ANNOUNCEMENTS

IRBNet—A Fully Electronic IRB Submission and Review System—Will Launch September 2009

Researchers & Collaborators Can Access IRBNet From Virtually Any Computer Using a Web Browser

Adoption of IRBNet by Baystate's Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) and their 2 IRBs is an important step towards reducing manual and paper-based procedures, and streamlining protocol submission and review processes. IRBNet provides Baystate's research community with a robust set of electronic tools supporting the management, submission, review and oversight of our research protocols.  Features include:

• electronic document management

• web-based protocol sharing and collaboration

• automatic notifications

• electronic submissions and reviews

• important audit capabilities, such as electronic revision histories, electronic signatures and event tracking. 

In addition, IRBNet is secure, web-based, and extremely intuitive and easy to use. 

Transition Period: August 3 - September 7

During the transition from the current system to IRBNet—August 3 through September 7—the IRBs will not accept new protocol submissions and amendments that are not time-sensitive. Continuing reviews and amendments that affect the safety, health, rights, or welfare of subjects will be accepted during the transition.  Starting September 8, all protocols (including revisions and renewals) must be submitted electronically via IRBNet.

In the near future, IRBNet will also go-live for the BMC IACUC, Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), and some Sponsored Programs Administration functions, including budget and contract development. 

For additional information, please contact Maureen Sgueglia at 794-8102 or by email at Maureen.Sgueglia@baystatehealth.org

Health Sciences Library has Revamped Article Request Procedure for Tufts Faculty and Residents

Use the New 'Tufts Faculty' LInk on Their Navigation Menu

Using the "Search PubMed' link on the new Tufts Faculty page has the advantage of displaying search results that indicate articles that are available at Tufts Hirsh Health Sciences Library as well as at the Baystate Medical Center Health Sciences Library.  This eliminates the need to search through 2 different PubMed entry points, and better represents the resources available to Tufts faculty or BMC residents. 

Searching With the New Tufts Faculty PubMed Portal

Navigate to the Tufts Faculty page and enter your UTLN and password. Articles available at Tufts or Baystate are marked with an institutional icon that you can click to download. If the article is unavailable from Tufts or Baystate, available only in print, or if you are prompted to pay for an article, place an order through the Health Sciences Library.

Ordering Articles

To place an order, check the boxes of the desired articles and pull down the “Send to” menu on the PubMed search screen.  You will be prompted to register or sign in to a Loansome Doc account.  Please choose Baystate as your local library.  The library will handle associated costs—your cost center will be billed only if you exceed 100 articles in a fiscal year (October-September).  The articles are sent to your Baystate email.  Orders can be tracked through your Loansome Doc account.

Questions?  Please call the library at 4-1865 or email library@baystatehealth.org. 

Baystate Health Continuing Education Seeking Courses for 2009-2010 Academic Year

The Continuing Education Office is completing its calendar for regional courses. Please email Joanna.Barnett@baystatehealth.org if you have suggestions for a CE course or would like to plan an event for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Research Incubator Fund Call for Proposals

Letter of Intent Due October 5

The goal of this Fund is to provide support to encourage research by BMERF and BH physicians with the intent of securing external funding. Initial funding of projects approved in this next cycle begins in early 2010.

Key financial support for this endeavor has been committed by BMERF, the Office of Academic Affairs, SAS, BRI, and WNERTA. Grants are awarded for up to 3 years with rigorous mandatory annual review focused on progress towards stated goals. Total anticipated Year One disbursement is $100,000-$150,000 total with $20,000-$50,000 per grant.

Interested investigators should visit the Research Incubator Fund page on Academic Affairs' eWorkplace site.

TUSM Certificate Program in Clinical Research Starts in July

Applications Now Being Accepted

The Certificate Program in Clinical Research, offered via Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and Tufts University Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, is Intended for physicians and other clinicians who would like to get a solid background in clinical research in order to participate and conduct clinical research and to mentor trainees.

Applications for admission for the summer semester, starting in July 2009 are now being accepted. Clinicians of all specialties and from all Tufts affiliated hospitals and organizations are encouraged to apply. (Download brochure pdf)

For additional information or for questions on how to apply, contact Jeanne Connolly at jconnolly@tuftsmedicalcenter.org or 617-636-8793.

Deadline For Russo Family Charitable Foundation Trust Grant Proposals is July 10, 2009

Internal Funding Opportunity Intended to Lead to New NIH Dual Investigator Grant Application

This internal funding opportunity, through a grant from the Russo Family Charitable Foundation Trust to Tufts University School of Medicine, is intended to stimulate collaboration which can later seek NIH funding through the new co-PI grant mechanism. Proposals should involve two equal P.I.s. Any TUSM faculty may apply provided there is a collaboration with at least one faculty member based in the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences on the downtown TUSM campus. Historically, individual awards have ranged between $15,000 and $20,000. For more information about the new co-PI grant mechanism, visit the multiple PIs page on the NIH website.

The Russo Foundation provided this gift in the interest of stimulating break-through research at TUSM and its affiliated teaching hospitals in the years ahead. (Download the application form)

Kosher Meals Available for Residents and Fellows

Frozen kosher meals are available in the North Café and Friendly’s for purchase. Residents and fellows can heat the meal in a microwave in the cafeteria dining area, or take the frozen meal from the cafeteria for preparation in a microwave elsewhere.

Residents and fellows who request kosher meals for teaching conferences have the option of having Food Services prepare and provide individual meals from kosher frozen meals. Please speak with the Education Coordinator to request this.

The standard fare for meals for teaching conferences accommodates other dietary requests such as vegetarian diets.