Closed Limited Submissions

(CLOSED) The Conservation, Food & Health Foundation 2023 Grants

Slots: 1. The Foundation will consider only one proposal from an organization in any calendar year.

Deadlines

Internal Deadline: Closed.

LOI: July 1, 2023

External Deadline: September 3, 2023

Award Information

Award Type: Grant

Anticipated Award Amount: It is anticipated that most grants will fall in the $25,000-$50,000 per year range.

Who May Serve as PI:

The Foundation supports local, state, and regional organizations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East in the countries where the projects are based. It also supports organizations located in upper-income countries working with local partners in these areas. It does not support projects in post-Soviet states or Balkan states.

Most types of organizations that can provide evidence of their non-governmental status or charitable purpose are eligible to apply, including non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations; civil society organizations; community-based organizations; and colleges, universities, and other academic institutions.

Government agencies and religious organizations may be included as project partners but are not eligible for direct funding.

The Foundation does not typically fund:

Overhead or indirect project costs
General operating support
Direct food, health or other humanitarian aid
Eco-tourism
Buildings and capital improvements
Projects ultimately intended for private gain. All intellectual property developed with the grant should be public.
Salaries for Executive Directors of U.S. and European-based organizations.
Project expenses incurred before the grant is awarded.

Link to Award: https://cfhfoundation.grantsmanagement08.com/

Process for Limited Submissions

PIs must submit their application as a Limited Submission through the Research Initiatives and Infrastructure (RII) Application Portal: https://rii.usc.edu/oor-portal/. Use the template provided here: RII Limited Submission Applicant Template

Materials to submit include:

(1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (0.5” margins; single-spaced; font type: Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
(2) CV – (5 pages maximum)

Note: The portal requires information about the PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#, Gender, and Ethnicity. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.

Purpose

The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation seeks to protect the environment, improve food production, and promote public health in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Types of Support

The Foundation supports projects and applied research that:

Generate local or regional solutions to problems affecting the quality of the environment and human life;
Advance local leadership and promote professional development in the conservation, agricultural, and health sciences;
Develop the capacity of local organizations and coalitions; and
Address challenges in the field.

The Foundation prefers to support projects that address under-funded issues and geographic areas.

The Foundation funds applied research, pilot projects, new initiatives, training, and technical assistance, rather than ongoing support for programs that are already well underway. An important goal for the Foundation is to provide seed money to help promising projects, organizations, and individuals develop the track record they need to attract major foundation funding in the future.

Fields of Interest

The following are examples of the Foundation’s areas of interest within the fields of conservation, food, and health, and are not meant to be exclusive.

Conservation

Conservation grants promote environmental conservation through field research, projects, and advocacy that:

Protect biodiversity and preserve natural resources.
Help mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Build the scientific and technical capacity of local conservation organizations and promote local, regional, and international partnerships.
Increase engagement between scientists, local communities and organizations, and decision-makers.
Partner with indigenous communities and local people.

Food

Grants in the food and agriculture program area focus on research-based projects that build capacity for self-sufficiency and resilience to climate change, strengthen local food systems, and support healthy nutrition through projects that:

Enhance food security.
Develop and promote sustainable agricultural practices
Build the capacity of small-scale farmers.
Advance farmer research and research partnerships.
Develop environmentally sound and affordable approaches to control pests and diseases affecting important local food crops.
Promote indigenous food sovereignty and knowledge systems.
Address challenges of uptake and scalability through new methods of extension, education, and technology transfer.

Health

The Foundation supports efforts that test new ideas and approaches that promote public health, with a special emphasis on reproductive health and family planning and their integration with other health promotion activities. It favors community-level disease prevention and health promotion projects and efforts that help strengthen regional and country public health systems over disease diagnosis, treatment, and care provided by clinics, hospitals, and humanitarian aid programs.

Activities that help increase capacity include applied research, program development, technical assistance, and training projects that:

Promote reproductive health and family planning.
Address issues related to mental and behavioral health.
Address issues relating to pollution and environmental health.
Increase the understanding of zoonotic and neglected tropical diseases.
Address issues relating to nutrition and health.

Key Priorities

In all of its areas of interest, the Foundation gives priority to projects that have the potential to advance the field, build local capacity, promote replication, influence public opinion and policy, affect systems change, and benefit people beyond the immediate project and its local context.

Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.

(CLOSED) RFA-ES-23-001: Limited Competition: Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42 Clinical Trial Optional)

Slots: 1

Deadlines

Internal Deadline: Friday, May 26, 2023, 5pm PT

LOI: September 2, 2023

External Deadline: October 2, 2023

Award Information

Award Type: Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 12

Anticipated Award Amount: Applications may request a budget for direct costs of up to $2 million dollars for each year. Applications may propose a project period of up to 5 years.

Who May Serve as PI: Standard NIH requirements.

Link to Award: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-23-001.html

Process for Limited Submissions

Materials to submit include:

(1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (0.5” margins; single-spaced; font type: Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
(2) CV – (5 pages maximum)

Purpose

Research Objectives

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) invites qualified investigators from domestic institutions of higher education to submit an application for a Superfund Research Program (SRP) Center grant. SRP legislation, under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986, allows NIEHS the flexibility to create university-based Centers to conduct scientific research to address the wide array of scientific uncertainties facing the national Superfund program. The complex problems related to sites impacted by hazardous substances require the expertise of multiple biomedical research (BMR) and environmental science and engineering (ESE) disciplines. Applicants responding to this Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) are expected to design a research Center that integrates BMR (e.g., toxicology, epidemiology, mechanistic studies) with ESE (e.g., remediation, geosciences, ecological sciences). The goal of a NIEHS SRP Center is to improve public health by supporting integrative, multidisciplinary research incorporating the following: responsiveness to mandates; problem-based, solution-oriented research; relevance to SRP and Superfund; innovation; and integration.

Responsiveness to Mandates: SARA Section 311(a) “Hazardous Substances Research and Training,” authorizes NIEHS to create a basic research and training program for the development of:

1) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effect of hazardous substances on human health;

2) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances;

3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; and

4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.

To accomplish these mandates, Centers are expected to assemble interdisciplinary research teams with expertise in BMR as well as ESE to advance scientific knowledge using innovative and integrated approaches. Moreover, the SRP’s fourth mandate reinforces the program’s problem-solving mission; whereby, the research generated by SRP Centers would lead to strategies to prevent exposure and/or develop intervention strategies to improve public health. Centers are also expected to facilitate transfer of research findings through coordinated data management and analysis; engage communities with prevention/intervention strategies; share findings to broader audiences; and train the future generation of scientists.

Problem-based, Solution-oriented Research Theme: As an integrated research program, SRP Centers can tackle complex biomedical and environmental science and engineering issues identified by applicable end-users, bringing a mechanistic understanding to solve some of the vexing problems associated with Superfund. Applicants are expected to design Centers that will contribute to solving a scientific problem (or set of problems) related to SRP’s mandates: health effects, risk, detection, and remediation/mitigation of hazardous substances.

Relevance to SRP and Superfund: Given SRP’s broad mandates, it is important for interdisciplinary teams to work together to foster research that addresses relevant exposure pathways. Ultimately, problem-solving research seeks to find answers to inform real-life exposures – both in terms of understanding health implications as well as developing remedies for these exposures. For example, basic research generates mechanistic knowledge upstream of its application, but this research should be contextualized in terms of its relevance to environmental exposures. Furthermore, there is an expectation that interdisciplinary teams have considered multiple vantage points in devising their research approach – showing evidence of crosstalk between health, environmental, and exposure research expertise. For these reasons, applicants should assemble teams to address research challenges within a given mandate area, contaminant, or exposure scenario that may have the greatest potential for supporting the SRP’s goal of protecting human health and the environment from the impact of hazardous substances.

The SRP also considers the diverse research and information needs of its end-users as important criteria for determining relevance. SRP end-users include the Superfund programs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, https://www.epa.gov/superfund) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR, https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov). In addition, agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (https://www.noaa.gov), U.S. Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov), U.S. Department of Defense (https://www.defense.gov), and the U.S. Department of Energy (https://www.energy.gov) are important end-users of research and technology to manage and mitigate sites impacted by hazardous substances. In addition, the National Science Foundation (https://www.nsf.gov) and other NIH Institutes and Centers (https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/list-nih-institutes-centers-offices) may provide valuable opportunities to promote and leverage the findings of SRP research. The SRP also considers as important end-users state, local, and Tribal governments, and communities impacted by hazardous substances. The SRP’s ultimate goal is to protect human health by providing a rigorous scientific basis for effective decision-making by these end-users. Consequently, SRP-funded research is expected to provide fundamentally sound science, while providing data, information, and knowledge to minimize risk and remediate sites impacted by hazardous substances. Therefore, investigators should seek input from end-users mentioned above during application development and identify critical issues for which fundamental science is needed.

Moreover, Centers are expected to demonstrate the following:

Innovation: The SRP strives to push the boundaries of science using the newest technologies and challenging current scientific paradigms. The SRP firmly supports multi-disciplinary research, through the synthesis and extension of disciplinary boundaries that adapt technologies and approaches from one field and apply them to other fields to solve challenging environmental health problems. Forward-looking or ‘‘anticipatory’’ research is critical to identify and address future end-user needs. This may include utilizing cutting-edge research tools or devising more sustainable solutions to address issues associated with hazardous substances.

Integration: Addressing the complex challenges posed by environmental contamination requires an integrated, multidisciplinary approach. The SRP considers integration of a Center’s projects and cores as an important way to target complex problem(s) relevant to the SRP’s mandates. A Center should demonstrate evidence of synergy between its projects and cores – including interaction between biomedical and environmental science and engineering disciplines. Through effective interactions of its components, the Overall Center should demonstrate a systems approach to problem-solving. In addition, the research emanating from the Center and the interaction between the projects and cores should be incorporated into sustainable solutions that consider environmental, social, and economic issues, using a systems approach.

To achieve a broad and sustained impact, SRP Centers are expected to include the following:

Research Projects: Collectively, the Center’s research projects (maximum of six) should represent a range of basic and applied research that contributes to the problem-based, solution-oriented goal of the Center. The Center’s central problem should be addressed by the contributions of these projects and each project should have the necessary biomedical and/or environmental science and/or engineering expertise to address the central problem.

Biomedical Research (BMR) Projects: A minimum of two (maximum of four) BMR projects are required and should address biomedical or human health-related implications of hazardous substances. This includes but is not limited to: toxicology studies, epidemiology, mechanistic studies, genetic susceptibility, computational toxicology, biomedical engineering, preclinical/clinical intervention, or efficacy of prevention studies. Each BMR project should clearly contribute to the overall Center objective, providing a clear step towards identifying solutions to the Center’s identified problem. Projects should be hypothesis-driven or product-oriented research.

Environmental Science and Engineering (ESE) Projects: A minimum of two (maximum of four) ESE projects are required and should address environmental science or engineering implications of hazardous substances. These projects are integral to the protection of human health through predicting, detecting, and preventing exposures. ESE projects include, but would not be limited to: remediation, geochemistry, ecology, civil/environmental engineering, geology, microbiology, fate and transport studies, hydrogeology, and detection sciences. Each ESE project should clearly contribute to the overall Center objective, providing a clear step towards identifying solutions to the Center’s identified problem. Projects should be hypothesis-driven or product-oriented research. The SRP recognizes the importance of new ESE approaches to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances in the environment. Fostering the development of novel remediation approaches – through designing new remediation platforms or assessing the efficacy of these platforms – is an important contribution in accelerating the cleanup of hazardous substances and preventing exposures. For this reason, all applicants are required to include at least one ESE project that supports SRP’s fourth mandate “basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.”

(Please see the “Suggested Research and Activities” document for more information about research areas of interest to the SRP: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/srp/assets/docs/srp_funding_opps_suggested_research_and_activities_508.pdf).

Administrative and Research Translation Functions: The SRP requires an Administrative Core in each SRP Center grant application. This core leads the Center, maintains the organization of the Center, and ensures that the projects and cores are being supported to achieve the Center’s goals. In addition, the SRP is committed to fostering translation of scientific accomplishments to support its mandates and defines research translation as “communicating and facilitating the use of research findings emanating from the Center in the manner most appropriate for their application and the advancement of research objectives.” Therefore, all applicants are required to include research translation as a key function of the Center’s Administrative Core to facilitate and coordinate communication of the results, accomplishments, and implications of the Center’s research to end-users, including NIEHS SRP staff, to other SRP Centers, and other applicable end-users in a context that makes the research applicable to the target audience. Additionally, the SRP Strategic Plan (https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/srp/about/strat_plan/index.cfm) highlights the importance of project specific research translation (PSRT); therefore, the Administrative Core has the critical role in assisting project leaders in translating their research outcomes and activities to appropriate audiences and ensuring the accurate and timely use of products and sharing of findings.

Data Management and Analysis: The SRP acknowledges that integration of data from a broad range of scientific disciplines will be critical to understanding and breaking the link between exposures and disease. In addition, proper data stewardship is needed to ensure that data is treated as a valuable research asset. To support NIH data sharing policies (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/sharing.htm) and promote best principles so data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR), all applicants are required to have a Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC). The primary purpose of the DMAC is to support the management and integration of data assets across the Center. In addition, the DMAC should support and facilitate the management of data assets, irrespective of dataset size. The DMAC should also establish, coordinate, and monitor processes for data management and analysis and work closely with project/core leaders to ensure high data quality throughout the entire lifecycle of the data. The DMAC also has a coordinating role to work with project/core leaders to identify opportunities for integrating project/core-generated data with other existing datasets. The DMAC should also foster and enable the interoperability of data between BMR and ESE projects, accelerating the impact of the Center’s research.

Community Engagement: The SRP views Community Engagement as an effective way to inform and advance science for public health protection. In addition, the SRP considers the individuals and communities affected by hazardous substances as key end-users and recognizes the opportunity for SRP Center research and activities to achieve positive public health benefits through multi-directional interactions between the Center and impacted communities. Therefore, all applicants are required to include a Community Engagement Core (CEC). The purpose of the CEC is to ensure multi-directional communication between the CEC and the community and to direct best practices and activities in community engagement for prevention and/or intervention – thereby providing potential solutions to communities to reduce or mitigate the impact of hazardous substance exposure. For the purposes of this NOFO and to be consistent with its mandates, CEC activities should address prevention/intervention defined by SRP’s fourth mandate as “basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.” Through exposure prevention and intervention, the CEC empowers impacted communities to be full participants in decisions to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances whether in their homes, their schools, their community, and/or their environment. The CEC activities should also complement the research strengths and problem-solving goals of the Center.

Training: The SRP regards research and training as vital components to the development of the next generation of environmental health science professionals. Therefore, the SRP requires applicants to include a Research Experience and Training Coordination Core (RETCC) to coordinate graduate and postdoctoral level multi-disciplinary research experiences and training in fields related to BMR and ESE research. (Note: SRP mandates specify graduate level training (e.g., Masters, PhD., Post doc); therefore, the SRP defines “trainees” within the program as graduate students and post-doctoral researchers that perform research/activities that are supported by the Center.) The RETCC should reflect the multi-disciplinary nature of the overall research effort of the Center by enhancing cross-training of trainees in disciplines not traditionally linked with the university graduate structure. For instance, trainees pursuing degrees in the ESE areas should be encouraged to understand how their research fits into the context of BMR and vice versa for BMR trainees. (Note: While undergraduates are recognized as a part of the research continuum and allowed to participate in RETCC activities, the RETCC should direct its opportunities for training, integration, and professional development among the graduate and post-doctoral level trainees within the Center.)

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the SRP’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan (https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/srp/about/strat_plan/index.cfm) which describes and defines the objectives and goals of the SRP in order to address its mandates. In addition, the SRP Mandates are provided on the following website: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/centers/srp/about/index.cfm. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the NIEHS 2018-2023 Strategic Plan: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/strategicplan/2018-2023_theme3/index.cfm.

Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.

(CLOSED) PAR-23-171: Diagnostic Centers of Excellence (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Slots: 1

Deadlines

Internal Deadline: Contact RII.

LOI: 30 days prior to application due date, but is not required.

External Deadline: May 15, 2024

Recurring Deadlines: May 15, 2025

Award Information

Award Type: “Other.” A mechanism that is not a grant or cooperative agreement. Examples include access to research resources or pre-applications.

Estimated Number of Awards: Funds are not awarded via the X01 mechanism. The total number of approvals for access to DMCC and Network resources is dependent on the number of meritorious applications and the capacity of the Network.

Anticipated Award Amount: Not Applicable; funds are not awarded via the X01 mechanism.

Who May Serve as PI: Standard NIH requirements.

Link to Award: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-171.html

Process for Limited Submissions

Materials to submit include:

(1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (0.5” margins; single-spaced; font type: Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
(2) CV – (5 pages maximum)

Purpose

Undiagnosed diseases are defined as long-standing symptoms or elusive medical conditions that have not been diagnosed despite extensive clinical evaluation. Undiagnosed diseases are often due to rare conditions and can include: 1) not recognized, previously described diseases due to very low incidence or prevalence; 2) yet-to-be-described disorders; and 3) rare variations of more common diseases. These conditions present difficult problems for patients, their families, and physicians resulting in a high emotional, physical, and financial burden to patients who may spend many years seeking a diagnosis and path to treatment. Diagnoses in these difficult cases require teams of clinicians and scientists with a wide variety of special expertise. Scientific advances springing from these diagnoses require an organized approach to testing, data analysis, and validation in patients with similar rare conditions or in model organisms.

In 2008, the NIH established an intramural Undiagnosed Diseases Program (UDP) to aid individuals plagued by longstanding medical conditions that elude medical diagnosis. Using a team science approach, comprehensive clinical phenotyping and cutting-edge diagnostic and genomic technologies, the UDP was successful in ending the “diagnostic odyssey” for many individuals with rare, challenging, and difficult-to-diagnose diseases. Based on the success of the UDP, the NIH Common Fund announced in 2012 an expansion of the UDP to form a nation-wide network – the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) – composed of the NIH UDP and extramural Clinical Sites. Phase I (FY2013-2017) of the UDN included seven Clinical Sites including the UDP, a Coordinating Center, and Core Laboratories to facilitate diagnoses (genome sequencing, testing variants in model organisms, metabolomics, and a biorepository). In Phase II (FY2018-2022), the number of Clinical Sites was expanded to twelve. Since the launch of Phase I, the UDN has been very successful in achieving its objectives by: providing over 600 diagnoses; discovering hundreds of novel disease-associated genes and genomic variants, including new diseases and syndromes; and building an international reputation for establishing exemplary clinical practices, standards, and pipelines for genomics-based diagnoses.

In Phase II, the network was tasked to develop a framework that would continue the mission of the UDN after NIH Common Fund support ends in 2023. To have a broader impact on the clinical practice of undiagnosed diseases in the United States (US), the NIH envisions the UDN evolving into a larger, self-sustained network that, with public and private partners, can provide expert diagnostic services for undiagnosed patients across the nation and foster scientific discovery. The network will also seek to implement strategies that will expand equity and access to health disparity populations. In this new model, the new Network (henceforth referred to as the “Network” in this NOFO) will consist of an NIH-supported Data Management Coordinating Center (DMCC), the UDP, highly qualified and collaborative clinical sites, patients with undiagnosed diseases (referred to as “participants” in this NOFO), patient advocacy groups, and the NIH and other stakeholders including external funding providers and/or resource providers (e.g., Cores or private partnerships that conduct genomics sequencing, gene function studies or other diagnostic services).

The purpose of this NOFO is to solicit proposals from highly qualified clinical sites in the US to join the Network through an X01 Resource Access Program award. Accepted sites will be designated as a “Diagnostic Center of Excellence (DCoE)” and will be responsible for generating participant clinical, phenotypic and sequencing data to be submitted to the DMCC through a Data Use Agreement with the Center. X01 recipients will have access to DMCC resources and infrastructure including access to high-quality phenotypic and genotypic data and collaboration with highly skilled physicians, researchers, and bioinformaticians. Using team science, DCoEs will be able to collaborate with Network members to implement strategies that will expand equity and access to health disparity populations and increase the discovery of new disease-associated genes and genomic variants, immunologic and metabolic abnormalities, as well as environmental insults that are causative in previously undiagnosed patients. DCoEs will be invited to submit their most challenging, unsolved cases for acceptance into the Network, and partner in their evaluation with the Network’s virtual case review committee(s), which will be coordinated by the DMCC.

Successful applicants will demonstrate that they have the appropriate expertise and a track record of diagnosing rare and difficult-to-diagnose disorders, along with the infrastructure and resources needed to conduct the clinical evaluation and DNA sequencing of participants enrolled at their sites. Specifically, applicants will be expected to demonstrate the expertise, independent resources (e.g., institutional support, plans for billing insurance, obtaining support from outside partnerships, etc.), and capacity to:

Enroll a minimum of 5 participants per year who are accepted into the Network, although some sites may have the capacity to enroll more participants. Typically, only the most difficult, unsolved cases will be accepted into the Network (e.g., those cases requiring specialized, non-routine diagnostic testing procedures or collaboration among a team of clinicians and researchers).
Perform comprehensive clinical evaluations of undiagnosed participants enrolled at their site including medical record review, routine and specialized diagnostic testing procedures, consultations, and referral to other sites with necessary expertise if appropriate.
Have the resources (in-house or outsourced) to perform DNA and/or RNA sequencing and re-analysis of existing genome-sequencing data.
Capability to work with Network data stored in a cloud architecture, such as AnVIL.
Have the genomics capability including medical genetics and associated informatics expertise needed to identify pathogenic variants from human genomics sequence data. This includes the infrastructure to return genetic results to study participants and provide post-test genetic counseling.
Demonstrate sufficient clinical metabolomics and other omics expertise to interpret or re-interpret lab and research-grade findings.
Have sufficient clinical staff to review medical records from applicants (so as to enroll a minimum of five cases per year into the Network) and to rigorously discuss the results to arrive at a diagnosis or to interrogate candidate genes.
Collect and store DNA, fibroblasts from skin biopsies, and other biological specimens produced by clinical evaluations as needed for the diagnosis.
Organize incoming records and return results to participants, family members, and referring physicians.
Support a site coordinator or equivalent position to serve as the DCoE’s point of contact for data sharing, case coordination, collaboration, data retrieval for research projects and patient follow-up.

Additional Information

(1) The X01 mechanism does not provide budgetary support for the proposed activities. Successful X01 applications will receive access to DMCC resources and Network data (discussed above), and will have the option to apply for small research grants issued by the DMCC as subawards to DCoE sites (see: RFA-NS-22-051 for more information). The DMCC will provide at least $500,000 Direct Costs (DC) in year 1 and $1M DC per year in years 2-5 to support Network research activities. The subawards (typically in the range of $25-50K DC each) are intended to support: 1) some of the DCoEs’ costs associated with on-site coordination and submitting data to the Network; and 2) pilot research projects such as very early-stage gene function studies in model systems and clinical genomics/metabolomics investigations that are needed to facilitate a participant’s diagnosis. Subawards cannot support clinical trials.

(2) Successful applicants to this NOFO will be expected to incorporate the Network’s infrastructure and operational procedures into their proposed study plans, including coordination, collaboration, and data management through the DMCC and signing onto any agreements or Memoranda of Understanding established by the Network Steering Committee in the next phase of the UDN (see “Network Governance” below). In addition, DCoEs will be expected to work with the DMCC and Steering Committee to develop Network protocols, a Manual of Operations, and participate in Steering Committee, Case Review, diagnostic consultation, and Working Group meetings as established by the Steering Committee.

(3) Successful applicants will be required to consent participants and use a single-IRB managed by the NIH UDP that is consistent with NIH’s Single IRB Policy as described in NOT-OD-16-094 to ethically review Network-wide protocols involving human subjects research.

(4) To gain access to DMCC resources, X01 recipients will be required to submit relevant participant datasets generated at their Site (e.g., clinical, phenotypic, genomic, environmental, covariates, metadata, etc.) to the DMCC through a Data Use Agreement with the Center. The Network’s Steering Committee will develop and implement Network-wide approaches for data submission from DCoEs and timelines including data standards and formatting requirements, along with standards for data use by Network members. The DMCC is responsible for submitting de-identified data to national repositories as required in RFA-NS-22-051.

(5) DCoEs are encouraged to use innovative approaches that increase the efficiency, yield, and cost-effectiveness of the diagnosis (e.g., remote visits, tiered evaluation strategies, use of innovative tools or strategies for record review, etc.), while still providing a comprehensive and expeditious clinical evaluation.

(6) Although DCoEs are encouraged to enroll participants with disorders in any clinical specialty (similar to current UDN operations: UDN Manual of Operations), sites have the option to specialize in one or more areas of clinical practice (e.g., pediatrics, neurology, cardiology, gastroenterology, immunology, metabolism, environmentally-linked or infectious diseases, etc.).

(7) Applicants are strongly encouraged to enroll participants from health disparity populations and/or to partner with medical institutions that serve under/uninsured and health disparity populations.

Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.

(CLOSED) Brain Research Foundation 2024 Scientific Innovations Award

Slots: 1

Deadlines

Internal Deadline: Closed.

LOI: Thursday, June 22, 2023, 4:00 pm CT.

External Deadline: Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 4:00 pm CST

Award Information

Award Type: Grant

Anticipated Amount: $150,000 for a two year grant period. 100% of these SIA funds must be utilized for direct costs.

Link to Award: https://www.thebrf.org/what-we-do/scientific-innovations-award/

RFP: https://www.thebrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2024_SIA_Guidelines-1.pdf

Who May Serve as PI: The nominated candidate must be a full-time associate professor or full professor at an invited US academic institution, working in the area of studies of brain function in health and disease. Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential. Studies should be related to either normal human brain development or specifically identified disease states. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease. The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. This grant is not to be used as bridge funding.

Process for Limited Submissions

PIs must submit their application as a Limited Submission through the USC Research and Innovation (R&I) Application Portal: https://rii.usc.edu/oor-portal/. Use the template provided here: RII Limited Submission Applicant Template

Materials to submit include:

(1) Two Page Proposal Summary (1” margins; single-spaced; font type: Arial, Helvetica, Times New Roman, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 1-page limit will be excluded from review.
(2) CV – (5 pages maximum)

Note: The portal requires information about the PIs and Co-PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#, Gender, and Ethnicity. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.

Purpose

Brain Research Foundation’s Scientific Innovations Award Program provides funding for innovative science in both basic and clinical neuroscience. This funding mechanism is designed to support creative, exploratory, cutting edge research in well-established research laboratories, under the direction of established investigators.

The objective of the SIA is to support projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. It is expected that investigations supported by these grants will yield high impact findings and result in major grant applications and significant publications in high impact journals.

Funding Preferences: Funding is to be directed at projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. This should be a unique project for senior investigators who are encouraged to stretch their imagination into areas that can substantially change an area of research.

Funding of research projects that will likely lead to successful grant applications with NIH and other public and private funding entities.

(CLOSED) Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) FY2023 Creative Arts Exchange

Slots: 1

Deadlines

Internal Deadline: Contact RII.

LOI: N/A

External Deadline: May 31, 2023

Award Information

Award Type: Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards: 3

Anticipated Award Amount: $7,804,000

Who May Serve as PI: Applicants must have nonprofit status with the IRS at the time of application.

Link to Award: https://eca.state.gov/files/bureau/fy23_cae_nofo.pdf

Process for Limited Submissions

Materials to submit include:

(1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (0.5” margins; single-spaced; font type: Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
(2) CV – (5 pages maximum)

Purpose

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational Cultural Affairs announces the Creative Arts Exchange (CAE) open competition for up to three cooperative agreements to support thematic projects in film, music, and musical collaboration as civic engagement. Thematic projects under the Creative Arts Exchange (CAE) are arts-based, international people-to-people exchanges that create partnerships through artistic collaboration and professional development activities, encourage inclusive economic opportunities, demonstrate the power of free expression to strengthen democratic values, and support U.S. Department of State foreign policy objectives. Eligible themes and/or artistic genres under the CAE vary and are determined based on Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) strategic priorities.

Purpose: Cultural diplomacy enhances cross-cultural understanding and opens new avenues of dialogue and collaboration between individuals and nations. The Cultural Programs Division in the Office of Citizen Exchanges conducts global cultural exchanges with diverse artists and arts experts designed to engage communities at home and abroad; educate and share cultural and professional expertise; and elevate voices of emerging and established cultural leaders to build inclusive professional and social networks that position the United States as a partner for peace and prosperity. The goals of the CAE are to:

• Foster mutual understanding and deepen trust between the people of the U.S. and abroad to counter negative stereotypes and advance safety and security;

• Advance and complement U.S. foreign policy objectives; • Build the capacity of creative leaders and institutions to develop new skills, partnerships, and opportunities, which promote creative industries and entrepreneurship;

• Advance America’s global competitiveness and create networks and opportunities for artists and institutions that endure beyond the program duration;

• Provide unique opportunities for artistic collaboration and engagement between American artists, foreign artists, and audiences;

• Convey the diversity and high artistic merit of the arts in the U.S. and increase awareness and understanding of U.S. art, culture, values, and society among international participants and audiences; and

• Foster opportunities for educational outreach and community engagement with diverse and underserved communities, especially youth (ages 12-25), women, and persons with disabilities.

• Support and increase opportunities for diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility.

Theme 1: Film (American Film Showcase) The Bureau intends to award one Cooperative Agreement for approximately $3,550,000, to fund the FY 2023 American Film Showcase (AFS), a program which sends approximately 70-100 American envoys to approximately 35-50 ECA-designated countries worldwide to showcase approximately 35-45 relevant feature length and short documentaries, independent narrative films, television, and digital episodic programs organized by strategic themes to offer a broad overview of the best in current American independent filmmaking and content creation. Additionally, AFS will bring approximately 20-30 international participants to the United States for program activities. The program broadly encompasses the visual media arts such as documentary, animated, and feature films, as well as television programs, gaming, and digital content. Envoys will screen and discuss their films and to conduct lectures, workshops, and master classes on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, filmmaking, short-form media, storytelling, scriptwriting, cinematography, marketing, distribution and funding, animation techniques, computer animation, digital technology, cellphone and digital storytelling, other forms of emergent media, and the creative use of social media. AFS will also design programs for foreign content creators, including television writers/producers, filmmakers, or film/TV professionals to travel to the U.S. for engagement with the American entertainment industry, including, but not limited to, attending film festivals, workshops, meetings with industry leaders, and professional networking opportunities. AFS will continue to support professional development opportunities in the form of job shadows, short-form media workshops to take place in-country, regionally, and in the United States, and as well as to encourage more follow-on trips and alumni engagement. The FY 2023 AFS will include $300,000 in distinct funds for the development and implementation of activities in support of Ukraine’s creative community and economy. Proposals should outline activities that engage professionals to include cinematographers, directors, editors, producers, writers, and media and creative organizations from Ukraine and from Central and Eastern Europe who are connected to or in support of Ukraine. Participants will come from Ukraine, Eastern and Central Europe, or be those actively engaged in support of Ukraine. Special consideration should be reserved for Ukrainian creatives. These funds will support approximately 20-30 international participants. Activities can include, but are not limited to, professional collaboration and mentoring opportunities, microgrants, and workshops, in order to bolster professional skills and strengthen regional networks. These activities can take place in Central and Eastern Europe and in the U.S. In addition, the FY 2023 AFS will include $1,000,000 for the implementation of a programming initiative focused on the creative economy in Africa. In additional to its wider global engagement, AFS will offer focused programming in approximately four-to-six sub-Saharan African countries to support deeper engagement and enhance the creative economy sector in film and television through public diplomacy exchanges. This Africa-focused initiative seeks to elevate the creative and professional talent and wider entertainment industry and systems through holistic programmatic work that offers a whole of industry approach and supports professional pipelines. These funds will support approximately 40-60 participants.

Theme 2: Music (American Music Abroad) The Bureau intends to award one Cooperative Agreement for approximately $1,840,000 to fund the FY2023 season of American Music Abroad (AMA). AMA showcases the excellence and diversity of America and American music to audiences abroad in a way that supports the foreign policy objectives of U.S. embassies. The program will tour 10-15 American musical ensembles of three to five musicians (up to 70 participants) specializing in a wide variety of traditional U.S. musical forms, selected through open, U.S.-wide auditions, to approximately one-three countries each. Countries will be those of importance to the Department of State’s public diplomacy mission to build mutual understanding in the following world regions: Africa (AF), East Asia and the Pacific (EAP), Europe and Eurasia (EUR), the Middle East/ North Africa (NEA), South and Central Asia (SCA), and/or Western Hemisphere (WHA). The AMA program is designed to reach a range of foreign audiences, including but not limited to fellow musicians, underserved populations, people with little or no exposure to American cultural performances, and youth. AMA artists connect with participants through concerts, collaborations, workshops, master classes, and jam sessions, and encourage sustained relationships and collaboration through post-tour follow-on activities. AMA also hosts one to two alumni-led academies annually with 20-40 foreign participants each to receive mentorship in industry business practices and production.

Theme 3: Musical Collaboration as Civic Engagement (OneBeat) The Bureau intends to award one Cooperative Agreement for approximately $2,414,000 to fund the FY2023 cycle of OneBeat which will include virtual and in-person exchanges held in the United States and abroad, a micro-grant program and an alumni summit. OneBeat is a music-based initiative that will bring together up to 100 musicians (ages 19-35) from the United States and every world region to participate in multi-national musical collaborations, professional development workshops, youth educational classes, and public performances which engage diverse communities in the practice of musical collaboration as civic engagement. The collaborative music making activities will focus on key foreign policy priorities. Of the total award solicitation amount, $500,000 will be dedicated to support a three-to-four-day one-time alumni summit in the United States for up to 70 participants representing OneBeat alumni from every world region and the United States, private sector thought leaders, industry change makers, and NGOs dedicated to music as a social practice to share best practices, inspire artistic innovation, discover entrepreneurial opportunities, and position the United States as a key partner for peace and prosperity.

Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) University Leadership Program Research & Development Grant

Slots: One slot taken; one still available.

Deadlines

Internal Deadline: Contact RII.

LOI: N/A

External Deadline: May 26, 2023

Award Information

Award Type: Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 12

Anticipated Award Amount: $6,000,000

Who May Serve as PI:

Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to conduct the proposed
project are invited to work with their institution/organization to develop an application. A
Principal Investigator (PI) may submit only one (1) application in response to this
announcement. A PI may not be a Co-PI on another application in response to this
announcement.

Link to Award:

FY23-NOFO_Research-FINAL Download

Process for Limited Submissions

Materials to submit include:

(1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (0.5” margins; single-spaced; font type: Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review. You must use the template linked above.
(2) CV – (5 pages maximum)

Purpose

The program provides funding to support research and development (R&D) for nuclear science, engineering, technology, and related disciplines to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials. University R&D activities provide an opportunity to complement current, ongoing NRC-led research.

More specifically, the program shall be used to provide financial assistance for R&D projects relevant to the programmatic mission of the NRC referenced above, with an emphasis on providing financial assistance with respect to research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of new and advanced nuclear technologies. New this year, non[1]technical research will be considered under this announcement (for example, projects that would foster the development of innovative community engagement strategies, including incorporation of principles of equity and environmental justice).

The NRC invites R&D projects that complement its current research portfolio and that help the NRC prepare for upcoming challenges. A summary of NRC planned research activities can be found at https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/research/activities.html in the FY22-24 Research Prospectus. The NRC seeks projects that provide a variety of direct and indirect, near[1]and longer-term benefits. These benefits include:

• Identification and closure of potentially important technical gaps ahead of regulatory needs,

• Heightened awareness and knowledge of key advanced technology developments being pursued outside of NRC, and

• Improved foundational knowledge on key topics of future regulatory interest.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Application of wireless communications, drones, robotics, and autonomous control in operations and maintenance activities;

• Digital engineering/analytics, advanced sensors, and digital instrumentation/controls at nuclear facilities;

• Evaluation of technical gaps and major uncertainties in assessing risk for operating, new and advanced reactors (e.g., modeling of complex dependencies, advanced calculation techniques, multi-unit and multi-moule risk, application of risk techniques to radiological consequence analysis, development of improved risk metrics);

• Human and organizational factors and human reliability analysis for advanced nuclear applications, (e.g., improved models for dependency, consideration of organizational factors, dynamic methods, and risk analysis).

• Characterization of fire hazards in new reactor designs (e.g., sodium) and post-fire safe shutdown capability;

• Characterization of natural hazards including but not limited to flooding, high winds, hurricanes, wildfires, climate change;

• Analysis models and methods for fuel and cladding performance;

• Advanced technology approaches (e.g., data and text analytics, data visualization techniques, and artificial intelligence) and applications (e.g., data mining, autonomous control) in nuclear power-related applications; Evaluation of the radiological releases and offsite consequences for fusion reactor accidents;

• Application of innovative and advanced technologies for decommissioning and remediation of radiologically contaminated sites;

• Evaluation of the technical gaps and uncertainties in licensing new veterinary and medical uses of byproduct materials;

• Analytical approaches that combine probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) risk quantification methods with reactor systems sensitivity or uncertainty analysis methods to quantify the risk significance of safety analysis errors or uncertainties; Performance-based technology-neutral safety assurance;

• Evaluation of technical gaps and major uncertainties in assessing risk for decommissioning and waste management; and

• Comparative analysis, consistencies, and harmonization in application of dosimetry and dose coefficients by the NRC and national and international regulatory agencies.

Visit our Institutionally Limited Submission webpage for more updates and other announcements.