Developing Directions for Translational Biomedical

Research at the University of Illinois

Town Hall Forum

Agenda1:00 p.m. Welcome and Introduction

Charles Zukoski, Vice Chancellor for Research

1:10 p.m. Overview of Illinois Translational Research Activities

Herbert Whiteley, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Chair, Campus Translational Research Advisory Committee

1:20 p.m. NIH Roadmap for Medical Research

William Heetderks, Associate Director for Scientific Programs at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, NIH

2:20 p.m. Strategic Planning for Translational Research at Northwestern University

Holly Falk-Krzesinski, Director, Life and Biomedical Sciences Strategic Initiatives, Northwestern University

2:30 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. Panel Discussion with the Campus Translational Research Advisory Committee

4:00 p.m. Illinois Overview and Priorities

Richard Herman, Chancellor and Jesse Delia, Acting Provost

4:15 p.m. Wrap-up

Charles Zukoski, Vice Chancellor for Research

4:30 p.m. Adjourn

Campus Translational Research Advisory

Committee (CTRAC)Committee Members

Herbert Whiteley, ChairSharon Donovan

Albert FengTanya GallagherMartha Gillette

John KatzenellenbogenCharles Miller

Lawrence SchookBradford Schwartz

Bruce WheelerJennifer Eardley

Charge of the CTRAC

To develop a process for leading the campus toward a strategic

plan for present and future investment in translational

biomedical research that will impact human health and society.

CTRAC Process

• Initial Meetings• Call for Campus Advice• Focus Group Meetings• Open Forum/Symposium• Recommendations to Vice Chancellor

for Research, Provost, and Chancellor

Translational Research Definitions: NIH

• Studies at the interface of the bench and bedside.

• Information flow at this interface is bi-directional, requiring close interaction between clinical and bench scientists.

• In translational research, clinical and bench scientists advance the diagnosis of disease and use their knowledge of natural history and pathogenesis to investigate the effects of novel interventions in early-phase clinical studies.

• Complementing these clinical studies are laboratory investigations of clinical specimens that contribute to a fuller understanding of the diseases, their etiology, pathophysiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.

From Re-engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise NIH Roadmap Initiative www.nih.gov

Translational Research Definitions: UIUC

…those activities or resources that facilitate the ability of fundamental research to impact biomedical science and human health

Focus Groups• Applied Social Sciences

• Discussion Leader: Tanya Gallagher (11 participants)• Biosensors and Devices

• Discussion Leader: Al Feng (29 participants)• Host-Microbe Interactions

• Discussion Leader: Charles Miller (16 participants)• Bio-Imaging

• Discussion Leader: Bruce Wheeler (29 participants)• Therapeutic Agents/Delivery Systems

• Discussion Leader: John Katzenellenbogen (24 participants)• New Directions

• Discussion Leader: Herbert Whiteley (12 participants)• Stem Cell Biology

• Discussion Leader: Lawrence Schook (15 participants)• Medical Informatics

• Discussion Leader: Brad Schwartz (10 participants)

Questions for assessing Translational Research needs and

opportunitiesWhat do you need in your area that would move

your ideas toward application to the human condition? For example what facilities, resources or expertise are missing?

Do you need a mechanism to identify areas of clinical relevance that could be applied to your area of interest?

To move forward should we build on existing strengths or invest in new areas? What are our existing strengths? If we pursue new areas, what are the opportunities, is it feasible to pursue these opportunities?

Recommendations

• Communication• Research Resources & Infrastructure• People• Space• Long-term strategy

Communication

• Create a centralized service to facilitate internal and external interactions and assist faculty with related regulatory and ownership issues

• Encourage cross-disciplinary exchange through departmental seminars

Research Resources & Infrastructure

• Develop a strategic process for identifying necessary biomedical research facilities

• Provide seed funding for evaluating the translational potential of specific projects

• Develop strategic partnerships with clinical institutions

• Expand opportunities for partnership with NCSA on life sciences computing projects

People• Recruit faculty investigators having the

ability to bridge basic and clinical sciences through ongoing translational research programs

• Determine mechanisms for recognizing impact of translational and interdisciplinary research activities when evaluating faculty achievements

• Develop educational opportunities and training programs that expose students to the clinical research relevant to their basic science studies

Space

• Provide project-based swing space for researchers without ready access to wet-lab research space

• Identify a process to fund and construct a biomedical research building that mixes bioengineers, pathobiologists, clinician scientists, basic biologists, biological chemists and biophysicists

Long-term strategy

• Make biomedical research a priority for the next fund-raising campaign

• Fellowships ,facilities, programmatic support, professorships, and a biomedical building

Focus Groups• Applied Social Sciences

• Discussion Leader: Tanya Gallagher• Biosensors and Devices

• Discussion Leader: Al Feng• Host-Microbe Interactions

• Discussion Leader: Charles Miller• Bio-Imaging

• Discussion Leader: Bruce Wheeler• Therapeutic Agents/Delivery Systems

• Discussion Leader: John Katzenellenbogen• New Directions

• Discussion Leader: Herbert Whiteley• Stem Cell Biology

• Discussion Leader: Lawrence Schook• Medical Informatics

• Discussion Leader: Brad Schwartz

Applied Social Sciences Tanya Gallagher and Sharon Donovan

• Attendees• Office of Translational Research

– Negotiate with clinical facilities– Invest funds for faculty release &

sponsor seminars • Facilities• Strengths

Biosensors and DevicesAl Feng and Bruce Wheeler

• Illinois faculty experience in commercializing biosensor technologies

• Strength in sciences, engineering, computation

• Need for partnership/input from chemistry, life sciences

• Need problem definition/refinement from medicine

Host-Microbe InteractionsCharles Miller and Larry Schook

• Support for pilot studies

• Better clinical interactions

• Better lines of communication

• Improved infrastructure

• Greater recognition for interdisciplinary work in the promotions process

BioImagingBruce Wheeler and John Katzenellenbogen

• Great Engineering Strength – MRI, ultrasound, biophotonics, image processing

• Biomolecular Imaging – great expansion area

• Chemistry/pharmacology/pathology needs overlap those for drug delivery, sensors

• Potential for immediate medical applications

• Need improved collaborations with Mayo, Carle, Wash U, UIC

Therapeutic Agents/Delivery Systems

John Katzenellenbogen & Martha Gillette• Seek opportunity to link “new chemical entities” to

animal models for evaluating efficacy and toxicity– Marketing potential pharmaceuticals is facilitated by having

pre-clinical data

• Work with IRB and IACUC to assist development and approval of human and animal use protocols

• Formalize UIUC-Carle/Provena/other partnerships to facilitate research protocol approval and address legal issues

• Develop a “Research Residency Program” to provide continuing research exposure/experience

• A biomedical research building could be a progenitor to an NIH-funded Translational Research Institute

New Directions Focus GroupHerb Whiteley and Brad Schwartz

• Translational research is interdisciplinary – issues with department cultures and promotion and tenure

• Recruitment of clinician scientists – physicians/veterinarians

• Build on campus strengths

• Partnerships with institutions such as Mayo Clinic

Stem Cell BiologyLarry Schook and Martha Gillette

• Intra-campus communications– Regular meetings (every six months)– Use IGB Theme for organization mechanism – Develop website– Seminar program

• Promote active collaborations/partnerships which link models with methodologies

• Distinguish ourselves by leveraging our strengths– Interface of cells/tissues with biomaterials/substrates– Bridging life sciences - chemistry -

engineering/biomaterials– ID extracellular cues/intracellular signaling– Inducing tissue-specific stem cells to regenerate tissues

Medical InformaticsBrad Schwartz and Tanya Gallagher

• Bioinformatics research and education cut across multiple disciplines and illustrate how difficult it is to capitalize on opportunities that do not conform to current departmental structures

• NCSA could be an important partner in the development of bioinformatics capabilities however, few faculty members understand the resources available through NCSA or how to interact with NCSA researchers

Developing Directions for Translational Biomedical

Research at the University of Illinois

Town Hall Forum

Please send additional input to individual committee members or

Vice Chancellor for Research Charles Zukoskihttp://www.research.uiuc.edu/translational

Developing Directions for Translational Biomedical

Research at the University of Illinois

Town Hall Forum