CTSC:TTIC.012009

Back to Collaboration:Harvard_CTSC
'Action Items (details below)

1. All Consortium members are invited to distribute the final version of the XNAT engineer job description to potential candidates.
2. Some Consortium members are asked to contact the IT Departments at their institution to schedule a meeting

Harvard Translational Imaging Consortium Meeting Minutes January 20, 2009

In Attendance (via phone):

• Carolyn Zyloney
• Gordon Harris
• Valerie Humblet
• Robert Lenkinski
• Jeff Yap
• Bill Hanlon
• Bruce Rosen
• Stephan Voss
• Simon Warfield
• Annick D. Van den Abbeele

1. PowerPoint Presentation for the Divisions Heads meetings

• The group reviewed the latest version of the PowerPoint slides that were circulated to the group via email.

• The following comments were made:
  • The challenge will be to emphasize the benefits of volunteering to be a consultant. Bob suggested to add examples from the first round of Catalyst grant approved.
  • During the presentations to the Head Divisions it will be a good time to ask for their input about what is good for the more junior faculty members, make sure they will have time allowed for mentoring even if there is less funding involved. It is important to show that junior people could get new collaborations, more grant opportunities.
  • The role of the consultants will include mentoring young investigators on the proper use of technology and helping with the grants.
  • Gordon talked about having two levels of mentors, the senior people, less involved and the junior people who could add the mentoring program on their resumes.
  • Bruce will schedule a meeting with Jim Thrall (Head Radiology MGH) before the division meetings to get his feedback on how to get junior people involved.
  • Concerning the slide about the expertise existing at the different sites, Valerie's role will be to find people able to give a list of what is available in their department. We will ask Division's chiefs about those contacts. We will also need input after the presentations, a link on the web sit will allow people to add their technology if missing from our list.
  • Concerning the IT structure, the consortium members agreed that they need the feedback and the collaboration of the 5 PACS systems from the hospitals. Contact must be initiated with them and Annick suggested getting Keith Dreyer (MGH) on board to get his input.
    • The consortium wants to organize a meeting with the different IT departments (hospitals and Catalyst) together to identify the challenges.
    • Bill, Simon, Bruce and Valerie offered to organize those meetings. A good timing would be after the department heads meeting, probably 4 to 6 weeks from now at best.
    • In preparation of the IT meetings, Stefan said that it is important to come with an action items list. Simon and Annick suggested coming with a practical example to use to test the structure (ex: phantom project). IT people must understand what they need to change in their institution's policy to fit in the Catalyst structure.
    • Several key contacts for IT meeting: Shawn Murphy, Zach (?)
    • The action plan is to get a rough draft of what is already accomplish and what need to be implemented, then contact Shawn Murphy for his feedback. The plan will then be submitted to Zach and then the Chairs.

2. XNAT Engineer Job Description

Hiring an XNAT engineer is a top priority for the Imaging Consortium and the group agreed that a skilled candidate should be hired as soon as possible.

• Valerie contacted the HR department of BIDMC but it is not their policy to post a job that has not a budget approved at BIDMC. She sent the job description to the BU graduate program and will send it to a couple of engineering schools.
• Stefan will try to post it on the Children's Hospital Web site.
• Valerie contacted Catalyst Central but so far they do not post job offers other than theirs.

3. Reporting consulting contacts for the NIH Progress Report

• Valerie asked the Consortium members to send her informations about any consult they have done outside the t-con. She will forward the answers to Seanne Hanke.

4. Catalyst Grant applications

• Bob, Bruce and Annick reviewed several selected applications, 5 to 6 will be invited for interview on January 26 or 28. Overall they agree the projects were very creative, it is a good process, worth the effort.
• Some project needed mentoring so it will be helpful to have face to face meetings with the investigators.
• Bob insisted that investigators need to get IRB approval first because it could delay the money.
• There will be another round of Catalyst Grant in May, the members agreed they should push CTSC Central to get more funding for the imaging projects.

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