--Technology Transfer Announces Winners of Second Annual GAP Fund Awards
--E-Mail Messages Entitled “Hi” May Contain a Harmful Computer Virus
--Can Your Department Spare Pharmaceutical Supplies for Project Medishare?
--CME Lectures Address Agents of Chemical and Biological Warfare
--Discounts and Refreshments Mark Bookstore’s Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day
--UM’s Report Distribution System Has Revamped its Web Service
--Acuvue Contact Lens Wearers Should Visit Bascom Palmer for Rebate Vouchers
--Upcoming Calendar Events

BIOCHEMISTRY AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS
RECEIVE GRANTS IN SECOND ANNUAL GAP FUND AWARDS PROGRAM

In support of new inventions that may lead to the discovery of tomorrow’s technological advances, the Office of Technology Transfer announces this year’s winners of the GAP Fund Awards. The awards are funded by the Office of the Dean, and aim to fill the “gap” between an invention and its commercial application. Fulvia Verde, Paola Catanuto, David Wiley, and Min You, all from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, received one of the awards for their work involving the cloning and characterization of Bot1, a novel protein found only in the growing tips of fungi, which is a potential target for the development of new antifungal drugs with low toxicity to humans and animals. The second winner was Mohammed Abdel-Mottaleb, associate professor of electrical engineering, for a project that efficiently converts 2D images and video into 3D images and video through a novel algorithm and associated software. Its practical applications include medical imaging, computer-assisted design, education, and entertainment. The investigators of the winning projects will receive a grant of $20,000 to continue their work.

MEDICAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WARNS USERS
TO WATCH FOR "HI" VIRUS IN E-MAIL MESSAGES

Last week, a computer virus was spread via e-mail with the subject line "Hi" and an attachment entitled "GONE.SCR". All "gone.scr" file attachments are currently being blocked/deleted from Microsoft Exchange. However, if you receive an e-mail message with this attachment from another e-mail source (AOL, Yahoo, MSN, etc.), do not open it. Delete the message immediately. If you suspect you have the virus on your computer or if you have any questions, contact the Medical Information Technology Technical Support Staff at 305-243-5999.

PHARMACEUTICAL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR
PROJECT MEDISHARE GOODWILL TRIP TO HAITI

Project Medishare will conduct its next medical trip to Haiti from December 27 through January 2, and is in need of pharmaceutical donations (specifically antibiotics, antifungals skin creams, GERD meds, and anti-hypertensives). If your department has any supplies to donate, e-mail medishare@yahoo.com.

CME SERIES ON TERRORISM CONTINUES WITH LECTURES
ON CHEMICAL WARFARE AND BACTERIAL AGENTS

The Dean’s Lecture Series focusing on Terrorism: Weapons of Mass Destruction, sponsored by the Division of Continuing Medical Education, continues this week. “Agents of Chemical Warfare and Terrorism: History and Current Dangers” will be presented on Tuesday, December 11, and "Recognition and Treatment of Bacterial Agents of Biological Warfare and Botulinum Toxin," is on Wednesday, December 12. “Agents of Chemical Warfare and Terrorism” will be presented by Clifton Patton, assistant professor of clinical anesthesiology and chief of the anesthesia service. He will speak on December 11, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in the Rosenstiel Building, fourth floor auditorium. Alan Bisno, of medicine and vice-chair of the Department of Medicine, will present “Recognition and Treatment of Bacterial Agents of Biological Warfare and Botulinum Toxin,” December 12, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., in the Rosenstiel Building, fifth floor auditorium. AMA PRA Category 1 credit will be available for each live session. For faculty unable to attend a particular session, videotapes will be available at the Calder Library. For additional information and a full schedule of lectures, visit http://cme.med.miami.edu, or call 305-243-6716. Stay tuned to e-Update for details on upcoming presentations.

UM MEDICAL BOOKSTORE ANNOUNCES
FACULTY AND STAFF APPRECIATION DAYS

As the holidays approach, the UM Medical Bookstore would like to thank all faculty and staff for your support throughout the year. A 2001 Faculty and Staff Appreciation Event will be held at the bookstore this week, December 11 – 12. All UM faculty and staff will receive an additional 10 percent discount on all regular and sale priced merchandise, excluding textbooks, software, and medical supplies. Invitations should arrive in faculty and staff mailboxes soon, and you will need to bring those with you to the store, along with your UM employee ID, to receive the special discount. Complimentary refreshments also will be served. Questions? Call the bookstore at 305-243-6068.

ONLINE REPORT SYSTEM
GETS NEW LOOK

Users of UM's Report Distribution System (RDS), which provides reports via the Intranet and EOS/PC software, need to familiarize themselves with the new RDS Web page. The changes are explained via an online tutorial at https://easy.miami.edu/rds/training/start.html. Want to learn more about RDS? Visit http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,3208-1,00.html. Questions? Contact mailto:rds.it@miami.edu.

BASCOM PALMER CLINIC DISTRIBUTING REBATE
VOUCHERS FOR ACUVUE CONTACT LENS WEARERS

The Hospital Contact Lens Service at Bascom Palmer is distributing rebate vouchers for Acuvue Contact Lens wearers. If you wear lenses by Acuvue, you may be eligible for rebates on clinical services, as well as lenses, resulting from a class action law suit settled by Vistakon, the manufacturer of Acuvue lenses. Visit Bascom Palmer's Contact Lens Clinic or call 305-326-6095 for more information.

QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPLIANCE?
TWO UM HELPLINES CAN ASSIST YOU

Medicare and billing concerns? Address questions to Third Party Reimbursement/Office of Compliance at 305-243-HELP or 877-415-HELP. For information about this helpline or training programs offered by the compliance office, contact Gemma Romillo at 305-243-5842. Research integrity concerns? Report concerns regarding research integrity and adherence to federal or University regulations directly to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at 305-243-6415, or you can call the University’s toll-free compliance hotline at 866-YOURCALL.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

HUMAN RESEARCH SUBJECTS
ARE TOPIC OF WEEKLY SEMINARS

A program of weekly small-group seminars on topics that pertain to the protection of human subjects in research continues December 11, with "Pregnant Women as Subjects," presented by Leo Twiggs, M.D., associate for women’s health and director of the Institute for Women’s Health, noon to 1 p.m., at the Mailman Center, Room 3023. The calendar of remaining seminars in this series may be viewed at http://www.miami.edu/research/lectureseries. For more information or to register for any of these weekly seminars, call Katherine Morales at 305-243-2311 or e-mail kmorales@med.miami.edu. RSVP is required.

MIAMI PROJECT TAKES YOU TO THE
RACES FOR A DAY OF FREE FAMILY FUN

You’re invited to the Calder Race Course for free admission to the Grand Slam II –
Thoroughbred Racing event, December 29. For every free clubhouse admission ticket redeemed, the Calder Race Course will donate $5 to The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis in support of research on treatment of paralysis and spinal cord injury. Bring the family for a day of fun – free games, pony rides, and a petting zoo will be available for the kids. To pick up your free admission tickets, visit the Lois Pope LIFE Center, second floor reception, or call 305-243-6001.

CME CONFERENCE TO EXPLORE CURRENT
AND FUTURE PEDIATRICS PRACTICES

Registrations are now being accepted for the 11th annual Masters of Pediatrics Conference, sponsored by the Departments of Pediatrics and Dermatology.  The symposium will explore topics in general pediatrics, pediatric dermatology, and pediatric pulmonology and allergy.  Many internationally renowned speakers and School of Medicine faculty will present lectures, and this year's keynote address, entitled "Children's Health Care 2002 and Beyond," will be delivered by UM President Donna E. Shalala.  The conference will be held January 16 - 21, at the Wyndham Miami Beach Resort.  A number of educational tracks are available to all UM faculty, staff, and students.  CME and CEU credits also will be available.  For more information or to register, call 305-243-3992, e-mail tsampson@miami.edu, or visit http://mastersofpediatrics.com.

DISCOVER LATEST IN ADVANCES FOR TREATING
NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AT CME SYMPOSIUM

The Division of Continuing Medical Education is now accepting registration for “Neurological Update 2002,” an upcoming program designed to provide clinicians with the most recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. The symposium will be held January 30 - February 2, at the Radisson Deauville Resort in Miami Beach. For more information or to register, call 305-243-6716, e-mail umcme@med.miami.edu, or visit http://cme.med.miami.edu.