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U.VA. HEALTH SYSTEM HOSTS MEETING ON NEW FEDERAL FUNDING FOR HEALTH RESEARCH

More than $20 billion is expected to infuse the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget for FY2001, giving it the largest civilian research and development budget of any government agency. Next week, speakers from NIH will meet at Charlottesville's Boar's Head Inn to discuss new research opportunities at NIH, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration. More than 200 research scientists throughout Virginia are expected to attend.

The seminar starts Thursday, Nov. 16 at 7:55 a.m. with an overview from Dr. K.C. Das, director, the Virginia Office of Innovative Technology; a welcome from Dr. Robert M. Carey, dean, U.Va. School of Medicine; and an introduction by Timothy Redden, senior director of corporate and foundation relations, U.Va. Health System. Following will be presentations from NIH senior staff on NIH technology-funding initiatives and programs to fund collaborations with small businesses and small high technology firms.

Session I from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. will focus on high priority research/technology areas in the NIH institutes for heart, lung and blood; diabetes, digestive and kidney diseases; and allergy and infectious disease; followed by case presentations by Dr. Joel Linden, U.Va. professor of internal medicine and Rob S. Capon, chief executive officer, Adenosine Therapeutics, LLC.

Session II from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. will feature speakers from NIH institutes on child health and human development, general medical sciences and dental and craniofacial research, followed by a case presentation by Dr. Billy Martin, professor and chairman, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University.

Session II from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. will feature speakers from NIH institutes on child health and human development, general medical sciences and dental and craniofacial research, followed by a case presentation by Dr. Billy Martin, professor and chairman, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University.

The funding priorities named by NIH include more emphasis on increasing the public benefit from NIH-funded research, focusing on more high risk/high return ideas, innovations and faster conversion of research results into new technology, applications, products and services.

Conference sponsors include the U.Va. Health System Development Office, Virginia's Center for Innovative Technology, Carilion Biomedical Institute and the Gervin Group, a consulting firm for grant applicants.

November 13, 2000