Winthrop INBRE Update
Presented to
SC-INBRE
External Advisory Committee
November 2005
CHE Research Performance Data
for South Carolina State Teaching Universities
Teaching University
FY03-04 Sponsored Research*
S.C. State Univ.
College of Charleston
Coastal Carolina Univ.
U.S.C. – Aiken
Francis Marion Univ.
U.S.C. – Upstate
$3,470,643
$3,418,957
$1,382,317
$ 699,707
$ 284,113
$ 220,597
Citadel
Lander Univ.
U.S.C. – Beaufort
$ 101,570
$
11,713
$
7,613
Winthrop University
Total
$ 217,617
$9,814,840
*based upon CHE Step 2 Research numbers (representing 30% of FY 03-04 sponsored research expenditures) obtained from
http://www.che.sc.gov/Finance/Fin/MRRManual/MRR_Booklet05-06_II.pdf, accessed Nov 20, 2005.
Defining The Winthrop Experience:
What We Promise Students and Families
“ As a predominantly residential learning university,
Winthrop focuses on fully engaging students in
developing the capacity to become leaders in their
professions and leaders in their communities. Over their
years of undergraduate study, Winthrop students have the
opportunity to participate in a highly personalized,
engaging and progressively developmental series of
experiences that will build within them the capacity to
read, write and think about themselves and the world
around them in ever more meaningful and purpose-driven
ways, both personally and professionally.
Slide from President DiGiorgio’s “Education by Design” April 2005 Presentation to Winthrop
Defining The Winthrop Experience:
What We Promise Students and Families
“At Winthrop, a high-achieving, diverse student
body interacts with talented, national-caliber
faculty and staff in ways intentionally designed
to prompt thought, reflection and a life-long quest
for knowledge and understanding.
Conversations that begin in classrooms
extend across the campus community,
complemented by an extraordinary range of
cultural events, service-learning activities,
guided research and other transformational
opportunities.”
That is The Winthrop Experience.
Slide from President DiGiorgio’s “Education by Design” April 2005 Presentation to Winthrop
Winthrop’s INBRE Objectives
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
Dramatically expand biomedical research capacity
Increase the competitiveness of faculty for external biomedical research
funding
Establish a strong biomedical research infrastructure core
Provide students with a strong interdisciplinary foundation in the
biomedical sciences
Increase the number and the percentage of biology and chemistry
graduates that enter biomedical research fields
Recruit, train, and mentor students from underrepresented groups to
increase the number and the percentage of female and minority graduates
that pursue biomedical research
Winthrop University Organization
• President (Dr. Anthony J. DiGiorgio)
– VP for Academic Affairs (Dr. Moore) INBRE
Steering Committee ex-officio nonvoting member
• Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (Dr. Boyd) INBRE
Steering Committee ex-officio nonvoting member
– Chairs, Departments of Biology (Johnston) & Chemistry
(Owens) Winthrop INBRE Project Co-Directors
» Chemistry Faculty (Lammi, Parker, and Sumter- INBRE
Investigators; Calloway – INBRE Core Lab Director)
» Biology Faculty (Dimaculangan, Glasscock, and
Westover- INBRE Investigators)
The Winthrop
INBRE Experience:
Winthrop Steering Committee
Project Mentors
Project Co-Directors
Project Investigators
Reporting Lines
Core Laboratory Facility
Technical Direction
Lines
Coordination
Lines
Winthrop Steering Committee
(Meeting Dates of Sep 9, 2004 & Dec 2, 2005)
• Ralph Meyer Director, Biology Division, Orthopaedic Research
Laboratory,Carolinas Medical Center,Charlotte, NC
• Frank Berger Director, Center for Colon Cancer Research and
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, USC
• Merle Schuh Councilor, Council of Undergraduate Research and
Professor of Chemistry, Davidson College
• Gary Schwartz Scientific Director, Prostate Cancer Center for
Excellence, Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University,
Winston Salem, NC
• Debra Boyd (ex-officio nonvoting member) Dean of the College of Arts
and Sciences, Winthrop University
• Tom Moore (ex-officio nonvoting member) Vice-President for Academic
Affairs, Winthrop University
Project Investigators (Mentors)
• Dwight Dimaculangan (Carver - USC)
Stem Cell-Augmented Repair in a Bioengineered Cardiac Model
• Laura Glasscock (Church – UNC,Teigland - CMC)
The Role of Thrombomodulin in Prostate Cancer-Associated Angiogenesis
• Robin Lammi (Dawson - USC, Holten - Wash U)
Monitoring Metal-Ion Concentration and Metal-Induced Conformational Change at the
Level of Single Ions and Enzymes
• Chasta Parker (Sodetz – USC, Lebioda - USC)
Structural Studies of a Recombinant Membrane Interacting Region of Complement
Component C8a and Adiponectin Membrane Receptor 1
• Takita Sumter (F. Berger - USC)
Functional Mapping of High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) Binding Domains Required for
Tumor Transformation
• Kristi Westover (Hughes - USC)
Hepatitis B Virus: Adaptive Evolution of Immune Recognition and Evasion
Core INBRE Lab
Director + Four Scientists
Investigator
Core Lab Capability
SEM/TEM/Fluor. Microscopy
Dimaculangan
Tissue/Cell Culture Facilities
VX has the chemical
Investigator
name
methylphosphonothioic
acid, S-[2-[bis(1-
Parker
Real-Time PCR
DNA Sequencer
Glasscock
Sumter
FPLC & Perf. Protein Purification
Electrospray Mass Spectrometer
Molecular Modeling Center
Lammi
Cold Room Facility
Westover
ELISA Facilities
Ultracentrifuge and Autoclave
Facilities and
Infrastructure: Objectives & Progress
1)
Procure $100K of biomedical research equipment – Planning completed
and quotes obtained in June, orders delayed until August 17, 2005,
$117K now on order, ~2/3 of equipment now at Winthrop
Install cold room - Ordered and partially installed, several parts on
backorder, Jan 2006 expected operational date
Make necessary facility modifications and equip offices for staff
scientists – Classroom being converted (Dec ’05 completion), office
furniture ordered, completion in Jan ’06.
Complete four staff scientist searches - All four ongoing:
2)
3)
4)
»
»
Two MS Scientists (12 month “Research Staff Scientist” positions, 100%
Core time) interviews to be conducted soon (Feb 1, 2006 start)
Two Ph.D. Scientists (9 month “Assistant Professor of Biology (Chemistry)”
positions, 50% core time) Aug 15, 2006 start
Faculty Development: Objectives & Progress
1)
AY06-07: Three Faculty submit research proposals; AY07-08 and all
succeeding years: Six biomedical research proposals submitted annually
»
2)
$165K proposal submitted to NSF RIG program in July 2005 by Takita
Sumter (PI)
AY 04-05: Four staff scientist positions approved. AY 05-06: Laboratory
chemist position approved. AY 05-06: Obtain FTE approval for two
regenerative medicine faculty positions.
»
»
Four Staff Scientist INBRE FTE’s submitted by Winthrop to South Carolina
during AY04-05 were disapproved by the State.
Renewed requests for these four and the remaining additional three FTE’s
have been submitted to the Dean for inclusion within Winthrop’s AY05-06
request to State.
Student Development: Objectives & Progress
1)
AY 09-10: At least 20 students engaged in biomedical research projects
»
»
2)
Summer 2005: 12 Students engaged in biomedical research, half supported by Winthrop Research
Council Funds. September 9, 2005 poster session.
Fall 2005: 13 Students engaged in biomedical research
AY 09-10: 20 students make conference presentations and five students are co-authors on
peer-reviewed publications from biomedical research
»
»
3)
Three student presentations at national conferences in AY04-05, six at SCAS in Mar 05
Three abstracts submitted for spring 2006 national ACS meeting; two abstracts for 2006 ASBMB
submitted, multiple NCUR submissions being prepared.
AY 05-06: Develop a formal recruitment plan. A recruitment plan will be developed after
the initial advisory committee meeting in December
AY 04-05: Continue discussions and review similar programs being implemented. AY 0506: Develop integrated biomedical science curriculum. AY 06-07: Gain curricula approval
for biomedical program
4)
»
Discussions on the biomedical curriculum will be a focus after the advisory committee meeting in
December 2005. ASBMB and BIO2010 recommendations being examined
Summary of Budget Changes
• $11,916 Balance from Summer Salaries
• + Balance due to separate student funding from May 15June 30, INBRE start date of July 1, 2005, and one Project
Investigator’s maternity leave
– These funds being reallocated for equipment upgrade
(centrifuge accessories), for critical supplies, for a spring
graduate student stipend, and for undergraduate research
assistantships
• $3,000 mentor and advisor travel expense budget
allocation to also be used to cover Winthrop Steering
Committee meeting Dec 2, 2005
Investigator-Mentor Interactions
and Progress of Research
Mentor-Investigator Interactions
– All six projects interacting with mentors through emails & phone calls
– Four mentor visits to Winthrop – Dawson (2), Sodetz, and Berger
– Many investigators have made multiple visits to mentor sites – Parker USC,
Dimaculangan USC, Sumter USC, Glasscock CMC, Lammi Wash U (Jan ’06), Westover
USC
– Project progress reports all providing evidence of active mentorship
Research Progress Lessons Learned to Date
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Investigator time is a critical commodity
At risk ordering is a must, shift procurement burden from investigators
Need for staff scientist core support
Increased availability of Core Lab Director during summer
Service contracts on critical equipment items
Need to replace obsolete equipment to improve research productivity
Need for improved communications with facilities management
Equipment Infrastructure
Continuous Modernization Plan
Funds Required to Sustain Equipment Infrastructure
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Annual funds to operate and maintain
Annual funds to update and upgrade
Annual funds for service and repair
Capital funds for replacement when obsolete
Capital funds for new technologies
Possible Sources of Equipment Funds
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Increased operating budgets (University equipment fees)
Winthrop Foundation equipment endowment and grant match accounts
Faculty development of external equipment grants
Reinvestment of indirect costs from external grants
Increased student laboratory fees
User fees from local industry
Revenues from summer school
Supplemental State allocations for science equipment