Presenter: Antionette L. Williams, PhD

Presentation Title: Zebrafish model of Stickler syndrome suggests a role for collagen 2A1 in the neural crest during early eye development

Presentation Description: Stickler syndrome is a congenital disease characterized by distinctive facial abnormalities, severe visual impairments, hearing loss, and joint problems. Although approximately 75 percent of cases of Stickler syndrome reflect autosomal dominant mutations in the fibrillar type II collagen gene (COL2A1), which plays an important role in cartilage and bone formation, the specific role of this gene in eye development has not been well-defined. Here, we use zebrafish as a model system to study the expression of Col2A1 within the neural crest and examine the mechanisms underlying the craniofacial and ocular abnormalities in Stickler syndrome to reveal the role of Col2A1 in eye development.

Date and Time: Today, August 1, 11:00 a.m.–noon

Location: Virtual meeting. Please follow the link below.

Presenter: Elizabeth (Lisa) Johnson, PhD

Presentation Title: Dynamic Memory Networks Across the Human Lifespan

Time: August 3, noon–1:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual meeting via Zoom. Please follow the link below.

Questions: Contact Sadie Rose, MPH

Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute is pleased to celebrate the Katz and Manne Research Institute Summer Scholars at our upcoming poster symposium. The program is designed to provide undergraduates summer experiences in research related to childhood health and disease through the ongoing generosity of the Robert Louis Katz Medical Research Foundation and Manne Research Institute. Scholars spend eight weeks working daily with their faculty mentor and participate in a weekly course to learn about scientific presentations and careers in science. The 2022 Katz and Manne Research Institute Summer Scholars Poster Symposium is the students’ opportunity to showcase their hard work over the summer and to gain experience presenting to a scientific audience.

We encourage all faculty, staff, and trainees engaged in research to attend.

When: August 9, 1:00–3:00 p.m.

Where: Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, 1st floor, Potocsnak Family Atrium

2022 program participants and their Manne Research Institute faculty mentors are highlighted in our program book. To learn more about the program, please visit our website.

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center is offering the following classes:

All times are CDT. Click on the class links for descriptions and to register. Classes fill up quickly and registration is recommended. Classes meet for approximately one hour and are free to affiliates of the Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center. Many of the classes are available by request to Feinberg School of Medicine faculty, staff, students, and residents. For a complete list of available classes, click here.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Initiate, Inquire, Innovate, Inspire—the Four I’s sessions provide an opportunity to workshop your ideas related to health services, social/behavioral, outcomes, and clinical research. Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research, and Evaluation Center invites researchers, research professionals, and trainees to join the next session on August 17. Sessions are co-hosted by the divisions of Advanced General Pediatrics and Primary Care, Emergency Medicine, and Hospital Based Medicine.

Sessions occur during the third week* of the month and rotate every three months.

Sign up to workshop your ideas using this shared spreadsheet. No need to prep slides or have a polished presentation. Come prepared for excellent feedback and lively discussions about how to develop your research question, strengthen your specific aims, address challenges with project completion, and improve your analytic approach or presentation of results. The sessions are hosted on Zoom. Find the Zoom meeting details and information for upcoming presentations on the shared spreadsheet. Please direct questions to Roman Gomez.

The Office of Research Development hosts monthly Research Education at Lurie Children’s (REAL) Training lectures on a variety of domains and topics including, but not limited to, study management and conduct, financial considerations in research, research data, research regulatory requirements, available resources, and more. Sessions occur twice a month, virtually through Microsoft Teams and welcome all investigators and staff. Please email [email protected] with any questions or to request the calendar invite for an upcoming lecture.

August 18, 1:00–2:00 p.m.

This REAL training will cover how to present study data effectively. During this training, the Research Educator will provide tips on data visualization, as well as chart and graph development. We will review different types of data visualization categories, statistical analysis programs, and office applications available to gather data. The Research Educator will identify key resources for available applications at Manne Research Institute. We will conclude this training with examples of various methods for presenting data.

August 25, 1:00–2:00 p.m. 

This REAL training will cover the NRC review and a tutorial of their new submission system "Nursing Project Tracker (NPT)." Research Education is collaborating with an NRC representative to provide the purpose of NRC review, when it is required, and the review process. A description of the new NPT system and how it relates to NRC review will be provided. Lastly, a tutorial will be shared on how to submit to the NRC using NPT and the type of study information required during the review process.

Job Opening: Clinical Research Budget and Feasibility Specialist

The Clinical Research Budget and Feasibility Specialist is responsible for working together with Sponsors/CROs, Principal Investigators, study teams, and ancillary services to provide a smooth and efficient intake process, consistency in research pricing in the development and negotiation of clinical research study budgets, understanding of coverage analysis to determine where study costs should be charged, harmonization amongst coverage analyses, budgets, contracts, and consent forms, and set-up of budget details in the clinical trial management system (CTMS) to be used for compliance with regulatory policies governing the conduct of research with human subjects and financial billing for research activities.

The Clinical Research Budget and Feasibility Specialist serves as the study team’s single point of contact for issues related to study intake, coverage analysis, budgets, document harmonization, and CTMS billing grids for studies, and ensures that researchers are provided with high quality, efficient, responsive, and responsible research administration services. Learn more or apply here.

Job Opening: Senior Sponsored Programs Coordinator

The Senior Sponsored Programs Administrator reports to the Director of Office of Sponsored Programs and is responsible for assisting Principal Investigators (PIs), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Research Center Board, the Chief Administrative Officer, and the President and Scientific Director by providing proposal development assistance including funding searches, budget and proposal preparation and review, disseminating information on funding opportunities, supporting PIs and departmental research staff in oversight and monitoring of sponsored projects, and assisting the Director of Office of Sponsored Programs with other pre-award and post award support responsibilities. Learn more or apply here.

Job Opening: Senior Contracts Associate

​The Senior Contracts Associate independently drafts, reviews, and negotiates sponsored research contracts and other related contracts between Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and private industry, academic medical centers or other non-federal entities. This individual works closely with Lurie Children’s researchers, physicians, research coordinators, and clinical departments; the Offices of Post-Award Financial Management, Research Integrity and Compliance, and General Counsel; and with external sponsors. Learn more or apply here.

Job Opening: Statistician (PhD)

Collaborates with researchers to develop and deliver statistical analyses, datasets, statistical process control charts, and other data products for research studies and grant proposals. Serves as an expert on biostatistics and epidemiology for Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. Develops and submits statistical/methods sections for grant applications. Writes statistical/methods and findings sections of scientific papers. Learn more or apply here.

Job Opening: Clinical Research Coordinator

The Division of Allergy and Immunology has an opening for a clinical research coordinator. Interested candidates can learn more here and contact Lisa Austin and Dr. Rajesh Kumar with questions.

Voices of Child Health in Chicago (VOCHIC) invites applications for the VOCHIC Survey Investigator Opportunity. Through this opportunity, investigators and study teams can apply to have a brief survey module administered to approximately 1,000 Chicago parents in the VOCHIC Parent Panel on the Wave 6 VOCHIC Survey. Junior investigators are particularly encouraged to apply.

For additional details regarding the Investigator Opportunity, click here.

To apply, please complete this application and email it, along with any questions, to Marie Heffernan: [email protected]. The deadline to apply is August 2.

The Research Professional Steering and the Research Professional Education & Mentoring Committees are now accepting applications for new members. The mission of these committees is to enhance the quality of Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute and cultivate opportunities for researchers at Lurie Children’s through advocacy, mentorship, citizenship, and education. The Research Professional Steering Committee and the Research Professional Education & Mentoring Committee represent and support our robust community of research professionals. Completed applications must be submitted by August 5.

Applications accepted September 1–November 17

Applications accepted: September 1–November 17, 8:00 p.m. EST

Review the full Announcement: NOT-OD-22-149: Extramural Loan Repayment Program for Pediatric Research (LRP-PR) (nih.gov)

Contact for questions and Institutional Official: Robin Lewis 

Attaining the goal of advancing our national and international reputation as a premier children’s hospital will require a robust and mixed portfolio of individual and multi-investigator federal grants. As one step to meet this goal, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute have implemented a mandatory Scientific Peer Review (SPR) process for all prime Federal grant submissions. Click the button below to learn more.

Content submitted for this bi-weekly Manne Research Institute Events & Opportunities update, including educational opportunities, funding and recognition deadlines, and job postings, will be published in the next available communication. The Manne Research Institute Newsletter is published monthly and includes staff additions and promotions, research highlights and achievements, media mentions, and more. To submit content for these communications, please use this link. Newsletter content should be submitted by the last business day of each month. You can also visit the Research Communications page for archived updates, newsletters, and additional resources.