A very happy New Year to all!  I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday season.

 To get the New Year off to a good start . . . Please see below  for a  notice from NIH about its 2010 training opportunities in Philadelphia and Portland.  NPCs that are new to NIH grants, or that are contemplating their first NIH submissions, are particularly encouraged to attend.

From: NIH Regional Seminar Announcements [mailto:NIH_SEMINARS@LIST.NIH.GOV] On Behalf Of Dwyer, Cynthia (NIH/OD) [E]
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 1:54 AM
To: NIH_SEMINARS@LIST.NIH.GOV
Subject: Registration Open - Philadelphia NIH Regional 2010

• Optional eRA Workshop Agenda (April 14):  The agenda for the hands-on computer workshops for eRA and the Commons is available on the Website Program page.  These optional workshops are held the day prior to the seminar and consistently sell-out months in advance of the event dates so register early.  They provide basic information and are designed for individuals relatively new to eRA and the Commons.

• 2 Day Seminar Agenda (April 15-16):  Although the Philadelphia agenda is currently in development, the Website does provide a link to the most recent NIH Regional Seminar in Las Vegas, June 2009.  Reviewing the program will give prospective attendees an idea of the format, tracks, and session descriptors.  The Philadelphia agenda will include some substitutions of sessions based on the priority areas for NIH and overall needs of attendees as the seminar date gets closer. 

 Dates or Location Don’t Work for You?  If this is the case, then check out the Save the Date page for the 2^nd seminar of 2010 in Portland, OR (June 23-25.)

 Why Attend Either Seminar?  These seminars provide an exciting opportunity to interact with approximately 25 NIH/HHS experts along with hundreds of your peers, while spending 2 days learning the latest NIH grants policy and process information first-hand.

 Who should attend?  If you or someone you work with is looking for a comprehensive program that provides valuable information about the NIH Grants Process, including such topics as how to apply for and manage an NIH grant application, grant writing for success, the latest in NIH peer review, compliance, and how to interact electronically with NIH – this seminar is for you.

 The NIH Regional Seminars are designed for those new to the NIH grants process, including sponsored project office and departmental administrators, investigators, graduate students, etc.  However, it is also an opportunity for those more experienced to obtain updates on grants policies and procedures, as well as network with peers and NIH Faculty. 

 As a grants administrator or investigator, we are hoping that you will not only consider this opportunity for yourself, but share it with others in your institution who you feel could benefit from an event such as this one – new and/or early stage investigators, as well as administrators trying to better understand the NIH grants process and policies.