In this edition:

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

Funding Opportunities

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards
• Interim Support Funding 23-3
• Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine
• Limited Submission Funding
• Foundation Funding Opportunities

Announcements:

• NEW Well-being Education Grants
• Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials
• MGH 20th Annual Clinical Research Day Invitations
• ChemDraw Software
• Mathworks Training
• RISC/ERIS inquiry response and escalation process

Events:

• Navigating the NIH Pathway to Independence (K99/R00) Award
• MGH Postdoc Retreat
• NEW 2023 Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series
• NEW Marcela del Carmen, MD Lecture Series
• Research Tech Talk
• MGH New (and established) Faculty Orientation
• 2023 Virtual Tumor Course: Registration Now Open
• Meditation Sessions available every week

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards

What is it?

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country's economic, social and research-based growth. The award is designed for Canadian Citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens of Canada.

The objective of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program is to:

• attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally
• develop their leadership potential
• position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow 

How much is each award?

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is a stipend of $70,000 (taxable) per year for 2 years and does not support indirect costs (IDC). There are no additional funds provided for travel/research. This Fellowship is not subject to the MGH 20% IDC requirement. The award will start sometime between April 2024 and October 2024.

When is the deadline?

MGH Internal Application Deadline: Friday, August 11, 2023 at 5pm

Sponsor Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 20, 2023

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

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.

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.

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.

MGH LOI Deadline: 8/04/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/09/23

NIH Application Deadline: 12/22/23

Learn more

Sloan Research Fellowships (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation) – NEW!

The Sloan Research Fellowships seek to stimulate fundamental research by early-career scientists and scholars of outstanding promise. These fellowships are awarded yearly to researchers in recognition of distinguished performance and a unique potential to make substantial contributions to their field.

The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program funds a wide variety of local causes, especially those related to human services, education, healthcare, and social justice.

MGH LOI Deadline: 8/07/23

Sponsor Application Deadline: 9/15/23

Learn more

Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grants (T03)

NIOSH / CDC invites grant applications for Training Project Grants (TPGs) that are focused on occupational safety and health training. NIOSH is mandated to provide an adequate supply of qualified personnel to carry out the purposes of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. 

MGH LOI Deadline: 8/08/23

Sponsor LOI Deadline: 9/19/23

Sponsor Application Deadline: 10/24/23

Learn more

Limited Competition for the Continuation of Cure Glomerulonephropathy (CureGN) Participating Clinical Centers (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The purpose of this Limited Competition is to extend the Cure Glomerulonephropathy (CureGN) Network by continuing to support the Participating Clinical Centers (PCCs). The CureGN Network is a multicenter observational cohort study of glomerular disease patients with the goal of improving care for all glomerular disease patients.

Only renewal, resubmissions, or revisions are allowed. This call does not accept new applications.

MGH LOI Deadline: 8/15/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/19/23

NIH Application Deadline: 10/19/23

Learn more

Single Source for the Continuation of Cure Glumerulonephropathy (CureGN) Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

This is a non-competitive funding opportunity intended to fund a single award. The NIDDK is announcing its intent to issue a single source cooperative agreement award to the University of Michigan. The purpose of this Single Source is to extend the Cure Glomerulonephropathy (CureGN) Network by continuing to support the Data Coordinating Center (DCC). 

Only renewal, resubmissions, or revisions are allowed. This call does not accept new applications.

MGH LOI Deadline: 8/15/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/19/23

NIH Application Deadline: 10/19/23

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

The Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Awards

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.

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.

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



CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See full details for all awards on our website.

1. Research Supplement to Promote Diversity in Science, American Heart Association (AHA). $134,832. Application Deadline: December 5
2. AOTF Intervention Research Grant Program, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)/American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF). $50,000. LOI Deadline: September 29
3. Profound Autism Pilot Grants, Autism Science Foundation (ASF). $35,000. Application Deadline: September 15
4. Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI), Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF). $560,000. Pre-Proposal Deadline: September 1
5. Research Fellowship Program, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF). $50,000. LOI Deadline: August 11
6. Career Development Award (CDA), Conquer Cancer Foundation/American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). $200,000. Application Deadline: October 19
7. Global Oncology Young Investigator Award (GO YIA), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/Conquer Cancer Foundation. $50,000. LOI Deadline: September 21
8. ACT (Accelerating Cures and Treatments) for FOP Grant Program, International Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva Association (IFOPA). $75,000. LOI Deadline: September 1
9. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Innovator Awards (multiple funding levels), Kenneth Rainin Foundation. $300,000. LOI Deadline: September 30
10. ALK Positive/LCRF Research Award on Innovative Therapeutic Strategies to Treat ALK Positive Lung Cancers, Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF). $2 million. Application Deadline: September 1 (deadline extended)
11. NEW! McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship in Cognitive Aging and Age-Related Memory Loss, McKnight Brain Research Foundation. $150,000. Application Deadline: September 14
12. NEW! Data Futures Lab (DFA) Infrastructure Fund (multiple funding levels), Mozilla. $50,000. LOI Deadline: August 31
13. NEW! ORUK/Versus Arthritis AI in MSK Research Fellowship, Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK). ≈$130,000. Application Deadline: September 5

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 Well-being Education Grants

Application due: Friday, August 4

Would you benefit from training or continuing education toward resilience and well-being?

The Center for Faculty Development Office for Well-Being is pleased to announce the next round of applications for Well-Being Education Grants. These grants (up to $750 per year) will help defray the cost of professional training or continuing education around resilience and well-being. The grant is open to clinicians and investigators—graduate students, post-docs, residents, fellows, and faculty—who have identified a program of interest between September 1, 2023 and February 29, 2024.

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

MGH Investigators are invited to submit abstracts for MGH Clinical Research Day 2023. Abstract Submissions will open on June 1, 2023, with an EXTENDED DEADLINE of July 31, 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 31, 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.

RISC/ERIS inquiry response and escalation process

Navigating the NIH Pathway to Independence (K99/R00) Award

Wednesday, August 16 | 10:00 – 11:00 am

Speaker: Hassan S Dashti, PhD, RD, Assistant Professor, Dept of Anesthesia, MGH

This 1-hour online Zoom presentation will focus on the specifics of the NIH Pathway to Independence (K99/R00) Award, including important considerations, eligibility criteria, tips on writing a competitive K99R00 application, and preparing for a timely K99 to R00 transition. This session is meant to complement the "Conquering the K" course and, therefore, will not discuss general aspects of K awards, including how to write specific aims, career development plans, etc., Intended audience members include current postdoctoral research fellows within ~4 years of earning a terminal degree and current K99 awardees preparing to transition to the R00 phase of their award.

MGH Postdoc Retreat

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

Location: MGB Assembly Row 

The MGRI Center for Faculty Development’s Postdoctoral Division is organizing a one-day retreat on Sept 6 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. Click on the tentative agenda as a preview of some of the retreat’s talks and events.  

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

NEW 2023 Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series 10

Tuesday, September 12, 2023, 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Zoom

Provided by MGH Center for Faculty Development

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. Kerns will present on “Enhancing the detection and treatment of anxiety disorders in autistic youth.”

Dr. Thom will present on “Assessment and Treatment of Anxiety in Williams Syndrome.”

Learning Objectives for Dr. Kern’s talk:

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

·       Describe similarities and differences in how anxiety disorders presented in autistic v. allistic (non-autistic) youth.

·       Describe challenges to assessing anxiety disorders in autistic youth and the importance of autism-tailored anxiety measures.

·       Describe the evidence base supporting adapted and traditional cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety in autistic children. 

Learning Objectives for Dr. Thom’s talk:

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

·       To better understand the neurocognitive profile of individuals with Williams syndrome.

·       Consider how cognitive behavioral therapy may be modified for individuals with Williams syndrome.

·       Discuss emerging psychopharmacologic treatments for anxiety in Williams syndrome.

Presenters:

Connor M. Kerns, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

• Robyn P. Thom, MD, Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, MGH/HMS 

NEW Marcela del Carmen, MD Lecture Series for the Advancement of Women and Diverse Faculty and the 2023 Women in Medicine and Science Symposium Keynote

Wednesday, September 27, 2023, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, 

Provided by MGH Center for Faculty Development & BWH Center for Diversity and Inclusion

The Marcela del Carmen, MD, Lecture Series for the Advancement of Women and Diverse Faculty and the 2023 Women in Medicine and Science Symposium have collaborated to commemorate Women in Medicine Month. This will take place at the Wolf Conference Center, BWH 

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.

Speaker: 

Joanne Wolfe, MD MPH, is the Chair of Pediatrics at MassGeneral for Children and at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She previously served as the Division of Pediatric Palliative Care in the Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Director of Palliative Care at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) for nearly 30 years. She also served as the Vice President for Faculty Development at the Dana-Farber. She is Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She holds an MD degree (1990) from Harvard Medical School and an MPH (1998) from the Harvard School of Public Health. 

Dr. Wolfe’s research is focused on easing suffering and promoting wellbeing in children with serious illness and their families. She also co-directs the Multinational Pediatric Palliative Care Research Network.

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.

MGH New Faculty Orientation

Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 12:00 – 2:00 pm, Zoom 

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 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; and other important resources such as EAP and Harvard Catalyst.

2023 Virtual Tumor Course

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

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 31!

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, August 2!

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

Join guest leader, Jennifer Kurz, MD, Mass General Brigham, for next Wednesday’s guided meditation session on August 2nd!

Register and add to calendar