Make Appointments for Homewood Blood Drive -- To offset a continuing regional shortage, Hopkins students, faculty, staff, retirees and neighborhood residents can make appointments now to donate blood on the Homewood campus on Wednesday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb. 13, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in Levering's Glass Pavilion. Make appointments at least four days before the drive to ensure adequate staffing. Walk-in donors are welcome, however.

To make an appointment on the Web, or to volunteer at the drive, go to www.jhu.edu/~outreach/blooddrive/ or send an email to hmwd.blooddrive@jhu.edu or call 410-516-0138.

In response to donor requests, the American Red Cross is introducing electronic donor records this year to replace cumbersome paper health history forms. Once a donor's personal information is entered in the Red Cross database, the donor will be asked at each drive to update the information rather than to fill out an entire new form. Also, the Red Cross will now perform iron tests early in the screening process because the majority of deferrals are for low iron.

Potential donors should familiarize themselves with current eligibility guidelines, including travel guidelines, before signing up for an appointment. Guidelines can be found on the Web site, and specific questions can be answered by the American Red Cross at 800-GIVE-LIFE. Those who are not currently eligible to donate blood can still participate by volunteering at the drive. Volunteers are needed throughout the day, especially needed between 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Student Employee of the Year -- Each year the efforts of undergraduate and graduate student workers are acknowledged through the JHU Student Employee of the Year Award presented in April during National Student Employment Week. All staff are invited to nominate a student employee for this prestigious award, open to all full-time students. Forms are online at www.jhu.edu/~stujob. Deadline is Feb. 5.

Call for CAAT Grants Program Proposals -- The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is soliciting projects in two areas. The first of these is refinement, with a maximum grant amount of $25,000 per year. These grants should focus specifically on the issues of alleviating pain and/or distress in laboratory protocols. These studies should focus on the development of better methods for pain assessment, alleviation, elimination and/or prevention of pain in animal experiments.

The second project area is developmental toxicology, with a maximum grant amount of $40,000 per year. The center is interested in grants focusing on either developmental neurotoxicology or developmental immunotoxicology. Studies can be either in vitro or involving species such as C. elegans or zebrafish. Whole-animal mammalian studies in the developmental toxicology studies are not appropriate.

To apply, complete the preproposal form at caat.jhsph.edu/programs/grants/proposal-form.htm

Submissions must be returned no later than March 15. The form may be returned to CAAT Grants Coordinator, 111 Market Place, Suite 840, Baltimore, MD 21202-6709; by fax to 410-223-1603; or by e-mail to caat@jhsph.edu.

No other materials are required for this stage of the application process. Only abstracts using the appropriate format will be reviewed.

Applicants whose proposals meet the goals of the CAAT Grants Program will be invited to submit a complete grant application package. All responses will be forwarded by e-mail or U.S. mail.