BECON MEETING MINUTES

BECON MEETING – May 26, 2004

Minutes

The NIH Bioengineering Consortium (BECON) met from 3:00 to 4:45 PM on Wednesday, May 26, in rooms F1/F2 at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda , Maryland . In addition to BECON business, a presentation was made by representatives of the Semiconductor Research Corporation in Durham , NC . The following text is the minutes of this meeting.

Status of BECON Team Science Subcommittee – The BECON Subcommittee on Team Science is currently working on the definition of “co-PI”. Options to address co-PI's are being identified and evaluated.

BECON/BISTIC 2004 Symposium Status – Final arrangements are almost complete for the BECON/BISTIC 2004 Symposium on “Biomedical Informatics for Clinical Decision Making: A Vision for the 21 st Century” which is scheduled for June 21-22 at the Natcher Conference Center on the NIH Main Campus. A two-page summary of the scope, agenda, and key participants was distributed. NIH Co-chairs are Larry Clarke (NCI) and Karen Skinner (NIDA). Extramural Co-chairs are Michael Vannier ( University of Chicago ) and Michael Knopp ( Ohio State University ). Speakers and session chairs are confirmed, June 22 satellite meetings are planned, and the formal agenda is final. Registration is continuing and available using the BECON Web site.

BRP Grantee Meeting – The Fourth BRP Grantee Meeting is scheduled for July 29-20 (Thursday and Friday) at the Bethesda Hyatt Hotel. A final agenda is in preparation and will be distributed to BECON members in the near future.

BRG Solicitation – The current BRG solicitation (PA-02-011) ends with the October 1 receipt date. A new solicitation will need to be prepared if BECON plans to continue the program. The first deadline will be February 1, 2005 . An e-mail will be sent to BECO memerbs in the near future to ask (1) that BECON members check with their IC's to verify participation in the new BRG solicitation and (2) for volunteers for a committee to prepare the new solicitation.

Status of Nanobiomedicine Activities – Substantial discussion was dedicated to results of the May 4 Nanobiomedicine Roadmap Meeting at NIH and to related activities regarding funding opportunities and programs. With regard to the May 4 meeting on the Nanobiomedicine Roadmap Initiative, initial feedback has been very positive as has been response to the initial RFA for planning grants which was issued the same day as the meeting.

Presentation by Semiconductor Research Corporation – Representatives of the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) of Durham , NC , presented information on research and development programs involving semiconductor technologies applied to biology and medicine that are being coordinated by the SRC. The presentation included detailed descriptions of the industry/academia model used to conduct the programs, scientific applications of semiconductor and nano-scale technologies to biology and medicine, and future directions.

Next BECON Meeting – The next BECON meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 16, from 3 to 4:30 PM in Room 7111 of the Rockledge 2 Building on Rockledge Drive in Bethesda . A preliminary agenda will be available about a week before the meeting.

BECON/BISTIC Symposium – Registration is open and continuing for the BECON/BISTCI Symposium scheduled for June 21-22 at the Natcher Center . Registration is available using the BECON Web site.