- Features: The power of primary care; Demystifying congenital heart disease through product design.
- Awards and Recognition: OVPR announces recipients of the Innovation Impact Case Award; and more.
The power of primary care
Paul Stadem was a first-year resident when he met Harold Palm, a patient with a serious undiagnosed lung disorder. As Palm’s condition worsened and their relationship deepened, Stadem continued to investigate his diagnosis through additional studies and lab tests. Finally, a test found that Palm had a rare condition called mixed connective tissue disease. At that point, Stadem thought Palm needed a doctor with experience managing a patient on a lung transplant list. No way, Palm answered. “I told him, we’re just going to have to learn together, bro. Because I’m not doing it if you’re not doing it with me.”
Demystifying congenital heart disease through product design
Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects around 40,000 children born in the U.S. each year. Seeking to improve education for diagnosed children and their families, Amr El-Bokl and Gurumurthy Hiremath of the U of M Medical School partnered with the product design program at the College of Design. There, they collaborated with undergraduate student Levi Skelton and Assistant Professor Carlye Lauff to create a product for teaching children about CHD.
Awards and Recognition
OVPR announces recipients of the Innovation Impact Case Award; the Institute for Advanced Study has announced 2022-23 Research and Creative Collaboratives; Douglas Kearney's 2021 poetry collection Sho has been named one of four finalists for the Griffin Poetry International Prize; U in the News features highlights of University faculty and staff cited in the media.
Announcing the Early Innovation Fund
Technology Commercialization has announced the Early Innovation Fund, a new competitive grant program to fund short-term projects that advance early-stage innovations. The program provides from $3,000 to $10,000 per project to advance the technology readiness of an innovation through a variety of means, including support for buying materials, building prototypes, testing services, student workers, and entrepreneurial activities. Open to all U of M researchers and employees, including faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and staff. Submissions are due May 16.
Apply for Global Health Seed Grants
The U of M Center for Global Health and Social Responsibility is requesting proposals for annual awards to catalyze innovative global health research projects. Open to systemwide faculty for interdisciplinary health research activities. Letters of intent are due Apr. 29; full proposals are due May 20.
Attend peer learning tool RFP vendor demonstrations
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to watch vendor demonstrations and provide feedback on peer learning tools that, if selected, would be available through Canvas. Peer learning tools enable instructors and students to engage in effective peer learning experiences (e.g., peer review, group member evaluation, quality of feedback rating). Register to attend and learn more about the peer learning tool request-for-proposal process.
Minnesota Public Health Corps coming to Minnesota to bridge gaps exacerbated by COVID-19
Minnesota Public Health Corps, a new AmeriCorps program to increase immediate capacity within the public health field and create a diverse pipeline of future public health employees, is coming to Minnesota. ServeMinnesota, the state’s hub for AmeriCorps service, in partnership with the U of M School of Public Health, will launch the new program in August, with recruitment beginning immediately.
CIDRAP launches a communication toolkit for antimicrobial resistance
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Antimicrobial Stewardship Project at the University of Minnesota has launched a communication toolkit for antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The toolkit equips doctors and patients with key facts in an accessible format, giving them the resources to raise AMR awareness in their communities.
U of M Principals Survey reveals challenges, optimism, and the need for support
Results of the Minnesota Principals Survey have been released. The comprehensive 70-question survey developed by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement is the first of its kind in Minnesota in terms of its scope and response. It aims to elevate the voices of principals, assistant principals, and charter school leaders across the state.
Cell-cell signaling of GI bacteria can unlock future infection preventions
Research from the U of M and Mayo Clinic sought to understand how microbial communities help people resist pathogens. The researchers observed that strains of bacterium Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), a common bacteria in the GI tract of humans, signal to each other during gene transfers to the intestinal tract of animal models. When E. faecalis becomes imbalanced in the body, it can cause infection in the GI tract.
Immune response to parasitic worms
Research led by the University of Minnesota Medical School looked at whether exposure to pathogens, in particular helminths, can stimulate the immune system and reduce predisposition for inflammatory bowel disease.
Research Brief: Medicaid expansion had little effect on preventing the closure of obstetric services
Access to obstetric services has declined steadily in recent years, especially in rural areas. New research from the School of Public Health provides the first results on whether Medicaid expansion alleviated obstetric service closures.
Apr. 26 - What Is Our COVID-19 Future? Building the New Normal
Join national experts, including authors of a major new report on "Getting to and Sustaining the Next Normal: A Roadmap for Living with COVID," to hear how we can move forward and build stability in the age of COVID. Presented by the Consortium on Law and Values. Noon-1:30 p.m.
U of M featured virtual events
Apr. 22 - Global Studies Virtual Symposium
Apr. 22 - The State of Academic Freedom in an Era of Globalized Education
Apr. 26 - Chinese Film History: Realism and Convention
Apr. 26 - Design in a Post-Pandemic World: Spirituality and Religion
Crookston lecturer honored with regional ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award
University of Minnesota Crookston Business Department lecturer Rutherford Johnson was awarded the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Teaching Excellence Award for region four. The annual award recognizes individuals who exemplify teaching excellence in the classroom.
‘Office Hours’ with Marat Bakpayev
In this episode of “Office Hours,” UMD chats with Marat Bakpayev, professor of marketing, who teaches marketing and graphic design majors. It’s an innovative program that empowers students to thrive in both fields. A lot of strategy is required, which ties into Professor Bakpayev’s passion for chess and martial arts. “Strategy is an overused word, but I simplify it to say you’re making a winning choice,” Bakpayev says.
University asks state to invest in NRRI facilities
The University’s legislative funding request includes $10M to enhance research infrastructure at Natural Resources Research Institute’s (NRRI) Duluth and Coleraine Labs, including expanded laboratory facilities in Duluth and a new metallurgical research building at the Coleraine campus. “Investing in research is investing in options for our collective future,” says NRRI executive director Rolf Weberg. “And can you think of anything better to invest in?”
Flying Solo
Theatre students in the UMD College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences presented Flying Solo earlier this month. Flying Solo consists of 15 student-written or adapted plays, described by one participant as a "choose your own adventure." In this video, the students talk about the challenges, successes, and joys of writing and producing their own plays.
Apr. 21-22 - Undergraduate Research Symposium
Students will present research plus scholarly and creative work at the 2022 Undergraduate Research Symposium. Types of presentations include posters, oral presentations, and short or abbreviated theatrical, dance, or musical performances.
Apr. 22-23 - Theatre presents Miss Electricity
Every year since 1969, University of Minnesota Morris theatre has invited schools from all over the west central Minnesota region for a one-of-a-kind experience—a play made especially for them. The pandemic put the tradition on pause, but it’s back this year as U of M Morris theatre presents Miss Electricity, written by Kathryn Walat and directed by Hannah Amundson.
Apr. 25 - Bread & Bowls
Bread & Bowls is an annual fundraiser for the Stevens County Food Shelf, Someplace Safe, and scholarships for the PRCA children's art camps. U of M Morris and Morris Area Schools art students and local artists donate ceramic bowls, and area organizations and businesses provide soup, bread, and desserts.
Carrell represents UMR campus in fireside chat
Chancellor Carrell represented the UMR campus community in a "fireside chat" with New York Times best-selling author Jeff Selingo at the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership in Tempe, AZ. Selingo was editor of the Chronicle of Higher Education and is currently the special advisor for innovation and professor of practice at Arizona State University.
Lanz moderates Chamber of Commerce legislative update
Marco Lanz, UMR's director of alumni and development, recently moderated the Rochester Chamber of Commerce's legislative update, with regional state senators and representatives answering a range of questions. DEED commissioner Steve Groves also spoke at the event, designed to engage the community with policy makers.
Growing with Nick Kreevich
With 1,200 acres featuring 32 display and specialty gardens, 48 plant collections, and more than 5,000 plant species and varieties, keeping track of what's planted where at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is no easy task. And yet maintaining and sharing that data is key to the arboretum's role as a living museum of plants. Arboretum cartographer and plant recorder Nick Kreevich's job involves wrangling that data and finding user-friendly ways to share it with the public.
Carlson Class of 2022 finds success despite pandemic obstacles
When the pandemic shut the world down, it would have been easy for students to feel like their educational experience locked down, too. Instead, these Carlson School students found a world of possibility and potential, both within and out in the wider world.
Apr. 26 - Minnesota Supercomputing Institute research exhibition
The Minnesota Supercomputing Institute is holding its annual research exhibition. The event includes a panel discussion about employment in the high-performance computing industry, presentations, a poster session, and tours. Noon-4 p.m., 4th and 5th floors, Walter Library.
May 3 - The Critical First Years: Turning Research into Policy
Join the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute for its spring roundtable, exploring what research says on child development and the outcomes of investing in early childhood. Speakers will share insights from their research and advocacy to illustrate the challenges and opportunities facing families, businesses, and the community. 5:30 p.m., 3M Auditorium, Carlson School of Management.
May 4 - Climate Action Planning Town Hall
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities Office of Sustainability and the Twin Cities Sustainability Committee will host the Climate Action Planning Town Hall. Hear about the University's climate action planning process from a panel of University sustainability staff, committee members, and experts. Register and submit questions for the Q&A. 4-5:30 p.m., Coffman Theater.
UMTC Featured Events
Apr. 21 - Cub’s Community-First Approach: Highlighting Learnings from Northside Cub
Apr. 23 - Choirs: Spring Fling!
Apr. 23 - Spotlight Science: Ornithology
Apr. 27 - A matter of fate: The long tail of chemicals in the environment; A Petri Dish conversation