The Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative provides awards to undergraduate institutions across the country to implement and study innovative approaches to engaging and retaining students from diverse backgrounds in biomedical research. In 2014, the National Institute of Health (NIH) granted 10 five-year BUILD (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) awards. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) was one of the 10 core institutions to receive the award which led to the formation of the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity: Southwest Consortium of Health-Oriented Education Leaders and Research Scholars (BUILDing Scholars) program. Under the UTEP BUILD award, there are 13 Research partners, with UConn being the only academic institution from the northeast.

The BUILDing Scholars program is designed to include a consortium of pipeline and research partners. Pipeline partners and UTEP work together to implement and co-develop programs that will enable students to master the coursework necessary to enter research careers as well as participating in mentoring activities. Research partners are intended to expand training, research and mentorship opportunities available to participating students, in addition to engaging faculty at UTEP through collaborations and/or training opportunities. The BUILDing Scholars are students who have finished their freshman, sophomore or junior year.

As a BUILDing Scholar, each student, through the Chronus online mentoring platform, was matched with faculty from UConn or UConn Health who expressed an interest in participating as a BUILD mentor. Once matched, mentors and students engage in conversation related to their summer research project and interests. Housing and travel are covered under the BUILD award for each student, as well as a monthly BUILD stipend for the summer. In addition, the BUILD mentor receives funding for research supplies needed in order for their student to complete their summer project.

Additional seminar information – 3D printing or additive manufacturing (AM) is becoming important in clinical needs for on demand patient matched implants due to better functionalities, lower cost and shorter lead time to manufacture. Establishing process property relationships for different AM techniques are vital towards successful implementation of these manufacturing practices in biomedical devices. Additive manufacturing of multiple materials in single operation is also an exciting innovation. Hard biomaterials, e.g., calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics being compositionally similar to the inorganic part of bone, are often used in bone implant applications, as both 3D printed tissue engineering scaffolds and surface modified hip and knee implant devices. We have used CaP scaffolds, fabricated using 3-D printing technology, for bone tissue engineering.  Dopant chemistry in CaP plays a vital role in controlling their resorption or degradation kinetics as scaffolds, mechanical strength, and biological properties of resorbable CaPs. 3D interconnected channels in CaP scaffolds provide pathways for micronutrients, improved cell-material interactions, and increased surface area allows improved mechanical interlocking between scaffolds and surrounding bone. Use of polymer helps in controlling drug release kinetics. In vivo studies show improved osteogenesis, angiogenesis and controlled drug delivery using natural medicinal compounds (NMCs) in these 3D printed scaffolds and coatings. These systems show promise for use in orthopedic and dental devices while eliminating the need for the autografts and the second site surgery for harvesting, as well as improving current hip / knee implant lifetime. The presentation will address design of next generation bone tissue engineering scaffolds and hip / knee devices based on clinical needs in fixation of bone disorders and scientific challenges

Susmita Bose, Ph.D. – Susmita Bose is the Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair Professor at the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, affiliate faculty of Department of Chemistry and Elson Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University. Prof. Bose’s interdisciplinary research interest lies at the interface of Chemistry, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering and Biology, focusing on 3D printed bone scaffolds, implant materials and drug delivery vehicles. Prof. Bose received the CAREER award and the prestigious Presidential Early Career Award for Scientist and Engineers (PECASE) from the National Science Foundation. She has advised over 40 graduate students for their MS and PhD, published over 250 technical articles including over 200 journal articles, 15 book chapters, 7 edited books, 12 patents. Her research papers have been cited ~ 15,000 times (‘h” index 67, Google scholar). She was invited as “Kavli fellow” by the National Academy of Sciences, received the PACE and Fulrath Awards from the American Ceramic Society. In 2015, Prof. Bose was named as Life Science Innovation Northwest Women to Watch Honoree, by the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association. In 2016, she received the International Society for Ceramics in Medicine research excellence award. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), National Academy of Inventors (NAI), Materials Research Society (MRS), ASM International, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the American Ceramic Society (ACerS) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). In 2017 she has been elected to the Washington State Academy of Sciences, in 2018 she received WSU distinguished faculty address award and in 2019 WSU Sahlin faculty excellence award for research scholarships and art. Prof. Bose’s group research on 3D printed bone tissue engineering scaffolds with controlled chemistry has been featured by the AP, BBC, NPR, CBS, MSNBC, ABC, and many other TV, radio stations, magazines and news sites all over the world

The Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative provides awards to undergraduate institutions across the country to implement and study innovative approaches to engaging and retaining students from diverse backgrounds in biomedical research. In 2014, the National Institute of Health (NIH) granted 10 five-year BUILD (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) awards. The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) was one of the 10 core institutions to receive the award which led to the formation of the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity: Southwest Consortium of Health-Oriented Education Leaders and Research Scholars (BUILDing Scholars) program. Under the UTEP BUILD award, there are 13 Research partners, with UConn being the only academic institution from the northeast.

Dr. Cato Laurencin, of the Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering and Sports Medicine Department and Dr. Anthony Alessi, of the Neurosport Department attended the CES MMA 56 Fight at the Connecticut Convention Center last Friday. Dr. Laurencin serves as the Commissioner of Boxing for the State of Connecticut and Dr. Alessi showcased his expertise as the ringside doctor for the fight. Previously, Dr. Laurencin served as a ring side boxing physician for professional boxing in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. He has been a physician for the USA Boxing Elite Men’s Team and serves on the National Medical Advisory Board for USA Boxing. He continues to interlace his passion for boxing with his mastery in sports medicine.

To be discussed:

• Degree programs (MD, PhD, MD/PhD)
• Timeline of application process
• Academic preparation
• Successful applications from the admissions committee perspective
• Cost of attendance, financial aid, AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP)
• Online resources available to students and minority students for the professional school application process

Date:               Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Time:               12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location:        Classroom C1, UConn Medical School

About the Instructor:

Granville Wrensford, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean and Associate Director

Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs

Register Here

To be discussed:

• Components of a scientific paper
• Literature review using online databases
• The importance of proper documentation of observations in lab notebook
• Basics of the 10 Minute Presentation

Date:           June 11, 2019

Time:          12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Location:    UConn School of Medicine, Classroom C1 (Main Floor)

Target Audience: UConn students interested in pursuing careers as scientists and scholars in biological and biomedical sciences

About the Instructor:

Anne M. Delany, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Medicine

Director, Skeletal Biology and Regeneration Graduate Program

Area of Expertise: Dr. Delany’s laboratory is interested in the differentiation of osteoblasts, which are the cells responsible for bone formation. She is studying bone remodeling, with a focus on the post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating the growth factors and matrix molecules important for maintaining bone mass. Her most recent work is centered on how microRNAs (small non-coding RNAs) regulate the gene expression networks modulating osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation. Dr. Delany also studies how 3′ UTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may modulate gene expression.

Register here

On May 29^th the Connecticut Convergence Institute and the YWCA Hartford launched the first ever Health Café – JUMP series kickoff event. The event had a fun, casual, high-energy atmosphere complete with a DJ, a motivational Zumba class, free giveaways and a buffet style dinner consisting of healthy food from local restaurants. The goal of the event was to enlighten the community about the importance of starting or maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and to present it in an upbeat and relatable fashion.  During the first half of the event, Dr. Kevin Lo, Dr. Maria Achong and Dr. Helen Wu discussed the current health crisis (obesity) not only locally, but on a national and global scale as well. Attendees left the event armed with healthy lifestyle information, a sweat provoking workout, free gifts and stomachs full of delicious, healthy food.

Thank you to the Aetna Foundation for sponsoring such a wonderful event!

Dr. Helen Wu visited WLAT and WKND radio to promote the Connecticut Convergence Institute – Aetna Health Café – JUMP event!  Join us on the 29^th from 6-8p.m. at the YWCA Hartford located at 135 Broad Street for a free evening of fun, food, Zumba and healthy lifestyle education. Get event information here!

On April 18, 2019 Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California welcomed Dr. Cato T. Laurencin as the Featured Speaker for the 2019 Ray Symposium.  Dr. Laurencin delivered a moving speech about “Addressing the Future of Health in America: Diversity, Racism and Health Disparities.”

The Ray Symposium is on its 13^th year of addressing national health care issues that appeal to the broadest possible audience.  The symposium attracts an inter-professional, multidisciplinary audience which includes health care and political partners in surrounding communities as well as students and faculty who represent nine health care professions.

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Connecticut Convergence Institute for Translation in Regenerative Engineering Postdoctoral Research Associate in Health Disparities

The Connecticut Convergence Institute at UConn Health seeks to a Postdoctoral Research Associate.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to research and community engagement initiatives associated with the CT Convergence Institute Health Disparities Core Projects.
• Work on a new National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Medicine, Engineering and Science.
• Part time collaboration on the development of Perspective papers and surveys related to issues facing Black Men and Black Women in Medicine, Engineering and Science.
• Work with Roundtable members on formulation of follow up projects.
• Engage in community health disparities projects funded by an Aetna Foundation Community Partnership Grant to the Connecticut Convergence Institute.
• Serve on the editorial board of the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, published by Springer Nature and having its home at the Connecticut Convergence Institute at UConn Health.

Qualifications:

• The successful candidate must hold a terminal professional degree (e.g. Ph.D. M.D., and/or M.P.H.)
• Must have a demonstrated history of success based on scholarly record and interest in health disparities.
• Ability to work in collaboration with clinical, translational and/or basic scientists.

Application Instructions:

Please address questions to, or submit the below to Diane Evans at evans@uchc.edu

Your submission should include all of the following:

• A current curriculum vitae (CV).
• A cover letter addressed to Dr. Cato T. Laurencin, Chief Executive Officer highlighting your professional background/research interests and your qualifications for this position.
• Contact information including email addresses and telephone numbers of three individuals knowledgeable about your training, experience and skills.