The NIDCR E-Newsletter provides information about NIH and NIDCR grant, contract and training program policies; new NIDCR funding opportunities; new grant and contract awards; NIDCR programmatic news; and meetings and events of interest to the research community.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Program Announcements:
Requests for Applications:
NEW CONCEPT CLEARANCE
The following concept clearance was approved during the June 16 meeting of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council:
Clinical Research Training
NIDCR/NIH NEWS
CARIES VACCINE PANEL REPORT
On January 28, 2003 NIDCR convened an expert panel to explore the scientific, economic, and ethical issues involved in the development of a caries vaccine. See a summary of the vaccine panel's deliberations and recommendations and the final report.
NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS
The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts represents the final authority on funding policy for the NIH.
REVISED GUIDANCE FOR IACUC APPROVAL OF CHANGES IN PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN ANIMAL ACTIVITIES
The June 6 NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts includes notice that the Office of Extramural Research has revised guidance regarding Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval of changes in personnel involved in animal activities.
HHS GUIDANCE FOR FINANCIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed draft guidance for protecting research volunteers from harm caused by financial conflicts of interest that would apply to all human subject research regulated by the NIH, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The guidance is intended to help investigators, research institutions, and Institutional Review Boards assess whether financial interests in research could affect the rights and welfare of research subjects and if so, what actions might be taken to manage or eliminate these conflicts of interest. See the proposed conflict of interest guidelines published in the March 31 Federal Register with a 60-day comment period.
NIH STATEMENT ON SHARING AND DISTRIBUTING MOUSE RESOURCES
NIH has issued a draft policy statement on the sharing of genetically modified mice and other mouse resources. Intended as an extension of NIH's existing grant policy on the sharing of research resources, the draft statement says that "NIH supports and encourages the timely sharing and distribution of mouse resources generated using NIH funding so that other esearchers can benefit from these resources." The draft policy was issued May 28 for a 60-day public comment period.
REVISED NIH POLICY ON SUBMISSION OF A REVISED (AMENDED) APPLICATION
An announcement issued on May 7 reiterates the NIH policy on the number of amended or revised applications permitted, but eliminates the two-year restriction on the receipt of those applications. Accordingly, NIH will not consider any A3 or higher amendment to an application for extramural support; in addition, there is no longer a time limit for the submission of the first and second revisions (A1 and A2). This policy applies to all NIH extramural funding mechanisms.
NIH CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC REVIEW (CSR) POSTS NEW ROSTER PAGE
The NIH CSR has posted a new roster page on its web site.
NIH POSTS STEM CELL WEB SITE
NIH has a new central page for NIH stem cell information
FELLOWSHIP AVAILABLE FOR DENTAL STUDENTS
The Fogarty International Center, with support from the Ellison Medical Foundation, is offering a one-year clinical research training experience for graduate level U.S. students in the health professions, including dentistry. Individuals selected for the program will receive mentored research training at top-ranked NIH-funded research centers in developing countries. Applications are due January 6, 2004; the program begins July 2004.
NIDCR TO PARTICIPATE IN GRIP PROGRAM
NIDCR will participate in the Global Health Research Initiative Program for New Foreign Investigators (GRIP) developed by the Fogarty International Center. The program is intended to promote productive re-entry of NIH-trained foreign investigators into their home countries.
2003 DAVID E. BARMES GLOBAL HEALTH LECTURE
Dr. Bruce Alberts, President of the National Academy of Sciences, will deliver the 2003 David E. Barmes Global Health Lecture on Monday, November 3, 2003 at 3:30 p.m. The lecture is cosponsored by NIDCR and the Fogarty International Center and will take place in the Masur Auditorium on the NIH campus.
Science Advances
Scientists Discover Unique Source of Postnatal Stem Cells
PERSONNEL NEWS
Dr. John Kusiak has joined the NIDCR as director of the Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology Program, Division of Basic and Translational Sciences. Previously, Dr. Kusiak was a research chemist in the Molecular Neurobiology Unit of the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, National Institute on Aging. His research focused on the application of molecular and cellular biological approaches to the identification of signaling cascades and mechanisms of cell death in neuronal culture models, including those of Alzheimer's disease.