SSTI Digest

Last week the NIH issued a request for comments regarding potential changes to existing federal regulations covering conflicts of interest in the design, conduct, or reporting of NIH-affiliated research. Through an Advanced Notice of Public Rule Making (ANPRM), the regulations include topics such as:

Expanding the scope of regulation and disclosure interests; Refining the definition of a "significant financial interest"; Determining how institutions can identify and manage conflicts; Assuring institutional compliance; Providing additional information to the Public Health Service (PHS); and, Broadening regulations to address institutional conflicts of interest.

The comment period is open until July 7, 2009 and opinions may be submitted online, by fax, or by mail.

W. Steven Burke is the new president of Biofuels Center of North Carolina.

Bill Gimson has been named executive director of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Gimson recently retired as the chief operating officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Jeremy Hill has been named the director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University. Hill replaces Janet Harrah, who left the post for Northern Kentucky University.

The budget agreement passed by Maryland lawmakers earlier this month includes funding for several initiatives in support of Gov. Martin O'Malley's plan to invest more than $1 billion over ten years in Maryland's biotechnology industry. Declining state revenues as a result of the recession were not without their impact, however.

A key component of the Bio 2020 Initiative is the state's investment in stem cell research. To this end, lawmakers approved $15.4 million for the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund administered by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO).  This appropriation is $2.6 million less than the total funds available in FY09 and $3 million less than the governor's recommendation. TEDCO also will receive the governor's full recommendation of $3.7 million ($600,000 less than last year) for technology development, transfer and commercialization.

SSTI has an effective new learning tool for TBED policymakers and practitioners seeking guidance in approaches to building and sustaining tech-based economies. Through exclusive interviews with Excellence in TBED Award recipients, find out first-hand how these award winning initiatives successfully responded to a critical need by applying innovative approaches to generate substantial economic gains for their region. Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program (MIPS) 2007 Winner for the Improving Competitiveness of Existing Industries category

With a $25 million funding opportunity currently on the streets for manufacturing and infrastructure research projects, the Technology Innovation Program (TIP) has added three more locations and dates for proposers' conferences next week. The free public meetings will provide general information regarding TIP, guidance on preparing proposals, and the opportunity for questions and answers. NIST/TIP staff will answer questions about the TIP eligibility and cost-sharing requirements, evaluation and award criteria, selection process, and the general characteristics of a competitive TIP proposal at the Proposers' Conferences and by phone and email.

Monday, April 13, 2009 Boston Massachusetts 1PM - 5PM Eastern Time Marriott Boston Cambridge

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 Detroit Michigan 1PM - 5PM Eastern Time Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center

The Technology Innovation Program (TIP) in the National Institute of Standards and Technology is using its FY09 award competition to support high-risk, high-reward research in civil infrastructure and manufacturing. The program has $25 million available to support as many as 25 new awards. TIP is open to individual small-sized or medium-sized businesses or to joint ventures that also may include institutions of higher education, nonprofit research organizations and national laboratories. TIP awards are limited to no more than $3 million total over three years for a single company project and no more than $9 million total over five years for a joint venture.

The following overview is a synopsis of select recent announcements from research parks across the nation, including groundbreakings and development plans to support vibrant regional economies based on science, technology and innovation. 

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick's secretary of Housing and Economic Development, Daniel O'Connell, resigned for personal reasons and was replaced by Greg Bialecki, an undersecretary who has been responsible for business development

SRI International announced that Stephen Ciesinski has been appointed Vice President of Strategic Business Development.

John Fremstad has left his post at the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission to join the BE&K Building Group.

DATELINE: RICHMOND, Va.

The following information was released by the office of the governor of Virginia:

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:

* denotes reappointment

Medical Advisory Board for the Department of Motor Vehicles

Juan A. Astruc Jr., M.D.* of Glen Allen, partner at the Retina Institute of Virginia;

Parker C. Dooley, M.D. of Accomack County, medical director of Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc.;

Anil Kumar, M.D.* of Glen Allen, assistant professor for MCV-VCU Health Systems;

Thomas Pellegrino, M.D.* of Norfolk, associate dean for education at Eastern Virginia Medical School;

John Sheppard, M.D.* of Cape Charles, president of Virginia Eye Consultants.

State Lottery Board

Susan Smith Feaster* of Loudoun County, chairman of the board and CEO of the World Leadership Institute.

In support of the state's goal to attract and grow biotechnology companies, Gov. Martin O'Malley's executive budget recommends increasing by $400,000 the state's investment in stem cell research, while maintaining current funding for biotechnology tax credits and slightly increasing the appropriation for the Nanotech Biotechnology Initiative Fund.

Pennsylvania Gov.

Gov. Jim Douglas plans to merge the Vermont Departments of Economic Development and Housing and Community Affairs.