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This solicitation describes the first phase of a new NSF program to support transformative and integrative research that will accelerate understanding of neural and cognitive systems. NSF seeks exceptional proposals that are bold, potentially risky, and transcend the perspectives and approaches typical of disciplinary research programs. This multi-directorate program is one element of NSF’s broader aim to foster innovation in Cognitive Science and Neuroscience, a multi-year effort that includes NSF’s participation in the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative (http://www.nsf.gov/brain/). For FY 2015, this competition is organized around two research themes: Neuroengineering and Brain-Inspired Concepts and Designs and Individuality and Variation. Within each theme, general advances in theory and methods, technological innovations, educational approaches, enabling research infrastructure, and workforce development are all of significant interest.

Professional services are required to develop and evaluate techniques for analyzing anatomical and functional brain data using deformable shape and appearance volume models (Metamorphs/Active Volume Models), stretching open active contours (SOAX), and advanced classification methods, including deep learning.  These methods will be investigated and state-of-the-art tools developed for the segmentation of brain MRI and diffusion imaging data and the analysis of fMRI data, with the aim of supporting research into understanding functional brain circuits and their anatomical correlations. Functional-anatomical atlases will be developed to facilitate comparisons across individuals and for statistical modeling.  The required work is projected to be a multi-year effort, with the first year concentrating on feasibility and prototype development.  Subsequent two-year work, if justified by first-year results, will concentrate on the  development and further evaluation of the prototypes as mature tools that contribute to the wider national research initiative to accurately model functioning of the human brain.

This FOA invites Research and Development Center (P30) grant applications in the areas of demography and economics of aging, including relevant interdisciplinary areas rooted in population-based social science research. Areas of focus that are especially encouraged are: a) socioeconomic status (SES) disparities at older ages, including geographic disparities; b) the reasons for poor U.S. performance in health and mortality in international comparisons; c) trends and dynamics in old-age disability; d) cohort trends in obesity and its sequelae; e) family demography including the demography of care and caregiving for chronic disease, disability and Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD); and f) long-term supports and services for the disabled elderly population. Applications that wish to focus exclusively on AD/ADRD should submit to RFA-AG-20-002. Center grant applications must include two mandatory Cores and may choose among three optional Cores. Centers are required to work collaboratively with the Coordinating Center to be funded via RFA-AG-20-003.  

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for Silvio O. Conte Centers for Basic or Translational Mental Health Research. The institute seeks teams of researchers working at different levels of analysis and employing integrative, novel, and creative experimental approaches to address high-risk, high-impact questions with the primary objective of: (a) advancing the state of the science in brain and behavior research that will ultimately provide the foundation for understanding mental disorders; (b) supporting the integration and translation of basic and clinical neuroscience research on severe mental illnesses; and/or (c) advancing our understanding of the neurobehavioral developmental mechanisms and trajectories of psychopathology that begin in childhood and adolescence. The Conte Centers program is intended to support interdisciplinary basic and/or translational research demonstrating an extraordinary level of synergy, integration, and potential for advancing the state of the field. This program is intended only for projects that could not be achieved using other, more standard grant mechanisms. The Conte Centers program also provides an opportunity to establish interdisciplinary basic and/or translational research experiences for individuals in training.

Research into the etiology and pathophysiology of PD has identified an increasing number of genetic and cellular targets where therapeutic intervention could benefit people with PD, including: Epidemiological studies that have identified both protective and risk factors for PD. Genetic studies that have implicated candidate genes whose protein products may underlie PD pathogenesis. Biochemical studies from cellular and whole organism model systems that point to biological pathways important in PD etiology and pathogenesis, as well as examination of cell death and trophic factor signaling pathways that have pointed to potential protective targets. Emerging understanding of dopamine neuronal development and maintenance in adulthood that has provided potential targets to restore/protect dopaminergic function in PD patients. Improved understanding of the neurochemistry and neurophysiology of the basal ganglia and related neuronal circuits that have suggested ways to alter neuronal function that could help treat motor and non-motor symptoms of PD not addressed by current therapeutics. Better understanding of the physiological and molecular pathways underlying treatment-induced complications that have revealed potential targets for interventions to ameliorate these troubling side effects.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications for Silvio O. Conte Centers for Basic or Translational Mental Health Research. The institute seeks teams of researchers working at different levels of analysis and employing integrative, novel, and creative experimental approaches to address high-risk, high-impact questions with the primary objective of: (a) advancing the state of the science in brain and behavior research that will ultimately provide the foundation for understanding mental disorders; (b) supporting the integration and translation of basic and clinical neuroscience research on severe mental illnesses; and/or (c) advancing our understanding of the neurobehavioral developmental mechanisms and trajectories of psychopathology that begin in childhood and adolescence. The Conte Centers program is intended to support interdisciplinary basic and/or translational research demonstrating an extraordinary level of synergy, integration, and potential for advancing the state of the field. This program is intended only for projects that could not be achieved using other, more standard grant mechanisms. The Conte Centers program also provides an opportunity to establish interdisciplinary basic and/or translational research experiences for individuals in training.  

The Cognitive Neuroscience program seeks highly innovative proposals aimed at advancing a rigorous understanding of human cognition, including how the human brain mediates action, affect, creativity, decision making, intentionality, perception, social processes, and thought.  Topics may bear on core functions such as attention, emotion, empathy, executive processes, language, learning, memory, music, sensory processing, sleep, representation of self and other, reasoning and rhythm. Topics may also include how human cognition develops and changes in the brain across the lifespan. The program is particularly interested in supporting the development of new techniques and technologies for recording, analyzing, and modeling complex brain activity and human brain mapping. Such projects should include a plan for sharing new software and other technologies with the research community at large.  Additionally, the program is interested in supporting projects addressing the growing amount of data collected across disparate lab environments, which may require new standardization, curation, and sharing solutions.  Studies of disease states (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Autism, brain damaged patients, Parkinson's disease and Schizophrenia) may be components of projects supported by this program. However, the emphasis in such projects must be to advance basic scientific understanding of healthy neural mechanisms, and not on disease etiology, diagnosis, or treatment.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support the development of novel tools and technologies through the through the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program to advance the field of neuroscience research, including 1) tools to facilitate the detailed analysis of complex circuits and provide insights into cellular interactions that underlie brain function, 2) proof-of-concept testing and development of new technologies and novel approaches for large scale recording and manipulation of neural activity, at or near cellular resolution, at multiple spatial and/or temporal scales, in any region and throughout the entire depth of the brain, and 3) iterative refinement of such tools and technologies with the end-user community with an end-goal of scaling manufacture towards reliable, broad, sustainable dissemination and incorporation into regular neuroscience practice.     

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage investigators to pursue translational activities and clinical trials to treat pain with innovative, targeted, and non-addictive diagnostic and/or therapeutic devices that improve patient outcomes and decrease or eliminate the need to prescribe opioids. Activities supported in this program include implementation of clinical prototype devices, non-clinical safety and efficacy testing, design verification and validation activities, obtaining an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) for a Significant Risk (SR) study or Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for a Non-Significant Risk (NSR) study, as well as a subsequent small clinical trial (e.g., Early Feasibility Study). The clinical trial is expected to provide information about the device function or final design that cannot be practically obtained through additional non-clinical assessments (e.g., bench top or animal studies) due to the novelty of the device or its intended use. This is a milestone-driven cooperative agreement program and will involve participation of NIH program staff in the development of the project plan and monitoring of research progress. This FOA will leverage Public-Private Partnership Programs (PPP) initiated under the NIH BRAIN Initiative, the Office of Strategic Coordination The Common Funds Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC) Program, and the HEAL Initiative. These programs include agreements (Memoranda of Understanding, MOU) with a number of device manufacturers willing to make such devices available, including devices and capabilities not yet market approved but appropriate for clinical research. In general, it is expected that the devices' existing safety and utility data will be sufficient to enable new IRB NSR or FDA IDE approval without the need for significant additional non-clinical data.

Founded in 1972, the Tourette Association of America has emerged as the premier national nonprofit organization working to make life better for all people affected by Tourette and tic disorders. The association advances its work by raising public awareness and fostering social acceptance; working to advance scientific understanding, treatment options, and care; educating professionals to better serve the needs of children, adults, and families challenged by Tourette and tic disorders; advocating for public policies and services that promote positive school, work, and social environments; providing help, hope, and a supportive community across the nation; and empowering its community to deal with the complexities of this spectrum of disorders. To that end, grants of up to $150,000 over two years will be awarded for basic and clinical studies related to any aspect of Tourette syndrome. To be eligible, investigators are required to have an advanced degree such as a PhD, MD, or equivalent or be an allied professional with an advanced degree in a related field. Investigators from nonprofit and for-profit organizations are eligible to apply. Pre-proposals must be received no later than November 1, 2017. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application by February 15, 2018.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for Silvio O. Conte Centers for Basic Neuroscience or Translational Mental Health Research. The NIMH seeks teams of researchers working at different levels of analysis and employing integrative, novel, and creative experimental approaches to address high-risk, high-impact questions in basic neuroscience research, or in translational research with the primary objectives of: (a) advancing the state of the science in basic brain and behavior research that will uncover and dissect the underlying mechanisms that will ultimately provide the foundation for understanding mental disorders; (b) supporting the integration and translation of basic and clinical neuroscience research on severe mental illnesses; and/or (c) advancing our understanding of the neurobehavioral developmental mechanisms and trajectories of psychopathology that begin in childhood and adolescence. The Conte Centers program is intended to support interdisciplinary basic neuroscience or translational research demonstrating an extraordinary level of synergy, integration, and potential for advancing the state of the field. This program is intended only for projects that could not be achieved using other, more standard grant mechanisms. The Conte Centers program also provides an opportunity to establish interdisciplinary basic neuroscience or translational research experiences for students and post doctorates.

REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia that presents with abnormal dream mentation, abnormal behaviors, and increased electromyographic tone on polysomnography during REM sleep. Older individuals with RBD frequently develop neurodegenerative diseases, particularly α-synucleinopathies: Parkinson's disease (PD), Lewy Body Dementia (LBD), and Multi-System Atrophy (MSA). Individuals with idiopathic RBD (iRBD) develop an overt synucleinopathy at high rates: 40-50% in 5 years and 80-92% in long-term follow up. iRBD provides a unique opportunity to understand the clinical development and evolution of α-synucleinopathies, as well as a potential path for developing disease prevention therapies. While it is not possible at this time to identify whether a person will develop PD, LBD, or MSA, iRBD is a preclinical/prodromal phase of neurodegenerative, particularly α-synucleinopathy, illness. The current iRBD research community includes investigators and centers across North America and the world. There have been attempts to carry out multi-center iRBD research, but interpretation of findings has been complicated by small numbers of iRBD subjects at individual centers; differences in assessment protocols, including collection methods for cognitive and biomarker data; and variability in diagnostic procedures at different centers. This FOA seeks to develop and support a consortium of investigators who will establish a common iRBD research protocol to collect and share harmonized clinical, cognitive, and biomarker data, establishing a centralized repository of biosamples from individuals with iRBD as they progress from prodromal α-synucleinopathy to PD, LBD, or MSA.

Announcement supports applied and translational research to advance the development of knowledge and materiel products for rehabilitation and restoration of function following TBI. PIs should explain how their work will inform the development, refinement, and/or revision of existing standards of care, clinical recommendations, or guidelines. TBI is defined as being caused by (1) a direct blow or impact to the head, (2) a penetrating head injury, or (3) an exposure to external forces such as blast waves that disrupt the function of the brain. Not all blows to the head or exposure to external forces result in a TBI. The severity of TBI may range from "mild," a brief change in mental status or consciousness, to "severe," an extended period of unconsciousness or confusion after the injury. Definitions of TBI severity can be found in Table 1 of the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Concussion-Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. The FY17/18 PH/TBIRP CTRR-CRA supports clinical research but not clinical trials. Supported research can include observational research studies. The Clinical Research Award (CTRR-CRA) is intended to support clinical research focused on understanding the clinical sequelae and mechanisms of recovery associated with TBI and TBI rehabilitation interventions. The overarching goals of this award are to address TBI-related impairments and deficits including sensory, sensorimotor, and cognitive dysfunction to (1) develop and validate rehabilitation outcome measures; (2) define and evaluate mechanisms of injury progression or recovery associated with rehabilitation interventions; and (3) improve clinician-driven assessment strategies to guide return-to-duty decision making.

The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training. The program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. IGE focuses on projects aimed at piloting, testing, and validating innovative and potentially transformative approaches to graduate education. IGE projects are intended to generate the knowledge required for their customization, implementation, and broader adoption. The program supports testing of novel models or activities with high potential to enrich and extend the knowledge base on effective graduate education approaches. The program addresses both workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity building needs in graduate education. Strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science centers, and academic partners are encouraged.

The 2017 Building Trust and Mutual Respect to Improve Health Care call for proposals (CFP) will fund empirical research studies to help us better understand how to build trust and mutual respect to meet vulnerable patients' health care needs. For this CFP, we would define vulnerable populations in a number of different ways, including the economically disadvantaged, diverse racial and ethnic populations, the uninsured, older adults, homeless individuals, and people with complex health and social needs (including people with acute behavioral health needs or multiple chronic conditions). Proposals most closely aligned with the scope of this CFP will go beyond documenting the problem to generate findings that will be generalizable and have broad application across health systems and the field. Eligibility and Selection Criteria · Researchers, as well as practitioners in the public and private sector working with researchers, are eligible to submit proposals through their organizations. Projects may be generated from disciplines including health services research; economics; sociology; program evaluation; political science; public policy; psychology; public health; public administration; law; business administration; or other related fields. · The Foundation may give preference to applicants that are either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations or Type III supporting organizations. · The Foundation may require additional documentation. Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories.

Join BioOhio and the Columbus chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) for a FREE online event - our second Diversity in Bioscience & Healthcare event of 2020, on August 20 at 5 pm. The engaging discussion focuses on the importance of supporting STEM programming at an early age within under-represented communities to encourage careers within the science and healthcare industries. Our special guests include: Frederic Bertley, Ph.D., President & CEO, COSI Kirsten M. Ellenbogen, Ph.D., President & CEO, Great Lakes Science Center Kelly Lewis, Bioscience Technologies Program Instructor, Eastland-Fairfield Career and Technical Schools Lead by the talented Brooke Cartus, Director of Business Development and Senior Facilitator, ImprovEdge! Featuring networking opportunities during the event! This discussion will be held via Zoom. Login instructions are included in your registration confirmation email and reminder emails sent before the event. BioOhio and the Healthcare Business Women's Association (HBA) support all efforts to increase diversity and inclusion within the bioscience and healthcare industries and invite you to join us for our next discussion, Overcoming Obstacles in the Workplace: Making Work Accessible on November 14th, 2020. This event is brought to you by BioOhio in partnership with the Columbus chapter of the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) and is made possible by the generous support of BioOhio members AtriCure and BIO.

The goal of the Smart and Connected Health (SCH) Program is to accelerate the development and use of innovative approaches that would support the much needed transformation of healthcare from reactive and hospital-centered to preventive, proactive, evidence-based, person-centered and focused on well-being rather than disease. Approaches that partner technology-based solutions with biobehavioral health research are supported by multiple agencies of the federal government including the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The purpose of this program is to develop next generation health care solutions and encourage existing and new research communities to focus on breakthrough ideas in a variety of areas of value to health, such as sensor technology, networking, information and machine learning technology, decision support systems, modeling of behavioral and cognitive processes, as well as system and process modeling.

This FOA invites applications on descriptive, basic and translational studies of APOE2 to delineate the functional effects of ApoE2 on healthy aging of the brain and other tissues. The primary focus is on the "APOE2-Aging-AD" relationship and the mechanistic effects of the protective variant on aging and potential interaction/cross talk between tissues in the aging process and AD. These studies are expected to generate new mechanistic insights that involve brain and/or other organs and assist in the identification of potential prognostic and diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for AD and other age-related cognitive disorders. Eventually, the findings from these studies could lead to translational research opportunities not only to prevent or delay the onset of AD, but also to protect against multiple age-related conditions.  

The purpose of this cooperative agreement opportunity is to support the creation and/or maintenance of a transdisciplinary, multisite Research Network that will accelerate the translation of developmental science into MCH practice, promote scientific collaboration, and develop additional research capacity in the fields of adolescent and young adult (ages 10-25) health. A Research Network is a collaboration designed to conduct research across multiple sites, resulting in a greater collective impact. One institution serves as the primary awardee, and oversees and facilitates all Network activities. The Network must include researchers who study adolescence and young adulthood from a range of disciplines, including developmental neuroscience, behavioral and social sciences, and the medical and/or allied health fields, reflecting attention to the health and development of the whole person as well as to health care services for members of these two age groups.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages Research Project Grant (R01) applications from institutions/organizations that propose to study the developing brain or brain areas that play significant roles in mediating emotional and motivated behavior and in substance use and dependence. All stages of brain development are of interest, but a new emphasis of the current reissue of this initiative is to support basic neuroscience research on fundamental mechanisms of brain development during prepuberty and the adolescent period in relation to the problems of substance abuse and co-morbidity with psychiatric disorders. Topics of interest pertaining to brain development of this initiative include, but are not limited to, the euphoric properties of abused substances, actions of psychotherapeutic agents, and their consequences on memory, cognitive and emotional processes. An additional major goal of this initiative is to understand how exposure to substances of abuse affects the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system development and neural circuit functions implicated in substance use and addiction.