NIAID Funding News April 17, 2013

Opportunities and Resources

In The News

Advice Corner

New Funding Opportunities

Header: Opportunities and Resources.

Immunologists: Be Part of a Cooperative Center

The Cooperative Centers on Human Immunology research consortium is being renewed, thanks to a recent funding opportunity announcement (FOA). Here's your chance to be a part of CCHI as it turns 10 years old.

Consider applying if your studies can help define the molecular mechanisms responsible for activating and regulating human immune functions involved in protecting against non-HIV infectious pathogens.

The FOA calls for a minimum of two projects and a maximum of four, at least one of which must be hypothesis-testing while the other(s) may propose new technology development. All must 1) include proposed studies on primary human cells or tissues and 2) focus on human immunology in the context of infection, vaccination against infectious disease, or administration of a vaccine adjuvant that targets an innate immune receptor.

To eliminate overlap with other existing NIAID programs, CCHI will not support hypothesis-generating, systems biology, or immune profiling studies nor studies whose major research activity is the discovery of immune epitopes recognized by T cells or antibodies.

For additional research areas that are excluded as well as complete details on this FOA, see the March 21, 2013, Guidenotice. The deadline for optional letters of intent is June 28, 2013, with applications due by July 29, 2013.

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Join the Fight Against Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens

A recent funding opportunity announcement (FOA ) may be for you if you're interested in drug target development and validation for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

Through this FOA, you'll be able to translate basic research findings into the very early stages of antimicrobial therapeutics discovery and development for bacterial pathogens where resistance threatens effective treatment.

Eligible projects include target development for the following:

  • Small molecule inhibitors
  • Therapeutic antibodies and peptides
  • Adjunctive therapeutics targeting resistance mechanisms that may not perpetuate the spread of resistance

Be sure to target bacterial pathogens for which the high incidence of disease is driving the spread of resistance and there are limited options for clinical intervention.

Note that if your project does not address assay development and target validation for bacterial pathogens where antimicrobial resistance is currently a clinical concern, your application will be considered nonresponsive and will not be reviewed.

Optional letters of intent are due June 18, 2013, while the deadline for applications is July 18, 2013.

For full details, go to the March 26, 2013, Guide notice. And, to learn more about the activity code this FOA uses, read ourR21/R33 Phased Innovation Award SOP.

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Seeking Applications on Underlying Mechanisms of Stigma

Could your current R01 research project be expanded to incorporate basic research on behavioral and social mechanisms underlying stigmatized statuses? If so, take a look at a recent funding opportunity announcement (FOA) released by NIH’s Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network (OppNet).

This FOA will support projects that expand the understanding of underlying mechanisms relevant across health conditions or stigmatized statuses. Projects may focus on stigma processes and mechanisms from the perspective of stigmatized individuals or groups or of individuals or groups holding stigmatizing beliefs.

Collaborations between behavioral and social sciences investigators and applied stigma researchers are particularly encouraged.

Optional letters of intent are due July 2, 2013, with applications due August 2, 2013. For complete details, see the March 20, 2013, Guide notice.

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RFA Bridges NIH Intramural and Extramural Research Communities

If you’re an early-career clinical researcher, consider applying for NIH’s Lasker Clinical Research Scholars Program.

To be eligible, you should have completed your core residency training within the past 10 years.

This unique opportunity offers you a chance to obtain an independent research position either in NIH’s Intramural Research Program (IRP) or at an extramural research institution.

The Program has two phases:

  • Phase 1—an appointment within IRP for up to five years, with the possibility of an extension for two additional years, as a tenure-track investigator with an independent research budget.
  • Phase 2—after completing the first phase, you will be eligible for one of two options:
    • Remain in IRP with continued intramural funding and potential progression to tenured senior investigator status.
    • Continue research at an extramural institution by competing for a grant under the Lasker Program.

NIH will give highest priority to projects in the research areas listed in the FOA. NIAID’s preferred areas of clinical research include hepatitis, food allergy, and antimicrobial resistance (Gram negative bacteria).

The deadline for optional letters of intent is May 24, 2013, with applications due June 24, 2013. See the February 8, 2013,Guide notice for complete details.

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FOA Supports Partnerships Between Life and Physical Scientists

Researchers interested in addressing an important research or clinical problem with a multidisciplinary bioengineering approach should take a look at the Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG) (R01).

This funding opportunity is designed to encourage collaboration between engineers, physical scientists, and biomedical researchers to catalyze their developing innovative approaches to biomedical research, clinical investigations, and medical practice.

Projects should clearly serve NIAID’s mission to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases.

For complete details, read the March 7, 2013, Guide notice.

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NIAID Seeks R&D on Platelet Regeneration and Survival After Radiation Exposure

NIAID is soliciting proposals that aim to advance the development of candidate medical countermeasures to enhance platelet regeneration and increase survival following radiation exposure.

Read the April 2, 2013, Broad Agency Announcement for details, application instructions, and more information.

Proposals are due July 1, 2013.

Header: Other News. 

From the White House: Request for Comments on DURC Rules

Now is your chance to tell policymakers what you think about new institutional review and oversight requirements for dual use research of concern (DURC).

The White House published its proposed DURC changes in the Federal Register and opened them to public comments.

For details and instructions on submitting your input, read the February 22, 2013, Federal Register notice.

Deadline for comments is April 23, 2013. For more background, read the White House’s Proposed Policy Targets Dual Use Research of Concern.

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Heads Up: Changes Coming to K99/R00

Anyone planning to apply for an NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) should take note of the following upcoming changes:

  • Reissued parent program announcement (PA):
    • Will be published later this year and must be used for applications due February 12, 2014, and after.
    • Current parent PA will remain active through the October 12, 2013, receipt date for new, non-AIDS applications and January 7, 2014, for all AIDS and AIDS-related applications.
  • Revised eligibility criterion:
    • You will be limited to having no more than four years—rather than the five years currently allowed—of postdoctoral training at the time you submit your initial or resubmission application.

For complete details, read the March 22, 2013, Guide notice. See our Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00) SOP to learn more about the K99/R00, including NIAID-specific information, e.g., on duration of support.

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News Briefs

RFI: Share Your Ideas on Prevention Research Priorities. NIH is looking for your perspective on the strategic priorities for the Office of Disease Prevention’s (ODP) Fiscal Year 2013 Strategic Plan. ODP also welcomes your suggestions on how to enhance the prevention research portfolio at NIH. Responses are due April 30, 2013. For details, read the March 22, 2013,Guide notice.

Header: Advice Corner.

Spending Your ARRA Money: A Six-Month Warning

If you still have American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, you need to spend it now.

After September 30, 2013, the Federal government will take back all ARRA funds remaining in accounts.   

We have already placed terms of award prohibiting extensions of active ARRA grants beyond that date and do not have authority to modify those terms or permit you to transfer or reuse ARRA funds for another grant.

Header: Reader Questions. 

Feel free to send us a question at deaweb@niaid.nih.gov. After responding to you, we may include your question in the newsletter, incorporate it into the NIAID Research Funding site, or both.

"Where can I find out how many awards an institution has received from NIH?"—anonymous reader

You should be able to get this from NIH RePORT. Check out the Funded Organizations reports or NIH Awards by Location and Organization.

If neither of those give you the information want, you can select your own parameters using the advanced search view function of NIH’s RePORTER query form.

"If a PI will be on maternity leave when her progress report is due, can she ask for an extension? "—anonymous reader

That depends on the progress report due date, the award budget start date, and the timing of the PI’s absence.  Contact your assigned grants management specialist as early as possible to see whether this is possible.

Header: New Funding Opportunities. 

See other announcements at NIAID Funding Opportunities List.

Content last reviewed on April 17, 2013