| IN
THIS ISSUE . . .
May 2, 2007
From the MORE Director: MORE Changes Are on the Way
MORE News
Funding Opportunities/Research Administration
News
Meetings
The NIGMS Division of Minority Opportunities
in Research (MORE) administers research and research training
programs aimed at increasing the number of minority biomedical
and behavioral scientists. For more information about the
Division, see http://www.nigms.nih.gov/minority.
NIGMS is one of the National Institutes
of Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
By supporting basic biomedical research and training nationwide,
NIGMS lays the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention.
All MORE grantees are automatically subscribed to this e-newsletter;
other interested individuals are encouraged to subscribe.
To subscribe, change subscription options, or unsubscribe,
visit the Minority Programs Update subscription page
at https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=nigms-mpu-newsletter&A=1.
Subscribe to the RSS version of Minority Programs Update by selecting this XML link and following your news reader's instructions for adding a feed.
Got MORE news to share? Contact the newsletter editor, Susan
Athey at 301-496-7301.
From the MORE Director: MORE Changes Are on the Way
The past 6 months have seen a great deal of activity in the MORE Division, with the reconsideration of many of our programs as we approach their mandated re-announcements. In addition to work on converting NIH grant applications to electronic submissions, MORE staff has been addressing issues that you have raised in various forms of feedback about our programs.
Here's a brief update on our program activities:
MBRS
The new MBRS SCORE initiatives are off to a good start. Importantly, we have extensive buy-in from other NIGMS divisions as well as other NIH institutes to assume management of the Research Advancement (SC1) and Pilot Project (SC2) awards. Thus, PIs will have a connection with the program administrators relevant to their science and their future R01 applications. We are making plans for the first meeting of the SC1 and SC2 PIs at NIH sometime next year.
MARC
The revised MARC U-STAR Program Announcement was released in March. On April 2, MORE hosted a workshop for teams of institutions interested in applying for the program this spring. Each team included an institutional administrator and a potential MARC program director. We felt that it was important to have the institutional leadership involved to understand the expectations that the revised program announcement has for the institution.
PREP
MORE staff has been reconsidering the PREP initiative and has obtained community input through a series of teleconferences. Building on principles gleaned from this input, staff is preparing a revised announcement for consideration by the NIGMS advisory council at its May 2007 meeting. We anticipate that the revised PREP announcement will be posted in June for an October 2007 submission date.
Bridges
The Bridges program announcements are being revised because the previous issuances have expired. MORE staff will conduct a series of teleconferences in early May to get input from interested parties. We anticipate that the revised program announcements for Bridges will be out in July for a November 2007 submission date.
I encourage you to visit the MORE Division Web page for the latest news and updates on MORE programs and, as always, I welcome your continued input on improving our programs.
Clifton A. Poodry
Director, MORE Division
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
301-594-3900
MORE News
Anthony René, NIGMS assistant director for referral and liaison, was honored for his outstanding mentoring by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science during the organization's annual meeting this past fall. For more on Dr. René's award, see http://www.nih.gov/nihrecord/03_23_2007/03232007_Record.pdf.
Charles A. Miller, a long-time champion for NIGMS' minority programs, passed away in December. To read more about Dr. Miller's distinguished career, see
http://www.nih.gov/nihrecord/02_09_2007/02092007_Record.pdf.
Jose Rodriguez, a former MARC program participant at the University of California, Los Angeles, published an essay on his experiences as undergraduate student in the April 5, 2007, issue of Nature. To read the article, titled "Minority Report," visit http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2007/070405/full/nj7136-698b.html.
Explore The New Genetics
 NIGMS' latest science education booklet, The New Genetics, is now available. This free publication explains the basics
of DNA, its molecular cousin RNA, and much more. The booklet covers how studies of evolution drive medical research and how computers are advancing genetics in the 21st century.
Order or view The New Genetics
Order companion poster
Other NIGMS publications
Funding Opportunities/Research Administration
News
New Innovator Award
NIH recently announced a special program to fund new investigators who propose
highly innovative research projects with the potential for exceptionally great impact on biomedical or behavioral science. The NIH Director's New Innovator Award will offer grants of up to $1.5 million in direct costs over 5 years. For more information, see
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-07-009.html. Applications must be received by May 22, 2007. Frequently asked questions about the program are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/innovator_award/faq.htm.
Diversity and Reentry Supplements
As part of an NIH-wide program, NIGMS offers grant supplements to assist principal investigators in improving the diversity of the biomedical workforce and promoting reentry into biomedical and behavioral research careers. For more information, see http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Research/Supplements or contact Anthony René at 301-594-3833.
SCORE PI Eligibility
The MORE Division recently clarified the eligibility of SCORE PIs. Participation is limited to full-time faculty on regular appointments. Individuals who are on temporary, ad-hoc, or part-time appointments; research appointments; postdoctoral appointments; or appointments contingent on an individual securing his/her salary from grants are not eligible to apply. For more information, see http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-GM-07-100.html or contact Hinda Zlotnik, 301-594-3900.
RISE Updates
Several updates have appeared in the NIH Guide related to the RISE program. These notices clarify dates, eligibility, and budget requests. For more information, see:
For more information, contact Shiva Singh at 301-594-3900.
MARC Trainee Summer Costs
The MARC Branch has announced per diem funds to defray the cost of summer housing at extramural sites, as well as funds for travel to and from the extramural sites, for all current MARC trainees. For more information about the funds, contact Adolphus Toliver or Shawn Drew at 301-594-3900.
Upcoming Receipt Dates
May 15—Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Program (R25)
May 18—Support of Continuous Research Excellence (SCORE) Institutional Award (SO6), SCORE Research Advancement Award (SC1), SCORE Pilot Project Award (SC2), and SCORE Research Continuance Award (SC3); Bridges to the Baccalaureate and Bridges to the Doctoral Degree grants (R25) NOTE: Bridges applications are now being submitted electronically. For more information see http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt.
May 25—Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) awards (T34)
July 12—MORE Faculty Development Awards (K01)
August 8—Individual Predoctoral Fellowship Awards for Minority Students (F31)
For more information on these programs, see the MORE Division Web page, http://www.nigms.nih.gov/minority.
Meetings
We look forward to seeing you at two MORE-supported meetings this spring.
May 3-4, 2007 in Washington, DC
The MORE Division sponsors the Efficacy of Interventions program to support research that tests assumptions on the effectiveness of interventions intended to increase interest, motivation, and preparedness for careers in biomedical research. This workshop will examine the current knowledge base, develop research questions that reflect the contribution of various factors, and provide some technical assistance for those wishing to apply for the NIGMS efficacy of interventions program.
June 2-4, 2007 in Atlanta, GA
Registration for the biennial MORE Program Directors' Meeting is now under way. Participation is limited to MARC, MBRS, Bridges, and PREP program directors. For more information, contact meeting coordinator Gail Pinder at 301-634-7145.
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