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An "Ideas Lab" is a new merit review strategy being used at the National Science Foundation to address grand challenges in STEM research and education. The Ideas Lab process is modeled on the "IDEAS Factory" program http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/routes/network/ideas/Pages/experience.aspx developed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) of the United Kingdom. The Ideas Lab process starts with submission of a brief application to participate in the Ideas Lab, indicating a Principal Investigator's interest in and preliminary ideas regarding the specific Ideas Lab topic. A diverse sub-set of participants from a range of disciplines and backgrounds will be selected from the submitted applications by NSF and will be brought together in an intensive, interactive and free-thinking environment, where participants immerse themselves in a colLaborative dialog in order to construct bold and innovative approaches. In the IDEAS Factory model, the five-day Ideas Lab culminates with the development of multidisciplinary colLaborative concepts by teams of participants; a sub-set of these teams are then invited to submit full proposals. This Dear Colleague Letter only invites applications to participate in Phase I of the IUSE Ideas Labs (i.e., the 5-day immersive activity). Full proposals will not be invited at the end of the three IUSE Phase I Ideas Labs.

Olfaction is an evolutionarily primitive sense critical for survival across the animal kingdom - finding food, searching for mates, or avoiding predation all depend on detecting, identifying, and discriminating odors. Although early steps in olfactory processing are relatively well understood, significant gaps remain in our understanding of higher-order odor representations and processing during on-going behavior. Deciphering the operating principles of olfaction requires the development of innovative and integrative approaches that combine novel theoretical frameworks, improved mathematical models, and novel behavioral paradigms across the phylogenetic spectrum, experimental methodologies, and engineering principles. This solicitation describes an Ideas Lab on "Cracking the Olfactory Code." Ideas Labs are intensive workshops focused on finding innovative solutions to grand challenge problems. The ultimate aim of this Ideas Lab organized by the Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorates at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is to facilitate the generation and execution of innovative research projects aimed at understanding the nature of olfactory processing and sensory representations in the brain in general. The aspiration is that mixing researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds will engender fresh thinking and innovative approaches that will transform our understanding of olfactory processing in behavioral contexts while spawning new opportunities to elucidate the general nature of sensory representations in the brain. This multi-directorate program is one element of NSF's multi-year effort towards the goals of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative (http://www.nsf.gov/brain/). US researchers may submit preliminary proposals only via FastLane for participation in the Ideas Lab in which a set of multidisciplinary ideas

Olfaction is an evolutionarily primitive sense critical for survival across the animal kingdom - finding food, searching for mates, or avoiding predation all depend on detecting, identifying, and discriminating odors. Although early steps in olfactory processing are relatively well understood, significant gaps remain in our understanding of higher-order odor representations and processing during on-going behavior. Deciphering the operating principles of olfaction requires the development of innovative and integrative approaches that combine novel theoretical frameworks, improved mathematical models, and novel behavioral paradigms across the phylogenetic spectrum, experimental methodologies, and engineering principles. This solicitation describes an Ideas Lab on "Cracking the Olfactory Code." Ideas Labs are intensive workshops focused on finding innovative solutions to grand challenge problems. The ultimate aim of this Ideas Lab organized by the Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorates at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is to facilitate the generation and execution of innovative research projects aimed at understanding the nature of olfactory processing and sensory representations in the brain in general. The aspiration is that mixing researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds will engender fresh thinking and innovative approaches that will transform our understanding of olfactory processing in behavioral contexts while spawning new opportunities to elucidate the general nature of sensory representations in the brain.

PEPFAR South Sudan works in collaboration with the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) Ministry of Health (MOH) in implementing the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Plan (NSP) based on a priority action approach and strong collaboration and coordination among different stakeholders. PEPFAR South Sudan has prioritized supporting the MOH in strengthening their national laboratory system with the primary objective of supporting the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance of HIV through high-quality laboratory services. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits technical assistance (TA) to strengthen the GOSS MOH laboratory and blood transfusion services systems. Outcomes will include the overall strengthening of the National Reference lab, implementing and achieving accreditation for quality assurance systems; strengthening service delivery through increased technical assistance to lab testing programs, and training and accreditation for the national blood safety programs. The ultimate outcome is a national integrated quality-assured network of tiered laboratories providing quality clinical laboratory services with the capacity to support the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and surveillance of HIV and other diseases and support the establishment of the National Public Health laboratory (NPHL) and the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS).

The NIEHS is establishing an infrastructure, the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR) as a continuation of the Children's Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR). The goal of this consortium is to provide the research community access to laboratory and statistical analyses to add or expand the inclusion of environmental exposures in their research and to make that data publicly available as a means to improve our knowledge of the comprehensive effects of environmental exposures on human health throughout the life course. This FOA solicits laboratories (lab Hubs) providing a comprehensive suite of analysis of environmental exposures in samples such as dust, soil, and drinking water related to the immediate environment of individuals and linked to health endpoints. Each Hub will incorporate a developmental core to develop novel measures for environmental samples, expanding the number of current, commonly measured analytes, and developing new methods for detecting analytes in other environmental samples and providing additional insight into the sources of exposures that influence human health. The Environmental Monitoring lab will also serve as a 'clearinghouse for evaluation and provision of emerging tools and technologies for personal exposure assessment to the client community.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support non-commercial lab-to-user dissemination of novel, reliable imaging and bioengineering technologies, including devices, software, methods, chemical agents, etc. Proposed technologies should have been prototyped, validated, and are potentially highly impactful to the research community. However, their beyond-the-lab dissemination via commercialization or industry partnership is not anticipated. Projects should focus on transforming functioning prototypes to usable tools and delivering them to end users for high-quality research in a reliable manner. Related activities may include, but are not limited to, quality control, scale-up production, user training, and technical improvements that are within the scope of the prototyped technology and limited to applying proven techniques or existing resources. Projects that involve clinical trials, commercialization, academic-industry partnership, or service using existing equipment are not responsive to this FOA.

Get support for developing lab modules using your research. Faculty need time and support to develop new lab class modules Collaboration of research + education faculty from one institution can address specific needs and opportunities Travel funds are available for conference-associated workshops

The Division of Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport (CBET) in the Engineering Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) is partnering with The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) to solicit research projects in the general field of tissue engineering that can utilize the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab to conduct research that will benefit life on Earth. U.S. entities including academic institutions, non-profit independent research Labs and academic-commercial teams are eligible to submit proposals.

The scope of this FOA is to establish the NHGRI Genomic Data Science Analysis, Visualization, Informatics Lab-space ("AnVIL") in support of genomic research. The AnVIL aims to create an interoperable resource for the research community by co-locating data, storage and computing infrastructure with commonly used services and tools for analyzing and sharing data. The AnVIL will further advance research by leveraging a cloud-based infrastructure to facilitate genomic data access by the broad scientific community, integration and computing on and across large datasets generated by NHGRI programs, or programs funded by others in support of human genomics research. In particular, the AnVIL resource will provide genomic researchers with the following:

The scope of this FOA is to establish the NHGRI Genomic Data Science Analysis, Visualization, Informatics Lab-space ("AnVIL") in support of genomic research. The AnVIL aims to create an interoperable resource for the research community by co-locating data, storage and computing infrastructure with commonly used services and tools for analyzing and sharing data. The AnVIL will further advance research by leveraging a cloud-based infrastructure to facilitate genomic data access by the broad scientific community, integration and computing on and across large datasets generated by NHGRI programs, or programs funded by others in support of human genomics research.

The awards are open to researchers based at both national and international accredited academic and nonprofit research institutions. Funding mechanisms include: Senior Faculty Awards ($400,000 per year) - to support established investigators who are thought leaders in their fields and are recognized for substantial contributions of creative and productive research. We will seek to complement other major funders of research by placing emphasis on projects that may not be supported by traditional sources because of their perceived novelty or high risk, or because the investigator is moving into female reproductive aging from a different research area. Junior Faculty Awards ($250,000 per year) - to support newly independent investigators with outstanding promise when they are establishing their own labs and are malleable in the direction of their research. These awards will allow bright young scientists to pursue bold ideas when they are at their most scientifically creative. Pilot Awards ($100,000 per year) - to foster innovative collaborative or novel research projects that have the potential for high impact and high reward at an accelerated rate. These awards will allow collection of preliminary data to apply for larger grants. Postdoctoral Fellowships ($100,000 per year) - to increase the number of imaginative, well-trained junior scientists who will form the next generation of reproductive aging researchers. These awards will facilitate our efforts to build the field and provide both training and networking opportunities for trainees.

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. 

AOSSM, in partnership with Sanofi, offers a research grant program to fund investigations related to early osteoarthritis (OA) and/or prevention of OA progression. This grant reflects the growing recognition of the importance of osteoarthritis within sports medicine and orthopaedics. The grant will be for $50,000 to support either a clinical research study or a lab/basic science project. Proposed studies need not relate specifically to sports injuries and should also have broad applicability to OA in the general population.

The Idea Development Award promotes new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This award supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress toward eradicating deaths from lung cancer. Applications should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale. Submissions from and partnerships with investigators at military treatment facilities, military labs, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and research laboratories are strongly encouraged. New Investigators: The FY16 Idea Development Award mechanism encourages applications from independent investigators in the early stages of their careers (i.e., within 10 years of their first faculty appointment, or equivalent). The New Investigator category is designed to allow applicants early in their faculty appointments to compete for funding separately from established investigators. Applications from New Investigators and Established Investigators will be peer and programmatically reviewed separately. Principal Investigators (PIs) using the New Investigator category are strongly encouraged to strengthen their applications by collaborating with investigators experienced in lung cancer research and/or possessing other relevant expertise. It is the responsibility of the applicant to describe how the included collaboration will augment the PI's expertise to best address the research question. All applicants for the New Investigator category must meet specific eligibility criteria as described in Section I.D., Eligibility Information. Preliminary data to support the feasibility of the research hypotheses and research approaches are required; however, these data do not necessarily need to be derived from studies of lung cancer.

The primary aim of this Ideas Lab is to foster the development of a theoretical framework that encompasses the "metabolism first" and "RNA first" theories for the origin of life by stimulating creative thinking and new research on the earliest events leading to life on early Earth. Understanding plausible pathways for the origin of life will contribute directly to our understanding of the indispensable properties of life on Earth and inform our search for life on other worlds.

Attention veterinarians, lab technicians, animal technicians, and all who work with laboratory animals: The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) now is accepting proposals for the 2014 Science-based Refinement Awards (formerly the Animal Welfare Enhancement Awards). The focus of these awards is to elicit scientific evidence to support the enhancement of the housing, handling and/or experimental situations for laboratory animals. Studies may, for example, examine: how physiological and behavioral stress responses to common husbandry (e.g., capture) and traditional treatment procedures (e.g., gavage, injection, blood collection) can be reduced or eliminated (e.g., by training the subjects to cooperate rather than resist); whether animals caged at different tier levels show different physiological and behavioral stress responses when being approached by personnel, and how these responses can be minimized or avoided; whether the presence of a compatible companion buffers physiological and behavioral stress responses to experimental situations (e.g., enforced restraint); whether animals kept in legally minimum-sized cages benefit from a moderate increase in space that is (a) empty versus (b) structured in species-appropriate ways (e.g., shelter, visual blind, perch, platform, PVC tube).

CDC, in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Program/Department of AIDS Control, has successfully laid the foundation for quality standards and approaches within India's vast HIV laboratory network through a previous five-year laboratory strengthening funding opportunity announcement (FOA). Many achievements were made during the course of the five-year project period, including accreditation of national and state reference labs. This follow-on FOA is expected to build upon and sustain previous accomplishments through onsite mentoring and in service staff training with an eye to higher quality services and scale up. A plan will be developed to facilitate laboratory quality at the grassroots level for 12,000 + Integrated HIV Testing and Counseling Centers (ICTCs). This shall be done through trainer/mentor creation within the HIV laboratory network to assist peripheral laboratories in implementing minimum quality standards. Given its expanded technical assistance (TA) scope, it is also expected to build the capacity and assure quality in a phased manner for HIV related tests like CD4 enumeration, HIV viral load and STI through strengthening leadership and mentoring capacity within the laboratory network. Now in Phase IV of its HIV/AIDS response, the Government of India (GoI) is keen to address any gaps in testing coverage.

The Division of Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport (CBET) in the Engineering Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) is partnering with The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) to solicit research projects in the general field of fluid dynamics, particulate and multiphase processes, combustion and fire systems, and thermal transport processes that can utilize the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab to conduct research that will benefit life on Earth. U.S. entities including academic investigators, non-profit independent research Laboratories and academic-commercial teams are eligible to apply.

The unique high quality and long duration microgravity environment on the ISS National Lab provides an extraordinary research platform for experiments in the biological and medical sciences. Microgravity induces a vast array of changes in individual cells and model organisms ranging from viruses and microorganisms to humans, including global alterations in gene expression and 3-dimensional aggregation of cells into biofilms or tissue-like architectures that recapitulate the structure and function of organs. Moreover, studies of astronauts reveal a variety of space flight-induced health conditions, many of which may serve as accelerated models of ground-based ailments such as aging and trauma. Research into these and other effects of the space environment may advance our fundamental understanding of cell and tissue function, effective disease diagnosis and /or treatment, or improved health care delivery.

The Division of Chemical, Bioengineering and Environmental Transport (CBET) in the Engineering Directorate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) is partnering with The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) to solicit research projects in the general field of fluid dynamics, particulate and multiphase processes, combustion and fire systems, and thermal transport processes that can utilize the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab to conduct research that will benefit life on Earth. U.S. entities including academic investigators, non-profit independent research Laboratories and academic-commercial teams are eligible to apply.