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SCI/TBI Advisory Council Meeting September 24, 2007 HSC 333
Attendees: Barry Timms, Grady Kickul, Leo Hallan, Chris Olson, Jim Tesch, John Koch
Agenda: (No Formal Agenda)
Leo discussed the projects going on at Sanford recently. There was a Bioness Presentation held in August that dealt with foot drop and muscle restoration. There was also an elbow unit presentation held recently. Both of these seems to be very effective tools.
The recent approaches to Avera, Sanford, Aberdeen, Rapid City, and the VA systems have gotten little response. The only reply thus far has been from Sanford. Leo spoke very briefly with Maria Klomm of Sanford, and there has not been much interest there. Overall, it seems like the researchers are interested but there needs to be more interest generated from others, too.
Dr. Timms spoke with Dr. Morecraft and asked whether or not the council would consider supporting/establishing research in the basic sciences. Morecraft brought up some promising avenues that are being researched including a genomic facility in Vermillion that he may use to extend his research and could be potential for an NIH grant. Dr. Timms believes that the council’s best interest would be served in helping/sponsoring other systems in the basic sciences area. It would be favorable to support Dr. Morecraft’s new direction because it is ‘new.’ It was decided that Dr. Morecraft would be invited to the next meeting to discuss his research and new directions.
Dakota Dunes has a new group doing research that has contacted the basic sciences at USD and was interested in doing collaborative research. They focus on imaging, and if Morecraft extends his research into genomics, he could collaborate with this imaging group also. There is potential for improving equipment in the genomic department too.
We are at a point now where we can accept proposals. We are back at a ‘starting’ point with about $190,000. We have previously funded equipment, but it has always had research strings attached. The 1:1 match is part of the executive order.
At the present time, the council does not have any agreement with the funded researchers that requires a final report. John Koch handed out a draft of the form he has created that the council could use in order to get a final report from researchers. There are 2 parts to the form: the principle investigator describes what he accomplished, and the amounts of funding and where/how they were distributed. It was agreed that the council use Dr. Koch’s report for council documentation.
Jim Sears’ project was thoroughly discussed because funds have been distributed, but research has not moved forward at this point. The council discussed giving him a deadline or timeframe to have something put together or to give the funding back. It was decided to have Sears send back the funds and allow him to reapply for funding again. If he is still interested, he should be motivated to reapply. John and Leo will draft a letter explaining this decision to send to Sears. It will be an official letter from the council.
The council would like to begin plans for another Research Symposium to be held in the Spring of 2008. We need to begin finding funds for the symposium.
The council should decide with Dr. Morecraft where the funding for him will go. That will help us decide how much funding we have available for pilot programs. Then the council can send another letter out letting people know once again that funding is available.
The (rough draft) timeline was proposed as following:
(next few months)- consider Morecraft’s projects April 2008- Research Symposium June 1 2008- Planning deadline (pilot grants) July 1 2008- start-up planning
June 30, 2009- last date for projects to operate July 1, 2009- September 30, 2009- flex time October 1- December 31, 2009- USD/Council final reports
Next meeting: late November, early December
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