ICTR Focus September 2016 Newsletter
In This Issue
  • eCLIPSE PhD thesis defense
  • Bronx community engagement 
  • iRIS human subjects research informational program
  • Funding opportunities available 
eCLIPSE Student Shines
Julie Jiang is a current MD/PhD student in our Education Connecting Laboratory Investigation and Population Science (eCLIPSE) program, the PhD in Clinical Investigation. On August 16th, she defended her thesis, "Less is More: The relationship between the Perceived Stress Scale and cognitive decline, and was accompanied by her mentors, Richard Lipton, MD and Mimi Kim, ScD. Her  research focuses on the relationship between stress and dementia and how the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) relates to cognitive decline. She found that the positively worded subscale of the PSS, which may be measuring poor coping ability, predicted cross-sectional cognitive domain function, the transition from normal cognition to amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and from aMCI to dementia.  Julie has a background in biomedical engineering and applied mathematics and statistics, and is interested in the relationship between perceived stress and cognitive decline in older adults. 
Community Engagement in Research
To achieve successful community engagement, partnerships must be built on respect and trust. Montefiore has been a leading voice in the role of community participation in translating research results into treatments to improve health, especially in underserved communities. The CTSA program supports a broad range of activities that engage communities in health initiatives and clinical research. Dr. Hal Strelnick, Professor of Clinical Family and Social Medicine, and Assistant Dean for Community Engagement, leads the ICTR’s Community Engagement Consultation Core (CECC). Working with The Bronx Health Link (TBHL) and other Bronx community-based organizations, the CECC can help faculty who are new to community engaged research navigate the various resources and potential partners. The TBHL’s mission is to “amplify the voices of Bronx residents and community-based organizations to achieve health equality by connecting to health providers, researchers, and policymakers.” For example, TBHL has contracts with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for its Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative and its Healthy Women, Healthy Futures doula program, and also coordinates the NYS Department of Health’s Comprehensive Prenatal and Perinatal Services Network in the Bronx. Ms. Barbara (Bobbi) Hart, MBA, MPH, is TBHL’s Executive Director, and also serves on the ICTR Steering Committee. You can contact Dr. Strelnick through the ICTR , and you can learn more about the principles of community engagement by downloading a comprehensive guide, available in English and Spanish, from the NIH website.
Upcoming iRIS Informational Program 
The next Lunch & Learn: iRIS Question & Answer, will focus on your questions regarding New Protocol Applications, Amendments, Response Review Submission in iRIS, and more. This program will take place on Tuesday, September 27th from 12-1pm in the Tishman Learning Center, Room 4. To learn more and RSVP, click here
Journal Access Available 

The Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is now offering to pay fees that journals charge to provide public access to peer-reviewed, published articles in an effort to better disseminate research findings. To find out if your manuscript qualifies for this benefit, click here

SBIR and STTR Opportunities Deadline Approaching
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) has open funding opportunities for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR). These opportunities are designed to help advance and commercialize translational research technologies in four areas of interest: diagnostics and devices, drug discovery and development, clinical research, and bioinformatic and information technology. Opportunities here have an application deadline of September 6th, 2016. For more information about these applications, click here
Spotlight on Success
Einstein-Montefiore translational investigators continue to succeed in obtaining funding. Some of these investigators with recent grant awards are (from left to right):  Joshua Stern MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Urology , Department of Urology,  Ana Maria Cuervo MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Developmental & Molecular Biology, Anatomy & Structural Biology, and Medicine (Gastroenterology & Liver Disease), Thomas Ow MD, Assistant Professor, Otorhinolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery and Pathology, Jacqueline Achkar MD, MSc, Associate Professor Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Microbiology & Immunology,  Nicolas Schlecht PhD , Associate Professor, Epidemiology & Population Health, Medicine, Marina Reznik MD, Associate Professor, Pediatrics, Jeannette Mahoney PhD, Assistant Professor, Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology  Robert Burk MD, Professor, Pediatrics (Genetics), Microbiology & Immunology, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Women's Health, Epidemiology & Population Health, Raanan Arens MD, Professor, Pediatrics (Respiratory Medicine).          
Funding Opportunities 
Einstein-Montefiore Research in the Headlines 
Harold and Muriel Block Institute for Clinical and Translational Research