RIMI Grant Faculty Development

FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

Summary

1. To support one faculty member per semester at 25% effort to prepare and submit an appropriate research application to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for extramural funding. (see Fellowship application guidelines) Currently Dr. Erika Derkas (pdf) and Dr. Vladimir Nesterov (pdf) are the two Spring 2008 research recipients. To support one faculty member per year to travel to a research-intensive institution for advanced training and to establish collaborative research relationships. (see Summer Fellowship application guidelines). Currently Dr. Ian Williamson is the Summer 2008 fellowship recipient.
2. To provide to NMHU faculty a yearly Grant Writing Workshop such that they may refine their research skills and improve their chances for grant success.
3. To establish a Biomedical Research Seminar Series in which NMHU will invite and host nationally- and internationally-known biomedical researchers.
4. To improve the quality of biomedical research through the establishment of a Research Ethics and Integrity Course required of all RIMI participants.

Fellowships

Two faculty members received 25% release time in Spring 2007 to prepare proposals for research funding. Dr. Merritt Helvenston prepared a proposal titled: “Stable Isotope Labeling for Use in Diagnostics and Metabolic Studies.” Dr. Orit Tamir prepared a proposal titled: “Methamphetamine Education/Prevention Program for Navajos.”

Two other faculty members received 25% release time in Spring 2008 to prepare proposals for research funding.Dr. Erika Derkas submitted a proposal (pdf) titled: “Needs Assessment: Sexual and Reproductive Health of Young Women in Rural New Mexico” and Dr. Vladimir Nesterov submitted a proposal (pdf) titled: “Synthesis and Analysis of Potential Anticancer Protein Kinase Blockers”

For two weeks (July 24-August 4, 2006) Dr. Carol Linder (proposal pdf) traveled to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where she collaborated with Dr. Andrea Cupp of the Department of Animal Sciences. This opportunity significantly strengthened the biomedical research infrastructure at NMHU by providing a way to improve and share her skills, and became more knowledgeable of recent advances in your research project: “Characterization and possible rescue of repro27 male infertility mutant mice using organ culture techniques.”

Travel to Research-Intensive Institution

Dr. Ian Williamson is the recipient of the summer 2008 travel award (pdf). Dr. Williamson is professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences, and the Instructor of the Research Ethics and Integrity Course. He is collaborating with Dr. Clifton Oyamot at the San Jose State University during May 30-July 31, 2008. His research on “Five Element Personality: Relationship to Emotional and Physiological Health” is a theoretical conception that can be applied holistically to the human being. This conception is derived from Taoism, and more particularly, Chinese medicine (Beinfield & Korngold, 1991; Hammer, 2005; Kaptchuck, 2000). The Five element theory is used by doctors of Oriental Medicine (D.O.M.’s) to treat patients for varying type illness and dysfunction. ”

Grant Writing Workshops

• Dr. Linda LaGrange, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Research attended The American Competitiveness Initiative, “Challenges and Opportunities for Hispanic Serving Institutions” in April 23-25, 2007 at the University of Texas, El Paso.
• Dr. Merritt Helvenston, Dr. Rey Martinez, and Mrs. Mabel Suarez attended a 2-1/2 day grant-writing workshop on April 25-27, 2007 at Luna Community College, Las Vegas, NM. The workshop was offered by Mr. Richard C. Marchese, Owner, Resource Development Services. The data and resources obtained from this workshop will be used and shared with and by staff and faculty at NMHU.
• Dr. Linda LaGrange coordinated a Grant-Writing Workshop with Dr. Merritt Helvenston, and Dr. David Sammeth for the Faculty Development Week (the week before the Fall semester begins) for all faculty. Resources from April workshop will be used in the Fall workshop.
• Dr. Linda LaGrange coordinated a Grant-Writing Workshop with Dr. Merritt Helvenston, and Dr. David Sammeth for the Faculty Development Week (the week before the Fall semester begins) for all faculty. Resources from April workshop will be used in the Fall workshop.
• Dr. Linda LaGrange attended the “Fundamentals of Sponsored Projects Administration” in Portland, OR on June 25-27, 2007 as part of her new appointment as the Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.

Biomedical Lecture Series

NIH RIMI hosts a Biomedical Lecture Series in which NMHU invites nationally- and internationally-known biomedical researchers. In the past we have had the honor of having the following presenters:

• Dr. George Negrete, Professor of Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, presented – “New Uses for Amino Acids in Synthesis and Materials” on May 4, 2007 as part of the RIMI Biomedical Lecture Series. Abstract: Metal-Lewis base associations and catalysis are important for a broad range of science including green chemistry, biocatalysis, and aqueous solution structure. Carboxylate counter ions influence the stereochemical course of an aqueous, auxiliary-mediated Diels-Alder transformation by disparately impacting conformational equilibria and Lewis acid catalysis. In this system, syn and anti acrylamide dienophile conformers yield, after cycloaddition with cyclopentadiene and auxiliary hydrolysis, enantiomeric 2-norbornenecarboxylic acids. In order to examine how diverse metals uniquely impact equilibrium and Lewis acid catalysis, metallated dienophiles were formed as structurally homogeneous samples and the equilibrium values and cycloaddition stereoselectivities of each were determined. The syn conformer, which appears to be sterically disfavored, can participate in complexation between the carboxylate metal and the acrylamide carbonyl, potentially impacting both equilibrium values and catalytic activity. Intramolecular metal complexation is geometrically inaccessible to the anti conformer, suggesting that it should be insensitive to metal. Conformational equilibrium constants determined by 1H NMR experiments suggest that metal complexation increases slightly down columns and from left to right across the periodic table. Metal complexation to the eneamide carbonyl oxygen, which presumably dominates differences in equilibrium values, varied up to0.5 kcal/mol at room temperature. These metallated carboxylates were treated with cyclopentadiene and the product ratios were determined by HPLC. Based on the conformational equilibria values and product endo diastereoselectivity data for different metals, the impact of the metal on the ratio of rate constants for the formation of the products were derived.These data provide a quantitative measure of the rate enhancement afforded by diverse Lewis acid catalysts in water. A comparison of the impacts of the metals on equilibria and cycloaddition endo diastereoselectivity indicates that metal influence on complexation and catalysis are non-identical processes.
• Dr. Irina Odinets, Leading Researcher, Head of her team at the A.N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, presented her research on synthetic routes to a series of phosphorylated antitumor agents, mechanisms of their actions, and possibility to enhance their bioability in targeting tumor cells. Dr. Odinets presented her research as part of the RIMI Biomedical Lecture Series on August 2007.
• Dr. Craig Gifford, of the University of Idaho, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences presented a lecture on “Systemic Response During Early Pregnancy In Domestic Ruminants” on March 26, 2008. Dr. Gifford is also a RIMI Post Doctoral Fellow.

Research Ethics and Integrity Course

• Dr. Ian Williamson offers the Research Ethics and Integrity Course every Fall to scientific faculty members, staff, and students. Dr. Williamson is also the Institutional Review Board Director (IRB) and professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences. The Fall semester allows us to offer the course to new faculty, students and staff, due to the enrollment at NMHU. This course has been taught successfully via Web/CT and in the classroom. This course includes real-time, on-line interaction among faculty and staff. On a weekly basis, class members read and discuss cases related to ethics and integrity in research, and write and discuss papers related to research ethics. The course improved the ability of NMHU scientific faculty to conduct research in compliance with the ethical requirements in dealing with federal agencies and with human and animal subjects.

Texts:

• Macrina, F.L. (2000). Scientific Integrity: An introductory text with cases. Washington DC: American Society for Microbiology Press.
• Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 46 – Protection of Human Subjects
• The Belmont Report: Ethical Principles and Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research.

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