BUMC/VA Boston Healthcare System News
Save the Date!
Third in our series of conferences and training days, “Faculty Development at BUMC: Considerations in Administration of Off-Site Awards” will take place Dec. 18, 2009 at the VABHS Jamaica Plain campus, 150 So. Huntington Ave, Boston. Taking a more nuts-and-bolts approach than the previous trainings, this program offers workshops on cost transfers and effort, getting new employees on board, hiring international researchers, working within the host of regulations that govern VA and BU purchasing, and new core resources available for clinical researchers. Retreat#3 (draft agenda) and Registration for Dec 18 program.
Congratulations
…to Jennifer J. Vasterling, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Chief, VABHS Psychology Service, for the 2009 “Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology” bestowed by the American Psychological Association, Division 56 (Trauma Psychology). The Awards ceremony will be held as part of the APA Convention in Toronto in August.
Recent Funding News
Of particular interest to the VA research community, FY 2009 funding for VA research is funded at a 6% increase over the FY08 funding level. Full FY 2009 funding was provided for only three agencies: Defense, VA and Homeland Security, in the recent Continuing Resolution (other federal agencies were funded at their 2008 levels until March 6, 2009, leaving the remainder of FY 2009 in the hands of President Obama and Congress). The VA research increase, amounting to $30 million, will be enough to cover anticipated biomedical research inflation plus $10 million for new initiatives. More Funding Opportuntities, including Recovery Act 2009. For DHHS, the CR applies the same terms of FY 2008 appropriations to the period covered by the CR. Until the final FY 2009 appropriation is enacted, NIH will issue non-competing research grant awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 90% of the previously committed level), consistent with previous three years’ practice and may consider upward adjustments to these levels after the final appropriation is enacted. Additional details posted at: Resources for FY 2009.
MOU
Reminder: A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Joint Appointments is required from BUMC faculty investigators who also hold salaried VA appointments. Update your MOU here:
| MOU Boston VA | MOU Bedford VA | Instructions |
Recent Awards
- Kazem Azadzoi, Ph.D., Research Professor of Urology, received a grant from Pfizer to study, “Free Radical Injury to Muscarinic Receptors: A Potential Mechanism of Cholinergic Nerve Degeneration in the Overactive Bladder” that began April 1, 2009;
- Terence Keane, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, received an American Reinvestment and Recovery Act-funded grant to study “Web-based Behavioral Intervention for Returning Veterans with Risky Alcohol Use,” starting Sept 30, 2009;
- Brett Litz, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry, an NIMH R34 to study, “Internet-Based Self-management Intervention for Complicated Grief,” that began April 1, 2008;
- Ann Rasmusson, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry (pending), transferred her R21 from NIMH, “GABAergic Neurotransmission in PTSD,” from Yale to Boston University, effective Sept 1, 2008;
- Denise Sloan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry, an R34 from NIMH to study “Examining Written Disclosure as an Intervention for PTSD,” beginning Aug. 1, 2008.
On the Move
- Neil W. Kowall, M.D., Professor of Neurology, is the VABHS’ new Chief of Neurology. He moved his research base from the Bedford to the Boston VA to take up his new duties. At BUMC, Dr. Kowall heads the NIH-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Center; at VA, he heads the VA New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, which he will continue to direct from Boston.
- Nancy Kressin, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, a recent awardee of a VA Research Career Scientist Award, moved from the Bedford to the Boston VA.
