MGH Research News for March 29, 2024

March 29, 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 NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards
NEW Center for Musculoskeletal Research
K12 Investigator Award
MGB Gene and Cell Therapy Institute Spark Grant 2024
Andrew L. Warshaw, M.D, Institute for Pancreatic Cancer Research
Interim Support Funding 24-2
MGH Screening Technologies in Primary Care Innovation Fund
Limited Submission Funding
Foundation Funding Opportunities

Announcements:

NEW IACUC Policy Updates
MGH Ode to Joy - Celebration of the Arts
Stata License
Health Care Data & Delivery Science Certificate Program
Seeking Nominations from Mentors: NORCH Outstanding Manuscript Award
NVivo portal license
Summer Digital Internships available

Events:

Chester Pierce Research Society Speaker Series
Speed Mentoring Hour
2024 Celebration of Science
NEW Qualitative and Mixed Methods
NEW 2024 Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series 05
NEW Faculty Transition Webinar
2nd Annual North East CRN Symposium
NEW Fourth Annual Conference on Precision Psychiatry
Two Meditation Sessions available every week

NEW NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards

The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Program supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independent research directly after completion of their terminal doctoral/research degree or clinical residency, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career.

MGH is eligible to nominate two candidates for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award.

When is the deadline?

MGH internal pre-proposal: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 – 5:00 PM

Learn more

NEW Center for Musculoskeletal Research

The Center for Skeletal Research (CSR), funded by the National Institute of Artritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (NIAMS), is announcing a request for Pilot and Feasibility Research proposals ($35,000/year). The Awardees will be expected to present progress to CSR members biannually and provide a written annual report. Basic, translational, and clinical studies are welcome, though no clinical trials are allowed. Prior CSR P&F awardees are not eligible.

LETTER OF INTENT DUE MONDAY MARCH 25, 2024, 5PM EST

Letter of intent should include:

a 250 word abstract

a 150 word statement of eligibility

an NIH style biosketch including all other support

Please submit in a single PDF file to csrmail@partners.org

In the subject line include your last name and “P30P+F LOI” eg: SmithP30P+F LOI

K12 Investigator Award

The Harvard Catalyst K12 Investigator Award (formerly KL2/CMeRIT) provides advanced training in clinical and translational research to senior fellows and junior faculty from all health professions represented by Harvard Catalyst, including medicine, dentistry, and nursing.

Awardees will pursue a mentored research project in their area of expertise. It is expected that the research performed within the K12 program will provide the basis for a subsequent NIH award (e.g., K23, KO8, or RO1).

The K12 Investigator Award program provides two years of salary support at 75% of the awardee’s institutional salary base, up to the K12 NIH salary cap of $160,000 (i.e., $120,000 would be covered). Surgeons may request salary support of between 50% and 75%. Educational programs within Harvard Catalyst will be tuition-free. Funding for awardees begins October 1, 2024.

Applications are due May 24.

Learn more

MGB Gene and Cell Therapy Institute (GCTI) Spark Grant 2024

The GCTI Spark grant 2024 is now open! The Spark grants fund projects that can demonstrate tangible advancements towards clinical applications as well as commercialization outcomes including licensing, commercial partnerships, or new spinoff companies.

Deadline - Friday, April 19, 2024

Learn more

Andrew L. Warshaw, M.D, Institute for Pancreatic Cancer Research

The Andrew L. Warshaw, M.D., Institute for Pancreatic Cancer Research invites applications for pilot grant funding from MGH investigators. Applications are welcome from new investigators, established investigators in the field of pancreatic cancer, as well as senior investigators who have not previously worked in this area.

Up to three pilot grants will be funded for one year at $60,000 plus the applicable indirect cost rate.

Deadline - Friday, May 3, 2024, at 5:00PM

Learn more

Interim Support Funding 24-2

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.

Deadline - Monday, April 1, 2024 - 5:00 PM

Learn more

MGH Screening Technologies in Primary Care Innovation Fund

There is great promise for the development of new technologies to detect disease or disease risk factors at an earlier stage in the primary care setting. However, innovative screening technologies are frequently difficult to get off the ground due to challenges conducting research in the primary care setting and difficulties translating and commercializing technologies that need to be implemented in a cost-effective manner and on a large scale.

Award: One pilot grant will be funded for one year at $50,000 (direct costs) + 20% (indirect).

Due date for proposals: April 30, 2024

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.

Assessment of Climate at Institutions (Act) Award (RC2 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

MGH LOI Deadline: 4/01/24

Learn more

Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) (T32)

MGH LOI Deadline: 4/08/24

Learn more

Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1 – Clinical Trial Optional)

MGH LOI Deadline: 4/11/24

Learn more

Nathan Shock Centers Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – NEW!

MGH LOI Deadline: 4/22/24

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.

'A' Awards, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF). $800,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: June 13
ADDF-Harrington Scholar Program, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. $600,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: June 3’
Accelerating Drug Discovery for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation. $200,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: May 13
Scholar Awards (multiple opps), American Society of Hematology (ASH). $150,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: May 1
Research Awards (multiple opps), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF). $450,000 (12% IDC). Application Deadline: May 2
Dataset Research Engagement and ATHN Mentorship ("DREAM") Award for Physician-Scientists, Thrombosis & Hemostasis Societies of North America. $100,000 (8% IDC). Preliminary Proposal Deadline: April 10
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants, Human Immunome Project. $150,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: June 9
Cure Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) 365 Research Grants, LGS Foundation. $75,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: Continuous
Emerging Leader Award, Mark Foundation for Cancer Research. $750,000 (10% IDC). LOI Deadline: April 29
Research Grants (multiple opps), National Eczema Association (NEA). $150,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: July 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 IACUC Policy Updates

The following revised policies were approved by the MGH IACUC and are available for review on the MGH IACUC website. Please review these documents to ensure that you are following current requirements and be sure to update any relevant documents and practices you may have in your laboratory.

Effective May 1, 2024:

Policy on the Use of Non-Pharmaceutical Grade Substances, Version 1.3
Policy on Controlled Substances Used in Animal Research, Version 1.5
Policy on Environmental Enrichment, Social Housing, and Exercise of Laboratory Animals, Version 1.9

If you have any questions, please contact the MGH IACUC Office or MGH IACUC Compliance.

MGH Ode to Joy - Celebration of the Arts

Submit your artistic talent by Monday, April 15

Share your talent at in-person celebration to recognize the incredible talents outside of your work at MGH. The Center for Faculty Development announces the first MGH Ode to Joy—a celebration of art created by our faculty and trainees. We want to convene our community to recognize the incredible talent that exists outside of and beyond the talent performed in clinic, in OR, and in labs, and revel together in the transformative power of artistic expression. Click here for more details.

Stata License

The Research Computing Core offers Stata licenses to the Research Community at a discounted rate via rcservices.partners.org. Stata is a statistical software package that provides tools for analysis, data management and graphics. Interested in learning new tips or looking to learn about new functionality with Stata 18? Check out the Stata Webinairs, which are offered free of charge via the vendor's website.

Accepting applications for the Health Care Data & Delivery Science Certificate Program

This 8-month Health Care Data & Delivery Science Certificate Program is hosted by the Mongan Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital in collaboration with the Harvard Catalyst program and will equip clinician scientists, early career researchers and/or health systems leaders with practical knowledge and fundamental skills in health care data and delivery science. Applicants are anticipated to have a master’s degree, medical degree, doctoral degree or prior research experience conducting research in relevant fields. View the program summary and curriculum.

Seeking Nominations from Mentors: NORCH Outstanding Manuscript Award

The Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard is delighted to announce an Outstanding Manuscript Award to be given to a First Author performing investigation in nutrition, obesity, and/or metabolism. This award is intended for an Assistant Professor, Instructor, or Post-Doctoral Fellow who has made significant scientific contribution as first author of a manuscript. The award will be announced at our Annual Symposium on June 5^th2024, and will include an award for educational or research expenses. Please submit a nomination at this link and for more information please refer to our RFA.

NVivo portal license

Annual NVivo licenses expire each year on February 28th. Your license will automatically cancel, and you will need to order again at rcservices.partners.org (MGB login required). NVivo licenses are $350/year per User and new licenses can be ordered and accessed today.

NVivo is software that can be used for qualitative analysis of textual and audiovisual data sources. NVivo portal licenses require no installation and you may log into your account on any computer, to access the NVivo portal. For more information on NVivo go to the Research Computing Core's software page or order now at rcservices.partners.org (MGB login required). All questions may be directed to rcc@partners.org.

Summer Digital Internships Available

Do you have a college age student interested in a paid Summer Internship? Several Digital internships are available, including within the Research Computing Core/Research Applications group under Digital Research Operations. Internships can be found on the MGB career site, by searching with Keyword: Intern. The 10-week Internship Programs begins Monday, June 3rd and runs through Friday, August 9th.

See these events and more on the calendar of events

MGH Center for Diversity & Inclusion

Chester Pierce Research Society Speaker Series

April 2, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Title of Presentation:

Single Cell Imaging of the Beating Heart

Speaker:

Aaron Aguirre, MD, PhD

Cardiologist and Critical Care Physician, Mass General Hospital

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Speed Mentoring Hour

April 2, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Zoom

This session is scheduled for April 2, 2:00–3:00 pm, with Helen A. Shih, MD, Medical Director of Proton Therapy Center & Professor of Radiation Oncology; and Louisa G. Sylvia, PhD, Director of the Office for Women's Careers & Associate Director at Dauten Family Center for Bipolar Treatment Innovation.

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.

2024 Celebration of Science

April 3, 2024, 2:00 – 5:00 pm, Simches Auditorium

Please join us for the 2024 Celebration of Science at the Simches Research Center in Room 3.110 on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 2:00 - 5:00 PM

The annual event will start off with a virtual Scientific Poster Session that highlights the ongoing research at MGH followed by an in-person Celebration of Science symposium. During this time, we will present awards for the 2024 Martin Prize for Clinical, Fundamental, Population Health Science Research and the 2024 Howard M. Goodman Fellowship Award.

Learn more

NEW Qualitative and Mixed Methods

Interpreting and Presenting Results

April 9, 2024, 10:00 – 11:00 pm, Zoom

Sponsored by the MGH Division of Clinical Research and the Mongan Institute

This one session course will assist clinical researchers in interpreting and presenting qualitative research data that they have coded using NVivo, other software, or by hand. We will address how to utilize the data to identify themes and overarching ideas, connections between themes, and ways in which themes may vary by attributes of individual interviewees, focus groups or other units of analysis. We also will address strategies for effectively reporting qualitative research results in presentations and manuscripts, and for integrating qualitative and quantitative research results in the context of mixed methods studies.

Learn more

NEW 2024 Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series 05

Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm, Zoom

The Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series was created to support and advance the careers of women. These lectures bring together faculty from institutions that have hosted Anne Klibanski Scholars with MGH scholars, on topics that overlap both research areas.

Dr. Gillani will present on “Neuroinflammation causes neuronal dysfunction by destabilizing excitatory synapses.”

Dr. Hastermann will present on “Antigen specific T cells in autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system.”

Learn more

NEW Faculty Transition Webinar

Friday, April 12, 2024, 12:00-1:00 pm, Zoom

This fourth session will have a panel from Human Resources, Professional Staff Benefits, and the Employee Assistance Program to cover where to begin the process of retirement, what it entails and what you should consider during the process.

Panelists:

Nicholas Martin, Human Resources Director

Ellen Nelson, Director, Employee & Labor Relations at Mass General Brigham

Virginia Rosales, Human Resource/Benefits Manager, Professional Staff Compensation and Benefits Office

Lisa Staffiere, LICSW, CEAP, RYT, Senior Employee Assistance Consultant and Certified Employee Assistance Professional

Learn more

2nd Annual North East CRN Symposium

April 26, 2024, 8:30 – 12:00 pm, Zoom

Activity Description:

The utilization of AI applications has rapidly expanded, with AI-powered technologies increasingly integrated into healthcare and clinical research settings. This symposium aims to understand the background of AI, explore the integration of AI within clinical research and its potential implications for the role of the clinical research nurse.

Target Audience: Clinical Research RNs and NPs