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The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute invites cooperative agreement (U01) applications to serve as the Research Center (RC) for the Molecular Atlas of Lung Development Program (LungMAP), Phase 2. The overall objective of LungMAP is to better understand human lung development through building an open-access reference resource of a comprehensive, dynamic, 3-D molecular atlas of the late-stage developing human lung with data and reagents available to the research community. Phase 2 of LungMAP will continue to generate and integrate high-resolution, multiscale molecular profiles associated with spatial information to provide molecular characterizations of functionally and anatomically defined cell types in the developing human lung. Phase 2 of LungMAP will focus on human lung only and will extend the scope to cover normal lung development into early adulthood (up to 25 years old), as well as abnormal lung development in selected neonatal and pediatric rare lung diseases. The purpose of the LungMAP RCs will be to generate the molecular profiling data of the developing human lung. Applicants are not required to have been funded in Phase 1 (RFA-HL-14-008) in order to submit applications for Phase 2.

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports quantitative, mechanistic, predictive, and theory-driven fundamental research designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels. While recognizing the need for thorough and accurate descriptions of biological complexes and pathways, the priority of the Division is to support work that advances the field by capturing the predictive power of mechanistic, quantitative, and evolutionary approaches. Two funding tracks will be available. Core Program Track proposals are solicited to support research relevant to the four MCB core clusters: o Cellular Dynamics and Function o Genetic Mechanisms o Molecular Biophysics o Systems and Synthetic Biology Rules of Life Track proposals that integrate across the scales in biological sciences are solicited to support research that spans from the molecular and cellular levels normally funded by MCB to organismal and ecosystem scales typically funded by other divisions in the Biological Sciences. This track provides new opportunities to advance our understanding of the Rules of Life by new mechanisms for review and funding of proposals that would not ordinarily fit well within one division in the Biological Sciences Directorate.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits grant applications proposing exploratory research projects focused on the inception and development of early stage, highly innovative, technologies for the molecular or cellular analysis of cancer. Emerging technologies with significant transformative potential that have not yet been explored in a cancer-relevant use may also be considered. An emerging technology is defined (for the purpose of this FOA) as one that has passed the initial developmental stage, but has not yet been evaluated within the context of cancer-relevant use intended in the application and requires significant modification for the proposed application to establish feasibility. The emphasis of this FOA is on molecular analysis technologies with a high degree of technical innovation with the potential to significantly affect and transform investigations exploring the molecular and cellular bases of cancer. If successful, these technologies would accelerate and/or enhance research in the areas of cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, control, epidemiology, and/or cancer health disparities. Technologies proposed for development may be intended to have widespread applicability but must be based on molecular and/or cellular characterizations of cancer.

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports quantitative, predictive, and theory-driven fundamental research and related activities designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels. MCB is soliciting proposals for hypothesis-driven and discovery research and related activities in four core clusters: Molecular Biophysics Cellular Dynamics and Function Genetic Mechanisms Systems and Synthetic Biology MCB gives high priority to research projects that use theory, methods, and technologies from physical sciences, mathematics, computational sciences, and engineering to address major biological questions.  Research supported by MCB uses a range of experimental approaches--including in vivo, in vitro and in silico strategies--and a broad spectrum of model and non-model organisms, especially microbes and plants. Typical research supported by MCB integrates theory and experimentation.  Projects that address the emerging areas of multi-scale integration, molecular and cellular evolution, quantitative prediction of phenome from genomic information, and development of methods and resources are particularly welcome.

The Molecular Separations program is part of the Chemical Process Systems cluster, which also includes 1) Catalysis; 2) Electrochemical Systems; and 3) Process Systems, Reaction Engineering, and Molecular Thermodynamics. The Molecular Separations program supports research focused on novel methods and materials for separation processes, such as those central to the chemical, biochemical, bioprocessing, materials, energy, and pharmaceutical industries. A fundamental understanding of the interfacial, transport, and thermodynamic behavior of multiphase chemical systems as well as quantitative descriptions of processing characteristics in the process-oriented industries is critical for efficient resource management and effective environmental protection. The program encourages proposals that address long standing challenges and emerging research areas and technologies, have a high degree of interdisciplinary work coupled with the generation of fundamental knowledge, and the integration of education and research. Research topics of particular interest include fundamental, molecular-level work.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks applications investigating mechanistic and biological aspects of preneoplasia leading to lung, and head and neck (HN) cancers. Despite improved therapies and a deeper molecular understanding of lung and HN cancers, these tumors remain a major health problem in the United States and globally. While molecular markers of early injury to the aerodigestive epithelial field have been found, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that initiate these preneoplasias and drive their progression to invasive cancer. A functional understanding of the key molecular changes involved in the formation and progression of lung and HN preneoplasias will enhance our knowledge of oncogenic progression and accelerate development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks applications investigating mechanistic and biological aspects of preneoplasia leading to lung, and head and neck (HN) cancers. Despite improved therapies and a deeper molecular understanding of lung and HN cancers, these tumors remain a major health problem in the United States and globally. While molecular markers of early injury to the aerodigestive epithelial field have been found, relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that initiate these preneoplasias and drive their progression to invasive cancer. A functional understanding of the key molecular changes involved in the formation and progression of lung and HN preneoplasias will enhance our knowledge of oncogenic progression and accelerate development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.

The objectives of the Molecular Signatures program are to identify and characterize critical molecular signatures relevant to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Human Performance; to develop sensors for the detection of these signatures utilizing molecular, genomic, and nano-bio sensing elements; and to develop and employ data analysis tools for processing, exploitation, and dissemination of detected signatures for informed and efficient decision making.

The overall objective of the LungMAP is to better understand human lung development by building an open-access reference resource of a comprehensive, dynamic, 3-D molecular atlas of the late-stage developing human lung with data and reagents available to the research community. Phase 1 of the LungMAP has generated foundational data from developing mouse and human lungs, created a web portal for public data sharing, and established a repository of human lung tissues. Phase 2 of the LungMAP will continue to generate and integrate high-resolution, multiscale molecular profiles associated with spatial information to provide molecular characterizations of functionally and anatomically defined cell types in the developing human lung. Phase 2 of LungMAP will focus on human lung only and will extend the scope to cover normal lung development into early adulthood (up to 25 years old), as well as abnormal lung development in selected neonatal and pediatric rare lung diseases.

The overall objective of the LungMAP is to better understand human lung development by building an open-access reference resource of a comprehensive, dynamic, 3-D molecular atlas of the late-stage developing human lung with data and reagents available to the research community. Phase 1 of the LungMAP has generated foundational data from developing mouse and human lungs, created a web portal for public data sharing, and established a repository of human lung tissues. Phase 2 of the LungMAP will continue to generate and integrate high-resolution, multiscale molecular profiles associated with spatial information to provide molecular characterizations of functionally and anatomically defined cell types in the developing human lung.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits grant applications proposing exploratory research projects focused on the early-stage development of highly innovative technologies offering novel molecular or cellular analysis capabilities for basic or clinical cancer research. The emphasis of this FOA is on supporting the development of novel capabilities involving a high degree of technical innovation for targeting, probing, or assessing molecular and cellular features of cancer biology. Well-suited applications must offer the potential to accelerate and/or enhance research in the areas of cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, control, epidemiology, and/or address issues associated with cancer health disparities. Technologies proposed for development may be intended to have widespread applicability but must be focused on improving molecular and/or cellular characterizations of cancer biology.

Age is the number one risk factor for diagnosis of many age-related lung diseases, including COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. Despite this, little is known regarding the interactions that likely occur between the molecular and cellular mechanisms of disease and the changes in molecules and cells that can be attributed to normal aging. In fact, very little is known about the normal aging process in the lung at the cellular and molecular level. In 2015, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) co-sponsored a workshop that identified a major knowledge gap in the understanding of normal lung aging in humans, as well as the need to develop a map of molecular changes that occur during normal aging in the lung that can serve as a reference for studies of age-related lung diseases.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits grant applications proposing exploratory research projects focused on further development and validation of emerging technologies offering novel capabilities for targeting, probing, or assessing molecular and cellular features of cancer biology for basic or clinical cancer research. Well-suited applications must offer the potential to accelerate and/or enhance research in the areas of cancer biology, early detection and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, control, epidemiology, and/or address issues associated with cancer health disparities. Technologies proposed for development may be intended to have widespread applicability but must be focused on improving molecular and/or cellular characterizations of cancer. FOA Emphasis. This FOA utilizes the R33 mechanism and is suitable for projects, which have overcome major feasibility gaps for the technology or methodology as demonstrated with supportive preliminary data but still require further development and rigorous validation to encourage adoption by the research community. Proposed projects should offer the potential to produce a molecular or cellular analysis capability with a major impact in a broad area of cancer-relevant research.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits grant applications proposing exploratory research projects focused on the inception and early-stage development of highly innovative, molecular and/or cellular analysis technologies with transformative potential. The emphasis of this FOA is on supporting the development of novel capabilities involving a high degree of technical innovation for targeting, probing, or assessing molecular and cellular features of cancer biology. Well-suited applications must offer the potential to accelerate and/or enhance research in the areas of cancer biology, early detection, and screening, clinical diagnosis, treatment, control, epidemiology, and/or cancer health disparities. Technologies proposed for development may be intended to have widespread applicability but must focus on improving molecular and/or cellular characterizations of cancer. Applications involving an existing technology not yet demonstrated for the proposed cancer-relevant application(s) are also within the scope of this FOA but must involve additional technical modifications and development to allow for the proposed cancer-relevant context of use or some significant question of feasibility exists for achieving the proposed aims. If the research focus for the application involves an existing technology, a clear description of the feasibility risk justifying the use of the R21 mechanism must be included in the application.  Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the Scientific/Research Contact below with any questions.

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports quantitative, mechanistic, predictive, and theory-driven fundamental research designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels. While recognizing the need for thorough and accurate descriptions of biological complexes and pathways, the priority of the Division is to support work that advances the field by capturing the predictive power of mechanistic, quantitative, and evolutionary approaches. Proposals are solicited to support research relevant to the four MCB core clusters: Cellular Dynamics and Function Genetic Mechanisms Molecular Biophysics Systems and Synthetic Biology

The pre-doctoral program supports a research scholar in an established molecular imaging lab that will apply molecular imaging approaches (including tool development) to investigate biological pathways in disease models. The objective is to encourage the integration of imaging approaches in the research of molecular pathways of disease. 

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 Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics (IPT) program supports fundamental research in engineering areas related to: Interfacial phenomena Mass transport phenomena Molecular thermodynamics Currently, emphasis is placed on molecular engineering approaches at interfaces, especially as applied to the nano-processing of soft materials.  Molecules at interfaces with functional interfacial properties are of special interest and have uses in many new technologies, based on nano-fabrication.  These interfacial molecules may have biomolecular functions at the micro- and nano-scale.  Interfacial materials are generally formed through molecular self-directed, -templated, and/or -assembly, and they are driven primarily by thermodynamic intermolecular forces, although may be influenced by flow and electrical forces.  In some cases, these interfacial processes may also be supplemented by weak chemical reactions.

This funding opportunity announcement, in support of the NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative aims to pilot classification strategies to generate a systematic inventory/cell census of cell types in the brain. Pilot projects are sought that would 1) provide cell census data in the whole brain, a brain region, or a significant functional circuit in the vertebrate nervous system; 2) integrate molecular identity of cell types with connectivity, morphology, and location; 3) apply statistical methods for creating a taxonomy of cell types based on molecular identity and connectivity; 4) provide realistic estimates on the number/percentage of defined cell types in specific region(s) and/or circuit(s); and 5) provide a basis to map cell types based on molecular identity and connectivity onto a reference brain atlas. These pilot projects and methodologies should be designed to demonstrate their utility and scalability to ultimately complete a comprehensive cell census of the human brain in the future.

he goal of the Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics (IPT) program is to advance fundamental molecular engineering at interfaces, especially as applied to the nano-processing of soft materials.  The program views fundamental interfacial interactions, molecular transport at interfaces, and molecular thermodynamics as integral to developing new approaches for solving critical engineering needs that face society. Molecules at interfaces, with functional interfacial properties, are of special interest, as these molecules have potential use in important research areas, such as adhesion and advanced manufacturing/fabrication.  These interfacial molecules may also have biomolecular functions at the micro- and nano-scale, where the biomolecular functionalities may be re-directed toward engineering solutions. One new area of interest is the adhesion between unlike materials, or adhesion in adverse environments, with particular emphasis on applying strategies arising from nature.  Research supported in these fundamental areas should lead to more economical and environmentally benign processing, improved water quality, and novel functional materials for sensors, in industrial, environmental, and biomedical settings.  Nanotechnology plays a critical role in most of these new areas.