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This fall, NSF intends to announce Mid-scale RI funding opportunities. These will be for research infrastructure that will advance the frontiers of discovery in any of the research domains supported by NSF.2 These forthcoming funding opportunities are intended to encompass research infrastructure broadly defined, from the creation of mid-scale disciplinary instrumentation to the implementation (including acquisition and construction) of mid-scale facilities, cyberinfrastructure and other infrastructure that are demonstrated to be necessary to support specific science, engineering or education research objectives associated with current or future NSF-supported research activities. This portfolio may also include mid-scale upgrades to existing research infrastructure. NSF anticipates that one solicitation will include an opportunity to propose Mid-scale RI projects with a total project cost of between approximately $6 million and approximately $20 million, pending the availability of funds. A second solicitation is expected to include an opportunity to propose Mid-scale RI projects with a total project cost of between approximately $20 million and approximately $70 million, pending the availability of funds.

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.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Cooperative Agreement (U01) Research Projects for research on the optimization of small molecule or biologic 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. A previously identified lead compound is required to be eligible for this funding opportunity. In this regard, lead compounds are defined as biologically active compounds or hits where affinity, potency, target selectivity, and preliminary safety have been established. The scope of research supported by this FOA includes development of appropriate human-relevant animal models and generation of in vivo efficacy data consistent with the intended use of the product in humans. It also includes bioanalytical assay development and validation, laboratory-scale and scaleable manufacturing of the product, and non-GLP toxicity and pharmacology studies. The scope of this FOA encompasses Technical Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4-5 - see TRLs. Each project must include annual milestones that create discrete go or no-go decision points in a progressive translational study plan.

This program supports fundamental scientific research in ceramics (e.g., oxides, carbides, nitrides and borides), glass-ceramics, inorganic glasses, ceramic-based composites and inorganic carbon-based materials. Projects should be centered on experiments; inclusion of computational and theory components are encouraged. The objective of the program is to increase fundamental understanding and to develop predictive capabilities for relating synthesis, processing, and microstructure of these materials to their properties and ultimate performance in various environments and applications. Research to enhance or enable the discovery or creation of new ceramic materials is welcome. Development of new experimental techniques or novel approaches to carry out projects is encouraged. Topics supported include basic processes and mechanisms associated with nucleation and growth of thin films; bulk crystal growth; phase transformations and equilibria; morphology; surface modification; corrosion, interfaces and grain boundary structure; and defects. Additional Information Investigatorsare encouraged to include all anticipated broader impact activities in their initial proposals, rather than planning on supplemental funding requests. Most projects include: (1) the anticipated significance on science, engineering and/or technology including possible benefits to society, (2) plans for the dissemination, and (3) broadening participation of underrepresented groups and/or excellence in training, mentoring, and/or teaching. Many successful proposals include one additional broader impact activity.

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 DARPA Microsystems Technology Office is soliciting research proposals for the development of a new class of atom-based systems utilizing integrated photonics and trapped atoms to enable high-performance, robust, portable clocks and gyroscopes.

As defined by the DoD, basic research is "systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind. It includes all scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in those fields of the physical, engineering, environmental, and life sciences related to long-term national security needs. It is farsighted high payoff research that provides the basis for technological progress." (DoD 7000.14-R, vol. 2B, chap. 5, para. 050105.B) The DoD's basic research program invests broadly in many scientific fields to ensure that it has early cognizance of new scientific knowledge.

The NIH Directors Pioneer Award supports individual scientists of exceptional creativity who propose highly innovative and potentially transformative research towards the ultimate goal of enhancing human health. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Applications in all topics, including, but not limited to, the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences, relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome and may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. To be considered pioneering, the proposed research must reflect substantially different scientific directions from those already being pursued in the investigators research program or elsewhere. The NIH Directors Pioneer Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program of the NIH Common Fund.

Predictive Science is potentially applicable to a variety of fields, including nuclear weapons, efficient manufacturing, biological systems, nanoscale material science, organic chemical processes, climate modeling, etc. Success in these simulations requires both software and algorithmic frameworks for integrating multiple disciplines into a single application and adding significant disciplinary strength and depth to make that integration effective. Applications should conduct computer science research in areas that will contribute to the advancement of Exascale computing technologies and demonstrate the results in the context of the chosen application. The FOA contains topics that are of particular interest to the NNSA National Laboratories as they move towards Exascale computing. Other topics that will enable the advancements in Exascale computing are encouraged as well. More details are contained in the FOA.

The Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program in the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announces its interest in receiving new or renewal grant applications for theoretical and computational research relevant to the U.S. magnetic fusion energy sciences program. Applications selected in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will be funded in Fiscal Year 2018, subject to the appropriation of funds by the Congress. The specific areas of interest are: 1. Macroscopic Stability 2. Confinement and Transport 3. Boundary Physics 4. Plasma Heating & Non-inductive Current Drive, and 5. Energetic Particles

The objective of this FOA is to solicit and competitively award applied research projects to develop advanced combustion systems that will make substantial progress toward enabling cost-competitive, coal-based power generation systems to remain in operation and to expand coal use while meeting the goal of achieving near-zero pollutant emissions.

The annual program is intended to provide research support to the most promising young faculty members in the early stages of an academic career in the chemical or life sciences and to foster the invention of methods, instruments, and materials with the potential to open up new avenues of research in science.

The Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program in the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announces its interest in receiving new or renewal grant applications for theoretical and computational research relevant to the U.S. magnetic fusion energy sciences program. Applications selected in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will be funded in Fiscal Year 2018, subject to the appropriation of funds by the Congress. The specific areas of interest are:

Chemical modifications of protein, DNA and RNA nucleoside moieties play critical roles in regulating gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests RNA modifications have substantive roles in multiple basic biological processes. Epitranscriptomics can be defined as the aggregate suite of functional biochemical modifications to the transcriptome within a cell. Recent studies in yeast, Drosophila, rodent and human models demonstrate that stressors can induce RNA modifications, with specific reprogramming of some regulatory RNAs. The NIEHS seeks to solicit innovative, mechanistic research applications that are focused on how environmental exposures are associated and involved with the functional activities of RNA modifications and pathways that may be modified or misregulated, associated with adverse health outcomes and/or be useful as biomarkers of exposure and/or exposure-induced pathologies. The study of functional chemical RNA modification has identified important emerging roles in cellular regulation and gene expression. However, the impact of environmental exposures on functional RNA modifications has been relatively understudied and may present a new mechanism for enhanced understanding the relationships between exposures and the development of complex human diseases. The NIEHS will use the R01 mechanism to support hypothesis driven research using approaches that incorporate principles of toxicology with RNA modification biological and/or chemical expertise and utilizes state of the art technologies.

Chemical modifications of proteins, DNA and RNA nucleoside moieties play critical roles in regulating gene expression. Emerging evidence suggests these RNA modifications (epitranscriptomics) have substantive roles in basic biological processes. Recent studies in yeast, Drosophila and rodent models demonstrate stressors can induce RNA modifications, with specific epitranscriptomic reprogramming of some regulatory RNAs. The purpose of the eFRAMED FOA is to solicit and support R21 applications that propose conducting innovative, high risk, high reward research to enhance our understanding of how environmental exposures impact this layer of cellular regulation.

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2020 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). DURIP is designed to improve the capabilities of accredited United States (U.S.) institutions of higher education to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers in areas important to national defense, by providing funds for the acquisition of research equipment or instrumentation. For-profit organizations are not eligible for DURIP funding. We refer to eligible institutions of higher education as universities in the rest of this announcement. DURIP is part of the University Research Initiative (URI).

RFP-Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vs WaterborneTransport The MaritimeAdministration (MARAD) is issuing a request for proposals (RFP) for a studythat investigates probable waterborne means of transporting liquefied naturalgas (LNG) from locations within the US to US terminals or ports. The objective of the study is to identify howto effectively and efficiently supply LNG via waterborne transportation tovarious regions within the United States where demand shortages occur. The study will serve to better inform themaritime industry on LNG market supply capabilities. Study Requirements: The study should identify existing vessels aswell as vessels currently on order in US shipyards, capable of meeting the needto supply regions where natural gas is in short supply during the peak demandseason. In addition, the study must: consider potentialinfrastructure needs and/or modifications necessary to adapt current vesselsand landside connections for such purposes; identify existingvessels that are capable of moving supplies of LNG along the coasts as well as identifythe need for new build designs that would meet this need; and investigatewhether new specialty-designed vessels are needed.

The purpose of this FOA is to encourage mechanistic research to investigate the impact of sleep disturbances on pain. The mechanisms and processes underlying the contribution of sleep and sleep disturbances to pain perception and the development and maintenance of chronic pain may be very broad. This FOA encourages interdisciplinary research collaborations by experts from multiple fieldsneuroscientists, psychologists, endocrinologists, immunologists, geneticists, pharmacologists, chemists, physicists, behavioral scientists, clinicians, caregivers, and others in relevant fields of inquiry.

The purpose of this FOAs are to encourage mechanistic research to investigate the impact of sleep disturbances on chronic pain. The mechanisms and processes underlying the contribution of sleep disturbances to chronic pain development and maintenance may be very broad. This FOA encourages interdisciplinary collaborations by experts from multiple fieldsneuroscientists, psychologists,endocrinologists, immunologists, geneticists, pharmacologists, chemists, physicists, behavioral scientists, clinicians, caregivers, and others in relevant fields of inquiry.

The nasal mucosa offers an effective target for inhaled drugs that either treat localized nasal conditions or quickly deliver drugs to the systemic circulation [1-3]. While nasal spray drug product designs can vary considerably between innovators, most sprays are formulated as either a homogeneous solution or a heterogeneous suspension; in the latter case, solid drug particles are dispersed within a carrier liquid [4]. Despite the many advancements in nasal drug delivery, effectively administering drugs via this route still poses many challenges. One of the main challenges relates to mucociliary motion, which tends to transport and clear drug particles from the nasal cavity after deposition, limiting the available time for drug absorption at the intended site of action [5-8].Many previous nasal spray models have considered solution formulations, where the active drug is already dissolved into a carrier liquid [9-11]