We have just issued the first funding opportunity announcement (FOA) in the pilot of our new Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) program. The development of this program was greatly informed by responses to our request for information, which I summarized in a previous Feedback Loop post. The goal of this FOA is to test the MIRA concept under well-controlled conditions with a small group of investigators. We’re initially targeting established investigators who have received two or more R01-equivalent awards or a single award of $400,000 or more in direct costs from NIGMS in Fiscal Year 2013 or 2014, and who have at least one grant expected to end in Fiscal Year 2016 or 2017. We think that this approach will help these investigators transition smoothly from their current grants to MIRA support. In the future, we plan to issue MIRA FOAs for additional groups of investigators, and if the pilot is successful we will open the program to any investigator working on research questions related to the mission of NIGMS. If you’re eligible for this FOA and on the fence about applying, consider that MIRA awards:

• Will be for 5 years instead of the current NIGMS average of 4 years,
• Will continue support for other research currently funded by NIGMS without requiring a separate renewal application,
• Will provide flexibility to pursue new ideas and opportunities as they arise,
• Will increase funding stability, and
• Will reduce time spent managing multiple grant awards and writing grant applications.

We’ll post additional information, including answers to frequently asked questions, on the NIGMS MIRA Web page. NOTE: The FOA lists the earliest award date as December 2016. This is an error. The earliest award date is actually April 2016.

The NIGMS Postdoctoral Research Associate (PRAT) program is now accepting applications for its 50th class of fellows, and I encourage you to pass along this fellowship opportunity to graduate students and early postdoctoral scholars who may be interested in applying. The application deadline is March 17, 2015. NIGMS PRAT fellows conduct research in scientific areas within the Institute’s mission while in an NIH intramural research program (IRP) laboratory. Before applying to the program, applicants must identify a potential preceptor in the NIH IRP and develop a research proposal. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have or will have a doctoral degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D.) and no more than 5 years of postdoctoral research experience by the time the 2015 program begins in the fall. Individuals currently in Ph.D. or other doctoral degree-granting programs may apply as long as they anticipate completing the degree requirements before starting the fellowship program. NIGMS PRAT fellows receive 3 years of stipend support at levels determined by the NIH IRP guidelines and commensurate with experience. Additional benefits include health insurance, a travel allowance and professional development training activities, including a monthly seminar series designed specifically for the fellows. The professional development opportunities provide a rich forum for the exchange of ideas among this diverse group and are often cited by current fellows and alumni as one of the most valuable aspects of the program. For more information about the NIGMS PRAT program, including details about applying and identifying potential preceptors, please e-mail me.

You may be interested in these recent funding opportunity announcements: NIGMS Program of Administrative Supplements for Equipment (PA-15-089) Purpose: Request supplemental funds to existing NIGMS-funded R01, R37, P01, and U01 grants for the purchase of single pieces of equipment whose direct costs are between $50,000 and $250,000 Application due date: March 3, 2015 NIGMS contact: Anthony Carter, 301-594-0943 NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00) (PA-15-083) Purpose: Help postdoctoral researchers complete mentored training; transition to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions; and launch competitive, independent research careers Application due date: Standard dates apply NIGMS contacts: Oleg Barski, PPBC, 301-594-3827 Paula Flicker, CBB, 301-594-0828 Michelle Hamlet, GDB, 301-594-0943 Stephen Marcus, BBCB, 301-594-2987 Michael Sesma, TWD, 301-594-3900 Biomedical Big Data Training

• NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Enhancing Diversity in Biomedical Data Science (R25) (RFA-MD-15-005) Purpose: Provide undergraduate students from underrepresented groups hands-on exposure to big data research experiences; obtain professional training and skills in big data science

Letter of intent due date: February 19, 2015 Application due date: March 19, 2015

• NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Biomedical Data Science Training Coordination Center (U24) (RFA-ES-15-004)Purpose: Develop a network of scientists involved in biomedical big data science and produce a discovery index that serves as a primary source for personalized access to publicly available biomedical data science educational resources

• NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Initiative Research Education: Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Data Management for Biomedical Big Data (R25) (RFA-LM-15-001)Purpose: Develop an open, online educational course that covers a comprehensive set of topics related to the management of biomedical big data

• NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Initiative Research Education: Open Educational Resources for Sharing, Annotating and Curating Biomedical Big Data (R25)(RFA-LM-15-002)Purpose: Develop open educational resources that cover concepts, approaches, relevant use cases and requirements for sharing, annotating and curating biomedical big data

Letter of intent due date: February 17, 2015 Application due date: March 17, 2015

NIGMS supports research in certain clinical areas, primarily those that affect multiple organ systems. To help investigators plan and prepare for clinical research projects, we offer planning grants for clinical trials of high relevance to the NIGMS mission. These planning grants, which we discussed in an earlier Feedback Loop post, can be used to develop management strategies and assemble regulatory documents for large-scale clinical trials.

We recently reissued the funding opportunity announcement for these planning grants. The next application deadline is December 18, with optional letters of intent due by November 18.

If you’re interested in applying for a clinical trial planning grant, we strongly recommend that you consult with the appropriate NIGMS program staff  before you apply to determine whether the goal of the proposed trial aligns with the NIGMS mission and scientific priorities.

For more information, see our Clinical Studies and Trials Web page, which includes links to other useful resources like the NIGMS Guidelines for Data and Safety Monitoring in Clinical Trials. In addition, please note that NIH recently revised its definition of “clinical trial” to make a clearer distinction between clinical trials and clinical research studies and to enhance the precision of the clinical trial information NIH collects, tracks and reports.

If you have any questions about NIGMS’ support of clinical trials, please contact me.

NIGMS and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research are leading the new NIH Common Fund glycoscience program that is focused on the development of accessible and affordable tools and technologies for studying carbohydrates and their functions. The overall objective is to enable researchers in all biomedical fields to dramatically advance understanding of the roles of these complex molecules in health and disease. The NIH Common Fund recently issued four funding opportunity announcements from this program:

• Data Integration and Analysis Tools: Accessible Resources for Integration and Analysis of Carbohydrate and Glycoconjugate Structural, Analytical, and Interaction Data in the Context of Comparable Gene, Protein, and Lipid Data (R34)
• Novel and Innovative Tools to Facilitate Identification, Tracking, Manipulation, and Analysis of Glycans and their Functions (U01)
• Novel and Innovative Tools to Facilitate Identification, Tracking, Manipulation, and Analysis of Glycans and their Functions (R21)
• Facile Methods and Technologies for Synthesis of Biomedically Relevant Carbohydrates (U01)

The application deadline for each announcement is December 10, with optional letters of intent due by November 10. For more information about the glycoscience program, view the technical assistance Webinar or contact either one of us at sheeleyd@mail.nih.gov or marinop@nigms.nih.gov.

In February, we asked for input on training activities relevant to enhancing data reproducibility, which has become a very serious issue for both basic and clinical research. The responses revealed that there is substantial variation in the training occurring at institutions. One reason is that “best practices” training in skills that influence data reproducibility appears to be largely passed down from generation to generation of scientists working in the laboratory. To increase the likelihood that researchers generate reproducible, unbiased and properly validated results, NIGMS and nine additional NIH components have issued a funding opportunity announcement to develop, pilot and disseminate training modules to enhance data reproducibility. Appropriate areas for the modules include experimental design, laboratory practices, analysis and reporting of results, and/or the influence of cultural factors such as confirmation bias in hypothesis testing or the scientific rewards system. The modules should be creative, engaging, readily accessible online at no cost and easily incorporated into research training programs for the intended audience, which includes graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and beginning faculty. The application deadline is November 20, 2014, with letters of intent due by October 20, 2014. Applicants may request up to $150,000 in total costs to cover the entire award period. For more details, read the FAQs.

You may be interested in these recent funding opportunity announcements (FOAs): Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (IDeA-CTR) (U54) (PAR-14-303) Purpose: Develop infrastructure and other resources to conduct clinical and translational research in IDeA-eligible states Letter of intent due date: 30 days prior to the application due date Application due dates: October 8, 2014; September 30, 2015; September 30, 2016 NIGMS contact: J. Rafael Gorospe, 301-435-0832 The NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository (U42) (RFA-GM-15-005) Purpose: Maintain the current collection of NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository cell cultures and DNA samples; acquire, characterize and expand high-quality cell samples; and distribute cell lines and DNA isolated from them to qualified biomedical researchers Application due date: October 1, 2014 NIGMS contact: Michael Bender, 301-594-0943

You may be interested in these recent funding opportunity announcements (FOAs): IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) [P20] (PAR-14-233) Purpose: Augment and strengthen the biomedical research capacity of an IDeA-eligible state Letter of intent due date: 30 days prior to the application due date Application due dates: July 29, 2014; May 27, 2015; May 26, 2016 NIGMS contact: Krishan K. Arora, 301-594-3900 Pharmacogenomics Knowledge Base (R24) (RFA-GM-15-002) Purpose: Develop a high-impact pharmacogenomics knowledge base that serves as a research resource available to the entire scientific community Letter of intent due date: 30 days prior to the application due date Application due date: October 7, 2014 NIGMS contact: Rochelle Long, 301-594-3827

You may be interested in these recent funding opportunity announcements (FOAs): NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) Awards (U01) (RFA-OD-14-005) Purpose: Facilitate and accelerate the translation of biomedical innovations into commercial products that improve patient care and enhance health Letter of intent due date: May 26, 2014 Application due date: June 26, 2014 NIH contact: Kurt W. Marek, 301-443-8778 Limited Competition: Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III - Transitional Centers (P30) (PAR-14-178) Purpose: Transition the core resources and biomedical research activities of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) into independence and sustainability Application due dates: June 30, 2014; May 26, 2015; May 26, 2016 NIGMS contact: Rafael Gorospe, 301-435-0832 Enabling Resources for Pharmacogenomics (R24) (PAR-14-185) Purpose: Support critical enabling resources that will accelerate new research discoveries and/or the implementation of research discoveries in pharmacogenomics Letter of intent due date: 30 days prior to the application due date Application due dates: September 25, 2014; September 25, 2015; September 25, 2016 NIGMS contact: Rochelle Long, 301-594-3827 Administrative Supplements for Research on Dietary Supplements (Admin Supp) (PAR-14-201) Purpose: Provide supplemental funding to investigate the role of dietary supplements and/or their ingredients in health maintenance and disease prevention Application due dates: October 15, 2014; January 15, 2015; April 15, 2015 NIGMS contact: Scott Somers, 301-594-3827

You may be interested in the following announcements: Undiagnosed Diseases Gene Function Research (R21) (RFA-RM-14-005) Purpose: Investigate the underlying genetics, biochemistry and/or pathophysiology of newly diagnosed diseases in association with the respective gene variant(s) identified through the Undiagnosed Diseases Network Letter of intent due date: May 23, 2014 Application due date: June 23, 2014 NIGMS contact: Donna Krasnewich, 301-594-0943 NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (R25) (RFA-NS-14-010) Purpose: Enhance biomedical research workforce diversity through the development of creative educational activities primarily focused on research experiences, skills development courses and mentoring activities Letter of intent due date: April 28, 2014 Application due date: May 28, 2014 NIH contact: Michelle D. Jones-London, 301-451-7966 Request for Information: Current Clinical Questions in Post-Resuscitation Hypothermia (NOT-GM-14-112) Purpose: Provide feedback on the clinical research questions that need to be answered surrounding post-resuscitation therapeutic hypothermia Response due date: May 30, 2014 Send responses to: Jeremy Brown, 301-594-2755