Comparative Effectiveness of Kidney Stone Surgery in Pediatric Patients: The PKIDS Trial

This NIH Collaboratory Rethinking Clinical Trials Grand Rounds features:

Gregory Tasian, MD, MSc, MSCE
Associate Professor of Surgery and Epidemiology
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

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Considerations for Collecting and Analyzing Race and Ethnicity Data in Clinical Studies

In this session, Jody Ciolino, PhD, will present collective work from the Northwestern University Department of Preventive Medicine’s Working Group focusing on Response to Structural Racism in Research and that of the JEDI working within the BERD-SIG. Ciolino will present experiences and lessons learned (as a collaborative biostatistician) in conducting research studies involving race and ethnicity data from the perspective of the entire research study life cycle from study design to data collection, analysis, and reporting. Ciolino will illustrate several options of setting up data dictionaries and demographic surveys for research study participants, and the aim is to spark discussion on pros and cons for different methods of data collection surrounding these data types. Ciolino will unpack the meaning and implications for interpretation when considering “adjustment,” “confounding”, and “heterogeneity of exposure effects” when it comes to the constructs of race and ethnicity. Ultimately, the audience will leave with recommendations for starting point(s) in designing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting on research studies involving race and ethnicity variables.

Speaker:
Jody Ciolino, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine (Biostatistics)
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

This event is sponsored by the Duke Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Research Design (BERD) Methods Core; Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Duke University; and the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). It is being cross-promoted by the North Carolina BERD Consortium (Duke University School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and Wake Forest School of Medicine).

Introduction to Understanding and Assessing Teamwork Processes

The Renaissance Computing Institute (RENCI) at UNC-Chapel Hill is excited to announce the next event from Accelerating Collaborative Team Science (ACTS) — a Team Science educational program.

ACTS functions as a connector, bridging the gap between researchers, coordinating centers, and other parties involved in practicing and promoting collaborative team science theory and practical applications across the scientific research landscape. With twenty years of experience coordinating team science efforts, RENCI provides a unique vantage point for those seeking to understand the role of the coordinating center and the challenges specific to large, geographically dispersed scientific teams.

Join the next ACTS webinar for a conversation between Stephen M. Fiore, PhD (University of Central Florida) and Chris Lenhardt (RENCI) that introduces fundamental collaborative science research processes, and gives an overview of how to assess collaborative science teamwork and how teams can provide feedback to improve their collaborations.

Learn more at renci.org/team-science/.

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Clinical Protocol Development Series

The goal of this two-day series is to provide researchers with the knowledge, tools, and resources to aid in the development of a scientific protocol for a clinical research study. Both sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and a question-and-answer session will follow each presentation.

The first day of the series will provide an introduction and focus on the following key points:
- Who needs a clinical protocol and why it is important
- UNC Scientific Review Committee processes
- Types of clinical protocols, and content expectations for sections of the protocol
- Resources and tools available at UNC to support clinical protocol development

Target Audience: academic researchers, scientists, study coordinators, and students engaged in clinical research and/or clinical trials.

ACRP Contact Hours Update: The ACRP no longer approves 3rd party requests for CE credit. However, attendees are still welcome to self-report to ACRP for CE credit.

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Building on discussions initiated during the October 2023 kick-off networking event, the UNC Office of Research Development is engaging with researchers across campus to strengthen connections and strategize for future successes in setting up a network to respond nimbly and effectively to funding and collaboration opportunities.

Join the ORD on May 14, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for an enriching session aimed at expanding your collaborative network. Delve into the recent White House Initiative on Women's Health Research announcement, explore UNC and other funding opportunities, and gain insights from colleagues regarding their current projects.

Agenda includes:

• Welcome & Setting Expectations
• Recap & Reporting from the October 2023 Networking Event
• Overview of Funding Opportunities
• Discussion on White House Initiative
• Lightening Talks from UNC Researchers
• Agenda Setting for FastTraCS FemTech Programming within this New Network: Defining Outcomes and Milestones

If you are interested in sharing your research by participating in the Lightning Talks session on the agenda, please contact Kelley Cardone at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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This event is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Clinical and Translational Sciences (NC TraCS) Institute.

Environmental Impacts on Pediatric Kidney Health and Progress in Research: Transition from PhD to Residency

Join the Children's Research Institute for a hybrid seminar featuring two presentations. Anisha Gerber, MD, Pediatric Nephrology resident at UNC School of Medicine, will present on environmental impacts on pediatric kidney health, and Maria Ansar, MD, PhD, General Pediatrics resident at UNC School of Medicine, will present on the transition from PhD to medical residency. Participate in the seminar either in person at 3116 Mary Ellen Jones Building (with lunch provided) or via Zoom.

Zoom information - Meeting ID: 985 6644 6544 | Password: 539057

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Clinical Protocol Development Series

The goal of this two-day series is to provide researchers with the knowledge, tools, and resources to aid in the development of a scientific protocol for a clinical research study. Both sessions will begin at 9 a.m. and a question-and-answer session will follow each presentation.

On the second day of the series, we will take a "deeper dive" into clinical study design, statistics, and their impact on clinicaltrials.gov reporting:
- Clinical Protocol Study Design - aims, objectives, endpoints, and outcomes
- Statistical analysis, sample size considerations, data management
- Clinicaltrials.gov - registration and outcome measure reporting
- Protocol problem spots and ways to improve protocols

Target Audience: academic researchers, scientists, study coordinators, and students engaged in clinical research and/or clinical trials.

ACRP Contact Hours: The ACRP no longer approves 3rd party requests for CE credit. However, attendees are still welcome to self-report to ACRP for CE credit.

Register

The National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS) is now offering Foundations of AI courses to help in its mission to connect diverse communities of data science experts to support a 21st century data-driven economy. Their focus is to help bridge the gap between data scientists in the public and private sectors by providing educational and upskilling opportunities.

The first course, Introduction to AI will be held on Thursday, May 16 at 1 PM ET

In this half-day course, participants will learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI), starting with foundational concepts in machine learning and deep learning, then moving to the basics of Natural Language Processing and Computer Vision that got us to our current boom in Generative AI as demonstrated by GPT-3, DALL-E and other well-known tools. Participants will learn how to train their own AI models, how to make the most of open-source and pre-trained models on the market, and how to stay ahead of the curve on technical improvements.

Instructor: Amy Hemmeter — Sr. Manager of Data Science in Natural Language Processing at Workhuman
Cost: $300

A limited number of full scholarship opportunities are available on case-by-case basis. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at RENCI for more information.

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CardioHealth Alliance: A Platform to Improve Care

This NIH Collaboratory Rethinking Clinical Trials Grand Rounds features:

Ken Mahaffey, MD
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine
Associate Dean for Clinical Research, School of Medicine
Vice Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Medicine
Director, Stanford Center for Clinical Research (SCCR)
Stanford University

Nishant Shah, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
The REVEAL Project: Identifying Real World Gaps and Areas for Improvement

Neha Pagidipati, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Duke University School of Medicine
Test to Treat – Improving lipid management on a health system level

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UNC NRP Researcher Appreciation Week: Developmental Support for Children in Clinical Trials

Please join the UNC Network for Research Professionals for the first session in Researcher Appreciation Week as Kelly Clark, Therapy Services Manager - Pediatrics, presents on the ONE VOICE approach to supporting children and families during clinical trials.

About the Speaker:

Kelly Clark is a certified child life specialist with over 25 years of experience supporting children, adults, and their families as they navigate new and challenging experiences in community and healthcare settings. Prior to working in the healthcare setting, Kelly was a parent of a hospitalized child and brings this experience to the table both in professional encounters and as co-chair of the NC Children's Hospital Patient and Family Advisory Board. Kelly has presented at the local, state, and national level on topics including supporting children and adults with autism, partnering with families, and understanding personal and professional boundaries. Kelly lives in Chapel Hill with her husband Tony, son Sam (18), daughter Kate (9), and dogs Kai and Pickles.

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NC TraCS Data Science Seminar Series: Deploying local LLMs as a tool for research

Please join the NC TraCS Institute as Tomas McIntee, PhD, a Research Data Scientist with the TraCS Data Science Lab, discusses strategies for deploying and using open-source, large language models (LLMs) for research. This month's seminar is a more advanced follow-up to April's seminar focused on using ChatGPT and similar tools.

Seminars in the NC TraCS Data Science Seminar Series will cover a range of topics related to health care data science, clinical data, data engineering, and working in these areas at UNC-Chapel Hill. These hybrid seminars will be held on the third Tuesday of each month from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in the NC TraCS suite on the 2nd floor of Brinkhous-Bullitt or via Zoom.

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The 2024 NCBC Microbiome Symposium will take place in person on Wednesday, May 22 at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center located at 15 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC.

Presentations include keynote speakers Drs. Martin J. Blaser (director of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and the Henry Rutgers Chair of the Human Microbiome and Professor of Medicine and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey), and Maria Gloria Dominguez Bello (Henry Rutgers Professor of Microbiome and Health at Rutgers University).

The symposium will also feature poster sessions, networking time for trainees and the keynote speakers, companies, and lunch.

This will be a great opportunity for researchers to reconnect with fellow academia and industry scientists. All attendees must register and purchase a ticket.

Date/Time

May 22, 2024
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
NCBiotech
$40- $100 registration

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Symposium Sponsors

Duke Microbiome Center
NC State College of Veterinary Medicine
Novonesis
Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr)
UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Research Development

UNC NRP Researcher Appreciation Week: Introducing Veeva SiteVault and eConsent

Please join the UNC Network for Research Professionals for the second session in Researcher Appreciation Week as Charles Robinson and Christina Smith from the UNC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research introduce the Veeva SiteVault and eConsent.

About the Speakers:

Charles Robinson is the Veeva Application Administrator in Clinical Research Informatics. He has 10 years of experience working with local government; implementing software, performing business analysis, and integrating systems. Before that, he spent 10 years working in higher education at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Christina Smith is the Director of Clinical Research Informatics in the UNC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, where she oversees support for OnCore, Veeva SiteVault and eConsent, and REDCap. Previously, she held positions at Duke's Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Cornell University, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, and the American Urological Association. Healthcare is Christina's second career: she spent more than 10 years in science communications in Washington, D.C., providing executive speechwriting, science writing, public relations, and committee support to several large scientific associations. She is a registered nurse, with a BSN from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and an MHA from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

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UNC NRP Researcher Appreciation Week: Three Techniques in Project Management: setting up the project for success

Please join the UNC Network for Research Professionals for the third session in Researcher Appreciation Week as Allison Ali, Pre-award Research Administrator in the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, presents on setting up your projects for success.

About the Speaker:

Allison Ali thinks in terms of tasks. Tie two tasks together; she has a project! She sharpened her skills in real estate project management when she worked for a boutique firm on the Upper East side of New York. She applied the frameworks of project management, self-taught at the time, to establish a workflow to meet deadlines and deliverables whether it was to a magazine editor at Town and Country or to the board of directors of a co-op on Park Avenue. One key takeaway is the importance of taking the time to develop and foster meaningful professional relationships with stakeholders and team members. Now nestled at UNC School of Medicine, Allison manages projects for physician-scientists, a different breed altogether. She is also a graduate student pursuing a degree in Masters of Applied Sciences where she just completed a semester in project management. She wishes to share her experience, knowledge, and techniques to help others manage their projects with skill and success.

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The NC TraCS Institute's new cycle of Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Pilot funding has been announced. Proposals are due August 13, 2024.

First released in 2022, CTS Pilots are focused on translational science. In preparation for this cycle of CTS Pilots, NC TraCS is holding 1-hour information sessions for investigators interested in learning more about this funding opportunity. Join the CTS Pilot Program leadership to hear about this pilot funding opportunity and have your questions answered.

Presenters
David Peden, MD, MS
CTS Pilot Program Co-director, NC TraCS Institute
Senior Associate Dean for Translational Research, UNC School of Medicine

David Carroll, PhD
CTS Pilot Program Co-director, NC TraCS Institute

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The NC TraCS Institute's new cycle of Clinical and Translational Science (CTS) Pilot funding has been announced. Proposals are due August 13, 2024.

First released in 2022, CTS Pilots are focused on translational science. In preparation for this cycle of CTS Pilots, NC TraCS is holding 1-hour information sessions for investigators interested in learning more about this funding opportunity. Join the CTS Pilot Program leadership to hear about this pilot funding opportunity and have your questions answered.

Presenters
David Peden, MD, MS
CTS Pilot Program Co-director, NC TraCS Institute
Senior Associate Dean for Translational Research, UNC School of Medicine

David Carroll, PhD
CTS Pilot Program Co-director, NC TraCS Institute

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The INSPIRE Abdominal & Skin/Soft Tissue Infection Trials: INtelligent Stewardship Prompts to Improve Real-time Empiric Antibiotic Selection for Patients

This NIH Collaboratory Rethinking Clinical Trials Grand Rounds features:

Shruti Gohil, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor Infectious Diseases
University of California, Irvine

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