FNNDSC Weekly Newsletter - Week 34

Upcoming Events

January 20th: FNNDSC Lecture Series with Matthew Barkovich, MD

January 20th: Deadline for Funding Your Research - Foundations and Philanthropy

January 21st: New Coordinator Orientation - Working with the IRB

January 22nd 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Newborn Medicine Research Seminar Series

January 30th: Complimentary Master Class: Dr. Zoltan Patay- Imaging of Brain Stem Tumors

February 5th: Deadline for Fundamentals of Clinical and Translational Research

February 15th: Abstracts Acceptance Begins - Folkman Research Day

Various Dates: Newborn Brain Society Fetal Neurology Webinar Series

Helpful Links

▴ Research Announcements & News

▴ Funding Opportunities

▴ Staff Resources - Covid-19

▴ Covid Vaccine FAQs

▴ Office of Sponsored Programs Updates

Last Week's FNNDSC Project Updates

NIRS Team

This week the NIRS team enrolled two new subjects into the IVH study! We also performed multiple rounds of continuous monitoring in the NICU and got to see one of our neurosurgery subjects for their two week post op visit! It was a busy, but exciting week! We have also been working diligently to get up and running with the CURE team in Uganda!

MRI Data Analysis

For Kiho Im's project, "Genetic and hemodynamic effects on prenatal cortical development in congenital heart disease", his team acquired the first sample for genetic test (DNA sequencing) from a baby with congenital heart disease. Fetal MRI was already acquired, which is an excellent start for examining correlations between fetal brain features and genetics.

Honor, Award, and Publication Spotlight

Ellen Grant will receive the award for Outstanding Contributions in Research from the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR)- "This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated consistent excellence and lifelong accomplishment in basic or clinical neuroradiological and neuroscience research". Congratulations, Ellen!

Congratulations to Georgios Ntolkeras and Ellen Grant for their The Public Library of Science ONE publication titled "Development, Validation, and Pilot MRI Safety Study of a High-Resolution, Open Source, Whole Body Pediatric Numerical Simulation Model". Read more on this publication here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0241682

FNNDSC Lecture Series with Guest Speaker: Matthew Barkovich, MD

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 20th 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Presenter: Matthew Barkovich, MD

Abstract:

Despite extensive work in advanced imaging and quantitative analysis over the past several decades, clinical neuroradiology has remained largely qualitative and subjective, with well-established imaging techniques remaining the clinical mainstay. How can we bridge the divide between the lab and the reading room/clinic? Advanced imaging techniques and quantitative methods that have successfully transitioned to clinical use offer some insight, but overcoming the skeptical clinician can pose quite a challenge to neonatal neuroscientists. We’ll discuss these challenges, the (bright) future of automated analyses, and a number of potential clinical applications in the neonatal realm.

Biography:

Matt Barkovich is an Assistant Professor In-Residence in Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at UCSF and a practicing neuroradiologist. His primary research interests lie in evaluating neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders to glean insight into brain development. His multidisciplinary and collaborative approach combines computational neuroimaging, molecular genetics, and molecular imaging probes to discover of pathobiological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric diseases and identify disease risk factors for targeting novel therapeutic approaches. His previous work has focused on using quantitative methods to extract information, that may not be readily apparent on visual evaluation, from medical imaging and correlating those data with the vast array of increasingly computerized clinical data.

Zoom meeting information:

Join from your computer or mobile device: https://bostonchildrens.zoom.us/j/94038893952?pwd=SjlzTTVVUi8vdEZLQmpzOUJXSXdrdz09

Password: 835997

Or dial in from your telephone:

Internally: x28882

Externally: 646-558-8656 (Primary)

408-638-0968 (If you are unable to dial into the primary number)

Telephone password: 835997

Or iPhone one-tap:

+16465588656,,94038893952# or +14086380968,,94038893952#

EWS link: https://zoom.us/wc/94038893952/join

Meeting ID: 940 3889 3952

Covid-19 Testing of Staff

BCH is officially opening up asymptomatic COVID testing to all staff, including our research staff as of 1/19/21. While the testing is neither recommended or required, it is now available as frequently as once a week. Testing is by appointment only through OHS.

Duo Mobile Authentication to Access VPN and WebVPN:

Boston Children’s Hospital is actively working to stay vigilant against cyber-attacks attempting to penetrate the Boston Children’s network. As part of our ongoing efforts to stay ahead of these attacks, BCH is transitioning to a new two-factor authentication system to access VPN and WebVPN. Starting on January 13, a product called Duo will be used to enable access to VPN and WebVPN resources.

Steps:

• Access VPN or WebVPN as you normally do.

• Log-in using your BCH username and password.

• The authentication screen appears. Choose an authentication method.

  • To get a push notification to your phone, select ‘Send me a push’.

  • To get a passcode sent to your phone, click ‘Enter a passcode’ and then ‘Text me a new passcode’.

• Your VPN or WebVPN session begins.

On-site Administrative Support This Week

Gauravi will be onsite this week on Tuesday, January 19th.

Calling All Blood Donors!

The Blood Donor Center whole blood inventory is critically low. Please make an appointment this week and especially next week to help fill over 100 open appointments. Double parking will be given as well as the January donor gift. Please help fill all our open slots by calling 617-355-6677 or scheduling online at www.halfpints.childrenshospital.org.

Call for Volunteers - Covid-19 Related Projects

The biggest need for volunteers is for staffing the mask and attestation tables at various entrances to the hospital. BCH also has staffing needs for the digital health virtual visit support desk, which is a remote position. Please direct general questions about volunteering for COVID projects to Ariya Kraik, administrative leadership fellow, at Ariya.Kraik@childrens.harvard.edu. To express interest in volunteering for a specific project, please refer to the list of projects below and contact the designated scheduling coordinator for each role. Note that self-scheduling is possible for the mask and attestation station project.