ISAC E-News -- September 2003
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- NIH Study Sections. Flow and image cytometrists take note: The National Institutes of Health are organizing new study sections in Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies (BST). Grant applications that focus on fundamental aspects of bioengineering and technology development in Microscopic Imaging (MI) and Instrumentation and Systems Development (ISD) are two areas that should be of specific interest. A central premise of the study sections is the need for review of bioengineering and technology development in early stages before specific practical uses are proven. Hurray!
- Newest Edition of Practical Cytometry. Howard Shapiro's newest edition of Practical Cytometry (4th edition, July 2003) is now available. For more details check the Wiley Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0471411256.html. This book is a must have for ISAC members.
- ISAC Programs to Support Organization of Meetings. The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) can recommend ISAC funding for (a) ISAC sponsorship of meetings and workshops, (b) ISAC loans for organizing meetings and workshops, and (c) ISAC grants for organizing meetings and workshops. SAC has $10,000 available for such activities this current fiscal year. For more information, contact ISAC Executive Director Rick Koepke at rkoepke@isac-net.org for more information.
- Travel Grants. The ISAC Council has approved a $5,000 budget for the Membership Services Committee to support the travel of ISAC members to non-ISAC, but ISAC-endorsed, meetings. Student travel grants to attend the ISAC XXII Congress also are available. More information on these grants will be available soon. Contact ISAC Executive Director Rick Koepke at rkoepke@isac-net.org for more information.
- Promotion for Lisa Staiano-Coico. Lisa Staiano-Coico has been appointed the Vice Provost for Medical Affairs at Cornell University. In that capacity she will serve as the chief academic and administrative liaison officer between the Ithaca, N.Y., and Weill Medical College campuses of Cornell University to support and foster collaborative research and educational programs between faculty on the two campuses. Congratulations, Lisa!
- Joe Gray Accepts New Position. Joe Gray has accepted the position of Life Science Division Leader and Associate Director for Biosciences at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Congratulations, Joe!
- Send your updates on new jobs, promotions, etc. to E-News Editor Scott Cram at lxc@lanl.gov to see them included in an upcoming issue of E-News.
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President's Message
Membership Suggestions and Involvement are Valued
by Harry Crissman
hacrissman@lanl.gov
As ISAC celebrates its 25th anniversary, it is actively engaged in formulating policy and establishing negotiations on several important issues that will affect the long-term strategy of ISAC.
As ISAC has grown in size so too has the complexity of establishing policy and decision-making. The dynamics of ISAC are currently exemplified on several major fronts including: negotiations with Wiley publications for online access to our journals; sustained improvement of our Web site; improved financial opportunities for students to attend and participate in our meetings; interactions with the U.S. FDA through Dave Coder on biosafety issues; development of the 2003 Samuel A. Latt meeting by Marie Pallavicini and Joe Gray, and the preparation of ISAC Congress 2004 by Maria around the relevant and exciting systems biology theme.
Other tasks that lie before the society include, but are not limited to:
- Long-term planning and formulation of flexible and affordable meetings and congresses
- More electronic questionnaires soliciting membership involvement in decision making
- Active membership drives
- Formulation of policy regarding funding availability for ISAC-sponsored and non-sponsored meetings
Since ISAC is an educational society it may be worthwhile to explore very affordable, small scale, specialized courses or workshops that would appeal to young investigators who may find our congresses too expensive at this stage in their career. This may well be a way to attract young scientists to join the society.
We would like to know how you feel about these issues and any others that you feel should be addressed. Become an active member of ISAC and contact your councilors or members of the Executive Committee to express your ideas and concerns. This is your society and your input is required and certainly valued.
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4th Annual Samuel A. Latt Conference: Quantitative Biology for the Clinic Set for Yosemite National Park
ISAC is sponsoring the 4th Samuel A. Latt Conference: Quantitative Biology for the Clinic 20-22 November at the Yosemite Lodge in Yosemite National Park, Calif., U.S.A. Committee chairs are Joe Gray, Maria Pallavicini and Graeme Hodgson. Registration fee for this conference includes the opening reception and dinner on 19 November.
Topics to be discussed by invited speakers will be:
- Cancer Susceptibility
- Cancer Detection
- Prediction and Prognosis
- Bioinformatics
- Therapeutic Targets (Identification and Validation)
The keynote speakers are Dr. Rene Bernards, who has done pioneering work on small inhibitory RNAs, and Dr. Suzanne Huttner, from the University of California's Industry-University Cooperative Research Program.
See the ISAC Web site for the complete conference program and secure online registration.
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ISAC XXII International Congress
22-27 May 2004
Le Corum, Montpellier, France
The ISAC Congress is the premier educational conference for professionals and new investigators working in biological, clinical and analytical cytometry. ISAC E-News will be bringing you breaking news on our next International Congress as they arise.
ISAC is now accepting abstracts for the 2004 XXII International Congress
The deadline for all submissions is Thursday, 16 October 2003. To submit your abstract, go to ISAC's online abstract submission system, hosted by Community of Science (COS). A PDF of the Call for Abstracts is also available.
Hooke Lecturer Selected
Dr. John Mattick has been selected to present the prestigious Robert Hooke Lecture. His presentation will be "Programming of the Autopoeitic Development of Complex Organisms: The Hidden Layer of Noncoding RNA." Mattick is the director of the ARC Special Research Centre for Functional and Applied Genomics and director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.
For more information on ISAC XXII, download the call for abstracts.
More information on ISAC XXII will be added to the ISAC Web site as details become available. Watch the ISAC home page for updates.
Student Travel Grants
The ISAC Membership Services Committee has funds for student travel grants to attend the ISAC XXII Congress. More information on these grants will be available soon. Contact ISAC Executive Director Rick Koepke at rkoepke@isac-net.org for more information.
Registration Fees and VAT Tax
For the upcoming ISAC XXII International Congress, ISAC must collect a 19.6 percent value-added tax or VAT on behalf of the French government on all registration and exhibitor fees collected. This is a change since ISAC's 20th congress in France in 2000 and it was a requirement for ISAC's 1st International Conference on Cytomics held in Wales in May 2003. Some registrants or their organizations may be able to obtain a refund of the VAT collected. Contact Euro VAT Refund Inc. at vat@eurovat.com or visit its Web site at http://www.eurovat.com for more information.
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Wiley Interscience: A Valuable Tool for ISAC Members
The Wiley Interscience Web site links you to Cytometry Part A and Cytometry Part B, ISAC's journals. The Interscience Web site has a new look but still offers the same superb services to the ISAC community. Take a look at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com.
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Call for Nominations
The ISAC Nominating Committee, chaired by ISAC Past President Lisa Staiano-Coico, invites ISAC members to suggest names of individuals to be considered for nomination to serve on the ISAC Council for the 2004-2006 term.
The deadline for submission of names is 1 October 2003.
Send your suggestions via e-mail, fax or mail to:
Lisa Staiano-Coico, Chair
ISAC Nominating Committee
ISAC Headquarters
60 Revere Drive, Suite 500
Northbrook, IL 60062
Fax: 847/480-9282
E-mail: isac@isac-net.org
Eight positions will be filled in the upcoming election:
- President-elect
- Secretary
- Councilor, Biological Cytometry (3)
- Councilor, Clinical Cytometry (2)
- Councilor, Cytometric Technology (1)
Details on the duties of these roles are available online at
http://www.isac-net.org/memberservices/topics/responsibilities.htm.
Nominations by petition may also occur. According to ISAC bylaws, a nomination by petition from the membership requires the signatures of 17 members of the society. The deadline for nomination by petition is 1 October 2003.
Send your petitions to ISAC Nominating Committee at the address above.
The Nominating Committee will compile a slate of candidates including at least two nominees for each position. This slate may include nominees by petition. Unslated nominees by petition will also be included on the ballot.
Ballots will be mailed by 15 January 2004, with a 15 March 2004 return deadline.
If you have questions, contact ISAC Headquarters.
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ISAC Membership Award -- Call for Nominations
The ISAC Awards Committee is soliciting nominations for the ISAC Membership Award. The award is given in recognition of exceptional service to the cytometric community. The recipient of this award is selected from a list of individuals nominated by the ISAC membership and need not be a member of the Society.
The awardee will be selected based on the will of the membership, as inferred from these nominations, so we encourage you to make your voice heard!
The awardee will be presented a plaque and given lifetime membership in ISAC.
Please send your nominations via email to Lisa Staiano-Coico, Chair, Awards Committee at isac@isac-net.org. No later than Friday, November 28, 2003. Please provide the following information for each person you nominate:
- Name of each nominee
- Contact Information if the nominee is not an ISAC Member
(Institution, address, phone, email)
- A brief description of the exceptional service the nominee has provided to the cytometric community, such that the nominee warrants selection for the Membership Award.
All nominations will be shared with the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee consist of the following ISAC members:
Lisa Staiano-Coico, Chair
Jim Watson
Joe Gray
Francesco Mauro
Zbigniew Darzynkiewicz
Maria Pallavicini (Ex Officio)
Harry Crissman (Ex Officio)
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Looking to Fill a Position?
Look to the ISAC Job Exchange
The postings on the ISAC Job Exchange page offer job seekers and employers a great resource for finding a great fit.
Looking for a new job? Make the postings on the ISAC Job Exchange a stop on your job search. This high-tech version of the want ads gives you access to a great variety of jobs from entry-level to top management.
New ads are posted frequently so be sure to check in often.
Employers looking to recruit top quality people should make the ISAC Job Exchange part of their job marketing strategy. Job ads are free for ISAC members and reasonably priced for non-ISAC members. Contact Patricia Sullivan at ISAC Headquarters at psullivan@isac-net.org for more information on placing an ad on the Job Exchange.