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Future ultra-low-energy computing, storage and signal-processing systems can be built on principles derived from organic systems that are at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and engineering. New information technologies can be envisioned that are based on biological principles and that use biomaterials in the fabrication of devices and components; it is anticipated that these information technologies could enable stored data to be retained for more than 100 years and storage capacity to be 1,000 times greater than current capabilities. These could also facilitate compact computers that will operate with substantially lower power than today's computers. Research in support of these goals can have a significant impact on advanced information processing and storage technologies. This focused solicitation seeks high-risk/high-return interdisciplinary research on novel concepts and enabling technologies that will address the scientific issues and technological challenges associated with the underpinnings of synthetic biology integrated with semiconductor technology. This research will foster interactions among various disciplines including biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, computer science, and information science that will enable heretofore-unanticipated breakthroughs as well as meet educational goals.

The PCC has supported world-class research since 2008, spending more than $18.0 M to support novel science around the world. 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. Grant Cycle Deadlines: Pre-Applications are due March 1st, July 1st, and November 1st of each year. Applicants invited to submit full applications must do so by April 1st, August 1st, or December 1st, depending on the cycle (30 days after the pre-application due date). 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. There is no maximum amount for PCC funding, though the average funding amount is $225,000. To date, over 80 projects have been funded in over 14 countries world-wide. Approximately 33% of applicants are awarded PCC funding.

The NIDDK invites Cooperative Agreement applications for an open  competition for the Central Biochemistry Laboratory (CBL) of The Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) consortium.  The CBL will work cooperatively with the existing Clinical Coordinating Centers (CCCs) and Data Coordinating Center (DCC) of the study as a Consortium. Participant evaluations in some domains will be expanded, and follow-up will extend beyond the onset of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).  

The objectives of this research are to use simulated data from three or more national parks to econometrically estimate a production function where fuels and preparedness budgets are used to improve the value of the landscape. The landscape value is improved through fuel treatments aimed at hazardous fuel reductions and ecosystem improvement. It is also improved by preparedness through loss mitigation of fire affected values and by introducing fire in areas that promote ecosystem health. This research will, for the first time, quantify how the two programs (fuels and preparedness) interact to mutually improve the value of the landscape and associated natural and human resources. The second objective is to locate current programs on the econometrically derived value-added surface and to also identify how to manage increasing or declining budgets.

JDRF provides seed funding for highly innovative research with significant potential to accelerate the mission of JDRF. Proposals should address key outstanding questions and have the potential to lead to a change in the current paradigm or conventional wisdom and/or lead to a groundbreaking discovery. Preliminary data is not required in the proposal but the underlying premise, goal, or hypothesis must be plausible and testable and the proposal must be focused with a well-defined goal that is achievable within the timeframe of the award.

This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) solicits ground-based research proposals from established researchers and graduate students to generate new scientific insights by utilizing experimental data residing in NASA's Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) system (http://psi.nasa.gov), an online database of completed physical science reduced-gravity flight experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle flights, and Free-flyers, or from related ground-based studies. The solicitation (NNH17ZTT001N-17PSI-D), entitled "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System - Appendix D," will be available on or about September 15, 2017. Upon release, the solicitation will be found via the following steps: 1. Open the NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ 2. Select "Solicitations" 3. Select "Open Solicitations" 4. Select "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System NNH17ZTT001N" 5. Select List of Open Program Elements 6. Select "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System - Appendix D" 7. Select "Appendix D NNH17ZTT001N-17PSI-D" under Announcement Documents. NASA plans to host a proposers' conference via WebEx shortly after the release of the Appendix to provide more information and to answer questions about the NRA and the PSI system. NASA's Physical Sciences Research Program conducts fundamental and applied physical sciences research, with the objective of enabling exploration and pioneering scientific discovery.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Executive Office of the President, is seeking applications from public nonprofit institutions/organizations (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals) to perform research and analysis of data to inform drug policy. This project seeks to further refine a methodology for obtaining drug early warning indicators from expanded testing of urine samples that were previously collected and tested as part of an existing drug test protocol. This method was initially developed using local criminal justice populations - including persons in pre-trial or lock-up, parolees or probationers, and drug court participants. In addition, this method was also tested in two trauma units, with promising results. This project will use similar methodology in criminal justice, health care, and other venues, to include opioid treatment admissions, trauma units or emergency departments, and criminal justice programs such as parole or probation, where biological samples are often collected from clients.

With this DCL, ECR invites proposals on the development, application, and extension of formal models and methodologies for STEM education research and evaluation, including methods for improving statistical modeling, qualitative modeling, measurement, replication, and learning analytics. This includes research on methodological aspects of new or existing procedures for data collection, curation, and inference in STEM education. Similarly, ECR seeks proposals related to collection of unique databases with cross-boundary value, particularly when paired with innovative developments in measurement or methodology (standard statistical modeling, qualitative research, measurement, replication and learning analytics). Proposers must demonstrate how advances in the methodology will support important theoretical insights in STEM education research or evaluation. Proposers are encouraged to explore a wide range of fundamental research projects (in the areas of quantitative, qualitative, measurement, replication, and learning analytics methodologies)

The goal of this funding opportunity announcement is to continue and expand the open-science, systems-biology enterprise of the AMP-AD Target Discovery and Preclinical Validation Consortium and enable data-driven discovery and validation of novel targets and biomarkers for AD and AD-related dementias through the development of predictive network models of brain health and disease.

The Science of Learning program supports potentially transformative basic research to advance the science of learning. The goals of the SL Program are to develop basic theoretical insights and fundamental knowledge about learning principles, processes and constraints. Projects that are integrative and/or interdisciplinary may be especially valuable in moving basic understanding of learning forward but research with a single discipline or methodology is also appropriate if it addresses basic scientific questions in learning. The possibility of developing connections between proposed research and specific scientific, technological, educational, and workforce challenges will be considered as valuable broader impacts, but are not necessarily central to the intellectual merit of proposed research. The program will support research addressing learning in a wide range of domains at one or more levels of analysis including: molecular/cellular mechanisms; brain systems; cognitive affective, and behavioral processes; and social/cultural influences. The program supports a variety of methods including: experiments, field studies, surveys, secondary-data analyses, and modeling.

The purpose of this FOA is to stimulate much needed research in an important area of public health significance: prevention of new HIV infections among adolescents at risk, and the identification of, linkage to and retention in care of, and long term viral suppression among youth living with HIV in low-to-middle income countries. These settings must have an HIV epidemic density defined by UNAIDS estimates as either a country 1) in which at least 200,000 people are living with HIV and the number has not decreased by more than 5% over the last 2 consecutive years of available data or 2) has an HIV prevalence of 3% or more. The UG3/UH3 Phased Innovation Awards Cooperative Agreement involves 2 phases. Funding for a UG3 phase will be used to demonstrate sufficient preparation, feasibility and capacity to meet foundational milestone targets specific to the work proposed. A UG3 project that meets its milestones will be administratively considered by NICHD and prioritized for transition to the UH3 award. Applicants responding to this FOA must address objectives for both the UG3 and UH3 phases.

Made possible through a 12-year, $50 million commitment from the Amgen Foundation, Amgen Scholars allows undergraduates from across the globe to participate in cutting-edge research opportunities at world-class institutions. 17 leading institutions across the U.S., Europe and Japan currently host the summer program. Undergraduate participants benefit from undertaking a research project under top faculty, being part of a cohort-based experience of seminars and networking events, and taking part in a symposium in their respective region (U.S., Europe or Japan) where they meet their peers, learn about biotechnology, and hear from leading scientists. -- No previous research experience is necessary and you do not need to be a biology major to apply. -- You do not need to currently attend one of the 17 host institutions to participate in the program. -- During the program, students work full-time on independent research projects under the guidance of a research scientist. -- Amgen Scholars have opportunities to conduct research, analyze data, present research results, network with other undergraduates with similar research interests, and develop working relationships with faculty mentors and other research staff. -- Financial support is a critical component of the Amgen Scholars Program. Please note that details vary by host institution. See each institution's Amgen Scholars Program website for more information.

The Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Theory and Mechanisms (URoL:MTM) program is an integrative collaborationacross Directorates and Offices within the National Science Foundation. The objective of URoL:MTM is to understand and establish the theory and mechanisms that govern the structure and function of microbiomes, a collection of microbes in a specific habitat/environment. This may include but is not limited to host-associated microbiomes, such as those with humans and other organisms, where i) the microbiome impacts host physiology, behavior, development, and fitness; ii) the host influences the metabolic activity, dynamics and evolution of the microbiome, and iii) the environment (biological, chemical, physical, and social) influences and is influenced by both the host and the microbiome. Recent progress has transformed our ability to identify and catalogue the microbes present in a given environment and measure multiple aspects ofbiological, chemical, physical, and social environments that affect the interactions among the members of the microbiome, the host, and/or habitat. Much descriptive and correlative work has been performed on many microbiome systems, particularly those in the human, soil, aquatic, and built environments. This research has resulted in new hypotheses about the microbiome's contributions to potential system function or dysfunction. The current challenge is to integrate the wide range of accumulated data and information and build on them to develop new causal/mechanistic models or theories of interactions and interdependencies across scales and systems.

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Divisions of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS), Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB), and Materials Research (DMR) announces a follow-up solicitation on the Semiconductor Synthetic Biology for Information Storage and Retrieval Program (SemiSynBio-II). Future ultra-low energy storage-based computing systems can be built on principles derived from organic systems that are at the intersection of physics, chemistry, biology, computer science and engineering. Next-generation information storage technologies can be envisioned that are driven by biological principles and use biomaterials in the fabrication of devices and systems that can store data for more than 100 years with storage capacity 1,000 times more than current storage technologies. Such a research effort can have a significant impact on the future of information storage and retrieval technologies. This focused solicitation seeks high-risk/high-return interdisciplinary research on novel concepts and enabling technologies that will address the fundamental scientific issues and technological challenges associated with the underpinnings of synthetic biology integrated with semiconductor technology. This research will foster interactions among various disciplines including biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, computer science and engineering that will enable in heretofore unanticipated breakthroughs.

The ReVector program aims to develop methods to use human skin microbiomes to modulate chemical signatures in order to avoid mosquito attraction and feeding and reduce the threat of mosquito-borne disease to Warfighters. Human skin associated microbes interact with metabolites from the body and influence the personal chemical signature of each individual, making some individuals more attractive to mosquitoes. This program seeks to develop advanced data analytics and microbiome modulation tools for engineering skin microbiomes and provide new options for the readiness and resiliency of military personnel.

The Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) Program supports research centers focused on major, long-term fundamental chemical research challenges. CCIs that address these challenges will produce transformative research, lead to innovation, and attract broad scientific and public interest. CCIs are agile structures that can respond rapidly to emerging opportunities through enhanced collaborations. CCIs integrate research, innovation, education, broadening participation, and informal science communication. The CCI Program is a two-phase program. Both phases are described in this solicitation. Phase I CCIs receive significant resources to develop the science, management and broader impacts of a major research center before requesting Phase II funding. Satisfactory progress in Phase I is required for Phase II applications; Phase I proposals funded in FY 2021 will seek Phase II funding in FY 2024. The FY 2021 Phase I CCI competition is open to projects in all fields supported by the Division of Chemistry, and must have scientific focus and the potential for transformative impact in chemistry. NSF Chemistry particularly encourages fundamental chemistry projects related to one or more of NSF's Big Ideas, including Quantum Leap, Understanding the Rules of Life, and Harnessing the Data Revolution. Similarly, the Division of Chemistry encourages CCI projects aligned with chemistry aspects of other articulated budget priorities, including Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and Quantum Information Science. More information on all of these is available in Section IX of this Program Solicitation.

Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane and the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E))'s Joint Hypersonic Transition Office (JHTO) are interested in receiving research proposals in the following areas. Each will have a Period of Performance (PoP) of 12 months. a. Systems-level design of high-temperature composite materials and structures research utilization of fiber architectures and matrix compositions b. Novel position, navigation, and timing and adaptive flight controls c. Design-oriented models to optimize scramjet and multi-mode engines d. Simulation Methods for the Rapid Prediction of Hypersonic Environments e. Addressing the flow path processes that occur in rectangular or curved inlets and isolators including the destabilization that may occur due to junction flows or off-nominal flight conditions f. The development of methods and models including validation experiments and instrumentation to provide high quality data on multiphase blast properties and structural responses to structures g. Improving the understanding of rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) physics and developing design solutions for their inherent technical challenges h. Hypersonic Workforce Curricula Development

Growing Convergence Research (GCR) at the National Science Foundation was identified as one of 10 Big Ideas. Convergence research is a means for solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and forming novel frameworks to catalyze scientific discovery and innovation. GCR identifies Convergence Research as having two primary characteristics: Research driven by a specific and compelling problem. Convergence Research is generally inspired by the need to address a specific challenge or opportunity, whether it arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs. Deep integration across disciplines. As experts from different disciplines pursue common research challenges, their knowledge, theories, methods, data, research communities and languages become increasingly intermingled or integrated. New frameworks, paradigms or even disciplines can form sustained interactions across multiple communities. A distinct characteristic of convergence research, in contrast to other forms of multidisciplinary research, is that from the inception, the convergence paradigm intentionally brings together intellectually diverse researchers and stakeholders to frame the research questions, develop effective ways of communicating across disciplines and sectors, adopt common frameworks for their solution, and, when appropriate, develop a new scientific vocabulary. Research teams practicing convergence aim at developing sustainable relationships that may not only create solutions to the problem that engendered the collaboration, but also develop novel ways of framing related research questions and open new research vistas.

The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) hereby announces its interest in receiving new and renewal applications from small groups (2-3 principal investigators) and integrated multidisciplinary teams (typically from multiple institutions) in Computational Chemical Sciences (CCS). Single-investigator applications are not responsive to the objectives of this FOA. CCS will support basic research to develop validated, open-source codes for modeling and simulation of complex chemical processes and phenomena that allow full use of emerging exascale and future planned DOE leadership-class computing capabilities. The focus for CCS is on developing capabilities that allow modeling and simulation of new or previously inaccessible complex chemical systems and/or provide dramatic improvement in fidelity, scalability, and throughput. Teams should bring together expertise in domain areas (e.g., electronic structure, chemical dynamics, statistical mechanics, etc.) and other areas important to advance computational tools such as data science, algorithm development, and software architectures. Priority will be given to efforts that address reaction chemistry across multiple scales in complex environments important in geosciences, catalysis, biochemistry, or electrochemistry. CCS will continue to support the DOE Exascale Computing Initiative (ECI). The ECI aims to accelerate the research and development needed to overcome key exascale challenges and maximize benefits of high-performance computing. This funding opportunity continues the BES commitment to ECI by developing open-source codes that can take full advantage of emerging exascale and future planned DOE leadership-class computing facilities.

For FY2021, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) have been added to the national priority areas in which the NRT Program encourages proposals. We seek proposals on any interdisciplinary research theme of national priority, with special emphasis on AI and QISE and the six research areas within NSF's 10 Big Ideas. The NSF research Big Ideas are Harnessing the Data Revolution (HDR), The Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (FW-HTF), Navigating the New Arctic (NNA), Windows on the Universe: The Era of Multi-Messenger Astrophysics (WoU), The Quantum Leap: Leading the Next Quantum Revolution (QL), and Understanding the Rules of Life: Predicting Phenotype (URoL). Proposals that align with one of these designated priority areas should contain a title to reflect that alignment, as described in the program solicitation (e.g., NRT-AI: title, NRT-HDR: title, NRT-QL: title). Proposals may be submitted under two tracks (i.e., Track 1 and Track 2). Track 1 proposals may request a total budget (up to five years in duration) up to $3 million for projects with a focus on STEM graduate students in research-based PhD and/or master's degree programs. Track 2 proposals may request a total budget (up to five years in duration) up to $2 million; NSF requires that Track 2 proposals focus on programs from institutions not classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity (R1). Requirements for Track 1 and Track 2 are identical.