Workshop for Grad Students on Human Subjects Research: February 23 and 29

Staff from the campus Office for the Protection of Human Subjects (OPHS) are presenting a two-part workshop series for graduate students on February 23 and 29. The workshop is open to UC Berkeley graduate students in all disciplines. Preregistration is required.

OPHS Presenters: Jonathan Banda, MA, CIP and Melanie Hassel, MS

• Workshop 1: Fundamentals of Human Subjects Research
  Tuesday, February 23, 2012, 1pm - 3pm
  110T Sproul Hall

• Workshop 2: Navigating the IRB Review Process
  Wednesday, February 29, 2012, 11am - 1pm
  110T Sproul Hall

For details, see the Flyer for Human Subjects Workshops – Spring 2012.

The workshop was organized by Academic Services in the Graduate Division. For more information about the workshop series, please contact Academic Services, Graduate Division, UC Berkeley, 321 Sproul Hall, (510) 643-9392.

White House OSTP Briefing on R&D and STEM Education in the 2013 Budget

The federal Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is holding a briefing on the research, development, and STEM education portions of the President’s Fiscal Year 2013 Budget on Monday, February 13, 2012, at 10:30-11:30 a.m. PST.

Live web streaming of the event will be provided as a public service by the American Association for the Advancement of Science at http://www.aaas.org/go/ostp.

Speakers:

• John P. Holdren, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Carl Wieman, Associate Director for Science, OSTP
• Patrick Gallagher, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Subra Suresh, Director, National Science Foundation
• David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Department of Energy

Human Research Protection Program: Change in UC System MOU Process

As of February 1, 2012, UC Berkeley is transitioning to a new online UC IRB Reliance Registry hosted by the UC Office of the President. This new system applies for all studies eligible to be covered by the UC Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU allows a research study to be reviewed by the IRB at only one UC institution or Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) rather than having to go through the entire IRB process at two or more campuses where the research will take place.

As the campus transitions to the online system, the paper version of the Notice of Intent to Rely (NOITR) on one UC IRB will be phased out. New requests for one UC campus to rely on another campus’ review must be submitted via the online UC IRB Reliance Registry prior to protocol submission at the reviewing campus’ IRB. Existing agreements must be entered into the new online Reliance Registry at the time of protocol renewal or amendment.

Further details and instructions may be found on the UC IRB Reliance Registry for Studies under the UC MOU page on the CPHS/OPHS web site.

Consent Builder: New Online Tool to Create Consent Forms

The Human Research Protection Program at UC Berkeley is now providing a new resource for the campus research community: Consent Builder. Consent Builder is a web-based tool for creating Word document consent forms, based on the information the investigator enters online. See the CPHS/OPHS Informed Consent page for instructions and a link to Consent Builder.

Upcoming NIH Regional Seminars

Make plans to attend one of the 2012 NIH Regional Seminars on Program Funding and Grants Administration.

The NIH Regional Seminars are intended for those new to the grants process, including sponsored project officers and departmental administrators, investigators, faculty, graduate students, etc. However, it is also an opportunity for those with more experience to obtain updates on grants policies and procedures. These seminars are expected to draw approximately 500-600 attendees, providing extended opportunities for sharing and learning from peers as well as NIH experts. Due to the popularity of these seminars, early registration is highly recommended. Space is limited.

April 16-18, 2012 – Indianapolis, Indiana (Registration Open)

• Monday, April 16, 2012: Optional eRA Hands-On Computer Workshops
• Tuesday, April 17 & Wednesday, April 18, 2012: 2-Day Seminar
• Get the "EARLY" rate by registering on or before February 13!
• Venue and Seminar Hotel: JW Marriott Indianapolis
• Room Reservations: Click the “Hotel/Travel” tab on the Indianapolis NIH Regional Seminar website to obtain the special rate and registration details.
• The local ambassador institution for this seminar is Indiana University School of Medicine.

June 20-22, 2012 – Washington, DC (Registration opens mid-February 2012)

• Wednesday, June 20, 2012: Optional eRA Hands-On Computer Workshops
• Thursday, June 21 & Friday, June 22, 2012: 2-Day Seminar
• More details will be announced soon.

Held twice each year, the NIH Regional Seminars provide an unparalleled opportunity for participants to gain a better perspective of NIH policies and programs, network with their peers, gather helpful NIH contacts, and to return to their offices and/or labs with inside information, resources, and tools to assist in obtaining and managing NIH awards.

For more information see the above links and the NIH Guide notice: Announcing the 2012 NIH Regional Seminars on Program Funding and Grants Administration: Indianapolis, IN and Washington, DC.