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The National Eye Institute (NEI) announces the reissue of PAR-10-281, "Translational Research Program (TRP) on Therapy for Visual Disorders". This program focuses on the development of novel therapies to treat visual diseases and disorders. In the context of this program, an expert develops a multi-disciplinary research team that applies an integrative approach to develop rapid and efficient translation of innovative laboratory research findings into clinical therapeutic development. It involves collaborative teams of scientists and clinicians with expertise in multiple disciplines, operating according to a clear leadership plan. Such a collaborative approach is particularly appropriate for research focused on pathways that will likely be targeted by biological intervention, such as gene therapy, cell-based therapy, and pharmacological approaches. The intention of this program is to make resources available to scientists from several disciplines to address scientific and technical questions that would be beyond the capabilities of any one research group.

FSH Society research and fellowship grant awards provide vital start-up  funding for investigators in FSHD and research projects on FSHD. The research milestones and insights gained are demonstrably significant. The fellowship program allows innovative and entrepreneurial research to develop and ultimately to be able to attract funding from large funding sources such as the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). The FSH Society meets an important need in funding and developing new ideas and supporting new investigators in FSHD research by giving them the funds needed to develop data and to carry their ideas to the next stage of development.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites Research Project Grant (R01) applications to develop novel in vivo imaging technologies using molecular probes that target pathways or cells involved in the pathobiology of pulmonary diseases. The long-term goal of this program is to develop novel molecular imaging entities and approaches that facilitate early detection and diagnosis of lung disease, enable noninvasive monitoring of lung disease progression and prognosis, and accelerate progress of cell-specific drug delivery and therapies.The previous FOA (RFA-HL-12-036 - Phase 1) supported projects to develop and validate innovative novel imaging agents and approaches that included target selection, probe development and production, and initial characterization of the probe. Phase 2 of this initiative will support studies that advance translation of identified probes and associated imaging approaches from animal models into applicability for human lung diseases. Phase 2 studies must include work performed in vivo using appropriate animal models of lung diseaseand studies using human tissues and/or cells. Applications proposing Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling studies of novel probes and imaging approaches are encouraged. Applicants are not required to have been funded in Phase 1 (RFA-HL-12-036) in order to submit applications for Phase 2.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications from single institutions, or consortia of institutions, to participate in a network of research groups developing computational models of immunity to infectious diseases other than HIV/AIDS. Applications are sought to develop, refine and validate computational models of immune responses (1) during or following infection, and/or (2) before and after vaccination against an infectious disease, through an iterative approach involving computational studies and immunological experimentation. The main goal of this FOA is to advance our understanding of the complex immune mechanisms triggered by infection and/or vaccination through the development and application of computational models of immunity, coupled with immunological experimentation to validate and improve the utility and robustness of the computational models.Another goal of this FOA is to make the computational models and data developed under this initiative readily available to the broader research community for further refinement or direct use in biological experimentation. This program will also support pilot projects, workshops, and symposia to foster the use of computational models of immunity by the broader research community.

The PCC has supported world-class research since 2009, spending more than $8.0 M to support novel science. Research and grant-making are the foundation of the PCC and are the focus of everyday business activity. PCC-supported research contributes to a movement in addressing doping's root causes and ultimately decreasing the use of performance-enhancing drugs by all participants in all sports at all levels of play. With an emphasis on original work that focuses on improving existing analytical methods for detecting particular drugs, developing new analytical methods to test for substances not currently detectable, and discovering cost-effective approaches for testing widely abused substances across all levels of sport, the following areas of investigation reflect the PCC's current research priorities: - Developing methods of cost-effective testing to detect and deter the use of banned and illegal substances. - Developing testing protocols to detect designer substances used for doping purposes. - Improving existing analytical methods to detect particular drugs, ex. GH, IGF-1, EPO, hCG. - Developing analytical methods to detect performance enhancing drugs not currently detectable. - Longitudinal urinary excretion patterns, metabolism and dose-concentration. - Critical reviews to support interpretation of laboratory data. - Alternative specimens, (ex. oral fluid, dried blood/plasma spots) for testing.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications from single institutions, or consortia of institutions, to participate in a network of research groups developing computational models of immunity to infectious diseases other than HIV/AIDS. Applications are sought to develop, refine and validate computational models of immune responses (1) during or following infection, and/or (2) before and after vaccination against an infectious disease, through an iterative approach involving computational studies and immunological experimentation. The main goal of this FOA is to advance our understanding of the complex immune mechanisms triggered by infection and/or vaccination through the development and application of computational models of immunity, coupled with immunological experimentation to validate and improve the utility and robustness of the computational models.  Another goal of this FOA is to make the computational models and data developed under this initiative readily available to the broader research community for further refinement or direct use in biological experimentation. This program will also support pilot projects, workshops, and symposia to foster the use of computational models of immunity by the broader research community.  

The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving applications for research that supports the Genomic Science research program (http://genomicscience.energy.gov). In this FOA, applications are requested for: i) Research to advance the development of promising new model organisms relevant to biofuels production , ii) development of novel microbial functional capabilities and biosynthetic pathways relevant to the production of advanced biofuels and the development of strategies to overcome associated metabolic challenges resulting from pathway modification, and iii) development of novel analytical technologies or high-throughput screening approaches relating to research in bullets i and ii.

With an emphasis on original work that focuses on improving existing analytical methods for detecting particular drugs, developing new analytical methods to test for substances not currently detectable, and discovering cost-effective approaches for testing widely abused substances across all levels of sport, the following areas of investigation reflect the PCC's current research priorities: - Developing methods of cost-effective testing to detect and deter the use of banned and illegal substances. - Developing testing protocols to detect designer substances used for doping purposes. - Improving existing analytical methods to detect particular drugs, ex. GH, IGF-1, EPO, hCG. - Developing analytical methods to detect performance enhancing drugs not currently detectable. - Longitudinal urinary excretion patterns, metabolism and dose-concentration. - Critical reviews to support interpretation of laboratory data. - Alternative specimens, (ex. oral fluid, dried blood/plasma spots) for testing.

The goal of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) Quantum Program is to achieve a profound (quantum) advance over present-day approaches to the prevention, detection, diagnosis, and/or treatment of a major disease or national public health problem primarily through the development of biomedical engineering/biomedical imaging technologies. In order to realize a profound advance against a major disease or national public health problem, this announcement supports research to develop and prepare a target technology for clinical efficacy at the completion of Quantum funding (which may include up to two competitive renewals). The NIBIB mission is to improve human health by leading the development and acceleration of the application of biomedical technologies. Major biomedical technologies, emerging from the interface of the engineering, physical, and life sciences such as MR imaging, endoscopic devices for minimally invasive surgery, the cochlear implant, and the pacemaker have had a profound impact on human health and quality of life. In many cases, realization of a quantum impact from a new biomedical technology can only be achieved if the needed intellectual and financial resources are focused on a specific targeted project in a concerted fashion. The NIBIB Quantum Program is intended to support development of biomedical technologies that will result in a profound paradigm shift in prevention, detection, diagnosis, and/ or treatment of a major disease or national public health problem.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking concept papers from qualified U.S. non profit non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for a program titled "Family Planning and Reproductive Health Methods to Address Unmet Need" for funding of Cooperative Agreements.The purpose of this APS is to support the research, development, and introduction of technologies and approaches that better meet the needs of women and girls as their sexual and reproductive health concerns change over time. The General Objectives of the APS are to:1. Refine existing FP methods to address method-related reasons for non-use.2. Respond to product-related issues about currently available FP methods that arise at purchase and/or from the field, and that may affect provider/user perceptions and/or the supply chain.3. Develop new FP methods that address method-related reasons for non-use, and/or fill gaps in the existing method mix. 4. Conduct research to foster the introduction and uptake of new and/or underutilized woman-initiated methods, particularly non-hormonal barriers, contraceptive vaginal rings, and fertility awareness methods based on knowledge and monitoring of the menstrual cycle. 5. Develop multipurpose prevention technologies (MPTs) that address the simultaneous risks of unintended pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) - particularly Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

OASH/ National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) provides strategic direction for the coordination of the vaccine and immunization enterprise through the National Vaccine Plan (NVP) implementation. NVPO specifically provides guidance and coordination for all vaccine safety systems, activities and research studies in the U.S. through the Immunization Safety Task Force (ISTF). While engaging vaccine safety stakeholders through the ISTF, NVPO is able to identify gaps in vaccine safety monitoring and research. NVPO has launched this pilot cooperative agreement program to partner with an organization to conduct research that will strengthen the current U.S. vaccine safety enterprise. The program's objective is to conduct research in vaccine safety related areas, specifically, but not limited to, determining the safety profile of new vaccines during the early development stage, developing or modifying existing vaccines to improve their safety, conducting applied research that will have a direct impact on the current vaccine safety monitoring system, conducting research that will achieve consensus definitions of vaccine safety outcomes that could be utilized to collect consensus data in clinical research conducted globally.NVPO is particularly interested in projects related to researching, establishing or testing the vaccine safety profile of vaccines that are currently recommended for or are expected to be routinely administered to pregnant women and/or newborns. Topics of research may cover establishing the safety of a vaccine in either the pregnant women, her newborn or both, at any stage of the vaccine development, testing and/or pre-clinical or clinical research and monitoring of vaccine safety. This pilot program encourages collaborative efforts with experts across fields to maximize the results and impact of the research project. NVPO scientific staff will have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as desc

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The over-arching goal of this Fogarty International Center R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nations biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs by enhancing health workforce capacity in high HIV-burden, low-income countriesin sub-Saharan Africa; enhance the diversity of the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce by encouraging interprofessional education initiatives to enhance team health care delivery; help recruit individuals with specific specialty or disciplinary backgrounds to research careers in biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences in low-income countries to enhance capacity of US research projects; foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications to improve capacity to develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based health services. To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on courses for Skills Development;Research training; Mentoring Activities; Curriculum or Methods Development to increase Outreach to broad communities to enhance participation in skills development courses, curricula, and mentoring activities.

The goal of the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) is to develop a diverse pool of highly trained physician-scientist leaders available to meet the needs of the Nations biomedical research agenda. Specifically, this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) provides support to eligible domestic institutions to develop and implement effective, evidence-based approaches to integrated dual-degree training leading to the award of both professional medical doctorate degrees and research doctorate degrees (Ph.D. or equivalent). With the dual qualification of rigorous scientific research and clinical practice, graduates will be equipped with the skills to develop research programs that accelerate the translation of research advances to the understanding, detection, treatment and prevention of human disease, and to lead the advancement of biomedical research. Areas of particular importance to NIGMS are the iterative optimization of MSTP training efficacy and efficiency, fostering the persistence of MSTP alumni in research careers, and enhancing the diversity of the physician-scientist workforce. NIGMS expects that the proposed research training programs will incorporate didactic, research, mentoring and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the Nation.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Agreement (U01) Research Projects for research on the identification of small molecule or biologic lead compounds that are excellent candidates for therapeutic development. The mission of the CounterACT program is to foster and support research and development of new and improved therapeutics for chemical threats. Chemical threats are toxic chemicals that could be used in a terrorist attack or accidentally released from industrial production, storage or shipping. They include traditional chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical-based agents, and pesticides. The scope of research supported by this FOA includes confirmation of molecular targets for therapeutic development, demonstration of in vitro activity of candidate therapeutics, preliminary in vivo proof-of-concept efficacy data, preliminary adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADME/Tox) evaluations and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) data. These studies should result in the identification of at least one lead compound ready for optimization. Lead compounds are biologically active and synthetically feasible compounds where specificity, affinity, potency, target selectivity, efficacy, and safety have been established. Lead compounds should be ready for more advanced development under possible support from other programs such as the one described in the companion FOA "CounterACT Optimization of Therapeutic Lead Compound (U01)" (PAR-18-NNN). The scope of this FOA encompasses Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 1-3 - see TRLs. Each project must include annual milestones that create discrete go or no-go decision points in a progressive translational study plan.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to promote innovative research on music and health with an emphasis on developing music interventions aimed at understanding their mechanisms of action and clinical applications with little or no preliminary data. Because of the need for a multidisciplinary approach, collaborations among basic researchers, translational science researchers, music intervention experts, other clinical researchers, music health professionals, and technology development researchers are encouraged. The FOA utilizes a phased R61/R33 funding mechanism to support mechanistic research and to evaluate the clinical relevance of music interventions. The R61 phase will provide funding to either investigate the biological mechanisms or behavioral processes underlying music interventions in relevant animal models, healthy human subjects, and/or clinical populations, or can be used to develop innovative technology or approaches to enhance music intervention research. The second R33 phase will provide support for further mechanistic investigations, intervention development, or pilot clinical studies. The pilot clinical studies may focus on intervention optimization/refinement, feasibility, adherence, and/or identification of appropriate outcome measures to inform future clinical research. Transition from the R61 to the R33 phase of the award will depend on successful completion of pre-specified milestones established in the R61.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support preclinical optimization and development of safe, effective, and non-addictive small molecule and biologic therapeutics to treat pain. The goal of the program is to accelerate the optimization and development of promising small molecule and biologic hits/leads towards clinical trials. Applicants must have a promising hit/lead, robust biological rationale for the intended approach, and identified assays for optimization of the agent. The scope of this program includes optimization and early development activities, IND-enabling studies, and assembly of Investigational New Drug (IND) application. This is a milestone-driven phased cooperative agreement program involving participation of NIH program staff in the development of the project plan and monitoring of research progress.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support intramural-extramural collaborations to develop and implement the use of 3D biofabricated tissue models as novel drug screening platforms and advance pre-clinical discovery and development of non-addictive treatments for nociception, opioid use disorder (OUD) and/or overdose. In particular, support during the UH2 phase is for the application of 3D biofabrication technologies to develop novel multicellular tissue constructs for drug screening by using human iPSC-derived cells representing sensory/pain neurons, brain regions, and other tissues involved in nociception, addiction and/or overdose, including tissue models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Support during the UH3 is for implementation of drug screens using the 3D tissue models developed during the UH2 phase. Please limit this field to a brief description of to page in length. Brevity is appreciated. This FOA is part of the of the NIHs Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) initiative to speed scientific solutions to the national opioid public health crisis. The NIH HEAL Initiative will bolster research across NIH to (1) improve treatment for opioid misuse and addiction and (2) enhance pain management. More information about the HEAL Initiative is available at: https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/heal-initiative

PFI has five broad goals, as set forth by the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2017 ("the Act", S.3084 - 114th Congress; Sec. 602. Translational Research Grants): (1) identifying and supporting NSF-sponsored research and technologies that have the potential for accelerated commercialization; (2) supporting prior or current NSF-sponsored investigators, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations that partner with an institution of higher education in undertaking proof-of-concept work, including the development of technology prototypes that are derived from NSF-sponsored research and have potential market value; (3) promoting sustainable partnerships between NSF-funded institutions, industry, and other organizations within academia and the private sector with the purpose of accelerating the transfer of technology; (4) developing multi-disciplinary innovation ecosystems which involve and are responsive to the specific needs of academia and industry; (5) providing professional development, mentoring, and advice in entrepreneurship, project management, and technology and business development to innovators.

The purpose of this Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative funding opportunity announcement is to encourage applications that will develop and validate novel tools to facilitate the detailed analysis and manipulation of complex circuits in large brains. Critical advances in the treatment of brain disorders in human populations are hindered by our lack of ability to monitor and manipulate circuitry in safe, minimally-invasive ways. Clinical intervention with novel cell and circuit specific tools will require extensive focused research designed to remove barriers to delivery of gene therapies. In addition to identification and removal of barriers, the need to specifically target dysfunctional circuitry poses additional challenges. Neuroscience has experienced an impressive influx of exciting new research tools in the past decade, especially since the launch of the BRAIN Initiative. However, the majority of these cutting-edge tools have been developed for use in model organisms, primarily rodents, fish and flies. These cutting-edge tools, such as viral delivery of genetic constructs, are increasingly adaptable to larger mammalian brains and more importantly are emerging as potential human therapeutic strategies for brain disorders. A pressing need to develop tools for use in large brains or those that are more directly relevant to the human brain is the focus of this initiative. The initiative will support initial proof of principle studies aimed at demonstrating the feasibility of this approach in humans and other mammalian species (non-human primate [NHP]/sheep/pigs).

This program supports highly creative individuals in NHGRI priority research areas, such as the development of resources, approaches, or technologies that will accelerate genomic research on the structure of genomes, the biology of genomes, or the biology of disease; that will advance the science of genomic medicine; that will incorporate genomics to improve the effectiveness of healthcare; or that will advance genomic technology development, computational genomics, or research on the ethical, legal, and societal implications of genomics and genetics research.  This program supports the development of approaches that can be used broadly.  A hallmark of genomic research is comprehensiveness across the genome, such as all genes, variants, or regulatory elements, rather than specific sets.  The focus should be on developing approaches that can be applied generally, although an approach may be tested with specific genes, genomic elements, variants, cell types, diseases, traits, or model organisms.  Studies that focus on one or a few specific genes should be paradigm-setting and yield findings relevant at the genomic level.  The application should explain how broadly useful the approaches will be.