January 3, 2023

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Research Professionals Town Hall: New Year, New CRU (Scheduling)

Join us on January 10

Please join us for the next Research Professionals (RP) Town Hall on January 10. Light refreshments will be served. 

Date and Time: January 10, noon–1:00 p.m. 

Location: In-person in LCH room 11-150 and virtually via Microsoft Teams (passcode: b4sddJ)

January's RP Town Hall will feature the Clinical Research Unit (CRU) and its new visit-scheduling process. The following topics will be presented: 

• Support Service and Research Administration Office announcements
• New Year, New CRU (Scheduling) presented by Katie Keeley and Christa Martinez Bran

Improving Mentoring Skills, Hosted by NUCATS 

Slated for January 11  

The Northwestern University Clinical and Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Institute is hosting a session, “Being an Ally and a Sponsor,” as part of its 2022–2023 Developing and Enhancing Mentoring Relationships Series. The workshops are exclusively for faculty and will feature an open-discussion format, breakout groups, and hypothetical case scenarios to help participants identify strategies to strengthen their mentoring skills. The next session will be held on January 11 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. via Zoom (registration required). Attendance is limited to 50 participants. To learn more and register, visit the Series site.   

Workshop Your Research Ideas at the 4I's Sessions

Next session is scheduled for January 17

Initiate, Inquire, Innovate, Inspire (4I’s) sessions are expanding across all pillars. This series is a space for individuals across the research institute (faculty, trainees, and research professionals) to workshop their research ideas and works in progress and gain exposure to new skills and methods.

Sign up for a 15-minute spot using this shared spreadsheet. The next session is scheduled for January 17 from 11:00 a.m. to noon.

We seek to use the 4I’s series in alignment with Manne Research Institute efforts to establish communities of practice for Basic Science; Clinical and Community Trials; Community, Population Health, and Outcomes; and Quantitative Sciences. Contact Roman Gomez with questions.

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine’s Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center is offering classes listed below. Manne Research Institute faculty and staff will want to note the upcoming class on NIH Policies for Data Management and Sharing.

• Conducting a Systematic Review: Part 1—Planning the Process: January 17, noon 
• Endnote: January 18, noon
• PubMed: January 25, noon
• Getting to Know the NIH Policy on Data Management and Sharing: January 26, 10:00 a.m.  

All times are CT. Click on the class links for descriptions and to register. Classes fill up quickly and registration is recommended. Classes meet for approximately one hour and are free to affiliates of the Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center. Many of the classes are available by request to Feinberg School of Medicine faculty, staff, students, and residents. For a complete list of available classes, click here. Galter Health Sciences Library & Learning Center services and resources are available to Lurie Children’s researchers with a Feinberg faculty appointment.

Email [email protected] for more information.

January 19 REAL Training: An Introduction to the New Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute Website: Tips for Easy Navigation

Please join us for a Research Education at Lurie Children’s (REAL) Training on the new Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute website. During this session, the research education team will showcase where to easily access research support resources, find programs, and identify collaborators. Research educators will provide a tutorial based on pillar and role when navigating the new website. We also look forward to providing opportunities for researchers and staff to contribute feedback to help shape subsequent phases of the website. In addition, this training will highlight the new Research Resource Hub where resources and documents for internal use will be maintained.

Date and Time: January 19, 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual and in-person at the Simpson-Querrey Auditorium. Register in Workday via the link below. 

Questions: Contact Office of Research Development 

Registration is Open for NUCATS Institute's Responsible Conduct of Research Course

Registration is open for the next Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) course offering. The course takes place from February 2 to April 20 on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. (12 classes). Seven classes will be held online via Zoom and five will be in-person only. Postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty who have received NIH training or career development awards are required to complete the RCR series, which provides an overview of the principles and expectations of conducting research ethically and responsibly. View the syllabus.

Research Technician I (Finer Lab)

The Gal Finer lab is seeking a Research Technician I. The Finer lab studies congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). CAKUT is the leading cause of renal failure in children worldwide. Understanding what causes CAKUT is a necessary first step to devising regenerative solutions to chronic kidney disease. Dr. Finer's research focuses on studying the molecular mechanisms that lead to CAKUT, particularly, how renal progenitor cells differentiate to specific cell types that constitute the normal kidney.

The current research project is focused on the kidney stroma, which plays multiple important roles in kidney development. However, it is unclear how the renal stroma orchestrates its various functions. Dr. Finer’s lab has recently shown that the transcription factor Tcf21 plays a critical role in formation of the kidney stroma. The project aims to understand signals essential for normal kidney development as part of a global effort to devise regenerative solutions for kidney diseases. Learn more or apply.

OSP Reminders for NIH Proposal February and March Deadlines

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is currently planning for the NIH proposal deadlines in February and March. Staff are reminded of the 10- and 2-day proposal review and submission policy. Additionally, to help with your planning, you are encouraged to review the matrix of the Scientific Peer Review (SPR) and OSP deadlines based on the standing NIH due dates.

Finally, with a large number of proposals already in the queue, it is imperative that you alert OSP immediately as new proposal plans develop. It is especially important in situations where Lurie Children’s will be acting as a sub to another institution’s prime proposal. This will help provide you with the best service possible for your submission needs.

Call for Proposals for Genomics Network Pilot Project Funding

Deadline for Letters of Intent is January 9

The Genomics Network (GeNe) builds on the rich resources and collaborative culture of Lurie Children’s to accelerate outstanding innovative projects in clinical genetics and genomics to improve patient health and quality of life. The GeNe Pilot Project funding opportunity for 2023 will provide support of two independent $75,000 awards. The GeNe Pilot Project application process for 2023 will align with the NIH R21 application format. Interdisciplinary Lurie Children's clinicians, researchers, and faculty are encouraged to submit a proposal. Junior faculty are encouraged to apply with mentorship from a senior colleague. Collaboration with Northwestern University colleagues is permitted.

For 2023, we are requesting a mandatory Letter of Intent. All Letters of Intent will be reviewed by the GeNe committee and eight will be invited to submit a full application.

2023 Funding Timeline

• Deadline for receipt of the mandatory Letter of Intent: January 9
• Invitations sent for full applications: late February
• Deadline for submission of invited full applications: April 3
• Awardees announced: June
• Funding awarded: July 1

Direct all questions to [email protected].

NUCATS KL2 Career Development Program RFA Announced

Letters of Intent due February 1

The NUCATS Multidisciplinary Career Development Program (KL2) is an NCATS-sponsored career development award supporting early-career faculty at Northwestern. Current KL2 Request for Applications key dates are listed below:  

• February 1—Letters of Intent deadline  
• March 1—Application deadline  
• July 1—Funds available 

Scholars from diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more.  

Content submitted for this bi-weekly Manne Research Institute Events & Opportunities update, including educational opportunities, funding and recognition deadlines, and job postings, will be published in the next available communication. The Manne Research Institute Newsletter is published monthly and includes staff additions and promotions, research highlights and achievements, media mentions, and more. To submit content for these communications, please use this link. Newsletter content should be submitted by the last business day of each month. You can also visit the Research Communications page for archived updates, newsletters, and additional resources.