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The National Institute on Aging is seeking applications on systems biology approaches using non-mammalian laboratory animal models to increase our understanding of the basic biology underpinning neurodegeneration. It is expected that research supported under this FOA will provide new insights into molecular networks that might be involved in causing, amplifying or protecting against neurodegeneration, and that, in turn, might ultimately contribute to Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Importantly, a major goal of this FOA is to use interaction and regulatory networks produced and analyzed using systems biology to gain these new insights. Because this FOA is directed toward discovery, currently employed genetically modified laboratory animals used to study AD are not required, although they may be used. Because this FOA requires systems biology approaches, data used to build interaction or regulatory networks may also come from humans or other mammals in which AD, related dementias, or aging-related cognitive decline have been observed. This FOA will only support studies using non-mammalian laboratory animal models; studies involving humans or experiments with mammals will not be allowed under this FOA.

The National Institute on Aging is seeking applications on systems biology approaches using non-mammalian laboratory animal models to increase our understanding of the basic biology underpinning neurodegeneration. It is expected that research supported under this FOA will provide new insights into molecular networks that might be involved in causing, amplifying or protecting against neurodegeneration, and that, in turn, might ultimately contribute to Alzheimer's disease or related dementias. Importantly, a major goal of this FOA is to use interaction and regulatory networks produced and analyzed using systems biology to gain these new insights. Because this FOA is directed toward discovery, currently employed genetically modified laboratory animals used to study AD are not required, although they may be used. Because this FOA requires systems biology approaches, data used to build interaction or regulatory networks may also come from humans or other mammals in which AD, related dementias, or aging-related cognitive decline have been observed. This FOA will only support studies using non-mammalian laboratory animal models; studies involving humans or experiments with mammals will not be allowed under this FOA.

TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE AND THERAPEUTICS: The goal of the PhRMA Foundation's Translational Medicine and Therapeutics Program is to promote the development and use of experimental and computational methods in an integrative approach towards clinical needs in diagnosis, treatment and prevention. This can involve enhanced understanding of human biological and disease processes but requires a strong translational component. This program will support the concepts of Translational Medicine and Therapeutics as defined by the Foundation: "Translational medicine and therapeutics is a discipline focused on bridging experimental and computational technologies and discoveries in the research laboratory to their application in clinical practice. Examples of research components include activities in molecular and cellular biology, pathophysiology, systems biology, bioinformatics, modeling and simulation, and other quantitative sciences to connect basic biological concepts and entities to directly address unmet medical needs. The goals are to use clinical observation as the basis for hypothesis generation to further basic research and to efficiently advance the product of basic research to patients." Translational Medicine and Therapeutics awards will advance training and support career development of scientists engaged in research that significantly integrates cutting-edge technologies with advanced biological, chemical, and pharmacological sciences and engineering methodologies in such areas as (but not restricted to): * Genetics (Molecular, Pharmaco-, Population, Medical) * Genomics (Functional, Structural, Toxico-, Pharmaco-, Comparative) * Systems (Biology and Pharmacology) * Pathways and networks * Integrative biology * Modeling and simulation * Target Identification and Validation * Biomarker Discovery and Validation * Vaccine Development * Molecular Epidimiology * Imaging * Disease Modeling

The National Institute on Aging is seeking applications to develop systems biology approaches to understand the basic biology underpinning neurodegeneration which might ultimately contribute to Alzheimer's disease or related dementias, using non-mammalian laboratory animal models. It is expected that research carried under the auspices of this FOA will lead to discovery of new mechanisms that provoke neurodegeneration and to new molecular pathways that might be involved in causing, amplifying or protecting against neurodegeneration. Applications should propose to use established non-mammalian laboratory animals which have a history of contributions to our understanding of neurobiology or aging biology.  

The purpose of this FOA is to support innovative interdisciplinary, multi-institute research that will lead to the identification and validation of molecular mechanisms relevant to human biology that contribute to tau toxicity associated with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD). It is anticipated that this research will also contribute to tool development that can be applied to target validation in FTD clinical trials.Applications must include an administrative core, a scientific governance structure, a minimum of three research projects with milestone plans, resource core(s) that support the basic research efforts of at least two proposed research projects, a data coordination core that will facilitate the distribution of data generated through the Center without Walls with the broad research community and a human biology validation core that will support the validation of mechanisms identified and resources developed under this FOA. Synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that successful completion of the aims could not be accomplished without the Center structure. This FOA is in response to the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) challenges outlined in the 2015 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

The purpose of this FOA is to support innovative interdisciplinary, multi-institute research that will lead to the identification and validation of molecular mechanisms relevant to human biology that contribute to tau toxicity associated with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD). It is anticipated that this research will also contribute to tool development that can be applied to target validation in FTD clinical trials.Applications must include an administrative core, a scientific governance structure, a minimum of three research projects with milestone plans, resource core(s) that support the basic research efforts of at least two proposed research projects, a data coordination core that will facilitate the distribution of data generated through the Center without Walls with the broad research community and a human biology validation core that will support the validation of mechanisms identified and resources developed under this FOA. Synergy must be evident among Center research projects and cores, such that successful completion of the aims could not be accomplished without the Center structure. This FOA is in response to the Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) challenges outlined in the 2015 update to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation will award one-year to 18-month grants for studies that explore the role of astrocytes in Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology and the potential for astrocyte-focused therapeutics. The goals of this funding program are to further understanding of astrocyte biology in Parkinson's and to rationalize the pursuit of astrocyte-specific targets and/or pathways for the treatment of the disease. Preference will be given to applications that focus on or include the following: Role of astrocytes in initiating and/or propagating Parkinson's disease pathology, including alpha-synuclein spread, dopaminergic neuron death, inflammation and senescence Consequences of dysfunction and/or mutations of common PD targets, including alpha-synuclein, LRRK2, GBA, PRKN and PINK1 Manipulation of astrocyte activity and/or astrocyte-specific pathways to assess the potential of targeted astrocyte therapies on disease biology and/or symptoms Parkinson's disease models with high construct validity to human PD, including patient-derived material (such as iPSCs or cerebral organoids) and/or well characterized animal models and primary cells; Examination of human brain samples to answer specific hypotheses is also acceptable Targets, pathways and mechanisms proposed for investigation should have reasonable links to PD.

"This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages research on the biology of high confidence risk factors associated with complex brain disorders, with a focus on the intracellular, transcellular and circuit substrates of neural function. For the purposes of this FOA, the term "complex" can refer to a multifactorial contribution to risk (e.g., polygenic and/or environmental) and/or highly distributed functional features of the brain disorder. Studies may be either hypothesis-generating (unbiased discovery) or hypothesis-testing in design and may utilize in vivo, in situ, or in vitro experimental paradigms, e.g., model organisms or human cell-based assays. While behavioral paradigms and outcome measures can be incorporated into the research design to facilitate the characterization of intracellular, transcellular and circuit mechanisms, these are neither required nor expected. Studies should not attempt to "model" disorders but instead should aim to elucidate the neurobiological impact of individual or combined risk factor(s), such as the affected molecular and cellular components and their relationships within defined biological process(es). This can include the fundamental biology of these factors, components and processes. The resulting paradigms, component pathways and biological processes should be disseminated with sufficient detail to enrich common and/or federated data resources (e.g., those contributing to the Gene Ontology, Synaptic Gene Ontology, FAIR Data Informatics) in order to bridge the gap between disease risk factors, biological mechanism and therapeutic target identification. The present announcement (R21 activity code) can be used for applications to develop early stage, high-risk, exploratory approaches or establish proof-of-concept where there is little or no preliminary data."

The National Niemann-Pick Disease Foundation (NNPDF) invites applications for postdoctoral research fellowships examining the biology of Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease, a lethal neurodegenerative disease for which there are no effective therapies. M.D., Ph. D. and D.V.M. postdoctoral fellows are eligible to apply for funding to improve our understanding of the biology and pathogenesis of NPC disease.  Preference will be given to research projects developing new therapies for NPC and identifying biomarkers of disease activity for diagnosis and clinical trials. The fellowships provide support of $50,000 per annum for two years and may be renewable based on performance.  Applicants must be currently associated with a recognized laboratory

The Klarman Family Foundation is interested in providing strategic investment in translational research that will accelerate progress in developing effective treatments for anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. The Program's short-term goal is to support the most outstanding science and expand the pool of scientists whose research explores the basic biology of feeding, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and/or binge eating disorder. The long-term goal is to improve the lives of patients suffering from these conditions. Examples of funding areas include but are not limited to molecular genetic analysis of relevant neural circuit assembly and function; genetic and epigenetic research; animal models created by genetically altering neural circuits; and testing of new chemical entities that might be used in animal models as exploratory treatments.  Please note that imaging studies involving humans are not eligible. Investigators conducting research in the neuro-circuitry of fear conditioning or reward behavior may also apply but must justify the relevance of their research projects to the basic biology of eating disorders. Clinical psychotherapeutic studies, medication trials and research in the medical complications of these disorders are outside the scope of this Program.

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in chemistry, computational or evolutionary molecular biology, computer science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, ocean sciences (including marine biology), physics, or a related field; Candidates must hold a tenure track (or equivalent) position at a college, university or other degree-granting institution in the United States or Canada;  Candidates must normally be no more than six years from completion of their most recent Ph.D. (or equivalent) as of the year of their nomination.  (That is, most recent Ph.D. must have been awarded on or after September 2007.)** While Fellows are expected to be at an early stage of their research careers, there should be strong evidence of independent research accomplishments. Candidates in all fields are normally below the rank of associate professor and do not hold tenure, but these are not strict requirements. The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation welcomes nominations of all candidates who meet the traditional high standards of this program, and strongly encourages the participation of women and members of underrepresented minority groups.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation works tirelessly to accelerate promising research toward breakthroughs for Parkinson's patients. While our strong emphasis is on funding translational and clinical research, we also support high-risk/high-reward discovery work. In addition to funding, awardees benefit from working with our internal research staff and broad network of scientific and industry advisors. Targeted Funding Opportunities | Application Deadline: May 31, 2018: 1. Alpha-synuclein Biology and Therapies 2. GBA Biology and Therapies 3. Biomarkers of Protein Handling/Autophagy, Exosomes and Lipids 4. Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Gait and Balance Disturbances

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to stimulate collaborative research to understand the biological mechanisms of aging in dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) tissues, as they relate to parallel processes in other tissues and organs. The areas of emphasis under this FOA include inflammation, tissue healing and regeneration, and epigenetic regulation. The overarching long-term goal of this effort is to improve oral health in older adults by addressing knowledge gaps in our understanding of the basic biology of age-associated changes in health and disease states of DOC tissues. Also listed under R01

This FOA invites exploratory comparative biology research projects assessing how different animal species respond to challenges and damage to cellular physiology pathways that might influence the onset of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases as well as resilience to them, such as adaptation to stress, macromolecular damage, proteostasis and stem cell function and regeneration.    

The John Templeton Foundation works to catalyze discoveries relating to the deepest and most perplexing questions facing humankind and supports research on a wide range of subjects, from complexity, evolution, and emergency to creativity, forgiveness, and free will. In support of this mission, the foundation is accepting applications for its Academic Cross-Training Fellowship. With the intent to help equip recently tenured philosophers and theologians with the skills and knowledge needed to study big questions that require substantive and high-level engagement with empirical science, the fellowship will provide up to $220,000 over three years to support systematic and sustained study in an empirical science such as physics, psychology, biology, genetics, cognitive science, neuroscience, or sociology.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation and The Silverstein Foundation for Parkinson's with GBA will award one-to-two-year grants for GBA research to advance understanding of GBA biology and accelerate therapeutic approaches. This program seeks proposals for research studying: * How GBA mutations lead to PD * Mechanisms underlying GCase dysfunction in the absence of GBA mutations * Novel therapeutic interventions to prevent pathogenic mechanisms triggered by GCase-pathway dysfunction Mutations in the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene are one of the most common risk factors for Parkinson's disease. GBA encodes a lysosomal enzyme, beta-glucocerebrosidase (GCase). Reduced GCase activity is associated with GBA mutations and has been reported in idiopathic PD, suggesting a more general role for GCase pathway dysfunction in Parkinson's. The exact cellular mechanism by which GCase deficits contribute to the pathogenesis of PD remains unclear, warranting further investigation. Pre-proposal due May 31.

The goal of this funding opportunity announcement is to continue and expand the open-science, systems-biology enterprise of the AMP-AD Target Discovery and Preclinical Validation Consortium and enable data-driven discovery and validation of novel targets and biomarkers for AD and AD-related dementias through the development of predictive network models of brain health and disease.

To foster innovative collaborative approaches to research projects that propose novel pairings of investigators from at least two broadly disparate disciplines. The proposal must focus on the collaborative relationship, such that the scientific objectives could not be achieved without the efforts of at least two co-principal investigators and their respective disciplines. The combination and integration of studies may be inclusive of basic, clinical, population, behavioral, and/or translational research. Projects must include at least one Co-PI from a field outside cardiovascular disease and stroke. This award is also intended to foster collaboration between established and early- or mid-career investigators. Applications by existing collaborators are permitted, provided that the proposal is for a new and novel idea or approach that has not been funded before. Multidisciplinary research broadly related to cardiovascular function, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, or to related clinical, basic science, bioengineering, biotechnology, or public health problems. Proposals are encouraged from all basic science disciplines as well as epidemiological, behavioral, community and clinical investigations that bear on cardiovascular and stroke problems. AHA awards are open to the array of academic and health professionals. This includes but is not limited to all academic disciplines (biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics, technology, physics, etc.) and all health-related professions (physicians, nurses, advanced practice nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physical and occupational therapists, statisticians, nutritionists, behavioral scientists, health attorneys, engineers, etc.).

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) seeks research studies that use dimensional constructs to integrate biology (e.g., brain circuit o

Like the Foundation's ongoing Biology of Aging Scholar Awards program, the Neuroscience Scholars program is intended to provide researchers with the support and resources to develop innovative research programs aimed at gaining insight into the fundamental molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie normal biological function, and when dysfunctional, lead to illness.

To allow investigators time to plan and develop applications, NFRP is providing its strategic plan for award mechanisms to be offered in 2013 should funding become available. Congressional funds for the FY13 NFRP have not yet been appropriated, and this document is not to be construed as an obligation by the government; there is no guarantee of funding for these planned mechanisms. Areas of Emphasis: The FY13 NFRP encourages research projects applications that specifically address the critical needs of the NF community in the following areas of emphasis: Cognitive and social dysfunction in the setting of NF; Drug discovery for the treatment of NF; Heterogeneity of neurofibromas and other NF-related tumors using genomics, epigenetics, systems biology, or other similar approaches; Manifestations of NF post-adolescence; Novel disease markers such as imaging and proteomics of NF; Pain in the setting of NF.