Join Us: May 8 for our next monthly Community Conversation!

Topic: “Is animal research justified?“

A discussion co-facilitated by Cindy Pekow, DVM; Chief, Veterinary Medical Unit, VA Puget Sound and Joan Griswold, MIT; Curriculum Design Lead, NWABR; 2012 Annual Fundraising Dinner Honoree

click here to register

When:   May8, 2012
Time:     Beginning at 5:30 pm, until 7:00 pm
Cost:      $5 at time of Registration
Where:  415 Westlake, Seattle, WA at Kakao Coffee and Chocolate in the South Lake Union neighborhood
Eats:      NWABR-hosted with appetizers and beverages

Learn more about our Community Conversations at our web site, or contact Jen Wroblewski at jenniferw@nwabr.org.  See you there!

You are Invited to CityClub’s April 17th luncheon about Delivery and Cost of Health Care

How much do health care services and procedures *really* cost?  Are costs equal to quality? Come to this great lunch and forum with four panelists who will discuss these questions and more!

Washington Athletic Club  |  1325 Sixth Ave., Seattle [view map]
Registration: 11:30 a.m. | Luncheon & Program: 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Luncheon: $35/CityClub Members, $40/Guests of CityClub members and guests of co-promoting partners, $45/General public.

Coffee & Dessert: $12/CityClub Members, $15/Guests of CityClub members and guests of co-promoting partners, $18/General public.

Register online today! Or call 206-682-7395! 

Featuring:

• Scott Bond, President and Chief Executive Officer, Washington State Hospital Association
• Rich Maturi, Senior Vice President for Health Care Delivery Systems, Premera
• Robert O’Brien, Executive Vice President Health Plan Division, Group Health Cooperative
• Rick Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, The Everett Clinic

Moderator:

Joanne Silberner, Contributor, Public Radio, Artist in Residence, University of Washington

How do we discover the true costs of health care, and how do we gain more transparency in the system? How much do services and procedures really cost? How do uncompensated care and other hidden expenses also drive cost?  How can consumers assess relative costs and quality among different providers? What are the barriers to transparency in the system? What role can hospitals, physicians, insurance companies, health systems and the consumer play in breaking those barriers down? How can understanding the true cost of care ultimately help us reduce it?Thanks to our -

Health Care Presenting Sponsor:

Health Care Supporting Series Sponsors:                  

Co-promoting Organizations:

Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington, American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific, Department of Public Health – Seattle & King County, Neighborcare Health, Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, Northwest Science Writers Association, Puget Sound Health Alliance, Science and Management of Addictions (SAMA), Sound Mental Health, Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, Washington State Hospital Association      

NWABR at 2012 National Science Teachers Association Conference

Join NWABR at the National Science Teachers Association Conference in Indianapolis this week!

NWABR and Science Education Partners at NSTA Seattle 2011

Come join Jeanne Chowning, NWABR Director of Education, and Joan Griswold, Curriculum Design Lead, at NSTA Indianapolis 2012! We will present several hands-on lessons from our popular high school curriculum units.  These resources are designed to introduce teachers and students to cutting-edge science topics and to provide educators with structured frameworks for discussing related ethical issues.  Click on the links below to view our curricular materials on our website!

Sessions include:

The Science and Ethics of Animal Research
Thursday, March 29, 8am-9am
JW Marriott, Grand Ballroom 4

Integrating Bioinformatics into Introductory Biology Courses
Thursday, March 29, 2pm-3pm
JW Marriott, Grand Ballroom 4

Stem Cells: Science and Ethics
Friday, March 30
12:30pm-1:30pm
Indiana Convention Center, 204

We hope to see you there!

Support for NWABR’s curriculum development is provided by a Science Education Partnership Award from the National Center for Research Resources and the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives of the National Institutes of Health through Grant Number R25OD011138 and by an Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers award from the National Science Foundation, DRL 0833779.

Save the date: June 12, 2012 NWABR Annual Fundraising Dinner

5:30pm Reception featuring the Student Bio Expo winners
6:30pm Dinner & Program
415 Westlake Ave N, Seattle, WA

Click here for more details about the event and sponsorship.

NWABR’s annual fundraising event is a celebration of our life sciences community that brings together over 300 researchers, educators and students from across the Pacific Northwest region.

We are privileged to honor three leaders who step up every day to represent the people and the promise of research through mentoring the next generation.

• Gregory Foltz, MD, Director, Center for Advanced Brain and Tumor Treatment, Swedish Medical Center
• Nitin Baliga, PhD, Director for Integrative Biology, Professor, Institute for Systems Biology
• Cindy Pekow, DVM, MS, DACLAM, Chief, Veterinary Medical Unit, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System

Please join us in honoring these inspirational individuals. Levels of sponsorship for our fundraiser dinner range from $2,500 – $10,000.

• Gold Level Sponsorship- $10,000
• Silver Level Sponsorship- $5,000
• Bronze Level Sponsorship- $2,500
• Individual Attendee Ticket- $150

Watch People Matter, 6 minute video Featured at Recent Community Conversation

What are the ethical issues when conducting research in hospitals and clinics?  By linking our health care with research, we face an interesting set of ethical issues that are not just an academic exercise: sensitivity of investigators; timing of being invited to participate in research; how to discuss secondary uses of samples collected for clinical care and primary research.

View People Matter, share it widely, and leave your comments!

After viewing People Matter, conversation participants explored themes of

Equal access to health care and research- “How might individuals be feeling snubbed already by the medical complex by experiencing poor access and how might it be hypocritical to ask them to participate in research?”

Alternative forms of research consent-“It is important to stimulate the thought process of patients, especially for non-English speakers.  No patients ask questions, especially in an emergency situation.  People just sign their [medical] consent which includes consent for using biological material for research.”

“Should we be equally concerned about the person who looks at a long consent form and just signs because they inherently trust their doctor, the institution AND the person who turns down research participation because the form is too long?”

As a group we explored using an organ donor card concept where people would carry a card indicating a checklist of the types of research they would and would NOT want to participate in.  This approach to research participation would facilitate conversations between a person and their doctor/family at a time of their choosing instead of at a stressful time–in an emergency or at the time of care.

Participants offer positive feedback:

-Very excellent evening.  The work you are doing is very helpful and healing.  You should be very proud.

-I appreciated the tone of the conversations.

-I appreciate that you made me feel particularly welcome (as a non-scientist) at the community conversations!

Meet the 2012 IRB Conference Planning Committee!

Meet the individuals who have lent their time and expertise to develop the agenda and identify the speakers for our 2012 Regional IRB Education Conference!  

Quorum Review IRB, Western IRB, Legacy Health System, The University of Montana, Swedish Medical Center, University of Oregon, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Boeing, University of Washington, University of Idaho, Cayuse, PATH and the Institute for Systems Biology are all represented by experts in human subjects research.

Click here to read their profiles.

Middle School Essays Ready for Judging!

Our thanks to over 110 researchers and community members that are signed up to judge more than 700 middle school essays in NWABR’s “Biomedical Breakthroughs and My Life” essay contest.

The contest provides an opportunity for 7th and 8th grade students to relate biomedical research to their family or pets. Students research the process of developing new medications, vaccines and medical devices and explore how studies with animals or humans are part of the research process.

Entries are coming from 32 schools in Washington, Oregon and Montana. Judges from 13 states will participate in two rounds of judging to select the winning essays.  Winning students, their teachers and parents will attend an Awards Day on May 4th, hosted by Institute for Systems Biology.

Our thanks to Knossos Foundation for the funding that made the contest possible. More information about the contest and previous winners can be found at http://www.nwabr.org/students/essay-contest.

Register Now: 2012 Regional IRB Education Conference- April 24, 2012

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012 Bell Harbor Conference Center 2211 Alaskan Way Seattle, WA

NWABR members: $350* Non-members: $450* *late registration fee of $50 will apply after March23rd

Click here to register!

Shifting our mindset from thinking of research participants as individuals who need protection to partners in research who have perceptions about research benefits, risks and harms that deserve thoughtful consideration, represents an expansion of the role professionals engaged in research oversight. The distinction between compliance and ethics has never been more blurred. Please join us in an exploration of the issues that matter to research volunteers, and learn practical strategies for ensuring that research is conducted ethically at your institution.

Conference sessions include:

“Perspectives on the Return of Research Results to Study Participants” by Pearl O’Rourke, MD, Director, Human Research Affairs, Partners Healthcare System

“What Really Matters: Exploring the Alignment of Understanding Among IRB Members, Scientists and Research Participants” by Ann Freeman Cook, PhD, Director, National Rural Bioethics Project, Research Professor, University of Montana

“Patient 002 (a novel): Reading by the Author and Discussion” by Floyd Skloot, Author

“Government Banking of Tissue Specimens” by Carol Weil, JD, Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Office of Biorepositories and Biospecimen Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

“From Washington to Washington: An Update from OHRP” by Elyse Summers, JD, Director, Division of Education and Development, Office for Human Research Protections

The NWABR staff and conference planning committee are looking forward to meeting you on April 24th.  If you have an questions, please contact Laurie Hassell, Regional Manager, at (206) 465-4691 or lhassell@nwabr.org

Student Bio Expo seeks creative and curious minds…

… with scientific savvy to judge unique projects on May 24th! Judge registration is now open. Please check out the Expo Judge page for more information (http://nwabr.org/community/student-bio-expo/judges). We not only invite members of the community with a science background, but also those who are creative and have a curious mind.

We have 13 categories that need judges (Art, Career and Industry, Drama and Dance, Lab Research, Molecular Modeling, Music, Multimedia, Teaching, Website Design, Creative Writing, Journalism, SeaVuria (formerly Global Health), and SMART Teams (advanced molecular modeling)), so there’s something for everyone. Join us for a unique science fair experience!!!

Feel free to contact Jenn Pang (jpang@nwabr.org) for more information.  See you there!!!

Congratulations Jeanne Chowning on 10 wonderful years!

Our own Jeanne Chowning has been with us now ten, wonderful years. The words in this graphic are those Jeanne’s peers and coworkers have used to describe her, and her work in their notes and letters of appreciation!

Biology in the Age of Computing: Online Resources for Teachers and Students

As part of NWABR’s ongoing commitment to inspiring students in science, we are excited to announce an upcoming webinar featuring NWABR program staff and partner scientists. The webinar is geared towards teachers and students, as well as formal and informal educators and will be archived for future viewing. We hope to see you online!

Wednesday, February 8th from 11:00am to 12:00pm PST
If you’d like to register for the event, click here.

Join us as we share curricula, online resources, teacher experiences and research findings from Bio-ITEST: New Frontiers in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, a program funded by the National Science Foundation that brings the exciting field of bioinformatics to high school teachers and students. Bioinformatics is the application of computer science and information technology to the field of biology and medicine. With a strong emphasis on increasing student awareness of STEM careers, each Bio-ITEST lesson features an individual who uses bioinformatics in their work, or whose work is made possible by bioinformatics. The presentation will include an overview of curricular units, including introductory lessons on genetic testing and advanced lessons on genetic research, as well as an exploration of the online resources. Presenters will share lessons learned about increasing student STEM career awareness and engagement in the context of the Bio-ITEST project.

Biology in the Age of Computing: Online Resources for High School Teachers and Students is presented in partnership with the National Girls Collaborative Project and EdLab Group.

The National Girls Collaborative Project is partially funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, GSE/EXT: National Girls Collaborative Project: Building the Capacity of STEM Practitioners to Develop a Diverse Workforce, Grant No.HRD-1103073. The Bio-ITEST program is made possible by an Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers grant award from the National Science Foundation, DRL-0833779.

REGISTER NOW for NWABR’s IACUC Conference

Join researchers, veterinarians, animal technicians, and IACUC members and administrators from around the Northwest for NWABR’s 13th annual Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) Regional Education Conference.

WHAT:                           IACUC Regional Education Conference
WHEN:                          Friday – Feb. 24th – 7:00 am-4:30 pm
WHERE:                        Seattle
REGISTRATION:          Online link at http://www.nwabr.org/members/iacuc

Timely topics and engaging speakers make this one day conference a valuable training and networking event for new and experienced IACUC members and researchers.  View highlights and agenda at http://www.nwabr.org/members/iacuc.

The keynote speaker:  Dr. Alicia Karas, Tufts University
-  Assessing pain and the IACUCs role in evaluating protocols

Other program highlights include:
-  Update on compliance with the Guide – Dr. Helen Diggs, Oregon State Univ. , AAALAC Internat’l Counselor
-  Motivation to speak up for research – Dr. Cindy Buckmaster, Baylor College of Medicine
-  Training for new IACUC members and review for experienced members
-  Updates and Q&A with representatives from USDA and AAALAC International

This conference combines regional convenience with national caliber training. Encourage your institution to send a team!
Registration Fees: 
$285.00      NWABR member
$235.00      NWABR member, Group (10 or more)
$415.00      Non-NWABR member

We wish to thank our sponsors to date:  Purina LabDiet, Rees Scientific, Huron Education|Click.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Reitha Weeks at rweeks@nwabr.org.

Invitation to Essay Contest Participants and Judges!

If you know 7th or 8th grade students, encourage them to enter NWABR’s essay contest, “Biomedical Breakthroughs and My Life”!  Classes of students or individuals are encouraged to sign up by Jan. 10th but later registration is permitted.  The link to registration is at http://www.nwabr.org/students/essay-contest.

If you are a researcher and would like to judge these wonderful essays, sign up at http://nwabr.org/nwabr.org/community/volunteer-opportunities/essay-judge-registration.

Students will strengthen their writing, research and interviewing skills while discovering the role of scientists in biomedical research and the relevance of biomedical research to themselves, their family or their pets.  They may choose topics that allow them to investigate the development of medications that they are taking, the medical device implants received by relatives or the shots given to their pets.  They must include evidence of how the use of animals or humans in clinical trials have advanced research and medical treatments.

Every student will receive comments about their essay from the researchers serving as judges.  Judges receive scoring criteria and will participate in one or two rounds of judging between March 14 and April 2.  The process takes place electronically – essays are sent by email and scoring is done online – so there is no geographic limit to who can be a judge.

Winning students in the general category and English Language Learner category will receive a cash prize and be invited to an Awards Day at a research facility.  Teachers and parents of winning students are also invited to the Awards Day to meet scientists and engage in tours and hands-on activities.

Contest Timeline:
Jan. 10        “Intent to participate” registration encouraged
March 9      Essay submission date
April 13       Winners announced
May             Awards Day event

For more information, visit NWABR’s website, http://nwabr.org/students/essay-contest, or contact Reitha Weeks at rweeks@nwabr.org or 206-957-3337 x305.

2012 Annual Members’ Meeting

Please join us on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 for our Annual Members’ Meeting with a special recognition program celebrating Jeanne Ting Chowning, Director of Education, on her tenth anniversary with NWABR.  Come, congratulate Jeanne, and share a few words about her remarkable impact on teachers and students across this country.

                                                                                                                              

Register now!

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.- Annual Members’ Meeting
5:30 to 6:30 p.m.- Reception
Seattle BioMed- Discovery Room
307 Westlake Avenue North, Suite 500

                                                                                                                             

As a NWABR member and supporter, you will be the first to see and hear highlights from our 2011 Annual Report and to meet the newest members of NWABR’s Board of Directors:

• William Dale, Ph.D., Research Integrity Officer, Oregon Health and Science University
• Anson Fatland, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Economic Development and External Affairs, Washington State University
• Dana Riley Black, M.Ed., Ph.D., Center for Inquiry Science Director, Institute for Systems Biology
• Lee Schoentrup, Director of Communications, Seattle BioMed

You’re Invited to the 2011 Annual Holiday Party

Please join us for our Holiday Party at our NWABR office Thursday, December 15, from 4-7 p.m.

We extend a standing ovation to everyone who helped shape the success of our programs this past year! Don’t miss this opportunity to meet NWABR Board Members and connect with researchers, clinicians, veterinarians, bioethicists and patients  involved in our education outreach programs.

Food and drinks will be provided.

We ask that you bring along a bottle of your favorite moderately priced wine as an in-kind donation to be used at our Annual Fundraiser set for June 12, 2012 at 415 Westlake.

Please RSVP at http://nwabr.org/about-nwabr/about-nwabr/holiday

Got Stress? Time to Quit- a Seattle CityClub public lunch forum

Just in time for the stressful holidays….Join NWABR and Seattle CityClub for our Wednesday November 30th public forum with lunch! This will be a timely discussion with local and national experts on STRESS–what causes it, what it does to us and how to reduce it.

Details

What: Got Stress? Time to Quit. Public forum and lunch.
When: Wednesday November 30th. Doors open at 11:30. Program 12:00-1:30pm.
Where: Town Hall– 1119 8th Ave
Cost:
Buffet Luncheon: $20/CityClub Members | $25/Guests and co-presenters | $30/General public

Coffee & Dessert: $12/CityClub Members | $15/Guests and co-presenters | $18/General public
Register: http://www.SeattleCityClub.org to register or call 206-682-7395!

NWABR Middle School Essay Contest is back!

NWABR is pleased to continue our popular middle school essay contest, “Biomedical Breakthroughs and My Life” through funding from the Knossos Foundation.  This contest is open to 7th and 8th grade students (individuals or entire classes) in Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho.

Students have the opportunity to explore the process of biomedical research and its relevance to themselves, their family or their pets.  They may choose topics that allow them to investigate the development of medications that they are taking, the medical device implants received by relatives, or the shots given to their pets.  They must include evidence of how the use of animals or humans in clinical trials have advanced research and medical treatments.

Students will strengthen their writing, research and interviewing skills while discovering the role of scientists in biomedical research that really does impact their lives.  In addition to the essay, students must include a reflective paragraph about what they have learned.

Every student will receive comments about their essay from the researchers serving as judges.  Winning students in the general category and English as a Second Language category will receive a cash prize and be invited to an Awards Day at a research facility.  Teachers and parents of winning students are also invited to the Awards Day to meet scientists and engage in tours and hands-on activities.

Contest Timeline:

December 9, 2011     Register intent to participate with NWABR
March 9, 2012            Submit essays
April 13, 2012             Winners announced
May 2012                     Awards Day events

NWABR can provide resources and speakers from our Speakers Bureau to engage the students in the project.
For more information, visit NWABR’s website, http://nwabr.org/students/essay-contest, or contact Reitha Weeks at rweeks@nwbr.org or 206-957-3337 x305.

Join us for Life Sciences Research Weekend — Nov 4 – 6

Experience science at its finest – hands-on, exploratory, and just plain fun!

NWABR and Pacific Science Center invite you to the 5th annual

Nov. 4-6 – Friday through Sunday at Pacific Science Center

Friday 10am-4pm, and Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm.

Life sciences companies and research institutions from around the state will host interactive exhibits that reflect the cutting edge research that is taking place in our state.

If you want to meet scientists that have great passion for the work they do, plan to attend! Life Science Research Weekend events are included with regular Pacific Science Center admission.

For more information, visit http://www.nwabr.org/community/life-sciences-research-weekend

This program is made possible by a SEPA grant to Pacific Science Center from NCRR at National Institutes of Health.

The Body Politic: The Battle Over Science in America

Tuesday, October 25, 2011
3:30-4:45p.m.
Hogness Auditorium, Health Sciences Center, University of Washington

Dr. Jonathan D. Moreno, Ph.D.

David and Lynn Silfen University Professor
University of Pennysylvania

Dr. Moreno offers an engaging history of the intersection between science and democracy in American life, a reasoned analysis of how different political ideologies view scientific controversies, and a vision for how the new biopolitics can help shape the quality of our lives.

More information: http://depts.washington.edu/hserv/cal?3251

Dr. Moreno was interviewed this October 19th on FOX News about our preparedness to sustain another anthrax style bio defense attack.  His recommendation?  Invest more in biotechnology.  http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/happening-now/index.html#/v/1222304472001/anthrax-attacks-10-years-later/?playlist_id=86919

Dr. Moreno also raises key issues in this brief interview in the Atlantic Monthly on globalization and neuroscience:
http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/10/a-conversation-with-jonathan-d-moreno-bioethicist-and-professor/246013/

For more information about the MHA’s Dialogues in Ethics, Health Services, and Science initiative, contact:  Kathryn M. Hinsch, Clinical Faculty, at khinsch@uw.edu or call 206-200-1101.

Call for Public Discussion: Do You Have a Duty to Participate in Medical Research? Series Premiere Tuesday October 18th

Join your neighbors and colleagues in a conversation–where all experience is valid and valued–where the knowledge we create together is greater than anyone’s alone.

In South Lake Union, NWABR and our partners at 415 Westlake (Union and Kákao) are connecting diverse members of the public through monthly Community Conversations. Given the concentration of biomedicine and growing residential culture in this neighborhood, it is natural to create these informal discussions at the interface of medicine, ethics and research.

The first topic is “Do You Have a Duty to Participate in Medical Research?” and the series premieres Tuesday, October 18th. Learn more about our Community Conversations at our web site.

When:   Tuesdays October 18, November 15, December 13
Time:     Beginning at 5:30 pm, until 7 pm
Where:  415 Westlake, Seattle, WA at Kakao Coffee and Chocolate in the South Lake Union neighborhood
Eats:      NWABR-hosted with appetizers and beverages

Contact Jen Wroblewski at jenniferw@nwabr.org for more information.  See you there!