NCABR held its two-day IACUC 2017 training conference – in collaboration with expert speakers from throughout its membership and the nation – on May 4-5 at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park.

The program, which addressed topics such as regulatory burden, training and competency assessment and the interface of IACUCs and experimental design, drew 98 people from 34 research institutions from North Carolina and nine other states (CT, FL, MA, MD, NY, OH, PA, SC and WI).

The presenting sponsor of the 2017 conference was the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Additional sponsorships were provided by Duke University, East Carolina University, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and North Carolina Central University.

To view the conference photo gallery, click here. To view the conference agenda, click here.

For the past 23 years, NCABR has partnered with its membership to host one-day K-12 teacher professional development workshops on hot topics relating to bioscience research and careers.

While it is common for most all of the programs in the annual Rx for Science Literacy workshop series to draw 22-25 participants and as many people on a waiting list per program, NCABR workshop coordinators were stunned this winter when 106 teachers registered to attend a workshop on human genetic variation in February. Never before had so many teachers attempted to attend a single program in the annual series, which averages eight workshops per year.

“It took us aback to see such a tremendous outpouring of teachers who were interested in attending a single program,” said NCABR President Suzanne Wilkison of the workshop that took place February 10 at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park.

“We have grown accustomed to the programs in the Rx for Science Literacy series having enough teachers on each waiting list to fill a second workshop,” Wilkison said. “To have 75 teachers on a waiting list — enough to fill three additional workshops – in addition to the 31 teachers who actually were able to attend the program is just phenomenal. It speaks to the vital importance of research institutions opening their doors and allowing our educators to visit and learn from their scientists. This is something that just hasn’t diminished over the years – the need for K-12 educators to connect with bioscience researchers to share information that will flow back to our children in the schools.”

Since the workshop series began in 1994, more than 4,660 teachers from 96 of North Carolina’s 100 counties have participated in 255 workshops held throughout the state at dozens of NCABR member research facilities.

The popular Rx for Science Literacy workshop in February featured an NIH curriculum about the basics of human genetics, and it addressed the potential to improve human health and applications for understanding human evolution. The workshop also featured instruction by Dr. Kathleen Vandiver, Director of the Community Outreach and Education Core at the Center for Environmental Health Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Vandiver instructed the teachers using the MIT Egerton Center RNA/DNA curriculum and protein sets, which were developed with a grant from NIEHS.

MIT’s Dr. Kathy Vandiver

“We were grateful for Dr. Vandiver’s willingness to come to North Carolina to work with our educators,” said Regina Williams, NCABR’s Director of Programs, who coordinates all K-12 teacher workshops and programming. “When you have 106 teachers attempt to attend a single workshop, you know there is substantial interest in the science and in the curriculum resources. It’s our mission to make sure our state’s K-12 educators have access to the latest bioscience research content. Our goal going forward is to continue these workshops, and with any hope, bring Dr. Vandiver back to North Carolina to share her expertise with more teachers who may have wanted to participate in her program this past winter but were unable to do so due to capacity limitations.”

Ms. Williams noted the ongoing need for more workshop sponsorships and that those institutions interested in sponsoring a teacher workshop for K-12 educators should contact her at rwilliams@ncabr.org. “We long have been unable to meet teacher demand for our workshops,” Williams said. “It’s a rewarding experience for the scientists, and it’s a valuable exchange of information for all attendees. If you have scientists, then we’ll bring the teachers – as many as you can accommodate. We just never seem to run out of interested educators, even after so many years of running these programs.”

NCABR is accepting applications for session presenters and poster presenters for the 2017 Bridging the Gap K-16 STEM education conference, which will be held October 24-25 at the North Carolina State University McKimmon Conference & Training Center in Raleigh.

STEM stakeholders, including K-12 educators and administrators, higher education faculty and students, and those representing nonprofit organizations, government agencies and other STEM groups, are invited to submit applications to present at the conference.

Presenters are asked to share resources and best-practices in STEM education. Presentations should be interactive and engaging and should foster collaboration between North Carolina’s K-16 STEM education communities.

All submissions are due June 15. To apply to present a session, click here. To apply to present a poster, click here.

To register to attend Bridging the Gap 2017, click here. Early bird registration rates apply until September 1.

To view conference photos, click here.

More than 400 people from 53 North Carolina counties and five states attended NCABR’s fifth annual Bridging the Gap: Uniting North Carolina K-16 STEM Education conference Oct. 25-26 in Raleigh.

Inaugural STEM Education Awards
At the 2016 conference, NCABR bestowed its first-ever Distinguished Teaching Award in STEM Education to two K-16 educators who work in North Carolina. The inaugural recipients of the award were Rahman Tashakkori, Ph.D., Lowe’s Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Appalachian State University; and Joann Blumenfeld, a high school teacher in the Wake County Public School System.

Rahman Tashakkori, Ph.D., (Appalachian State University) receives the Distinguished Teaching Award in STEM Education from NCABR President Suzanne Wilkison at BTG 2016.

Joann Blumenfeld (Wake County Public School System) receives the Distinguished Teaching Award in STEM Education at BTG 2016.

NCABR’s Distinguished Teaching Award in STEM Education is designed to recognize educators at the elementary, middle and high school levels and higher education faculty who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.

Attendees at the October 2016 conference were encouraged to apply for the 2017 awards. Those wishing to nominate an educator for the 2017 awards should submit an application to NCABR no later than March 31, 2017. Complete details are here.

Conference Agenda Highlights
More than 100 presentations and nearly 140 presenters from across North Carolina and beyond were a part of the 2016 conference. All corners of the STEM education community were represented — including K-12 education, higher education, industry, state government and STEM nonprofits such as museums and educational initiatives. To view the complete conference agenda, click here.

The program included inspiring keynote presentations by:

• Andrew Koch, executive vice president and chief academic leadership and innovation officer for the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education, who spoke on the topic of “Gateway Courses: Barriers to Completion or Pathways to a Better Life?”
• Amy Podurgal with VitalSmarts, who discussed “The Five Crucial Conversations for Educational Excellence.”
• Andrés Ruzo, National Geographic Explorer and founder and director of the Boiling River Project, who discussed “Building Bridges: A Nat Geo Explorer’s Take on STEM, Exploration and Making an Impact.”
• Damon Tweedy, M.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, a staff physician at the Durham Veteran Affairs Medical Center, and New York Times bestselling author of the book, Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine, who discussed “STEM Pipeline Diversity: A Remedy for Health Disparities?”

Additional program highlights included:

• Presentations that addressed topics such as starting a STEM program; best practices in undergraduate teaching; developing industry and community connections; reaching low socioeconomic status, rural, urban and minority students; and creating collaborations that explore the interdisciplinary nature of STEM.
• Hands-on and outreach expo sessions.
• A dedicated exhibitor area with dozens of booths.
• “Exhibitor Showcase” sessions that provided an opportunity for attendees to connect with premium exhibitors and engage in hands-on activities using the most up-to-date STEM resources.
• Poster sessions that provided conference attendees with updated information about practical, quality STEM research representing a wide range of interests.
• The STEM Unconference, which brought together attendees with similar interests for presentations, workshops, demonstrations and discussions.

The 2016 Bridging the Gap conference was sponsored by the Biogen Foundation (presenting sponsor), along with the Burroughs Wellcome Fund; the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center; National Geographic Learning and Cengage Learning; Novozymes; the North Carolina Biotechnology Center; Davidson College; UNC Charlotte’s Research and Economic Development & the Charlotte Research Institute; Meredith College; N.C. State University College of Science’s The Science House; the Appalachian State University Office of Research; and North Carolina Central University.

The North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research announces the appointment of 12 members to its Board of Directors, all unanimously approved at the June 15 annual meeting at Duke University.

Newly Elected Board Members (three-year terms):

Dr. Mladen Vouk, Department Head and Distinguished Professor, Department of Computer Science; Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Development; Director, NC State Data Science Initiative; NC State University

Dr. Marlena Westcott, Assistant Professor in Microbiology & Immunology, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Wake Forest Baptist Health

Re-elected Board Members (three-year terms):

Dr. Ruben Carbonell, Frank Hawkins Kenan Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering; Director, Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center; Director, Kenan Institute; NC State University

Dr. Mark Clemens, Professor, Department of Biology, UNC Charlotte

Dr. Chris Duffrin, Educational Specialist and Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University

Dr. Craig Fletcher, Director, Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine; Assistant Dean for Animal Research Resources; Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; UNC Chapel Hill

Dr. Tonya Hargett, Director for Undergraduate Research, Division of Research and Economic Development, NC A&T State University

Dr. Ronald Hines, Associate Director for Health, Office of Research & Development, NHEERL, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Dr. Robert Lindbergh, Vice President, Science & Technology Development Program, North Carolina Biotechnology Center

Ms. Linda McNally, IACUC Chair; Lecturer, Department of Biology; Davidson College

Dr. Mitchell Picker, Professor, Department of Psychology; IACUC Chair; UNC Chapel Hill

Dr. Michael Van Scott, Interim Vice Chancellor, Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement; Chief Research Officer; East Carolina University

The following Executive Committee members were elected to one-year terms at the June 15 meeting:

Dr. John Norton, Professor of Pathology; University Veterinarian; Director, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources; Duke University (Chair)

Dr. Chris Duffrin, Educational Specialist and Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University (Vice-Chair, Chair-Elect)

Dr. Tonya Hargett, Director for Undergraduate Research, Division of Research and Economic Development, NC A&T State University (Treasurer)

Ms. Colleen Bennett, Oversight and Outreach Manager, Office of Research, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University (Secretary)

Dr. Jeff Everitt, Professor of Pathology, Clinical Services, Duke University

Dr. Craig Fletcher, Director, Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine; Assistant Dean for Animal Research Resources; Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; UNC Chapel Hill

Dr. Kathy Laber, Chief, Comparative Medicine Branch; Attending Veterinarian; Animal Program Director; NIEHS

Dr. Michael Van Scott, Interim Vice Chancellor; Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement; Chief Research Officer; East Carolina University

Dr. Mladen Vouk, Department Head and Distinguished Professor, Department of Computer Science; Associate Vice Chancellor for Research Development; Director, NC State Data Science Initiative; NC State University

A complete listing of the NCABR Board of Directors can be found at www.ncabr.org/about/board/.

More than 135 researchers, security professionals and others attended NCABR’s Three I’s & Biosecurity conference, held April 13-15 in Chapel Hill, in partnership with the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research, the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate and PRIM&R.

The audience represented 61 public and private universities, government, nonprofit research and bioscience institutions from 26 states, D.C. and the country of Georgia.

Special thanks to NCABR members UNC-Chapel Hill, the N.C. Biotechnology Center and N.C. Central University for sponsoring the program, which addressed the emerging and complex challenges that touch the IACUC, IBC and IRB communities — issues relating to nanotechnology, CRISPR technology, importing/exporting and much, much more. Additional topics covered at the conference included dual use, Common Rule revisions, conflict of interest and research integrity.

Additional conference sponsors were  Abbvie and Key Solutions.

Special thanks to the following NCABR members for presenting at the conference:

Charlotte H. Coley, MACT, CIP
Training Coordinator
Office of Human Research Ethics—IRB
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Debra L. Hunt, DRPH, CBSP
Director, Biological Safety Division
Occupational and Environmental Safety Office
Assistant Professor
Duke University

Jennifer Kuzma, Ph.D.
Goodnight-NC GSK Foundation Distinguished Professor
Co-Director, Genetic Engineering and Society Program
School of Public and International Affairs
North Carolina State University

Daniel Nelson
Director, Human Research Protocol Office (HRPO)
National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Jody Power, M.S., MBA, CIP
Executive Director
Institutional Review Board
Duke University Health System

David B. Resnik, J.D., Ph.D.
Bioethicist and IRB Chair
National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences
National Institutes of Health

Marley Thrasher
Manager, Training and Communications
Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development
Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services
North Carolina State University

Daniel Vick
Export Control Compliance Administrator
Office of Sponsored Programs and Regulatory Compliance Services
North Carolina State University

Kathleen M. Vogel, Ph.D.
Director, Science, Technology and Society Program
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
North Carolina State University

Media coverage, extensive NIH participation mark fourth annual NCABR STEM conference

NCABR’s fourth annual Bridging the Gap: Uniting North Carolina K-16 STEM Education conference attracted media attention and included extensive participation from NIH – both firsts for the program series.

The conference, held October 27-28 at the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh, drew 377 speakers and attendees from 42 North Carolina counties and seven other states (AL, MD, NE, NJ, NY, SC and VA).

Time Warner Cable News produced a 90-second story that aired twice on Oct. 27. The first 30 seconds of the interview can be viewed online. The news crew filmed a session led by Rahman Tashakkori, Lowe’s Distinguished Professor of Computer Science in the Department of Computer Science at Appalachian State University.

Education NC, which has more than 2,700 subscribers and also collaborates with traditional media outlets to republish content at no cost, produced this piece with extensive photography and quotes from attendees.

NCABR’s online photo gallery from the conference is here.

Extensive NIH Involvement

NCABR was delighted to have Tony Beck, director of the NIH Office of Science Education and program officer of the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) from the NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs, as a program speaker and exhibitor this year. Dr. Beck led two conference sessions: one for K-12 attendees showcasing SEPA-funded preK-12 educational programs and resources and another session for higher ed faculty about how to apply for SEPA grants. Dr. Beck also distributed more than 1,000 free copies of the NIH curriculum supplements on various biomedical topics to conference attendees at the NIH exhibit booth. While this was not the first time NIH had participated in Bridging the Gap, (Dr. Bruce Fuchs, then director of the NIH Office of Science Education, provided a crowd-favorite keynote address at the inaugural conference in 2012), Dr. Beck’s participation was by far the most extensive partnership with NIH to date.

Sponsors

We thank the following conference sponsors for keeping costs affordable for all attendees: the Biogen Foundation, Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, National Geographic Learning/CENGAGE Learning, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Davidson College, East Carolina University and UNC Charlotte.

For more information

For more information about the 2015 conference, including presentations and photos, please visit http://bridgingthegapnc.com.

Special Thanks

We extend special thanks to the following NCABR board members and others who volunteered from the NCABR membership at this year’s conference: Ron Banks (Duke), Terry Blankenship-Parish (NIEHS), Harriet Burgess (formerly of GSK), Jere Confrey (NCSU), Chris Duffrin (ECU), Melani Duffrin (ECU), Rob Dunn (NCSU), Yolanda Dunston (NCCU), Stephanie Evans (WSSU), Tonya Hargett (NC A&T), Lisa Hibler (NCSU), Julie Johnson (ECU), Jason Painter (NCSU), Liz Parry (NCSU), R. Mitchell Parry (Appstate), Scott Ragan (NCSU), Ashley Roseno (ECU), Dave Small (J.D. Small Consulting), Leyf Starling (NCSU), Holly Sullenger (NCSU), Paola Sztajn (NCSU), Rahman Tashakkori (Appstate), Bill Wade (Duke), Bill Wilkison (Duke) and Chandra Williams (UNCC).

“Creating Connections, Sharing Solutions, Building Strategies” are all components of the Three I’s & Biosecurity conference that will be held April 13-15 at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill. The event will address the emerging and complex challenges that touch the IACUC, IBC and IRB communities — issues relating to nanotechnology, CRISPR technology, importing/exporting and much, much more. This conference is essential for the collaboration that drives the research community forward, enabling attendees to work smarter, not harder.

NCABR is teaming up with the Massachusetts Society for Medical Research and the FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate to present a program with recognized industry experts and compliance professionals who will provide concrete strategies that will allow attendees to stay ahead of challenging regulatory and security issues. Panels and interactive discussion groups promise to offer a multifaceted learning experience.

Half-day workshops will be held April 13 on disaster planning, the ABCs for IACUCs and IBCs, and specialized training for IRBs led by PRIM&R.

As always, employees at NCABR member institutions receive significant registration discounts. Early bird registration rates run through February 24.

To find out more about the conference, to see the agenda and to register, click here.