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2002 Liaison With Industry Committee Report

The Liaison With Industry Committee (LWIC) met at the Experimental Biology 2002 meeting in New Orleans, LA. The committee is chaired by Glenn Reinhart and is composed of representatives from most of the active Society Sections, nominated to serve by their sections. The current committee membership is composed of Robert McCall, Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation; Stephen Wood, Comparative Physiology; Brad Zinker, Environmental and Exercise Physiology; Peter Morsing, Renal; Christine Schnackenburg, Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis; Carlos Plata-Salaman, Central Nervous System; Amy Halseth, Endocrinology and Metabolism; Ken Mandel, Gastro-intestinal; Jodie Krontiris-Litowitz, Teaching of Physiology; Chahraz Montrose-Rafizadeh, Cell and Molecular Physiology; Ted Broten, Cardiovascular). J.R. Haywood, APS Councillor, attended.

A workshop titled “Physiology and risk assessment: predicting adverse effects of new chemicals on target organ functions” sponsored by the LWIC was held at EB 2002 on Wednesday at 8 am. Attendance was light, a fact that at least partly reflected an overall low turn out for Wednesday morning, non-symposia sessions.

The second annual Members in Industry Mixer was held April 22. Attendance was better than last year (>25 people in total) and it was agreed that the mixer should be scheduled for EB ‘03. The Society (and the LWIC) needs to do a better job of publicizing the mixer, which should lead to increased attendance. The committee would like to obtain the advance registration list in 2003 and consider mailing/Emailing an announcement to members in industry prior to EB 2003. 

Novel Disease Model Award: The award typically recognizes one graduate student ($500) and one postdoctoral fellow ($800) submitting the best abstract describing a novel disease model. Five students and one postdoc applied (13 abstracts were received in 2001). The postdoctoral category was not awarded as the abstract was not deemed to sufficiently meet the criteria. Therefore, two graduate students were awarded.

The award and the need to publicize and increase visibility of the award and recipients were discussed. The committee agreed to adjust the process and timelines in 2003 as described below.

1. APS forwards award applications and abstracts to LWIC.

2. Two weeks prior to EB the LWIC will have a conference call to discuss applicants.

3. “Finalist” ribbons will be placed on the posters during the EB meeting.

4. LWIC will attend poster presentations (those presenting on the last day will have pre-arranged presentation in one of the APS Committee rooms).

5. The morning of the APS Business meeting (Monday for EB 2003), the LWIC will select the winners during their regularly-scheduled committee meeting. APS Staff will print checks and certificates immediately following LWIC meeting.

All finalists must come to the APS Business Meeting where the winners are announced.

The APS Council Program Committee approved a workshop for EB 2003 entitled, “Recognizing and Applying Critical Translational Assays.”

The LWIC received a request to advise Council regarding the apparent shortage of integrative physiologists as it effects APS members in industry (the overall issue is being investigated on a contractual basis by Life Sciences Research Office). The LWIC agrees the shortage of integrative, in vivo physiologists is real, and occurs at all educational levels. The LWIC is currently assisting with this important effort.

Glenn A. Reinhart, Chair

Council Actions

• Council accepted the report of the Liaison With Industry Committee.

• Council agreed to fund the LWIC mixer for EB 2003.

• Council approved the motion to have the LWIC assess the EB 2002 registrants who identify themselves as working in industry, separate by APS member and non-member, and then establish a list-serve of APS-Industry membership.

• Council approved a motion to have the LWIC sponsor a workshop at EB 2003.