GSA News

March 10, 2010   


The Genetics Society of America is pleased to announce support for the upcoming Genetics 2010:  Model Organisms to Human Biology Meeting, (http://www.mohb.org) June 12-15 in Boston, Massachusetts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) has awarded GSA an R13 conference grant, and the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (NINDS) will provide a supplement to the grant.  Additional supplements are pending at the National Cancer Institute, National Institute on Aging, and the Office of Research on Women’s Health.

Be an Easter bunny (Easter Sunday is April 4th) and surprise your lab mate, PI, assistant, or other colleague with a GSA mug full of jelly beans or mini chocolate Easter eggs.  Café Press offers a GSA mug for under $15 -– you supply the jelly beans or mini Easter eggs -- and after the candy’s all gone the 15 oz mug is ideal for coffee for those late nights in the lab. 

Policy Input

  • Did you receive an NIH or NSF Challenge Grant or an Administrative Supplement through ARRA? Did a high school student or high school science teacher spend time in your lab thanks to ARRA funding? Your member of Congress needs to hear how you, your lab and your community benefited in advancing science and supporting your local economy through ARRA. Click on http://capwiz.com/jscpp/officials/congress/ and enter your zip code to send an email to your Congressional delegation.

    Not sure what to say? Use the editable text as a guideline, or write your own message, but be sure to mention your home state, the name of your institution and your field of research.  Also include:

    • In easily understandable terms, your field of research and its potential benefits.
    • A description of the ARRA grant you received, the possible health implications resulting from your research, and why it was important that you received the grant.
    • If you’ve been able to hire new lab employees or retain staff you otherwise would have laid off.  
    • If you purchased lab equipment from local suppliers. If possible, outline the economic impact your grant has and will have on your local community.

    For information on the overall economic impact of NIH funding in your state, go to http://www.ascb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=273&Itemid=31

  • To fulfill President Obama’s “Open Government” directive, issued his first day in office, the National Science Foundation (NSF) wants to hear from you.  Until March 19, visit OpenNSF dialogue (http://opennsf.ideascale.com/) and give them your ideas –- or vote on suggestions already made -- for creating an Open Government Plan that will ensure NSF incorporates “transparency, participation and collaboration” into its core mission.
  • The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) is asking for input in developing its strategic plan for training and career development to ensure that they “meet current needs, anticipate emerging opportunities, and help build a highly capable, diverse biomedical research workforce.”  To give your input, go to http://public.nigms.nih.gov/2010TrainingSP/ and respond by April 21, 2010.  In addition, there will be four regional meetings for stakeholders in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta.  For dates, locations and registration, read the information on the website at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/StrategicPlan/.

GSA Meetings

For those who like to plan ahead . . . the Mouse Genetics 2011 Meeting (www.mousegenetics2011.org ) will be held on Wednesday, June 22 to Sunday, June 26, 2011 in Washington, DC at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.  National Institutes of Health Director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD will be the speaker at the meeting.

Other Meetings

Take a break in paradise at The American Genetic Association (AGA) Annual Symposium:  Conservation Genomics (http://www.theaga.org/2010/ ) at the University of Hawaii, on the Big Island in Hilo, July 26-28, 2010. The symposium is geared to genomicists, biologists and those who work at the interface of both disciplines.

    Upcoming Important Dates:

March 16, 2010
Drosophila: Deadline for Hotel Reservations

March 17, 2010
Yeast: Abstract Submission Opens

March 24, 2010
MOHB: Abstract Submission Deadline

 

 

Have You Renewed Your Membership for 2010?
If not, renew today!

 

GENETICS


February Issue


Do you have a brief announcement to submit to GSA e-News?
E-news items include news about GSA members -- new position, book publication, awards or grants received and obits; short policy items; brief research news items and grant programs; and, award nomination announcements. Deadline for next issue: March 17, 2010.

Send items to Phyllis Edelman, pedelman@genetics-gsa.org or society@genetics-gsa.org.
 

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