University Research Council
January 21, 2010
Meeting Summary
Multidisciplinary
Grant Project Report
Caterina Rosano, Associate Professor in the Department of
Epidemiology, reported on the status of her multidisciplinary grant project,
which deals with mobility issues and aging.
Her project is entitled Geriatric Research in Ambulatory and Cognitive
Excellence (GRACE). The GRACE team uses
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to provide insights into the
relationship between neurological aging and mobility impairment. They studied a group of 324 community-dwelling
older adults and thoroughly defined the nature of brain abnormalities for
specific regions and connecting tracts. Dr.
Rosano is now working with mathematicians and computer scientists to analyze
the large quantity of data that her team produced. Through this analysis, they hope to establish
guidelines for improving and sustaining the quality of life for senior
citizens. Faculty members from
Departments of Epidemiology, Mathematics, Computer Science and the Center for
Simulation and Modeling participate in the project.
Report from the
Office of Research
Allen DiPalma, Director of the Office of Research, discussed
several items related to the University’s electronic grants and contracts management
software. The Office continues to offer
software training to research administrators and faculty members; created an
activity log so that his staff and principal investigators can better track
proposals; and hopes to streamline the proposal submission process through the
use of electronic signatures.
Mr. DiPalma also mentioned the NSF’s new research
integrity requirements. The NSF will
require undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who
perform NSF-funded research to undertake research integrity training. The University will employ the University's
Internet Studies in Education and Research's (lSER)
Research Integrity Module to meet the NSF mandate.
Mr. DiPalma addressed several other issues:
This year’s federal agencies trip will take place on Sunday
and Monday, March 21 and 22. Faculty
members from engineering and the science departments will travel to
Miscellaneous
The National Institute of Standards and Technology awarded
a grant to the University, which will help improve facilities in the
Departments of Physics and Geology and Planetary Sciences.
All peer-reviewed manuscripts arising from NIH funds must
be made publicly available on PubMed Central, the NIH’s digital archive of full-text, peer-reviewed
manuscripts and articles.
Council members also discussed: