MGH Research News for August 23, 2024

August 23, 2024

Announcements, events, funding opportunities and more news for the Mass General Research Institute community.

In this edition:

(Scroll down for more info and click on the links for additional details)

Funding Opportunities

NEW Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Foundation 2024
CORT Pilot & Feasibility Award
NIMH Instrumentation Program
Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pilot Study Grants
Limited Submission Funding
Foundation Funding Opportunities

Announcements:

Secondary Mentorship Program for Diverse Research Faculty
Pathways to Science Mentors for Bunker Hill Community College Students
Anaconda Software
Call for Posters, Clinical Research Day

Events:

NEW Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials
Managing up! How to work effectively with your PI
Interacting with Participants Workshop
NEW Managing Multiple Studies- what's the plan?
MGB Cancer Forum
Speed Mentoring Hour
NEW MGB Gene and Cell Therapy Institute: Monthly Speaker Series
The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention Annual Conference
2024 Postdoctoral Retreat
Interacting with Participants Workshop
4th Annual Conference on Precision Psychiatry
HMS Teaching Requirement and Fulfilling Ways to Fulfill It
Women in Medicine and Science Symposium 2024
MGH Research Core Day
NEW Northeast Symposium on Biomedical Optics
MGRI & Chen Research Symposium
2024 Virtual Tumor Course
MGH New Faculty Orientation
Mentoring the Mentors Workshop
Two Meditation Sessions available every week

NEW Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Foundation 2024

The Margaret Q. Landenberger Research Foundation is a non-profit private foundation which focuses its support on promising early-stage medical researchers engaged in projects with the potential to result in understanding an important disease process or leading to a new therapeutic intervention. The ideal candidate is affiliated with an outstanding medical research institution and works under the supervision of experienced mentors. The goal is to assist these individuals by funding their current research, with the hope of enabling them to acquire more significant funding. The Landenberger Foundation does not restrict our support to any particular disease or medical condition.

MGH is eligible to nominate one candidate.

MGH Internal Prelimiary Deadline: Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 5:00 pm

Learn more

CORT Pilot & Feasibility Award

The Center of Research Translation on Osteoporosis Bone Anabolic Therapies (CORT), based in the Endocrine Unit at MGH, and funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (NIAMS) P50 mechanism is announcing a request for Pilot and Feasibility Research proposals ($30,000/year direct costs plus 15% indirect costs). This announcement is directed to faculty proposing highly focused research projects that address mechanisms of action of osteoporosis bone anabolic therapies using preclinical or clinical models. Specifically, pilot and feasibility funding is encouraged to be used to support development of novel technologies that contribute to this goal. Awardees will be expected to present progress to CORT members biannually and provide a written annual report.

Letter of intent due: Friday, Sept 13

Learn more

NIMH Instrumentation Program

The NIMH Instrumentation Program (S10) encourages applications from NIH funded investigators that conduct mental health-related research to purchase or upgrade a single commercially available instrument or a group of components to create an instrument that is not commercially available. There is no maximum limit on the cost of the instrument, though the amount awarded by the NIH will be between $200,000 and $600,000. Examples of instruments that might be submitted under this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) include light microscopes, electron microscopes, spectrophotometers, and biomedical imagers.

If you are interested in applying for this grant, please fill out this NIMH S10 application and confirmation of endorsement form and return it to ecor@mgh.harvard.edu by Wednesday, September 4, 2024. We encourage applicants to continue working on their NIH application while ECOR reviews your internal LOI.

The NIH deadline for applications is October 9, 2024, so we would greatly appreciate your notification of interest as soon as possible.

Learn more

Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease Pilot/feasibility Study Grants

FUNDING POLICIES: Awards will be between $35,000-50,000 Direct Costs plus Indirect Costs. Recipients of PFS grants will be expected to utilize at least one CSIBD Biomedical Core CSIBD Cores (massgeneral.org), present the progress of their PFS during the CSIBD Annual Workshop and Symposium held in November, provide a written interim progress report during the first year of the project and a final progress report after the completion of the project, and acknowledge support from the CSIBD (P30DK043351) on presentations and manuscripts resulting from the PFS project.

DEADLINE: September 30th 2024

FUNDING PERIOD: Rolling 12 month period.

Learn more

Limited Submission Funding Opportunities

We ask that all MGH Investigators interested in applying for any limited submission award submit a Letter of Intent (see detailed instructions below) to the MGH Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) by the deadline indicated for each award to be considered to receive an institutional nomination.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See full details for all awards on our website.

NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 – Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) – NEW!

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/04/24

Learn more

NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – NEW!

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/04/24

Learn more

NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Required) – NEW!

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/04/24

Learn more

Polycystic Kidney Disease Core Centers (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – NEW!

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/16/24

Learn more

Foundation Funding Opportunities

Please contact Corporate & Foundation Relations in the Office of Development at devcfr@mgh.harvard.edu if you wish to submit a proposal in response to any of these opportunities. Note that proposals are still routed through the standard InfoEd/Research Management process.

For all open foundation funding announcements, see the MGB Innovation External Funding Database

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See this week’s full foundation funding announcements (including eligibility, RM deadlines, and IDC) on our website.

ASRM Discovery & Innovation Grant, American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). $350,000 (10% IDC). LOI Deadline: September 16
Expanding Theories Awards, Brain Tumour Charity (UK collaborator preferred but not required). ≈$196,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: September 11
Mechanisms Of Graft Acceptance In Clinical Islet Transplantation, Breakthrough T1D. $750,000 (10% IDC). LOI Deadline: September 17
Early Career Partners Grants (multiple opps), CHEST Foundation. $100,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: December 16
Research Fellowship Program, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF). $65,000 (IDC Exempt). LOI Deadline: August 11
Research Grants (multiple opps), Foundation for Women's Cancer (FWC)/Society of Gynecologic Oncology. $55,350 (10% IDC). Abstract Deadline: September 15
Rosalind Franklin Young Investigator Award (women only), Genetics Society of America (GSA). $75,000 (No IDC). Nomination Deadline: September 30
Charles H. Hood Foundation Child Health Research Awards Program, Health Resources in Action (HRiA)/The Medical Foundation. $200,000 (10% IDC). Application Deadline: October 7
NEW! Acellular Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion (EVLP) Research Grant, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT). $37,500 (10% IDC). Application Deadline: September 30
NEW! Novel Approaches for FDA Cleared Preservation Systems in Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) Heart Transplantation Research Grant, International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT). $75,000 (10% IDC). Application Deadline: September 30
Dermatology Career Development Award, Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). $150,000 (IDC Exempt). Eligibility Checklist Deadline: October 21
Established Investigators Academic-Industry Partnership Awards, Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). $375,000 (industry partner match required) (No IDC). Application Deadline: November 4
Established Investigator Awards (multiple opps), Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). $375,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: November 4
Pilot Awards (multiple opps), Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). $100,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: November 4
Team Science Academic-Industry Partnership Award (multiple opps), Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). $900,000 (industry partner match required) (No IDC). LOI Deadline: September 27
Team Science Awards (multiple opps), Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). $900,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: September 27
Young Investigator Awards (multiple opps), Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA). $255,000 (IDC Exempt). Eligibility Checklist Deadline: October 21
Research Awards & Grants (multiple opps), Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA). $150,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: September 16
Mary O'Flaherty Horn Scholars in General Internal Medicine for Junior Clinician-Educators, Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM). $60,000 (institutional match required) (Unspecified IDC). Nomination Deadline: January 21

Do you want to learn more about identifying external funding opportunities? Please click here to request a research consultation with Amy Robb or see ECOR’s website for information on the Pivot database.

Secondary Mentorship Program for Diverse Research Faculty

This program aims to support four junior research faculty at MGH from historically under-represented groups through a dedicated secondary mentor in research. In addition to helping the tenure-track faculty member adjust to the environment of Mass General, the secondary mentor is available to provide another perspective on questions related to scholarly expectations and progress, work/life balance, and personal issues.

Applications are due Monday, September 9th, 2024. Apply here: https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/surveys/?s=EN9EFNNMHXH9JA74

Learn More

Seeking Pathways to Science and Medicine Mentors

for Promising Bunker Hill Community College Students

The Pathways to Science and Medicine (PSM) Workshops and Mentoring Program is a joint initiative with Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), Mass General Postdoc Association, Harvard Medical Postdoc Association (HMPA), and MGH Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI). The purpose of the program is to further expose BHCC students to diverse career paths within the fields of science and medicine by way of workshops and mentoring.

When: Spring Semester October 2024 through December 2024

Communications Tool(s): Teams, Zoom or Phone

Learn more

Anaconda Software - Update from Digital

Background:

Anaconda software is used by many researchers to simplify use of Python. The company changed their licensing model in 2020 to significantly limit use of the free tier. Anaconda recently informed MGB that we appeared to have many users of this product that require the purchase of a paid license.

What’s changed:

Mass General Brigham is no longer eligible to use the free tier. From Anaconda’s website “Nonprofit entities with over 200 employees or contractors require a paid license of Anaconda Business or Enterprise.”

Learn more

Call for Posters, Clinical Research Day

The Division of Clinical Research would like to thank you for participating in this year’s Clinical Research Day (CRD). Abstract submission is now closed. We have begun accepting poster submissions. The abstract book will be compiled and available at CRD on October 10, 2024.

Poster Submission is due by Sunday, September 15, 2024.

An astounding 220 submissions have expressed interest in presenting a poster this year. This is a truly heartening level of interest that aptly exemplifies the strength of the research community here at MGH.

See these events and more on the calendar of events

NEW Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials

August 23, 2024, 12:00 am, Virtual

The purpose of this online course in clinical trial design is to introduce the theory and practice of clinical trials. The design and conduct of clinical research will be reviewed in detail in order to enable course participants to plan, propose, and develop effective clinical trials. Essentials of clinical trials including specific trial designs (Phase I-IV), patient recruitment and selection, patient informed consent, designing and writing study protocols, managing the ongoing operations of a clinical trial, and trial regulatory issues will be reviewed and analyzed. You will be responsible for attending course sessions and will actively engage in case analyses, written work, discussions, and in topical break-out sessions. During the course, you will be required to design, develop and present a clinical trial of your own choosing.

Learn Something New: Managing up! How to work effectively with your PI

August 28, 2024, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Virtual

As study coordinators at MGH, we work with very busy clinician-scientists. In this session, we’ll discuss what you can do to manage your relationship with your PI and work effectively with them.

Learn Something New: Interacting with Participants Workshop

August 29, 2024, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Virtual

Interacting with study participants can be daunting. In this workshop, you will learn and practice skills such as approaching potential participants in outpatient clinics, assisting in consent discussions, and making recruitment phone calls.

Moderators:

Jamie Quinkert, PhD, Program Director, Center for Clinical Research Education, DCR. Maryam Masood, Clinical Research Project/Program Manager, Neurology, MGH Vidya Iyer, Executive Director, Operations and Finance, DCR Evelyn Greaux, Program Manager, MGH Diabetes Research Center Kim E. Pena Del Aguila, Clinical Trial Office Manager, Neurology, MGH Francine Molay, Senior Project Manager, Division of Clinical Research, MGH

NEW Learn Something New: Managing Multiple Studies- what's the plan?

September 6, 2024, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Virtual

Speaker: Maryam Masood, Clinical Research Project/Program Manager, Neurology, MGH

As study coordinators, we are often responsible for managing many studies that are all running at once. What do you do? In this session, we’ll discuss tips and tricks for keeping track of all your studies and managing your workload.

MGB Cancer Forum

September 9, 2024, 12:00 -1:00 pm, Virtual

We are delighted to launch the MGB Cancer Forum “snap-talk” series, which will be held virtually, starting September 9, 2024, and then on the first and third Monday of each month from 12:00-1pm (with alternative dates for holidays).

This new series builds on the past three years of success with the popular MGH Cancer Forum, which we are now expanding as an introductory, community-building zoom seminar series across MGB Cancer. Our format involves three 12-minute talks, each followed by a moderated Q/A. Speakers for the MGB Cancer Forum are drawn from lab-based cancer research faculty at MGH and BWH, with the goal of including all investigators at our institutions within a two-to-three-year rotation.

Speed Mentoring Hour

September 12, 2024, 1:00 - 2:00, Virtual

Every month, two mentor leaders from different departments will answer your questions about any aspect of being a mentee or mentor. You do not need to be in the same department as the leaders—this event is open to faculty across MGH, but registration is required. Come ready with your questions and be ready to learn not only from the senior mentoring leaders but also from fellow attendees.

This session is scheduled for September 12, 1 – 2 pm, with Joshua Goldstein, MD, PhD, Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, Emergency Medicine; and Narasaiah “Nara” Gavini, PhD, MPhil, Associate Provost for Research, MGH Institute of Health Professions.

Mentor leaders will meet with up to 8 faculty members, each given 7-8 minutes to ask questions on any aspect of mentoring or being mentored and receive input from the mentor leaders.

NEW MGB Gene and Cell Therapy Institute: Monthly Speaker Series

Tuesday, September 17th, 1:00-2:00pm, Virtual

Mentor leaders will meet with up to 8 faculty members, each given 7-8 minutes to ask questions on any aspect of mentoring or being mentored and receive input from the mentor leaders.

The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) Annual Conference

September 18, 2024, 9:00 – 2:00 PM, Virtual

The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University is the NIH’s newest practice-based center for suicide research. We are a multidisciplinary center aimed at advancing and implementing innovative research. The CSRP is hosting a free, virtual conference that aims to share the expertise of scientists, clinicians, and community leaders shaping the future of suicide prevention. The event will be held virtually on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 from 9 AM – 2 PM EST via Zoom.

2024 Postdoctoral Retreat

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, MGB Assembly Row

The Center for Faculty Development’s Postdoctoral Division and the Mass General Postdoc Association has organized a one-day retreat on Sept 19 for Mass General Postdocs in honor of Postdoc Appreciation Week. The retreat will take place at MGB Assembly Row in Somerville (339 Revolution Dr, Somerville, MA 02145). Since this event will be in-person, there will be a cap on the number of postdocs that can attend. Please register using the link below if you are interested in attending.

10th Annual World Medical Innovation Forum

September 23-25, 2024

Presented by Mass General Brigham and Bank of America, the 2024 World Medical Innovation Forum will focus on three major investment and scientific growth areas—oncology, rare disease, and immunology and inflammation. At the Forum, you’ll have direct access to speakers and peers including dozens of leading CEOs, senior investors, entrepreneurs, government officials, and prominent Harvard clinicians and scientists.

We look forward to welcoming you to Boston—the hub of biotech—and the state-of-the-art meeting center at the top-rated Encore Boston Harbor September 23–25.

The Lowdown on the HMS Teaching Requirement and Fulfilling Ways to Fulfill It

September 24, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Attend this panel discussion to gain clarity on what constitutes teaching and awareness of existing opportunities and ways to grow as a teacher. The goal of this session is for faculty to develop meaningful and fulfilling teaching responsibilities.

Panelists:

Bernard S. Chang, MD, Dean for Medical Education

Grace C. Huang, MD, Dean for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Medicine, HMS

Alberto Puig, MD, PhD, FACP, SFHM, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education and the Morton Swartz MD Academy Associate Professor of Medicine, HMS

Rosalind Segal, MD, PhD, Dean for Graduate Education and Professor of Neurobiology, HMS

Women in Medicine and Science Symposium and Marcela del Carmen Lecture 2024

September 25, 2024, 3:00 - 6:00 PM, Simches Research Building 2nd floor

The Women in Medicine and Science Symposium highlights the achievements of women faculty and trainees at Brigham and Women’s and Mass General Hospitals. The Symposium celebrates the accomplishments of women faculty and trainees across different disciplines – including basic science, clinical and translational research, clinical innovation, and education – with the goal of strengthening the MGB community.

Marcela del Carmen Lecture Keynote speaker: Jill Goldstein, PhD, MPH

MGH Research Core Day

September 26, 2024, 2:00 - 4:00 pm – CNY Building 149, Conference Room A

Please join the Research Community in learning more about the Cores! Cores from other institutions are welcomed to join! Light refreshments and a raffle will be provided.

Please contact researchmanagement@mgh.harvard.edu if you have any questions, or if you would like to register your core. General attendees do NOT need to register for this event.

4th Annual Conference on Precision Psychiatry

Innovation to Implementation

September 26-27, 2024

The Annual Conference on Precision Psychiatry, hosted by the MGH Center for Precision Psychiatry, is becoming a leading venue for showcasing advances in the application of precision medicine approaches to psychiatric research and clinical practice. The Conference will be held virtually over the course of two days: Thursday, September 26th and Friday, September 27th, 2024.

Earn 7 continued education credits for participating this year!

NEW Northeast Symposium on Biomedical Optics

Tuesday, October 15, 2024, MIT Building E25, Cambridge, MA

NESBO is a symposium organized by and for postdocs and graduate students. The symposium features invited research talks in the general area of biomedical imaging and sensing. It offers a unique opportunity to network, build professional skills, and gain insights into diverse research areas and facilities in biomedical optics across the northeast region. This year's sessions will spotlight cutting-edge research in biomedical optics from invited institutions.

NESBO also features:

Poster competition (with prizes!): Showcase your research!
Panel discussion: Learn about career paths in academia vs. industry.
Networking event: Socialize with fellow scientists at a nearby venue (food and drinks provided!).

All graduate students and postdocs are welcome to register (for free!) whether you're already in the field of biomedical optics or just looking to learn more.

MGRI & Chen Research Symposium

October 16, 2024, 9:00 - 12:00 PM, Simches Research Center

Learn how researchers and clinicians are using the latest in artificial intelligence technology to advance our understanding of disease, improve patient care and streamline healthcare delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital, in the communities we serve and across the globe.

2024 Virtual Tumor Course

October 28, 2024 – Thursday, October 31, 2024

39th Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis and Immunology

For comprehensive information about this course, including faculty, schedule, and pricing, please visit the 39th Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis and Immunology website

The “39th Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis and Immunology” course will continue to offer the best in critical analysis of what is currently known about the tumor microenvironment, angiogenesis, metastasis, immunology. This will include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, tumor metabolism, and the role of microbiome.

MGH New Faculty Orientation

Tuesday, October 29, 2024, 12:00 – 2:00 pm, O’Keeffe

An opportunity for new (and established) faculty to learn about the various offices and networks that support our clinical and research faculty. While this is designed for those who are new to the MGH faculty, all faculty members are welcome to attend.

This in-person, two‐hour session is designed to provide an overview of the MGH environment and faculty resources focusing on:

MGH and MGPO
Center for Faculty Development
Key Executive Committees
Important resources such as EAP and Harvard Catalyst

Mentoring the Mentors Workshop

October 28-29, 2024

The 2-day in person workshop features didactic and interactive sessions on practical tips for mentoring including sessions on the meaning of mentorship, leadership styles, emotional intelligence, distance mentoring, team-based mentoring, individual development plans, funding sources for mentoring efforts, time managemenet and teaching work-life balance to mentees.