Biophysical Society Newsletter - July 2015

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BIOPHYSICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 8 JULY 2015
Public Affairs
NSF Releases Science
Communication Guide
In its ongoing effort to help the public under-
stand the importance of the research it funds, the
National Science Foundation (NSF) has created
an online toolkit that offers step-by-step instruc-
tions to assist NSF grantees with communicating
research findings to the public. The online guide
explains whom at NSF a grantee should contact
for assistance, the different communication meth-
ods available, and tips. The guide can be found at
cation-toolkit-for-principal-investigators/.
Bipartisan Biomedical
Research Caucus Formed in
the Senate
In May 5, Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) launched the Senate
NIH Caucus, a new bipartisan group that will
offer an opportunity for senators to educate their
colleagues about the importance of the nation’s
biomedical research agency. As stated in a “dear
colleague” letter sent to all members of the Sen-
ate, the goal of the caucus is to “seek a bipartisan
strategy to restore the purchasing power that NIH
has lost and provide steady, predictable growth
for biomedical research in the future.” Caucuses
are formed in both the House and Senate, so that
members that share an interest in particular policy
areas can raise awareness of those issues and work
together on related legislation.
All senators are welcome to join the new NIH
caucus. Biophysical Society members are encour-
aged to ask their members to join the caucus via
the Society’s online advocacy center at www.bio-
tabid/5202/Default.aspx.
NIGMS Establishes Center for
Research Capacity Building
The National Institute of General Medical Sci-
ences (NIGMS), NIH, has established a new
Center for Research Capacity Building (CRCB).
The purpose of the new center is to serve as the
hub for NIGMS capacity-building programs,
which include the Institutional Development
Award (IDeA), Support of Competitive Research
(SCORE) and Native American Research Cen-
ters for Health (NARCH). These programs were
previously housed in a branch of the Institute’s
Division of Training, Workforce Development,
and Diversity (TWD).
IDeA builds research capacities in states that
historically have had low levels of NIH funding
by supporting basic, clinical and translational
research; faculty development; and infrastructure
improvements. SCORE focuses on increasing
the research competitiveness of faculty at institu-
tions that have a historical mission focused on
serving students from underrepresented groups.
And NARCH supports research, research train-
ing, and faculty and infrastructure development
through partnerships between American Indian/
Alaska Native tribes or tribally based organizations
and academic institutions that conduct intensive
biomedical research.
“The new organizational structure will allow for
more efficient planning, coordination, and execu-
tion among the research, research training and
research resource access activities of these impor-
tant programs,” said NIGMS Director Jon Lorsch
in a press release.
W. Fred Taylor, who has served as chief of the
TWD’s Capacity Building Branch since 2013
and as director of the IDeA program since 1998 is
serving as the Center’s acting director.
NIGMS Names New
Division Director
NIGMS has announced that Alison Gammie will
join NIGMS as the director of the Division of
Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity