OARS funding Biomed

his Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites research project (R01) applications that combine imaging and biomarkers. The overall objective of this FOA is to facilitate collaborative imaging and biomarker research to improve cancer screening, early cancer detection and diagnosis by integrating multi modality imaging strategies and multiplexed biomarker methodologies.

The purpose of this FOA is to provide support for innovative research into the role of extracellular RNA (exRNA) in the development of alcohol-related diseases and end-organ injuries. As used here, the term exRNA refers to RNA molecules circulating outside of cells, either within vesicles or associated with carrier molecules. It is anticipated that this FOA will generate data that may lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the role of exRNA communication in the initiation, progression and maintenance of the diverse medical disorders caused by excessive, long-term alcohol consumption. In the future this knowledge may be critical in the diagnosis, treatment and management of vulnerable patient populations debilitated by the vast array of alcohol-induced pathologies and enable clinicians to improve disease outcomes and, consequently, public health. In addition, research supported by this FOA may also provide information on the mechanistic basis of the health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) will award Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) research education grants (R25) to institutions focused on developing new or expanding existing effective institutional developmental programs designed to academically and scientifically prepare underrepresented (UR) students in the biomedical or behavioral sciences for competitive research careers. The RISE program provides grants to institutions with significant enrollment of students from populations underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences that propose well-integrated developmental activities designed to strengthen students academic preparation, research training and professional skills that are critical to the completion of the Ph.D. degree in the biomedical and/or behavioral sciences.

MDA supports research aimed at developing treatments for the muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. These are the muscular dystrophies (among which are Duchenne and Becker); motor neuron diseases (including ALS and SMA); the peripheral nerve disorders (CMT and Friedreich's ataxia); inflammatory myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; metabolic diseases of muscle as well as other myopathies.

This program (formerly, New Investigator Research Grants) is offered by The Obesity Society (TOS), as a member service, to foster and stimulate new research ideas in any area of investigation related to obesity. The program targets junior-level investigators and post-doctoral trainees by funding proposals that demonstrate a high likelihood of resulting in new and innovative approaches in obesity research. Early-career investigators are defined as individuals who have received a PhD within the past five years or MD within the past eight years and who currently hold full-time, entry-level positions (e.g., post-doctoral fellow, instructor, assistant professor) at an established academic/research institution. Applicants may request up to $25,000. No indirect cost will be paid from this grant. Applications (Letters of Intent) are due April 15, 2013, with funding available September 3, 2013. The award may be expended over a period of up to one year.

The ARI is a joint Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and National Science Foundation (NSF) program seeking novel cross-cutting research that will enhance the nation's ability to detect and interdict nuclear or radiological material outside of regulatory control, and otherwise help prevent nuclear or radiological attacks. This year's solicitation topics will encompass a range of subjects, with an emphasis on unconventional, multidisciplinary approaches to threat detection. A number of small to medium awards are intended in the areas of novel approaches to extremely low-cost threat detection, orthogonal and informatics approaches to threat detection, deterrence analytics, and advanced forensics techniques. A single large award is intended for an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to shielded special nuclear material detection. Primary objectives of the ARI include advancing fundamental knowledge in the above areas and developing intellectual capacity in scientific fields relevant to long-term advances in these areas. Proposals outside of the scope described in this solicitation will be returned without review. Research proposals specific to detection of biological, chemical, and conventional weapons are excluded from the scope of this solicitation, however approaches that consider explosives detection and nuclear or radiological materials detection are of interest.

The CSBR program provides for enhancements that secure and improve existing collections, result in accessible digitized specimen-related data, and develop better methods for specimen curation and collection management. Requests should demonstrate a clear and urgent need to secure the collection, and the proposed activities should address that need. Biological collections supported include established living stock/culture collections, vouchered non-living natural history collections, and jointly-curated ancillary collections such as preserved tissues and DNA libraries.

The purpose of this study is to investigate in vitro-in vivo correlations of ophthalmic intravitreal implants.  Specifically, an in vitro dissolution test which correlates with in vivo ocular absorption should be investigated.  In vivo studies should be conducted in an appropriate animal model. Suitable bioequivalence methods are lacking for generic ophthalmic implants.  The results from this project will help to understand the relationship between in vitro release and in vivo release, and the findings will be used to help determine bioequivalence study recommendations for generic ophthalmic intravitreal implants.

The purpose of this study is to investigate in vitro-in vivo correlations of parenteral microspheres.  The encapsulated agent may be a small molecule or peptide, and the dosage form should be an injectable.  An in vitro dissolution test which correlates with in vivo absorption should be investigated.  In vivo studies should be conducted in a suitable animal model. The results from this project will help to understand the release mechanisms of microspheres and how in vitro studies could be used to predict in vivo bioavailability.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support and promote broad applications of optogenetic tools for research on normal and/or pathological aging of neural systems including sensory, motor, cognitive, emotional, autonomic, sleep, and neurovascular, or Alzheimer's disease (AD), as well as to encourage additional development of aging and AD specific optogenetic tools.

This FOA invites applications to develop sensitive technologies or methods for obtaining high quality and comprehensive nucleic acids-based genomic data from limited quantities of human specimens that are easy to collect, handle, and store. Applications that address all of the steps from the collection of specimens, through storage and nucleic acids extraction, to obtaining genomic data will be considered as having highest priority to this FOA. The ease of proposed sample collection methods should be at least comparable to that of the current dried blood spot collection method. The developed technologies or methods should be applicable to clinical point-of-care testing in terms of speed and ease, and ultimately have the potential to be scalable to high throughput settings, while maintaining cost effectiveness. The genomic data obtained must be at least equivalent to that which can be obtained from fresh whole blood in terms of quality and comprehensiveness. It is expected that the research conducted under this FOA will enhance the availability of comprehensive nucleic acids-based genomic data for various clinical and research applications in need of obtaining genomic data from easy-to-collect and handle human specimens.

Beginning in 2011, the American Academy of Microbiology (Academy) will provide a one-year fellowship to a recent microbiology PhD recipient. The Academy is the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the world's oldest and largest life science organization. The mission of the Academy is to recognize scientists for outstanding contributions to microbiology and provide microbiological expertise in the service of science and the public. To this end, each year the Academy convenes five to six colloquia to address critical issues in microbiology. Colloquium reports are used by governmental agencies, industry, educators and the scientific and lay communities. The field of microbiology is broad and microbiologists have much to contribute to solving societal challenges in health, food, energy and the environment. Communicating the excitement and potential benefits of advances in microbiology is critically important to attract the next generation of students into the field, to educate and inform the public and to justify continued investment in microbiology research. In addition to academic researchers and clinicians, the field of microbiology needs individuals who are skilled in science communication and public outreach. The goal of the AAM Colloquium fellowship is to provide an opportunity for a recent microbiology PhD graduate to develop these skills. The fellow will work closely with the Academy Director on the colloquium program, participating in the entire process from choosing appropriate topics through proposal development and fund-raising to writing colloquium reports to publicity and dissemination.

This interagency Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) is to invite the submission of grant applications that utilize agriculturally important domestic animal species to improve human health through the advancement of basic and translational research deemed highly relevant to both agricultural and biomedical research. This initiative is designed to facilitate and encourage comparative medicine research studies through the careful selection and refinement of farm animal models that mimic human developmental, physiological and etiological processes to better understand disease origins and improve assisted reproduction efficiencies. The anticipated outcomes include both the elucidation of fundamental information relevant for the improvement of human health and an increase in food animal production and improvement in animal health and product quality. It is envisioned that each application will address mission-relevant areas of both agencies.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is intended to encourage innovative and high risk/impact research in the area of physics/mechanics of embryonic development to be explored in model organisms. The research proposed under this program can explore approaches and concepts new to the area of developmental tissue mechanics, research and development of new technologies, or initial research and development of data upon which significant future research may be built. The focus of this FOA is to promote research aimed at generating new and critical information about tissue mechanics relevant to vertebrate development and understanding the basis for developmental disorders. While minimal or no preliminary data are expected to be described, applications should clearly indicate the significance of the proposed work, that the proposed research and/or development is scientifically sound, that the qualifications of the investigators are appropriate, and that resources available to the investigators are adequate.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages Research Project Grant (R01) applications from institutions/organizations that propose to advance our knowledge in the area of the physics and mechanics of embryonic development. Applicants must propose hypothesis-driven developmental research with the prospect of gaining new and critical information about tissue mechanics relevant to vertebrate development and understanding the basis for developmental disorders. Investigators are encouraged to explore approaches and concepts new to the area of developmental tissue mechanics, and use newly developed techniques superior to the ones currently used in the field. It should be noted that applications using the NIH R01 grant mechanism will require sufficient preliminary data to substantiate the validity of the proposed research and feasibility of new technologies or tools.

JDRF, the world's leading non-profit organization with the mission to cure type 1 diabetes (T1D),  invites applications from research investigators having interest and expertise to support the discovery  and advancement of biomarkers of pancreatic beta cell stress and health correlating with early betacell loss. 

The MID-ARA Focus Areas are: * Development of new methods for rapid multi-pathogen/multi-phenotype detection of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), nosocomial pathogens, and/or rapid multi-pathogen/multi-phenotype characterization of antimicrobial resistance patterns. * Development of assays for host immune response biomarkers for diagnosis or prognosis of infection to inform clinical wound management decisions * Development and preclinical testing of novel chemotypes, biologics as potential therapeutics or prophylactics for wound infection, and/or biofilm formation, maintenance, or propagation. Innovative treatment approaches are encouraged. NOTES FOR ALL FOCUS AREAS: * Preference will be given to approaches that address infections with one or more MDROs, particularly, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and/or invasive fungal (mold) pathogens. * Preference will be given to studies leading toward topical treatments for prevention and management of wound infection. Overview: The FY14 DMRDP MID-ARA seeks applied research applications focused on the reduction of combat-related or trauma-induced wound infection morbidity and mortality. 

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation makes grants on six broad subject matters, known within the Foundation as major program areas.  Basic Research STEM Higher Education Public Understanding of Science Economic Performance and the Quality of Life Select National Issues Civic Initiatives