Greetings from Charlottesville, where the GU Executive Committee is meeting for three days. I have to leave at noon tomorrow to drive back to DC for Lombardi’s Men’s Event, which is a very significant fundraiser, and then I turn around and drive back to Charlottesville early Tuesday morning for the rest of the retreat. At least it is a pretty drive! And, I always learn interesting things about the GU at these retreats.
Last week was unusually packed with meetings, fundraising activities and I seemed to get home no earlier than about 9 pm every night but Wednesday. For example, I went from a 6 pm talk at the CBCC Summer Celebration at the Arena Stage directly to a MedStar Georgetown Cancer Network dinner meeting in Georgetown on Tuesday night.
At least I got a bit of possible good news, when I learned that my R01 competitive renewal was scored in possible funding range that once would have been an absolute “slam dunk”. However, since we don’t know what the payline will be, I now get to submit a JIT, and then wait. This sure is a tough time for research. On balance, I am reassured to know that my work is still considered to be competitive.
This coming week may not be as jam packed, though I have to prepare for two separate study sections, and continue to work on my talks for the CCSG site visit. So, I will have plenty of work to do!
Have a great week.