FRA's Office of Research, Development and Technology is charged with conducting research and development in support of improved railroad safety and national rail transportation policy. These activities support the objectives of the DOT, the mission critical needs of FRA, and the rail industry through technology development and demonstration, basic and applied research, and information exchange within the rail industry.

The program is focused on multidisciplinary research efforts where more than one traditional discipline interacts to provide rapid advances in scientific areas of interest to the DoD. As defined in the DoD Financial Management Regulation: 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.

This announcement seeks proposals from universities to purchase equipment and instrumentation in support of research in areas of interest to the DoD. DoD interests include the areas of research supported by the Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), hereafter generally referred to collectively as "we, our, us, or administering agency." We use "administering agency" to provide a generic reference to any of the administering agencies. A central purpose of the DURIP is to provide equipment and instrumentation to enhance research-related education in areas of interest and priority to the DoD.

 Current product-specific bioequivalence (BE) guidance published by the Office of Generic Drugs for dry powder inhalers (DPIs) include in vitro testing recommendations for single actuation content and aerodynamic particle size distribution, as well as recommendations for a pharmacokinetic study and a pharmacodynamic or clinical endpoint study.  Given the extensive nature of current DPI BE guidance, it is desirable that current in vitro testing for DPIs be more reflective of in vivo performance.  Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element modeling (DEM) have been used to predict dry powder aerosol behavior, including the effects of agglomeration and deagglomeration.  The purpose of the study will be to develop a CFD-DEM model which can be used to evaluate the impact of various physicochemical properties and device performance properties on regional deposition, to identify potentially biorelevant ranges for these properties that may be useful for future BE recommendations.   

The Michael J. Fox Foundation will award one-to-two-year grants to test non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of gait and balance disturbances in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). We are particularly interested in proof-of-concept, validation and data-analysis projects. This program seeks proposals for research studying the therapeutic benefit of: Assistive devices (e.g., back or leg braces). Novel technologies (e.g., laser or wearable devices). Rehabilitative therapy programs (e.g., occupational or physical therapy)

DARPA seeks proposals to design, build, demonstrate, and validate a nonsurgical neural interface system to broaden the applicability of neural interfaces to the able-bodied warfighter. The final technology aims to enable neural recording and stimulation with sub-millimeter spatial resolution. See attached BAA package for full details.

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2019 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).

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the Fiscal Year 2019 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).

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the research necessary to elucidate how systematic alterations to the qualitative (Q1) and/or quantitative (Q2) composition of topical formulations impacts their physical, structural, and functional properties. A key aspect of the research relates to understanding how the thermodynamic properties of a topical dosage form change as it undergoes metamorphosis during dose application and drying on the skin, how the drug's thermodynamic activity profile during the metamorphosis of the dosage form may compare between compositionally different (non-Q1 and/or non-Q2) topical formulations, and how these and other forces may modulate the rate and extent to which topically applied drugs may become available at or near their site(s) of action in the skin. Another key aspect of the research relates to identifying and understanding other potential failure modes for bioequivalence (BE) and/or therapeutic equivalence (TE) (e.g., differences in irritation potential) that may arise between compositionally different (non-Q1 and/or non-Q2) topical formulations.

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) announces its interest in receiving applications to explore of the suitability of various implementations of quantum computing hardware for science applications. This foundational research will facilitate the development of device architectures well-suited for scientific applications of quantum computing and improve our understanding of the advantages and limitations of various approaches to quantum computing for science applications. The purpose of this FOA is to invite applications for foundational research in the following two areas: 1. Exploring the relationship between device architecture and application performance 2. Developing meaningful metrics for evaluating the suitability of quantum computing hardware for science applications Applications may address one or both of these themes. Proposed research should focus on devices that are already available or that become available during the term of the award rather than large-scale, high-fidelity, fault-tolerant machines. Funded teams will be expected to collaborate externally with researchers working to develop applications and algorithms that can expand the frontiers of scientific discovery. Funded teams will also be expected to participate in community engagement activities that support the growth of an active, integrated research community committed to the common goal of developing quantum computing resources for advancing scientific discovery. Topics that are out of scope include: development and optimization of quantum algorithms; development of new candidate qubit systems; schemes based on qubits that have not yet demonstrated high-fidelity gates; schemes to improve the performance and functionality of qubits; quantum transduction; quantum communication, networking, and key distribution; cryptography and cryptanalysis; and logical qubits beyond considerations given to scaling to ~10 qubit devices.

Funded by NASA through a cooperative agreement, TRISH engages and enables new health technologies to predict, protect and preserve astronaut health during deep space exploration missions. We seek high risk, high reward, high quality and efficient solutions that can be adapted (or translated) for use in space. TRISH is seeking emerging scientific and biomedical advances, radically disruptive technologies, and new engineering capabilities.

The Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI) umbrella program encompasses the long-running Data Infrastructure Building Blocks (DIBBs) and Software Infrastructure for Sustained Innovation (SI2) programs, as NSF seeks to enable funding opportunities that are flexible and responsive to the evolving and emerging needs in data and software cyberinfrastructure.

Cultivating Cultures for Ethical STEM (CCE STEM) funds research projects that identify (1) factors that are effective in the formation of ethical STEM researchers and (2) approaches to developing those factors in all the fields of science and engineering that NSF supports. CCE STEM solicits proposals for research that explores the following: 'What constitutes responsible conduct for research (RCR), and which cultural and institutional contexts promote ethical STEM research and practice and why?' Factors one might consider include: honor codes, professional ethics codes and licensing requirements, an ethic of service and/or service learning, life-long learning requirements, curricula or memberships in organizations (e.g. Engineers without Borders) that stress responsible conduct for research, institutions that serve under-represented groups, institutions where academic and research integrity are cultivated at multiple levels, institutions that cultivate ethics across the curriculum, or programs that promote group work, or do not grade. Do certain labs have a 'culture of academic integrity'? What practices contribute to the establishment and maintenance of ethical cultures and how can these practices be transferred, extended to, and integrated into other research and learning settings?

Lack of essential observations from space is currently a major limiting factor in many areas of geospace andatmospheric research. Recent advances in sensor and spacecraft technolo­gies make it feasible to obtain key measurements from low-cost, small satellite missions. A particularly promising aspect of this development is the prospect for obtaining multi-point observations in space that are critical for addressing many outstanding problems in space and atmosphericsciences. Space-based measurements from small satellites also have great potential to advance discovery and understanding in geospace and atmospheric sciences in many other ways. To take full advantage of these developments, NSF is soliciting research proposals centered on small satellite missions. The overarching goal of the program is to support the development, construction, launch, operation, and data analysis of small satellite science missions to advancegeospace and atmospheric research. Equally important, it will provide essential opportunities to train the next generation of experimental space scientists and aerospace engineers. To facilitate launch of the satellites as secondary payloads on existing missions, the focus of the program is on CubeSat-based satellites. Launch of the satellites will mainly be through the standardized CubeSat deployment system, the Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD). Launch of the P-PODS will be as auxiliary payloads on DOD, NASA, or commercial launches. This will be arranged after selection and is not part of this solicitation. This solicitation covers proposals for science missions to include satellite development, construction, testing and operation as well as data distribution and scientific analysis.

SOFIA is a near‐space observatory that returns to base after every flight. Therefore, unlike most space missions, its scientific instruments can be exchanged periodically to accommodate changing science requirements and to incorporate new technologies, which is a tremendous advantage over space-based observatories. A key part of the SOFIA project has always been to include an instrumentation program that would periodically introduce new technologies in order to enable new scientific frontiers to be explored. NASA is soliciting proposals for compelling science investigations that are enabled by the development of one or more new Science Instruments (SI) and/or upgrades to existing science instruments.

This program element solicits proposals that advance the goals and objectives of NASA's Earth Science Division by conducting unique research to investigate 1) unforeseen or unpredictable Earth system events and opportunities that require a rapid response, 2) novel ideas of potential high merit and relevance for ESD science to advance Earth remote sensing that have not otherwise been solicited by NASA in the past three years In order to address its strategic goals and objectives (see Section I of the ROSES Summary of Solicitation), the ESD of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) acknowledges that there are important and highly relevant research topics and opportun

On the occasion of its 350th anniversary, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will fund innovative projects in applied biophysical & analytical research. Projects will be based on the following challenges: · Challenge 1: Analytical technologies for antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates, as well as technologies to determine drug target engagement, or the level of protein or nucleic acid or metabolic biomarkers. · Challenge 2: Analytical technologies for display materials or semiconductors (Liquid Crystals, OLED Materials, Quantum Materials, Reactive Mesogens, Photoresist Materials). E.g. Spectroscopic Methods, MS Hyphenation, Capillary Chromatography and Comprehensive Separation Technologies; Surface analytics for displays (non- or destructive), Sample preparation techniques for ultra-sensitive investigations · Challenge 3: Analytical technologies for the characterization of polymers, chemical imaging, bioanalytical methods or new methods in molecular biology. Technologies of interest for example are: field flow floractionation (FFF), dynamic light scattering (DLS), chemical imaging, new chromatographic techniques, spectroscopic and spectrometric methods, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), microwave analytics

In celebrating its 350th anniversary, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany offers a series of research grants to stimulate innovative research in challenging areas of future importance. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany intends to provide several research grants of up to EUR 350,000 per year for 3 years in various research areas with the option of extension or expansion. Grants are offered for research in the following areas: Healthy Lives / Drug Discovery: Challenge 1: What is the next game-changing molecule or technology to help cure cancer or autoimmune disease? Life Reimagined / Synthetic Biology: Challenge 1: What is the next generation production technology for biologics? Challenge 2: Can you revolutionize microbiome research? Materials & Solutions: Challenge 1: Can you develop a new generation of intelligent materials? Challenge 2: Can you develop advances in characterization, control and surface chemistry? Challenge 3: Can you develop better atomic layer processes - from modelling to materials? Digitalization / Computing: Challenge 1: How can in-silico research benefit from deep learning or quantum computing?

he National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate (SMD) announces the release of its annual NASA Research Announcement (NRA), Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2018. ROSES is an omnibus NRA, with many individual program elements, each with its own due dates and topics. All together these cover the wide range of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences supported by SMD. Awards will be made as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers, depending on the nature of the work proposed, the proposing organization, and/or program requirements. The typical period of performance for an award is three years, but some programs may allow up to five years and others specify shorter periods. Organizations of every type, domestic and foreign, Government and private, for profit and not-for-profit, may submit proposals without restriction on teaming arrangements. Note that it is NASA policy that all research involving non-U.S. organizations will be conducted on the basis of no exchange of funds. Awards range from under $100K per year for focused, limited efforts (e.g., data analysis) to more than $1M per year for extensive activities (e.g., development of hardware for science experiments and/or flight).

Lack of essential observations from space is currently a major limiting factor in many areas of geospace and atmospheric research. Recent advances in sensor and spacecraft technologies make it feasible to obtain key measurements from low-cost, small satellite missions. A particularly promising aspect of this development is the prospect for obtaining multi-point observations in space that are critical for addressing many outstanding problems in space and atmospheric sciences. Space-based measurements from small satellites also have great potential to advance discovery and understanding in geospace and atmospheric sciences in many other ways. To take full advantage of these developments, NSF is soliciting research proposals centered on small satellite missions. The overarching goal of the program is to support the development, construction, launch, operation, and data analysis of small satellite science missions to advance geospace and atmospheric research. Equally important, it will provide essential opportunities to train the next generation of experimental space scientists and aerospace engineers.