Hello all!

In true holiday spirit, BBUGS is holding a CANNED FOOD DRIVE beginning Monday, November 23rd (TODAY!) through Thursday, December 17th. Donations go to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and help ensure that families in Atlanta have enough to eat this holiday season! All unopened, unexpired, non-perishable goods are welcome, but if you’re looking for ideas, the food bank lists the following items as “much needed”:

• Peanut Butter
• Canned Tuna
• Canned Beans
• Canned Soups, Stews and Pastas
• 100% Fruit Juice
• Canned Fruits and Vegetables
• Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
• Whole Grain, Low Sugar Cereals

Donations can be made in the bins in the front office of the IBB!

To increase participation and reward your contributions as well as another successful semester completed, we’ll be hosting a Wine Social on December 10th at 5pm.
We encourage you to bring canned or dry goods throughout the food drive. However, we especially ask that you bring an item to the mixer so that while we make merry, we are also able to benefit those who are not so fortunate.

Your BBUGS Social Chairs,

Ian, Rolo, and Katie

The BBUGS Research Committee presents:

“Translating Your Research: IRB Approval and Clinical Trials”

Where: Suddath Seminar Room (IBB 1128)
When: Monday, 30th November 2009, 11am-12pm

From the Georgia Tech Office of Research Compliance:
Barbara Henry – Director
Melanie Clark – Compliance Officer
Kelly Winn – Compliance Officer

Michelle LaPlaca – Assoc. Professor, BME; Advisory Board, Zenda Technologies
Erin Spinner – Graduate Research Assistant, Yoganathan Lab
Jessica O’Neal – Graduate Research Assistant, Guldberg Lab

How do you implement clinical studies or use human tissues for graduate research? Or if you commercialize your technology, how do you deal with clinical trials in a start-up company? To answer these questions, we will have  panelists from the Office of Research Compliance explain IRB policies and submission procedures for  human subject research protocols at Georgia Tech. Current graduate students who have submitted IRB protocols and implemented clinical trials for their research will also share their experiences . For a comprehensive overview of the translational process, Dr LaPlaca will provide the start-up perspective by speaking about clinical studies for Zenda Technologies. This will be an informal and interactive session, so please feel free to come with questions. Food and drinks will be served.

We hope to see you there!

Your BBUGS Research Committee Chairs,
Asha and Chi-Chi

The Biotechnology Policy Forum would like to announce our upcoming seminar on Thursday, November 19th at 2:00pm:

“Health Care Reform and Biomedical Innovation”

New health technologies have contributed to large increases in health care costs.  Are we getting the bang for our buck?  Should cost-control be a priority?  Or is this a futile quest for perfect health with marginal gains?

This talk will review the research on the value of new medical technologies and discuss the impact of health reform on the pace of technological innovation in medicine.

Who: Professor David H. Howard of Emory’s Rollin’s School of Public Health
When: Thursday, November 19th at 2:00pm
Where: Institute for Bioengineering & Bioscience (IBB) Suddath Seminar Room 1128
Directions: http://www.ibb.gatech.edu/visitors/

.
—
Professor David H. Howard

:

David Howard is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Emory University. A health economist by training, Dr. Howard’s research employs economics and statistics to better understand physician decision-making and its implications for public policy. Dr. Howard’s current areas of research include: the impact of patients’ life expectancy on the use of cancer screening, the impact of quality and outcomes on patients’ choice of provider, and the value of medical care for cancer. Dr. Howard is also studying the impact of waiting time on transplant candidate’s choice of living versus deceased donor transplantation. Dr. Howard has acted as an advisor or consultant to MEDPAC, the American Cancer Society, the Division of Transplantation in the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Howard received his doctorate in health policy from Harvard University in 2000.
We hope to see you there!
–The BBUGS Public Policy Committee

HEY BBUGS!
We need volunteers for the upcoming GT Engineering Design Challenge. This is an annual event where local high school students come to Georgia Tech for a day to learn about engineering. There is not a lot of work on your part – simply describe the challenge to the students, give them the tools, and let them get creative! Last year’s event involved giving them sticks, pipe cleaners, rubber bands, etc and having them design an arm that could throw a bean bag toward a target. You can answer questions and help with designs, and the designs will be judged by you at the end. YOU GET FREE LUNCH, and we are looking for 6-10 volunteers. You can work the whole 3 hours, or rotate in an out for 1-2 hour shifts if you can’t stay the whole time.

Who: YOU!!!
When: November 18, 2008, 9:45am – 1pm
Where: GT Student Center
What: GT Bioengineering Challenge
FREE LUNCH!!!!

Please contact Stacie Gutowski (staciemg@gatech.edu), Nathan Hotaling (nathan.hotaling@gatech.edu), or Drew Owen (drduber@gatech.edu) if you can participate!

Conversations with Clinicians Series

The conversation series aims to promote informal dialogue between bioengineering graduate students/faculty and clinician-scientists, with three end goals in mind:

1. To expose researchers to the outstanding medical challenges that could be addressed with technological and scientific innovation
2. For researchers to understand the process of translating research and technologies into clinical solutions
3. For researchers to discuss their current work with physicians to obtain feedback on the clinical feasibility of their ideas.

These events are held in an informal discussion format in which the clinician will give a 30 minute presentation on their own research, as well as current state-of-the-art technologies and remaining challenges within their field of clinical expertise. The presentation will also address common barriers to translating research and how these obstacles can be overcome. This will be followed by a 30 minute dialogue in which the attendees will ask questions about their research or about the earlier presentation. Food will be provided at these events.

Technique Symposium
Summer 2010
This three-day event will feature short seminars (30-45 min) and in-lab demonstrations (1-3 hrs) of different experimental techniques used around campus taught by graduate students, staff, and corporate representatives.  Courses range from traditional to cutting edge techniques and include topics such as Western Blotting, table top SEM, and Fast PCR.   For more information, visit last year’s page at http://www.techniquesymposium.bbugs.gatech.edu.

Upcoming Events

If you want to help with BBUGS Research Committee events, please contact the Research Co-Chairs: Asha Shekaran (ashashekaran@gatech.edu) and Chi-Chi Esimai (cesimai@gatech.edu).

BBUGS is having its last Tailgate of the season this coming Saturday at the Wake Forest game.  Come out to the IC Quad before the game starts at 3:30, regardless of whether or not you are going to the game. Grilling and beverages provided. Cost: $3 or best offer. As always, RSVP appreciated but not needed. See you at the tailgate!

This email is a little late going out, but that doesn’t mean our enthusiasm is any less! This Saturday, BBUGS will be tailgating before the GT/VT homecoming football game. Regardless of whether or not you will be attending the game, come for grilling, games, and a little fresh air from the lab on one of the last nice days of the season. We will be on the IC lawn starting at noon until gametime at 6pm. The IC lawn is the big green space next to the instructional center between the gym and the student center.

RSVP would be appreciated for planning purposes but definitely is not necessary to attend. Come for the whole time, or come to make a social appearance–we don’t care. See you on Saturday!

We will be fielding a soccer team for Phase II of Fall intramurals.  Games will be played on Mondays at 7pm, beginning October 19th.  Interested parties should contact Brent at brent.uhrig@gatech.edu.

Careers in Biotech: How ELN Can Help!

Today, October 5th
Starts at 5pm
Short presentation followed by open discussion

Food & Refreshments will be provided
IBB Suddath Room 1128

Find out how to attain your career goals with the help of Georgia Bio’s Emerging Leaders Network. Expand your network for job searches. Find out about new research resources. Learn what people do outside academics.

The Emerging Leaders Network is designed to meet the needs of young professionals in all areas of the life sciences. In addition to fostering the growth of tomorrow’s leaders, ELN provides opportunities for developing industry contacts, mentoring and career enhancement through networking and educational programs. For more information email Sean Coyer (gtg649z) with your questions.

ELN Presents: How to Start Your Career in Bioengineering & Bioscience

October 5th, 5-7PM, IBB Suddath Room 1128.
Food & Refreshments will be provided.

Find out how to attain your career goals with the help of Georgia Bio’s Emerging Leaders Network. Expand your network for job searches. Find out about new research resources. Learn what people do outside academics.

The Emerging Leaders Network is designed to meet the needs of young professionals in all areas of the life sciences. In addition to fostering the growth of tomorrow’s leaders, ELN provides opportunities for developing industry contacts, mentoring and career enhancement through networking and educational programs. For more information email Sean Coyer (gtg649z) with your questions.