeutic Agents/Delivery Systems
• Discussion Leader: John Katzenellenbogen• New Directions
• Discussion Leader: Herbert Whiteley• Stem Cell Biology
• Discussion Leader: Lawrence Schook• Medical Informatics
• Discussion Leader: Brad Schwartz
Applied Social Sciences Tanya Gallagher and Sharon Donovan
• Attendees• Office of Translational Research
– Negotiate with clinical facilities– Invest funds for faculty release &
sponsor seminars • Facilities• Strengths
Biosensors and DevicesAl Feng and Bruce Wheeler
• Illinois faculty experience in commercializing biosensor technologies
• Strength in sciences, engineering, computation
• Need for partnership/input from chemistry, life sciences
• Need problem definition/refinement from medicine
Host-Microbe InteractionsCharles Miller and Larry Schook
• Support for pilot studies
• Better clinical interactions
• Better lines of communication
• Improved infrastructure
• Greater recognition for interdisciplinary work in the promotions process
BioImagingBruce Wheeler and John Katzenellenbogen
• Great Engineering Strength – MRI, ultrasound, biophotonics, image processing
• Biomolecular Imaging – great expansion area
• Chemistry/pharmacology/pathology needs overlap those for drug delivery, sensors
• Potential for immediate medical applications
• Need improved collaborations with Mayo, Carle, Wash U, UIC
Therapeutic Agents/Delivery Systems
John Katzenellenbogen & Martha Gillette• Seek opportunity to link “new chemical entities” to
animal models for evaluating efficacy and toxicity– Marketing potential pharmaceuticals is facilitated by having
pre-clinical data
• Work with IRB and IACUC to assist development and approval of human and animal use protocols
• Formalize UIUC-Carle/Provena/other partnerships to facilitate research protocol approval and address legal issues
• Develop a “Research Residency Program” to provide continuing research exposure/experience
• A biomedical research building could be a progenitor to an NIH-funded Translational Research Institute
New Directions Focus GroupHerb Whiteley and Brad Schwartz
• Translational research is interdisciplinary – issues with department cultures and promotion and tenure
• Recruitment of clinician scientists – physicians/veterinarians
• Build on campus strengths
• Partnerships with institutions such as Mayo Clinic
Stem Cell BiologyLarry Schook and Martha Gillette
• Intra-campus communications– Regular meetings (every six months)– Use IGB Theme for organization mechanism – Develop website– Seminar program
• Promote active collaborations/partnerships which link models with methodologies
• Distinguish ourselves by leveraging our strengths– Interface of cells/tissues with biomaterials/substrates– Bridging life sciences - chemistry -
engineering/biomaterials– ID extracellular cues/intracellular signaling– Inducing tissue-specific stem cells to regenerate tissues
Medical InformaticsBrad Schwartz and Tanya Gallagher
• Bioinformatics research and education cut across multiple disciplines and illustrate how difficult it is to capitalize on opportunities that do not conform to current departmental structures
• NCSA could be an important partner in the development of bioinformatics capabilities however, few faculty members understand the resources available through NCSA or how to interact with NCSA researchers
Developing Directions for Translational Biomedical
Research at the University of Illinois
Town Hall Forum
Please send additional input to individual committee members or
Vice Chancellor for Research Charles Zukoskihttp://www.research.uiuc.edu/translational
Developing Directions for Translational Biomedical
Research at the University of Illinois
Town Hall Forum