Biomed and life sciences touted in RI

I'm a bit late in getting to this, but here's another sign of some of the positive efforts being made even as Rhode Island continues to face serious economic challenges, via PR maven Andy Cutler:

June 1, 2008 (Providence, RI)—On Tuesday, June 3, Dr. Barbara Alving, director of the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), will join Rhode Island’s research community, policy makers and business leaders at Rhode Island’s second annual Collaborative Research Symposium, entitled Emerging Biomedical and Life Sciences Research in Rhode Island.

The annual event was launched by the Rhode Island Science and Technology Council (STAC) in 2007 to support the launch of the Rhode Island Research Alliance, a STAC-led program to promote collaboration across the state’s research institutions, attract additional federal R&D investment into the state and accelerate Rhode Island’s effort to create a knowledge-based innovation economy.

STAC will also debut a new statewide collaborative research website at the symposium. The site will now serve as a one-stop-shop where researchers, entrepreneurs and community leaders can learn about R&D in Rhode Island, register for events, apply for programs and access a searchable database of research equipment and shared facilities. .....

The Symposium is co-sponsored by the Rhode Island Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the Rhode Island Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA), the Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) and the Rhode Island Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).
The one-day conference will offer participants a comprehensive overview of the research and development efforts in Rhode Island’s expanding life sciences sector. Speakers and panelists will discuss ways that Rhode Island scientists can fully leverage shared tools, resources and talent to create an environment where collaborative research is more common. Participants will also learn about national trends in research funding and how collaboration across institutions has become central to many federal funding programs.

The event will also feature a poster session from local scientists showcasing projects happening across the state's research community.