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This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is associated with the Beau Biden Cancer MoonshotSM Initiative that is intended to accelerate cancer research. The purpose of this FOA is to increase case ascertainment and optimize delivery of evidence-based healthcare for individuals at high risk of cancer due to an inherited genetic susceptibility. Specifically, this FOA targets the following area designated as a scientific priority by the Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) Recommendation E: "To realize the potential of cancer prevention and early detection in our nation, NCI should sponsor an initiative to improve the current state of early detection, genetic testing, genetic counseling, and knowledge landscape of the mechanisms and biomarkers associated with cancer development. This initiative should include demonstration projects that will show how cancer screening programs can simultaneously save lives, improve quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs."

A primary focus of these programs is on the use of in vitro methods and assays using lower organisms to screen thousands of chemicals for toxicity in order to identify mechanisms of compound-induced biological activity, characterize toxicity pathways, facilitate cross-species extrapolation, and provide input to models for low-dose extrapolation.  Data generated by these methods will be used to prioritize compounds for more extensive toxicological evaluation and to develop predictive models for biological response in humans. Current approaches are limited in terms of incorporating genetic variability in toxicity testing and in assessing the effects of chemicals in multiple normal tissue and cell types, relying on immortalized cell lines or primary cell lines derived from tissues. Thus, there is a need for novel, medium- to high-throughput assays (at least a 96-well format) to evaluate the effects of chemical compounds on the differentiation of pluripotent or multi-potent stem cells as well as the effects of chemical exposures on differentiated cell types representative of various in vivo tissues. Approaches can include the use of human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, approved human embryonic stem (ES) cell lines, or ES or iPS cells derived from genetically characterized mouse strains. Assays should be able to measure the effects of toxicants on the differentiation process and/or on the differentiated cells themselves; cell types of high priority include but are not limited to cardiomyocytes, neural cells, hepatocytes, endothelial cells, lung (airway or alveolar) cells, and hormonally-responsive tissues such as reproductive tissues or breast epithelial cells.

The purpose of the NLA Junior Faculty Research is to encourage scholarly advancement of Junior Faculty in the pursuit of a career related to hyperlipidemia and other lipid disorders in humans. The NLA will fund eligible institutions to provide $70,000 per year in salary support for those actively involved in clinical and/or basic science that provides promise of developing new information in fields of study that could advance the diagnosis and management of lipid disorders such as biochemistry, physiology, or genetics as well as interventions that improve therapy. The institutions eligible shall be nonprofit and offer an environment that would logically support a young faculty member with appropriate equipment, space and experienced faculty for proposed studies. The proposal will identify a specific candidate with training and strong signs of early success in an appropriate area of research and with a plan for developing appropriate experiments or clinical studies. To be eligible, an applicant is expected to hold or be eligible for a doctoral level degree (PhD, PharmD or MD) prior to the date of the scheduled award. There must be a record of accomplishment in a relevant research area as manifest by publications or a PhD thesis of high quality. The application for the Basic Science Award may focus on any aspect of lipid metabolism that has relevance to human disease. This may include experiments at the laboratory bench involving structural chemistry, biochemistry, physiology or genetics.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage cooperative agreement (U54) applications from multidisciplinary groups of investigators to accelerate the rate of progress in determining the functional, pharmacological, neuronal network and whole animal consequences of genetic variants discovered in patients with various types of epilepsy and to develop strategies for establishing diagnostic criteria and identifying potential targets for intervention.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) invites applications for P50 Research Center Grants for Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs). The program will fund P50 SPORE grants to support state-of-the-art investigator-initiated translational research that will contribute to improved prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of an organ-specific cancer or a related group of cancers. For the purpose of this FOA, cancers derived from the same organ system (i.e., a group of organs that perform a common function) are considered related. Examples of such organ systems include gastrointestinal, endocrine and other biological systems. Other programmatically appropriate groups of cancers may include those centered around a common biological mechanism critical for promoting tumorigenesis and/or cancer progression in organ sites that belong to different organ systems. For example, a SPORE may focus on cancers caused by the same infectious agent or cancers sustained and promoted by dysregulation of a common signaling pathway. In addition, a SPORE may focus on cross-cutting themes such as pediatric cancers or cancer health disparities. The research supported through this program must be translational and must stem from research on human biology using cellular, molecular, structural, biochemical, and/or genetic experimental approaches. SPORE projects must have the goal of reaching a translational human endpoint within the project period of the grant.

The NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) Programs overarching goal is to provide high quality postdoctoral research training in the basic biomedical sciences, in NIH intramural research laboratories, to a diverse group of postdoctoral fellows to prepare them for leadership positions in biomedical careers. The research projects proposed should focus on NIGMS mission-related areas of basic biomedical science. These include cell biology, biophysics, genetics, developmental biology, pharmacology, physiology, biological chemistry, computational biology, technology development and bioinformatics. Studies employing model organisms are encouraged

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 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.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) focuses on sensitivity and tolerance mechanisms underlying the development of alcohol use disorders. The intent of this FOA is to: (1) develop hypotheses about cellular, molecular or network mechanisms that regulate sensitivity and tolerance to alcohol, and (2) develop quantitative models to predict the development of tolerance and the progression to alcohol dependence. These objectives will be accomplished with a Phased Innovation (R21/R33) mechanism, in which secondary data analysis or pilot studies can occur during the R21 phase, and research testing the hypotheses can be expanded in the R33 phase. The transition to the R33 phase will be determined by NIAAA program staff after evaluation of the achievement of specific milestones set for the R21 phase. Applicants interested in the genetic basis of tolerance may consider FOA (PA-18-660).

Although invention and proof-of-concept testing of new technologies are a key component of the BRAIN Initiative, to achieve their potential these technologies must also be optimized through feedback from end-users in the context of the intended experimental use. This seeks applications for the optimization of existing and emerging technologies and approaches that have potential to address major challenges associated with recording and manipulating neural activity, at or near cellular resolution, at multiple spatial and temporal scales, in any region and throughout the entire depth of the brain. This FOA is intended for the iterative refinement of emergent technologies and approaches that have already demonstrated their transformative potential through initial proof-of-concept testing, and are appropriate for accelerated development of hardware and software while scaling manufacturing techniques towards sustainable, broad dissemination and user-friendly incorporation into regular neuroscience practice. Proposed technologies should be compatible with experiments in behaving animals, and should include advancements that enable or reduce major barriers to hypothesis-driven experiments. Technologies may engage diverse types of signaling beyond neuronal electrical activity for large-scale analysis, and may utilize any modality such as optical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic or genetic recording/manipulation. Applications that seek to integrate multiple approaches are encouraged. Applications are expected to integrate appropriate domains of expertise, including where appropriate biological, chemical and physical sciences, engineering, computational modeling and statistical analysis.

Understanding the dynamic activity of neural circuits is central to the NIH BRAIN Initiative. This FOA seeks applications for proof-of-concept testing and development of new technologies and novel approaches for largescale recording and manipulation of neural activity to enable transformative understanding of dynamic signaling in the nervous system. In particular, we seek exceptionally creative approaches to address major challenges associated with recording and manipulating neural activity, at or near cellular resolution, at multiple spatial and/or temporal scales, in any region and throughout the entire depth of the brain. It is expected that the proposed research may be high-risk, but if successful could profoundly change the course of neuroscience research. Proposed technologies should be compatible with experiments in behaving animals, and should include advancements that enable or reduce major barriers to hypothesis-driven experiments. Technologies may engage diverse types of signaling beyond neuronal electrical activity for large-scale analysis, and may utilize any modality such as optical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic or genetic recording/manipulation. Applications that seek to integrate multiple approaches are encouraged. Where appropriate, applications are expected to integrate appropriate domains of expertise, including biological, chemical and physical sciences, engineering, computational modeling and statistical analysis.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will support high risk and high reward basic and translational studies aimed at understanding the etiology, and the cellular and molecular mechanisms, including the environmental, genetic, epigenetic, biologic, and immunologic factors causing and/or associated with Hidradenitis Suppurativa. The purpose is to accelerate discovery in this field of research and to apply new knowledge to improve patients' condition and ultimately better control disease. This FOA intends to support a broad range of mechanistic studies using animal and human models, with an emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration for rapid bench-to-bedside exchange of information and therapy development. This FOA is not intended to support applications proposing epidemiology studies and/or clinical trials.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET), seeks proposals that elucidate mechanisms of, and develop strategies to, direct the differentiation of undifferentiated cells into mature, functional cells or organoids. Projects responsive to this solicitation must aim to establish a robust and reproducible set of differentiation design rules, predictive models, real-time sensing, control, and quality assurance methods, and integrate them into a workable differentiation strategy. They must develop a fundamental understanding of how cells develop, including mechanisms, molecular machinery, dynamics, and cell-cell interactions, and use this understanding to manipulate cells purposefully. Investigators can choose any undifferentiated cell type, from any animal species, as a starting point and choose any appropriate functional product (cell, organoid, etc.) with real-world relevance. This solicitation parallels NSF's investment in Understanding the Rules of Life (URoL): Predicting Phenotype, NSF's Big Idea focused on predicting the set of observable characteristics (phenotype) of an organism based on its genetic makeup and the nature of its environment and applies it to understanding and accomplishing the intentional and guided differentiation of an undifferentiated cell into cells, organoids or tissues with predetermined activities and functions.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET), seeks proposals that elucidate mechanisms of, and develop strategies to, direct the differentiation of undifferentiated cells into mature, functional cells or organoids. Projects responsive to this solicitation must aim to establish a robust and reproducible set of differentiation design rules, predictive models, real-time sensing, control, and quality assurance methods, and integrate them into a workable differentiation strategy. They must develop a fundamental understanding of how cells develop, including mechanisms, molecular machinery, dynamics, and cell-cell interactions, and use this understanding to manipulate cells purposefully. Investigators can choose any undifferentiated cell type, from any animal species, as a starting point and choose any appropriate functional product (cell, organoid, etc.) with real-world relevance.This solicitation parallels NSF's investment inUnderstanding the Rules of Life (URoL): Predicting Phenotype, NSF's Big Idea focused on predicting the set of observable characteristics (phenotype) of an organism based on its genetic makeup and the nature of its environment and applies it to understanding and accomplishing the intentional and guided differentiation of an undifferentiated cell into cells, organoids or tissues with predetermined activities and functions.

Genomic Science program supports basic research aimed at identifying the foundational principles that drive biological systems. These principles govern the translation of the genetic code into integrated networks of proteins, enzymes, regulatory elements, and metabolite pools that are the functional processes of organisms including microbes and multispecies communities relevant to DOE missions in energy and the environment. To address the DOE mission in sustainable Bioenergy development, the Genomic Science program brings omics-driven tools of modern systems biology to bear on the challenges associated with microbial production of advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts.Developing an increased understanding of how biological systems function and translating that knowledge to enhance the production capabilities of microbes and plants forms the basis of DOE's mission in sustainable Bioenergy. To harness the biosynthetic processing power of the microbial world for advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts production, an expanded set of platform organisms with appropriate metabolic capabilities and stress tolerance characteristics with a suite of modification tools will need to be developed. To foster this development, the DOE-BER Genomic Science program supports research aimed at understanding the principles that govern the functional properties of bioenergy relevant organisms at the genomic scale.

We are looking for ideas that can lead to new multi-grant research portfolios on human flourishing. We are particularly interested in ideas for interdisciplinary scientific research towards discoveries that can promote physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. We welcome ideas that bridge gaps between empirical science and the humanities. Such ideas may include (but are not limited to):  Experimental testing of philosophically grounded models of human flourishing; Research on biological complexity in humans, including genetics, epigenetics, and microbiome research; Investigation of key psychological, neuroscientific, or human developmental concepts, such as (but not limited to) altruism, creativity, imagination, narrative, and meta-cognition; Research on cognitive, affective, or social capacities of individuals or groups; Studies of human biological or cultural evolution.

The Children's Heart Foundation's 2020 Call for Research Proposals is now open! The Children's Heart Foundation funds life-saving, life-changing congenital heart defect (CHD) research in clinical cardiology, translational research, population science, and advancement, prevention, detection of surgical and interventional techniques including, but not limited to the following areas:  Genetics Biochemistry Pharmacology Devices and procedural research (cardiac catheterization and surgery) Neurodevelopmental and functional outcomes Quality and policy regarding delivery of care, coverage, and access Maternal environment and modifiable disease impact on fetuses with CHD Fetal diagnosis and intervention Long-term care of adults with CHDs Technological development and advancements

The Children's Heart Foundation's 2020 Call for Research Proposals is now open! The Children's Heart Foundation funds life-saving, life-changing congenital heart defect (CHD) research in clinical cardiology, translational research, population science, and advancement, prevention, detection of surgical and interventional techniques including, but not limited to the following areas:  Genetics Biochemistry Pharmacology Devices and procedural research (cardiac catheterization and surgery) Neurodevelopmental and functional outcomes Quality and policy regarding delivery of care, coverage, and access Maternal environment and modifiable disease impact on fetuses with CHD Fetal diagnosis and intervention Long-term care of adults with CHDs Technological development and advancements

NHGRI invites applications for research developing comparative approaches that can be used to understand genome structure and function and the relationship between genomic features and phenotypes. This program supports studies that enable the use of a diverse array of species to advance our ability to understand basic biological processes related to human health and disease, as well as studies that develop novel analytical tools and resources for the comparative genomics research community.

NHGRI invites applications for research developing comparative approaches that can be used to understand genome structure and function and the relationship between genomic features and phenotypes. This program supports studies that enable the use of a diverse array of species to advance our ability to understand basic biological processes related to human health and disease, as well as studies that develop novel analytical tools and resources for the comparative genomics research community.