In this edition:

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

Funding Opportunities

• Interim Support Funding 23-3
• Simcere-MGB Collaboration 
• Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine
• Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research 2023
• Limited Submission Funding
• Foundation Funding Opportunities

Announcements:

• NEW New Research Information Security Officer
• NEW Genomic Medicine in Clinical Practice Course
• New Mass General Brigham Policy on Data Sharing
• Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials
• MGH 20th Annual Clinical Research Day Invitations
• ChemDraw Software
• Mathworks Training

Events:

• MGH Postdoc Retreat
• Research Administrators Retreat
• NEW Research Tech Talk
• 2023 Virtual Tumor Course: Registration Now Open
• Meditation Sessions available every week

Interim Support Funding 23-3

What are they?

The Interim Support Funding (ISF) Program is open to Principal Investigators during a lapse or delay in their research funding from the NIH or another Federal agency (e.g., the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense). Investigators must have applied for independent, long-term support (R01, R21, U01 and P01). The intent of the program is to rescue strong scientific programs that are in need of bridge funding in order to sustain their research. Applications will be accepted regardless of percentile or score, including applications that were not discussed.

When is the deadline?

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - 5:00 PM

Simcere-MGB Collaboration 

The Simcere-MGB collaboration is an exclusive program with MGB aimed toward supporting early-stage projects across immunology, oncology and neurology. With this program, Simcere aims to fund cutting-edge research to support new discoveries that can deepen the research community’s knowledge in these areas and support future developments for patients. 

Awarded projects will receive:

• $250,000 research funding (including institutional indirect costs, the standard IDC for non-clinical industry SRA would apply) for 12 months
• Simcere R&D expertise and guidance

Research areas of interest: immunology, oncology and neurology. Please see details in the attached flyer. Please note: the number of bullets under each disease area is not indicative of a level of interest or priority – all areas are of equal interest to Simcere. 

Application Process (Please see the timeline in the attached flyer for more details) :

• July 21, 2023: Deadline for PIs to submit a non-confidential pre-proposal, along with an up-to-date CV, to Innovation at phsstrategicalliances@partners.org for review
• Please develop a pre-proposal using the attached template
• Note: The template allows for up to 5-pages, but 1-2 pages will be sufficient for the pre-proposal stage
• July 28, 2023: Deadline for the Innovation Office to submit approved pre-proposals and CVs to Simcere.
• Note: No third-party collaborators will be permitted.

Please reach out to Mark Fulton (mfulton3@partners.org) for further information.

Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine

The Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine, presented by the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals – part of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development – honors a physician-scientist who has moved science forward with notable achievements in innovation, creativity and potential for clinical application.

This annual prize includes:

• An unrestricted $20,000 honorarium
• The Harrington Prize Lecture, delivered at the 2024 AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting
• Lecture at the 2024 Harrington Discovery Institute Symposium
• A personal essay, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation

This prize requires an institutional nomination; however, MGH is not limited in the number of nominees we can submit. If you are interested, please contact MGH ECOR at ecor@partners.org by August 1, 2023 to be considered.

Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research 2023

What are they?

"For over two decades, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation has provided significant financial support to some incredibly promising physician scientists, who are applying novel and state-of-the-art techniques to address fundamental problems in the genesis and treatment of blood related cancers. Since 1996, the Foundation has committed more than $40 million in grants to over 300 junior faculty members at the nation’s leading institutions."

MGH is eligible to nominate a maximum of two candidates - one in the mainstream/conventional medical research category and one in the integrative medical research category.

How much is the award?

The award will be for three-year period at $75,000.00 per year (including 10% IDC), contingent on the submission of acceptable annual progress reports.

When is the deadline?  

MGH letter of intent deadline: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 5:00pm

Full application to sponsor: Friday, September 15, 2023

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.

Cabot Family Charitable Trust Grants

The Trust makes grant awards twice a year to nonprofit organizations in the city of Boston and contiguous communities, as well as to organizations in which Cabot family members maintain philanthropic interest. Awards are put to work in the areas of arts and culture, education and youth development, environment and conservation, health and human services, and for civic and public benefit. Within these fields, as appropriate, the trustees prefer programs mainly serving youth and young adults, with a special interest in programs focused on ensuring the healthy growth and development of infants and young children, as a foundation for their future success.

MGH LOI Deadline: 7/14/23

Sponsor Application Deadline: 9/01/23

Learn more

NIH Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research. 

To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this NOFO will support educational activities with a primary focus on:

• Courses for Skills Development
• Research Experiences
• Mentoring Activities

MGH LOI Deadline: 7/26/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 8/26/23

NIH Application Deadline: 9/26/23

Learn more

Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases (R25 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research. 

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/05/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/25/23

NIH Application Deadline: 10/25/23

Learn more

Cummings $25 Million Grant Programs

Award Amount:

• First-time and returning recipients: $30,000-$300,000 paid over 3 years
• Returning recipients: $300,000-$1 million paid over 10 years

The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program funds a wide variety of local causes, especially those related to human services, education, healthcare, and social justice. While not in any way minimizing the value or importance of organizations focused on the arts (including dance, music, and theater), culture, environment, athletics, or the preservation of land or historic buildings, these areas are not among this program's priorities. To ensure that funds benefit a wide variety of causes, the Foundation limits the number of grants awarded each year to independent organizations affiliated with the same national organization (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA).

MGH LOI Deadline: 8/04/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/09/23

NIH Application Deadline: 12/22/23

Learn more

Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases (R25 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research. 

To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on:

• Courses for Skills Development
• Research Experiences

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/05/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/25/23

NIH Application Deadline: 10/25/23

Learn more

The Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Awards – NEW!

The Award will support individual postdoctoral scientists of exceptional creativity in the field of neurosciences. These transitional awards are to enable a postdoctoral researcher to advance to become a full-time faculty member at the Assistant Professor level or higher and to promote the development of a laboratory program that will lead to independent funding.

Eligibility:

• Must have an MD, PhD, or both
• Must hold a post-doctoral research position at a United States medical school, research institute, or academic institution.
• Minimum of 3 years and no more than 6 years of a post-doctoral fellowship by July 1, 2024
• Research focused in the field of Neuroscience

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/06/23

Sponsor Application Deadline: 11/01/23

Learn more

EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement Program (National Science Foundation)

The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) fulfills the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide.

MGH LOI Deadline: 10/09/23

Sponsor Application Deadline: 12/06/23

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.



CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See full details for all awards on our website.

1. Daland Fellowships in Clinical Investigation, American Philosophical Society (APS). $80,000. Application Deadline: September 15
2. NEW! BRAIN Investigator RFP in Autism Research, Brain Foundation. $180,000. Application Deadline: August 1
3. NEW! Climate and Health Interdisciplinary Award, Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF). $375,000. LOI Deadline: August 31
4. Building Evidence for Effective Strategies to Increase Therapeutic Cancer Clinical Trial Accrual: Promoting Access for Patients from Underrepresented Groups, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). $2.5 million. LOI Deadline: September 15
5. NEW! Understanding How Health Insurance Affects Equity in Access to Care for Patients with and Survivors of Blood Cancer, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). $750,000. LOI Deadline: September 15
6. NEW! Clinical Research Support Grants, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation. $150,000. Application Deadline: August 31 

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.

NEW New Research Information Security Officer

We are pleased to announce that Heather Carter has been promoted to the Role of Research Information Security Officer, assuming the role from Fabio Martins who left MGB in May. 

Heather has worked at Mass General Brigham for 16 years and has been instrumental in developing and improving the Mass General Brigham Research Information Security Program procedures for the last five years. Heather has a Graduate Certificate in Information Security and Assurance, CIPP/E, GSEC, and GSNA. She has gained a wealth of knowledge from her daily interactions and has become the go-to for research information security questions. We are looking forward to Heather leading the Research Information Security Program and continuing to streamline processes for researchers.

NEW Genomic Medicine in Clinical Practice Course

August 2 - November 8

Genomics is a rapidly expanding field, with new research and applications branching into nearly every clinical specialty.

Genomic Medicine in Clinical Practice is geared towards clinicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, and medical students who are interested in learning more about the current and future applications of this field. 

This self-paced online course provides an overview, including family history collection and interpretation, fundamental genetic variations, laboratory selection and report analysis, indication-based and preventive testing options, and the ethical, legal, and cultural issues underpinning the field. ⁠

Learn how to integrate genetic testing into clinical care from clinical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors, and sub-specialists who will lead participants through instructional videos, practical exercises, discussion board activities, and assessments.

Registration ends July 24, 2023. 

New Mass General Brigham Policy on the Limitations and Restrictions for Data Sharing 

The new NIH DMS Policy (became effective January 25, 2023) promotes the sharing of scientific data, applies to all research that results in the generation of Scientific Data, and is funded in whole or in part by the NIH. 

Under this policy, the NIH recognizes that certain factors may limit the ability to preserve and share data. Mass General Brigham is releasing a systemwide policy that describes limitations and restrictions for sharing data when creating a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) as required by the NIH DMS Policy. The Mass General Brigham policy includes: 

• Legal and contractual limitations/restrictions for sharing data 
• Technical limitations to sharing data 
• Human data: ethical and legal limitations/restrictions on sharing 
• Animal data: ethical and legal limitations/restrictions on sharing 

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with this policy when writing your next DMS Plan. Links to the policy are available in the DMPTool MGB Template as well as the MGB Navigator page.   

Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials

Tuesdays and Thursdays: September 5 – November 2, 2023 | 5:00 – 6:30pm

Online via OpenCourses

Applications due August 26, 2023

The Division of Clinical Research Education Unit, in collaboration with the MGH Infectious Disease Unit and the Department of Psychiatry, is offering a thirteen-session intensive course, Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials (DCCT), this September through November.

Physicians with a serious interest in clinical trials will be introduced to theoretical and practical issues facing clinical researchers. Course participants will learn how to envision, plan, develop and execute effective clinical trials. Study content includes research designs, protocols, ethical patient recruitment, informed consent, regulations, and clinical trial management. The course is ideally suited for clinical fellows starting their research years, junior faculty pursuing careers in clinical research, and physicians with an interest in becoming more actively involved in clinical research.  

All participants are expected to use the course curriculum to develop and present a trial design at the final session of the course.  

Enrollment is limited to facilitate interaction and individual attention. To ensure placement in the course, early application is recommended. All applications will be reviewed after the August 26th deadline.

Contact tla@mgh.harvard.edu  with any questions. 

MGH 20th Annual Clinical Research Day 

October 12, 2023

Invitation to Submit Abstracts for MGH Clinical Research Day 2023

Abstract Submissions will open on June 1, 2023, with a deadline of July 15, 2023. 

Mandatory Criteria for Abstract Submissions:

Abstracts must be about clinical research or educational research conducted at MGH.

Mandatory Criteria for Award Consideration: Data must represent novel research results published or accepted for publication between September 2021 and July 2023.

All abstracts that present novel results from a clinical research or clinical education project will be considered for the hospital-wide awards: Clinical & Outcomes Research, Translational Research, Team and Health Professions Education Research. MGH Departments will also be giving monetary awards.

Please, submit abstracts here by July 15, 2023. 

Invitation to Submit Nominations for the Mary "Kay" Ryan Award for Excellence in Support of Clinical Research at MGH

The Mary "Kay" Ryan Award for Excellence in Support of Clinical Research at MGH was established in memory of Mary "Kay" Ryan, a dedicated member of the MGH Clinical Research community for 15 years, who died on July 6, 2017. Kay, as she was known to her colleagues, is remembered for her devotion to helping Clinical Research Investigators and Study Staff. She selflessly did her work under the radar while making MGH great. A $500 award will be presented on October 12, 2023, during MGH Clinical Research Day, to honor MGH Clinical Research Staff for exceptional service.

All full-time MGH Clinical Research Study Staff (study coordinators, research assistants, program/project managers, and research nurses) are eligible for the award. Nominees must be able to attend (virtually) Clinical Research Day on October 12th for presentation of the award. Anyone may provide a nomination - supervisor, co-worker or colleague. A committee of MGH Clinical Research Staff and Investigators will select the honoree.

Please, submit nominations here by September 1, 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact Tiereny Morrison-Rohlfs.

ChemDraw Software

ChemDraw licenses are offered at a discounted rate through the ERIS Research Computing Core. ChemDraw is a powerful, yet easy-to use, tool for producing chemical and biological drawings. You can create your own drawings or use those provided in the library of available templates.

This is a subscription service with an annual fee, which must be renewed each May 25th, to continue access. Once ordering you will receive an email with installation instructions (new users) or an activation code (renewals). Request through the ERIS Research Computing Core Service Catalog.

MathWorks Training

Online training is available, offered by MathWorks.

MGH Postdoc Retreat

Date: Sept 6, 2023 (8:30-6pm)

Location: MGB Assembly Row 

The Postdoctoral Division has organized a one-day retreat for Mass General Postdocs. Planned talks and events:

• Applying for Academic Faculty Positions
• Transitioning to Industry – Moderna HR rep will be present!
• Mock NIH Study Section
• Networking with MGH Faculty and Administrators

The event will be in-person and, therefore, will have a cap on the number of postdocs that can attend. Please click below to sign up if you are interested in attending.

Feel free to email pdd@partners.org if you have any more questions.

Research Administrators Retreat

Thursday, July 20, 8:30AM – 4:00PM

Keynote Speakers

1. Lindsey Baden, MD – VP, Clinical Research, BWH

2. Claire-Cecile Pierre, MD – Associate CMO, VP of Community Health, BWH

Where:

Assembly Row – MGB Headquarters

Target Audience:

MGB research and grant administrators, compliance professionals, protocol administrators, and other research administration staff.

We welcome those in the above roles across all MGB institutions.

Please note that there will be no virtual option for this event.

NEW Research Tech Talk

September 28, 2023

The next virtual Research Tech Talk is Thursday September 28th, 2023 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm. 

Topics:

• MGB Digital Information Security will provide updates, current and future initiatives.
• MGB Digital PEAS and Enterprise Mobility Management will present updates, current and future initiatives.

2023 Virtual Tumor Course

Tuesday, Oct. 24 to Friday Oct. 27, 2023

38TH CRITICAL ISSUES IN TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT, ANGIOGENESIS, METASTASIS AND IMMUNOLOGY

The 38th 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.

The internationally recognized faculty speakers will present their latest findings from the clinic and the lab and highlight key gaps in the knowledge of cancer and outline future directions for research at the bench, in the clinic, and in drug development.

The course will continue its four-day online webinar-based live lecture format. Learning formats will include didactic lectures, Q&A and group case discussions.

The faculty will encourage an open discussion and will provide critical comments on challenges and future opportunities in research in cancer and in establishment of novel therapy approaches and biomarkers to guide treatment. The aim of this course is to analyze and synthesize the most up-to-date findings.

Faculty will present valuable information in a systematic and comprehensive framework, along with a critical review of the latest techniques. This course is dedicated to helping to improve clinical translation of this knowledge and competence, leading to improved cancer treatment.

Two Meditation Sessions available every week



SESSION 1: Meditation Mondays with Dr. Darshan Mehta 

Every Monday, 8:00 – 8:30 am, Zoom à next session, Monday, July 3!

Co-sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being and the MGPO Frigoletto Committee

Join Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH, Director, Office for Well-Being, for a guided meditation session on Monday morning. 

Register and add to calendar

SESSION 2: Midweek Meditation with Guest Leader 

Every Wednesday, 8:00 – 8:30 am, Zoom à next session, Wednesday, July 5!

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being

Join guest leader, Carmen Alvarez, MHA, Department of Radiology, for next Wednesday’s guided meditation session on July 5th!

Register and add to calendar