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The “How to” of Starting a Lab

Association of Women Surgeons VA Chapter. The “How to” of Starting a Lab. Amelia Grover, M.D. Assistant Professor Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Surgery Division of Surgical Oncology May 5, 2007. Preface. Surgeon – scientist Uniquely difficult in surgery

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The “How to” of Starting a Lab

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  1. Association of Women Surgeons VA Chapter The “How to” of Starting a Lab Amelia Grover, M.D. Assistant Professor Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Surgery Division of Surgical Oncology May 5, 2007

  2. Preface • Surgeon – scientist • Uniquely difficult in surgery • Bench to bedside.. • ….And back to bench • There is no perfect job or perfect system

  3. Enthusiasm and discouraging words • “Go into industry or only see patients” • “Be happy with the status quo and drink beer or run a marathon” • Satisfaction of bringing unique and cutting edge information to patients

  4. Overview • Deciding if the lab is right for you • Make the most of your training • Finding the right starting point • Getting there and moving forward • Continuing to build

  5. Overview • Deciding if the lab is right for you • Make the most of your training • Finding the right starting point • Getting there and moving forward • Continuing to build

  6. Five year plan • Career • Clinical • Laboratory • Size • Project • Social • Financial • Constant reassessment

  7. Is the lab for me? • Answering that burning question • Are you a good cook? • Patience is a virtue • Self motivated • Do you want to head things up or just be an advisor?

  8. Know what you want • Characteristics of academic research • Limited money, personnel, equipment • Other responsibilities • Intellectual flexibility • Long term project opportunities

  9. Overview • Deciding if the lab is right for you • Make the most of your training • Finding the right starting point • Getting there and moving forward • Continuing to build

  10. Residency • Take the time to go into the lab • 1 year vs. 2 years • Have a clinical project at the same time • Choose a good mentor • Someone you want to emulate • How do they achieve balance • Able to choose a project you can complete

  11. Fellowship • Start building an area of expertise • Experimental focus • Experimental techniques • Cellular techniques • Molecular techniques • Continue to foster previous mentor/mentee relationships • Build new ones

  12. Fellowship • Last year of fellowship • What direction your PI will take the research project you are working on • Project to take with you • Continue lab contact until the end

  13. Overview • Deciding if the lab is right for you • Make the most of your training • Finding the right starting point • Getting there and moving forward • Continuing to build

  14. Start in the right place • Attitude of the institution • Value of research • Goals of the institution • Specific research focus • Critical mass • Long term goals and how you fit in • Success of those before you

  15. Resources • Mailing lists • Seminar lists • Core facilities • Animal facilities • Difficult or expensive laboratory techniques • List of resources • Equipment – expensive and unique • Personnel – who does what • Access to resources after hours

  16. Collaborations • Are there potential collaborators available • Get to know others when you are interviewing • Established senior investigators in a similar field • Ph.D. partner

  17. Collaborators • Benefits of collaboration • Get additional exposure • Share your expertise • Learning from others • Expand the depth of your research • Laboratory location

  18. Negotiation • Know the game • Define expectations and results • Evens the playing field • Allow self assessment • Patient care • RVU’s • Billing

  19. Negotiation • Define expectations and results • Teaching • Scheduled lectures • Daily teaching • Conference responsibility

  20. Negotiation • Define expectations and results • Lab • Start up costs • Time frame • Minimum of 3 years • Must have a lab tech • TIME, TIME, TIME

  21. Overview • Deciding if the lab is right for you • Make the most of your training • Finding the right starting point • Getting there and moving forward • Continuing to build

  22. Build on your strengths • Strenghts • Communication • Ambitious • Politically astute • Energetic • Sense of humor • Friendly • Insightful • Well organized • Take criticisms and suggestions

  23. Organize • Set up • Renovating lab space • Supplies • Lab personnel • Starting to gather ideas • Background data • Brainstorm you can always revise • Focus

  24. Lay of the land • Animal facilities • Autoclave • Waste disposal • Ice/dry ice • Safety requirements • Required training • Contact people

  25. Project planning • Focused well designed study • Think of one best question • Limited resources and staff to carry out the work

  26. Grantsmanship • Grant writing is a talent • Key words • Submit to the right place

  27. Grantsmanship • Take a grant writing course • Meet those with grant writing experience • Meet other young investigators • Have others read your grant • Specific aims are key

  28. Grantsmanship • Make sure you know what is available • Get on email list for grant opportunities • Intramural • Extramural • http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm

  29. NIH Institutes and Centers • AA--National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)AG--National Institute on Aging (NIA)AI--National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)AR--National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)AT--National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)CA--National Cancer Institute (NCI)CL--Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center (CC)*CT--Center for Information Technology (CIT)DA--National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)DC--National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)DE--National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)DK--National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)EB--National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)ES--National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)EY--National Eye Institute (NEI)GM--National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)HD--National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)HG--National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)HL--National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)LM--National Library of Medicine (NLM)MD--National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD)MH--National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)NR--National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)NS--National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)OD--Office of the Director (NIH)RG--Center for Scientific Review (CSR)RR--National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)TW--John E. Fogarty International Center (FIC)* Does not make Extramural Awards

  30. Research Grant Programs • R01NIH Research Project Grant Program (R01) • R03NIH Small Grant Program (R03) • R13 & U13NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (R13 and U13) • R15NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Grants - (R15) • R21NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) • R34NIH Clinical Trial Planning Grant (R34) Program • R56NIH High Priority, Short-Term Project Award (R56)New Investigators Program • K99/R00NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00)PIsMultiple Principal Investigators web page with associated funding opportunities • Modular ApplicationsModular Research Grant ApplicationsResearch Supplemental Programs • Diversity SupplementsResearch Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related ResearchRuth L. KirschsteinNational Research Service Awards (NRSA)

  31. Research Grant Programs • T32Institutional Research Training Grants (T32) • T35Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grants (T35) • F30Individual Predoctoral Awards For M.D./PH.D. Fellowships (F30) • F31Individual Predoctoral Fellowship Minority Students (F31) • F31Individual Predoctoral Fellowship Students w/Disabilities (F31) • F31Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (F31) • F32Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships (F32) • F33Senior Fellowships (F33)Research Ethics and Training Grant Programs • T15Short-Term Courses in Research Ethics (T15)  (Note: Program Announcement expired March 13, 2004) • T90Training for a New Interdisciplinary Research Workforce (T90)  (Note: RFA application receipt date was March 10, 2004) • K KioskInformation about NIH Career Development AwardsSmall Business Awards • SBIR/STTRSmall Business Funding Opportunities Web PageOther Programs • BECONNIH Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) • BISTIBiomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative (BISTI) • Ethical Issuesin Human StudiesResearch on Ethical Issues in Human Studies • IDeAInstitutional Development Awards (IDeA) • PECASEPresidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)RoadmapNIH Roadmap Initiatives • BlueprintNIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research • S07Human Subjects Research Enhancement Awards (HSREA)

  32. Prioritize • Pulled in multiple directions • Teaching • Laboratory work • Patient care • Mentorship • Protect time • “previous commitment” vs. “lab time”

  33. Don’t procrastinate • Address problems with the appropriate person • Respect the hierarchy but… • Be ready for difficult conversations • You must be your own advocate

  34. Overview • Deciding if the lab is right for you • Make the most of your training • Finding the right starting point • Getting there and moving forward • Continuing to build

  35. Carefully choose those around you • Mentors • Have your best interests at heart not their agenda • More than one mentor • Lab mentor • Clinical mentor • Don’t be afraid to ask for help

  36. Carefully choose those around you • Lab personnel • Experience • Attitude • Goals • Support staff • Clinical • Nurses • Research nurses • Office

  37. Being a mentor • Provide for those “under your wing” • Qualities of a good mentor • Success • Confidence • Believe in mentoring • Pass on what you learn • Perspective • Aware of their goals • Honesty • Communication skills • Flexibility if appropriate

  38. Paper writing • Helpful to start a project with the backbone of a manuscript in mind • Think of the experiments as potential figures for the manuscript • Review not only daily data but compare it to previous data to guide yourself • Remember the big picture • Don’t get distracted

  39. Meetings • Keep you informed • Helps the lab members stay organized and learn communication skills • Formal lab meetings • Informal lab meetings • Journal clubs • Organizational meetings • Meetings with other labs

  40. Summary • Define what you expect and want for yourself • Know what is expected of you • Be your own advocate • Focus • Slow steady progress with patience

  41. References • At the Helm: A Laboratory Navigator, Kathy Barker, 2002, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

  42. Acknowledgements • John Glover, M.D. • Gerald Zelenock, M.D. • Alfred E. Chang, M.D. • H. Richard Alexander, M.D. • Steven K. Libutti, M.D. • Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D.

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