FundScience Funding Opportunity … & Leave of Absence
03.5.10 by Michelle Kienholz
For the next 10 days, writedit will be electronically untethered and unavailable to monitor queries, comments, etc. … have fun during this unchaperoned spell … but not too much, and try not to trash the place.
Okay – FundScience.
On March 1, FundScience began accepting applications for funding of up to $50K. The deadline for submissions (electronic, at the Website) is April 1, 2010. No joke.
Using expert reviewers (3 per application – you can suggest up to 5 names for reviewers), they will select the 3 best applications that qualify for “up to $50,000 funded and facilitated by FundScience” plus potential access to Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center resources.
Although the press release is a bit short on details, a FAQ lays out a few topical priorities (though opening Website indicates any topic is fair game), preferred applicant status (graduate students are especially encouraged to apply), and help on the application process. Where the $50K comes from is not typical of extramural sponsors:
Each sponsored project will feature a dedicated webpage with an option for visitors to donate to the project. We will market all projects as well as help and encourage you to market the project yourself. The collected funds will be distributed through the affiliated university directly for the use of the project. In return we ask that you update the community on your progress and successes.
You’ll need to register to apply, but the application process is not burdensome … unless, perhaps, you aren’t used to writing a “sales pitch” for your science.
Have fun with FundScience.
ARRA Pathfinder Opportunity
03.5.10 by Michelle Kienholz
Not quite hiking the Appalachian Trail …
The NIH Director’s ARRA Funded Pathfinder Award to Promote Diversity in the Scientific Workforce (DP4)
LOI: April 5, 2010
Application: May 4, 2010
Total costs for 3-year project may not exceed $2M – up to 5 awards to be made
This new FOA introduces a new research grant program to encourage exceptionally creative individual scientists to develop highly innovative and possibly transforming approaches for promoting diversity within the biomedical research workforce. To be considered highly innovative, the proposed research must reflect ideas substantially different from those already being pursued or it must apply existing research designs in new and innovative ways to unambiguously identify factors that will improve the retention of students, postdocs and faculty from diverse backgrounds. Awardees must commit a major portion (generally 30% or more) of their research effort to activities supported by the Director’s Pathfinder Award and the proposed research must be endorsed by the highest levels of institutional management.
Letters of reference are an important component of the Director’s Pathfinder application. Applicants must arrange to have 3 (and no more than 3) letters of reference submitted on their behalf.
Description of no more than 1 page of the applicant’s single most significant publication or research accomplishment. Applicants should submit one single accomplishment, not a summary of several accomplishments, multiple publications, or background narratives. Publications or other documents will not be accepted.
In 6 pages maximum (Research Strategy upload), describe the applicant’s innovative vision for addressing diversity within the biomedical research workforce, the importance of this problem on an institutional and a national level, and the applicant’s qualifications to engage in groundbreaking research related to workforce diversity. No detailed scientific plan should be provided since the research plan is expected to evolve during the tenure of the grant. The essay should include the following sections in the order given: Science Area, Project description, Evidence of innovativeness, How does the planned research differ from your past or current work, Suitability for Director’s Pathfinder program
References are not required but if included must fit within the 6-page limit. Figures and illustrations may be included but must also fit within the 6-page limit.
Include a biosketch only for the PI. Do not submit biosketches for other senior/key personnel.
Cover Letters should not be included unless related to an application which was corrected during the two day checking period after submission in grant.gov
PO:
Clifton Poodry, PhD
Division of Minority Opportunities in Research, NIGMS
Telephone: (301) 594-3900
Email: poodryc@nigms.nih.gov
Go forth and find the path with the greatest diversity …
FundScience Announces its Acceptance of Applications for Round One of Funding
03.4.10 by Sarah Deren
We here at FundScience are extremely excited to announce that beginning on Monday, March 1st 2010, we are accepting applications for our first round of project funding. Applications can be completed through the website and will be available until April 1st, 2010.
Whether you are a fledgling or an experienced researcher, we hope that you will send us your research proposals. All research proposals will be scientifically vetted and up to three will be chosen as the recipients of up to $50,000 in research grant money, or you can receive the use of CPU cycles from our friends at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center.
We are proud that we are now able to put one of our main goals into action, namely that of providing science funding to young researchers and their projects through public philanthropy. This will also allow us to continue with our aim of educating the public about science, as this will be an interactive process and we will be constantly educating about the research process and updating about the status of the chosen research projects.
We will also be writing blog posts about topics that are related to our chosen research projects so that everyone may learn more about the areas of science that are being researched and whet their appetites for discovering our wonderfully scientific world.
The best of luck to all of our applicants!
-The FundScience Team
Act FAST for 100th Anniversary Edition Offer
03.1.10 by Michelle Kienholz
I love Ron Abeles … from the BSSR Guide to NIH Grants, Issue No. 100, March 1, 2010:
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Issue No. 100, March 1, 2010
ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE
To mark the 100th issue of this electronic service,
the first 10 readers to submit an application will receive a R .01 Award.
Submit your name and US postal address to abeles@nih.gov.
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Research Opportunities Unfortunately Nonexistant for Many
02.23.10 by Sarah Deren
We here at FundScience feel that there is often a lack of transparency within the scientific research community and would love to be able to remedy this problem by getting the public more involved. To that end, we are starting a pilot program to fund research projects.
I feel that getting the public interested in scientific research is a two-way street – not only do we need for the scientists to feel more accountable to the public for their work, but the public needs to become more interested in these issues that touch almost every aspect of our lives. By writing about many important issues that are currently being researched by the scientific community, I hope to be able to inspire you to become more curious about the world that surrounds you and more involved in the research processes that propel humankind forward.
An article was brought to my attention the other day that truly drives home the point of why an organization like FundScience is such a necessary commodity to have. This article, titled “The Matthew Effect”, appeared on SeedMagazine.com and really emphasizes the current importance of finding a better way to fund and investigate scientific research methods. In the article, author John Wilbanks writes,
The average age on first receipt of the most common “starter” grants at the NIH is now almost 42. This means younger researchers without the strength of a fame-based community are cut out of the funding process, and their ideas, separate from an older researcher’s sphere of influence, don’t get pursued. This causes a founder effect in modern science, where the prestigious few dictate the direction of research. It’s not only unfair—it’s also actively dangerous to science’s progress. (http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_matthew_effect)
Cool NSF Solicitation … even if it is “transformative”
02.14.10 by Michelle Kienholz
I don’t recall prior NSF solicitations with a subtitle or tag line …
Innovations in Biological Imaging and Visualization (IBIV)
An Ideas Lab activity to stimulate transformative approaches to biological image analysis and data visualization
Preliminary proposals due April 12, 2010 … invited full proposals due July 15, 2010 … 2-10 awards will be made ($5M set aside)
What’s so interesting?
The goal of this activity is to identify opportunities for investment to advance the state-of-the-art in biological image analysis, data visualization, archiving, and dissemination. Participants selected through an open application process will engage in an intensive five-day residential workshop (May 24-28, 2010) to generate project ideas through an innovative, real-time review process. Members of the biological research community, computational theorists and engineers, mathematicians, imaging specialists from other fields, educators involved in training the next generation of researchers, and a range of other specialists (artists, illustrators, etc.) are all strongly encouraged to participate.
[Program Description section rewrites the last sentence above to read:] Participation from molecular and cell biologists, biophysicists, ecologists, evolutionary and population biologists, computational theorists and engineers, mathematicians, imaging specialists from other fields, educators involved in training the next generation of researchers, and a range of other specialists (artists, illustrators, etc.) is strongly encouraged.
The Program Description also lays out some of the potential challenges to be addressed at the Ideas Lab workshop:
Potential applications of biological image capture and analysis are diverse, but offer many scientific and educational benefits:
- Automated feature recognition in complex biological images
- Enhanced algorithms for filtering data from images with low signal-to-noise profiles
- High throughput image or video capture and analysis for quantification or classification of subject matter
- Improved multidimensional spatial registration and object tracking in sequential series or overlapping images
- Validated analysis of heterogeneous data submitted by “citizen scientists”
- Enhanced representation and visualization of multi-dimensional datasets for dissemination of scientific findings
A myriad of challenges and barriers must be overcome for biological image analysis to reach its full potential. Advances in the applications listed above, or in one of many other areas, could have profound impacts on the biological research community, and other scientific disciplines.
The narrative for the preliminary proposal due in April is exactly 2 pages in length. The first half of page one is should describe your professional background, with the other half of the page covering the special expertise you bring to biological image analysis & visualization … plus 50 words or less describing “an imaging challenge you think should be addressed at the Ideas Lab.”
Page two includes responses of no more than 100 words to the following questions:
- What is your personal experience with working in teams?
- How would you describe your ability to explain your research to non-experts?
- The Ideas Lab environment is especially suited to individuals who are willing to step outside their particular area of interest or expertise, who are positively driven, who enjoy creative activity, who can think innovatively and who can settle in easily in the company of strangers. Please describe an experience you have had in a comparable environment.
- What would you personally and professionally gain from participating in this Ideas Lab event?
No appendices or supplementary material … no project summary … no references or budget etc.
Have fun. Have transformative ideas.
FIC ARRA RFA for Global Human Subjects Research Oversight
01.29.10 by Michelle Kienholz
This one just has Fogarty ( and its typical pittance for budget) plus NIAID, NIDA, & NIMH.
Program to Enhance NIH-supported Global Health Research Involving Human Subjects (S07)
LOI Receipt Date: February 22, 2010
Application Receipt Date: March 22, 2010
FOA invites applications from US institutions for one year of support for resources & activities that will strengthen oversight of NIH-supported human subjects research conducted collaboratively with institutions in low- to middle-income countries.
Direct costs may not exceed $50,000 for a one-year project period … NO F&A (indirect) COSTS ALLOWED … 12-13 awards anticipated.
12-p Research Strategy narrative
Applications will be supported to develop collaborative processes and training as well as jointly used tools and systems to address the specific needs and capabilities for improved review and monitoring of protocols for NIH-supported research conducted at a developing country institution. The grants will provide one year of support for an applicant US IRB to collaborate with a developing country counterpart IRB that reviews some of the same NIH research protocols to do any of the following:
- Develop sustainable electronic systems, procedures and communication methods to facilitate collaboration on review and monitoring of protocols sent to both IRBs;
- Increase administrative, scientific, socio-cultural and ethical competencies of IRB members and staff related to research reviewed by both IRBs through joint workshops, short-term exchange and training activities;
- Create sustainable international research ethics training resources for global health researchers at both institutions to improve research protocols and practices involving human subjects in the collaborating developing country.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Barbara Sina, PhD
Telephone: (301) 402-9467
Email (preferred): sinab@mail.nih.gov
Fogarty ARRA Opp
01.26.10 by Michelle Kienholz
with buy-in from NIBIB, NIDA, NIMH, and NINR …
Recovery Act Limited Competition: Framework Programs for Global Health Signature Innovations Initiative (R24)
LOI Receipt Date: February 22, 2010
Application Due Date: March 22, 2010
Direct costs for 1-year project period cannot exceed $250,000 for single applicants or $400,000 for consortia; 6-10 awards anticipated
This FOA seeks applications from US institutions and their partners to enhance the infrastructure and opportunities at the participating institutions for training postdoctoral investigators to carry out innovative, multidisciplinary research in Global Health. The initiative emphasizes hands on, problem solving, and collaborative approaches and may require the development of new training models and new partnerships within and beyond the university community. In addition, all proposals should address the intent of the ARRA to preserve and create jobs, promote economic recovery in the United States, accelerate the pace of scientific discovery, and spur technological advances in science and health.
Scientific/Research Contact:
Flora Katz, PhD
Telephone: (301) 402-9591
Email (preferred): katzf@mail.nih.gov
AHRQ ARRA Funding Opps Continue
01.22.10 by Michelle Kienholz
Yet more big-budget ARRA largesse from AHRQ …
Enhanced Registries for Quality Improvement and Comparative Effectiveness Research (R01)
Application Due Date: March 29, 2010
Total costs of $2-4M per year (yes, million per year) for up to 3 years – total budget cannot exceed $12M
PI must devote a minimum of 20% effort
30-p research narrative
The goal of the FOA is to enhance the electronic clinical capability of an existing registry for two purposes: 1) create and analyze valid data for comparative effectiveness research, and 2) enhance the ability to monitor and advance quality improvement of clinical care. The applicant will clarify the limitations of the existing registry, specify which limitations will be addressed by the proposal, and how the enhanced registry can rapidly and comprehensively address issues aimed at improving quality of care and the comparative effectiveness of clinical interventions. A secondary goal of this FOA is to address issues relevant to the scalability and sustainability of registries that improve quality of care and that can conduct comparative effectiveness research.
Scalable Distributed Research Networks for Comparative Effectiveness Research (R01)
Application Due Date: March 10, 2010
Total costs for a 3-year project cannot exceed $8.31M
PI must devote a minimum of 20% effort
30-p research narrative
The goal of this FOA is to enhance the capability and capacity of electronic health networks designed for distributed research to conduct prospective, comparative effectiveness research on outcomes of clinical interventions. The clinical interventions include, but are not limited to, diagnostics, therapeutics (drugs and biologics), medical devices, behavioral interventions, and surgical procedures used in clinical care.
Program contact for questions related to either RFA: Amy Lindinha, EnhancedRegistrygrants@ahrq.hhs.gov
RFAs from ARRA & NCMHD
01.15.10 by Michelle Kienholz
First, yet another specialized ARRA funding opportunity, and then an unusual NCMHD R21 opportunity for Innovative Faith-Based Approaches to Health Disparities Research. For the ARRA K12ish FOA, NCI, NCRR, NCCAM, NIA, NIAAA, NIAID, NIAMS, NIDA, NIDCR, NIDDK, NIMH, NINDS, NINR, and, interestingly, NLM are on board.
Institutional Comparative Effectiveness Research Mentored Career Development Award (KM1)
Application Due Date: March 25, 2010
The mentored career development approach will permit research-intensive institutions to develop an interdisciplinary environment catering to the needs of diverse populations of scholars including (but not limited to) those with backgrounds in medicine, pediatrics, surgery, dentistry, nursing, allied health, pharmacology, health care administration and management, clinical research design, epidemiology, biostatistics, biomedical informatics, economics, quality improvement, modeling systems, ethics, behavioral science, engineering, and law. Scholars supported through this program could include recent doctoral graduates who are entering the research workforce as well as established investigators who are seeking to extend their expertise or experience in CER in a mentored environment.
Total costs cannot exceed $2,500,000 for the 3-year project period; 8-10 awards are anticipated
The narrative cannot exceed 25 p in addressing: Background; Program Plan; Recruitment and Retention to Enhance Diversity; and Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research. Please see RFA for appropriate program contact.
Innovative Faith-Based Approaches to Health Disparities Research (R21)
LOI Receipt Date: February 9, 2010
Application Due Date: March 17, 2010
Standard R21 budget ($275k-2y)/narrative length (6 p) – up to 8 awards are anticipated
NCMHD intends to cultivate empirical, formative, evaluative and transdisciplinary intervention research on faith-motivated initiatives, concepts and theories that have played an important role in addressing health disparities. The focus on exploratory, evaluative and/or intervention research will allow studies to assess the impact of faith-based initiatives and programs in health disparity populations; formulate hypotheses about the role and unique characteristics of faith communities in addressing health disparities; design targeted interventions; and track the efficacy of community and faith-based or faith-motivated programs that result from a participatory approach to research in the community.
Scientific/Research Contacts:
Irene Dankwa-Mullan, MD MPH
Acting Director, Office of Innovation and Program Coordination, NCMHD
Telephone: (301) 402-1366
Email: dankwamullani@mail.nih.gov
