CRIO Corner
Knowledge Computing: Enabling Research Not Previously Possible
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November 30, 2022. A Wednesday. An inflection point in computing, and very likely, an inflection point in society’s future. ChatGPT burst out of science fiction and onto our phones and laptops. How is UCSF responding to ChatGPT and other AI technologies? What do these technologies mean for the research we can do?
As your new chief research informatics officer (CRIO), my goal is to lead UCSF to harness the full range of computational technologies including AI so that our researchers can conduct research not previously possible. For example, “generative AI” – like the AI underlying ChatGPT – can be used to combine and bridge many types of data (e.g., molecular, omics, imaging, electronic health records, environmental) to understand and connect the mechanisms of health and disease from the molecular to the individual to the community. AI and digital technologies such as wearable sensors and smartphones can be used to translate mechanistic understandings into individualized precision insight to improve the care our patients receive at UCSF Health. UCSF must anticipate and build for shifts in what and how research is conducted and be a model for fair, equitable, compassionate, and trustworthy use of AI.
Watch this space for future developments on knowledge computing at UCSF!
Sincerely,
Ida Sim, PhD, MD
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Last week's opening of Pride Hall, UCSF's new research and academic building at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, celebrates the 150-year partnership of the two medical institutions and provides scientists and educators with state-of-the-art facilities for research and teaching.
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Save the Date: October 16 Office of Research Town Hall |
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Join Vice Chancellor for Research Harold Collard for the inaugural quarterly Town Hall on Monday, October 16 at 11 a.m. This month’s topics include a look inside the new Clinical Trial Excellence campaign and a discussion about High-Performance Computing’s uses in research. Register here and save the date!
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Congratulations to Holly Ingraham |
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Holly Ingraham, PhD, received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement in Mentoring Award and was honored at Mission Bay last month. Among her many achievements, Ingraham cofounded UCSF's Women in Science group in 2016, assembled to connect women engaged in basic science research across the University. Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Catherine Lucey said of Ingraham, “She turned her lived experience as a woman scientist…to make the road for women scientists easier.”
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Applications Now Open for NIH Loan Repayment |
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Attention early-stage minority health and health disparities researchers: the NIH Loan Repayment program is now open for 2024 applications. The program offers loan repayment awards of up to $50,000 per year for up to two years. Awardees commit to engage in NIMHD and NIH mission-relevant minority health and health disparities research in non-federal settings for at least two years. Deadline: November 16, 5 p.m.
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Reminder: Faculty Invited to Apply for UCSF's Science Policy and Advocacy Development Program |
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The Science Policy and Advocacy Development program (apply online) will provide participants with the hands-on experience and training needed to explain the significance of federal investments in biomedical research to shape federal regulations and legislation. Deadline: October 1.
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Testing of Portal for Project Echo is Underway |
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Thank you to the researchers who accepted the invitation to preview the initial test portal as part of the Project Echo initiative. As of September 1, there were 211 logins with 61 identified improvements across nine themes. Your feedback identified errors in content, bugs in the functionality, and key areas of improvement – all of which informs the portal’s ongoing development. Ultimately, at full build-out, the portal will serve the entire UCSF community. It will connect faculty and staff together across our mission and areas of interest on one platform, a digital town square that unites us as one UCSF.
We invite you to partner with us in developing a robust portal that serves the needs of the research community. Please contact Jake Schwartzman to arrange a feedback session or provide additional input.
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Professor of Medicine
and colleagues
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Graduate Student
Tetrad Program
and colleagues
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Postdoctoral Scholar
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
and colleagues
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Do you have questions on enrolling subjects in OnCore, linking encounters, visit tracking, placing research orders, or research billing review? OnCore and APeX Research Trainers are hosting office hours monthly.
September 27 | 4.pm., Mission Hall, Room 1402
The Junior Scientist Seminar is a monthly seminar series and networking event exclusively for early-career researchers (pre-doctoral school). Join us as we celebrate our one-year anniversary with great presentations and cake!
September 28 | 4-6 p.m., Byers Auditorium and Zoom
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October 4 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Gene Friend Way Plaza
Join us for the return of Block Party. Enjoy music, games, prizes and so much more!
October 5 | 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Millberry Union Conference Center
The symposium showcases research and action to advance health equity and anti-racism. This year’s keynote speaker is Thomas LaVeist, PhD, dean of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Register today at tiny.ucsf.edu/RegisterHear23.
Fall 2023 IHPS + IMPACT Policy Skills Series
Evidence-to-policy webinars and workshops for the UCSF community.
• Collaborating with Community-Based Advocacy Organizations & Coalitions for Policy Change
October 11 | noon - 1 p.m., Zoom
Speakers include Kim Rhodes, MD, MS, MPH, associate professor, UCSF;
Mara Decker, DrPH, associate professor, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies; Jane Thomas, executive director, Marcus Foster Education Initiative; and Alicia Dixon, MPH, director of health services, Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission.
• How to Brief Policymakers
October 24 | 2-5 p.m., Mission Bay Campus
• Impacting Policy Internationally
November 8 | noon - 1 p.m., Zoom
This November 7 workshop will convene community members along with health system professionals, biomedical investigators, and AI tool developers, to consider systemic flaws in data collection, datasets, and AI tools, and how resultant algorithmic injustices can be uncovered and addressed, enabling equitable advances in precision medicine.
Honor a UCSF School of Nursing alumnus or faculty member for their outstanding contributions to nursing science and research.
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The UCSF CIRM is accepting applications from trainees proposing stem cell and gene therapy projects. Appointments with stipends for 4 predoctoral graduate students, 6 postdoctoral fellows, and 1 clinical fellow available starting Dec 1. Deadline: September 22.
The Resource Allocation Program (RAP), which manages the dissemination, submission, review and award of various intramural funding opportunities, is accepting applications for the fall 2023 funding cycle. Deadline is October 2, 2 p.m.
The Last Mile Grant Supplements support the dissemination of completed research (either one study or a body of research) to policymakers in governmental and non-governmental sectors. Award amount: $4000. Brief application in the RAP Portal. Deadline: October 2.
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NIH Seeks Input on Proposed Revisions |
The NIH seeks input on proposed revisions to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules.
Part of the proposal seeks to:
- Clarify the minimum containment requirement for research involving GDMOs; and
- Articulate considerations for risk assessment and define institutional responsibilities for Institutional Biosafety Committees and Biosafety Officers.
These proposed changes are consistent with recommendations contained in the Novel and Exceptional Technology and Research Advisory Committee (NExTRAC) report, Gene Drives in Biomedical Research.
The deadline for submitting comments is October 16. Contact Biosafety Officer at peili.zhu@ucsf.edu if you have input or questions for these potential policy changes.
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Information, Trainings, and Tools |
The Office of Clinical Trials Activation is here to help with study start-up. View the steps and resources on our new webpage! Our Operations team facilitates the start-up process within OCTA and is your main point of contact. Reach the Operations team at clinicaltrials@ucsf.edu.
Do you have ideas for using AI (e.g., OpenAI, other large language models)? Are you planning a grant submission involving the use of AI? Let us know by scheduling a free consultation.
The HRPP website has been updated to state that in general, the IRB does not allow the disclosure of identifiable data outside of UCSF Health or UCSF campus without the participant’s explicit consent. While the guidance itself is not new, it was not previously included on the HRPP website.
All ranks encouraged to apply; deadline is October 8.
More Than the Science!
October 12 | 11 a.m. - noon via webinar
Underappreciated aspects of grant writing are strategy, salesmanship, and formatting. This CTSI webinar features Anusha Vable, ScD, MPH, who will discuss how to get your grant. Contact Helen Araga to register.
Designed to provide information and resources for conducting clinical research at UCSF, this training for PIs will be held November 2 and 3. Attend one or more sessions – topics include Hiring and Managing Research Staff, Study Start-Up, Research Billing, Recruitment, and IRB and Safety Reporting.
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Infrastructure and Operations |
Upcoming Changes to PPE Program
Changes are coming to UCSF’s lab coat distribution and laundry program. Beginning in October, UCSF will no longer provide personalized laboratory coats. Instead, researchers will be able to exchange a soiled lab coat for a clean coat at any ChemCentral managed location. Stay tuned for more details.
UCSF Guidance on the Implementation of the UC Research Data Policy is now available on the UCSF Data Resources webpage.
Guidance and Safety Plan Template available to meet off-campus and off-site research requirements for NSF applications.
For fume hood alarm malfunctions, contact EH&S Hazardous Materials Management, based on your campus location. We’ll investigate and work with facilities to promptly fix the issue. Remember: Stop work and close all open containers until the fume hood can be fixed.
Study teams may request pricing if OCTA is NOT preparing the full study budget (e.g., non-profit funded studies, budgets developed by the study department, etc.).
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Read past ReSearch ReSource issues.
ideas of interest to our research community.
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