VUMC's LifeFlight helicopters are a familiar sight in the Nashville sky. The air ambulance program is relocating its helipad to the top of VUH.
IDGP deadline
Applications are requested for the VUMC Intramural Discovery Grants Program. Medical and Nursing School faculty are invited to compete for Pilot/Feasibility Studies grants and Interdisciplinary or Equipment grants. Senior postdoctoral fellows are eligible for Bridges to Independence funding. The application deadline is October 8, with an award start date of Jan. 1, 2000. The next round of competition will be announced in March. For application forms and information, visit the Biomedical Sciences web page http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/vumc/biosci/ or contact Jeannine Courtney at 3-0415.
Clinical Research Forum
The first "Clinical Research Forum" will be held Tuesday, Sept. 28, from 3-4 p.m. in the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center clinic conference room (1951 TVC). The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for regular dialogue between administration, clinical investigators, and clinical trials administrative staff. Dr. Italo Biaggioni, associate professor of Medicine, will report the recommendations of the "Standard of Care" committee, and Dr. James Snell, professor of Medicine, will discuss procedures being proposed to implement the recommendations. Participants in the first forum will have the opportunity to decide the form and content of future meetings. RSVP to clinical.trials@vanderbilt.edu if you plan to attend.
IRB fees
Beginning Oct. 1, the Institutional Review Board will charge a one-time fee of $1,000, plus indirect costs, for new industry-initiated and sponsored clinical trials protocols. Research protocols that are solely dependent on state, federal, non-profit foundation, or internal funds are exempt from the charge, as are continuing reviews or reviews required to amend an active industry-sponsored protocol or consent form. The revenues generated by this fee will be used for new staff and other resources necessary to expedite the review/approval process, while maintaining compliance with the OPRR guidelines that protect human subjects.