Institute for Cell Engineering (ICE) Challenge Grants for Stem Cell Research

Application deadline: November 6, 2006

ICE will provide ICE Challenge Grants on a peer-reviewed, competitive basis, enabling investigators to be competitive for the upcoming State of Maryland funding for stem cell research. The Challenge Grants will provide a 20% additional match, up to a total of $100K/yr (to match State grant applications with $500K/yr or higher budgets) with one additional renewable year of funding contingent on progress, to grants that are successful in receiving state funding. For example, if you are applying for a $100K/yr State grant, you would be qualified to seek a match from ICE for $20K/yr with one renewable $20K/yr of funding. Once the ICE Challenge Grant is provisionally awarded, an investigator will be able to use this matching fund as institutional financial support for the State grant application. Priority of funding for the Challenge Grants will be for those proposals aimed at bringing together two or more groups working across interfaces of disciplines. For example, a group with an animal model for diabetes proposing to work with a biomedical engineering group to examine how microfluidics could be used to understand stem cell differentiation to beta cells, under specific but complex experimental conditions, would be highly competitive.

Review process and application:

A. Review process:
Applications will be reviewed by the ICE Advisory Committee Members, selected Hopkins faculty, and the Vice Dean for Research. Applicants will be informed 10 days after submitting their ICE Challenge grant applications.

B. Application

1. Total pages (single-spaced): maximum of three pages (excluding Appendix)
2. Format

i. Scientific abstract: 250 words
ii. Lay abstract: 200 words
iii. Hypothesis
iv. Rationale
v. Pertinent experience and/or preliminary data
vi. Objectives
vii. The scientific team and scientific leader(s): provide rationale for assembly of the group (working across interfaces is encouraged but not absolutely necessary)
viii. Experimental Approach
ix. Anticipated Findings and Pitfalls
x. Anticipated milestones: one year and three year period
xi. Appendix: NIH type biosketch of PI (s)
Current Other PI External Support (NIH format)
Supplemental figures: maximum of two pages

C. Applications should be submitted electronically as a single combined PDF file to Ms. Kai Sauer at kaisauer@jhmi.edu.

For additional information, contact Ms. Kai Sauer at kaisauer@jhmi.edu.

NSF - Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) Program - 2007

RESPONSE NEEDED BY Wednesday, November 29, 2006.

The National Science Foundation invites applications in response to the Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) Program Solicitation, which is designed to increase access to scientific and engineering equipment for research and research training in our Nation's organizations of higher education, research museums and non-profit research organizations. This program seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, and to foster the integration of research and education by providing instrumentation for research-intensive learning environments. The MRI program encourages the development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organizational use and in concert with private sector partners. The MRI program assists in the acquisition or development of major research instrumentation by organizations that is, in general, too costly for support through other NSF programs. Proposals may be for a single instrument, a large system of instruments, or multiple instruments that share a common or specific research focus."

Full program details can be found on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/
nsf05515/nsf05515.htm.

Because of the limits on the number of proposals that can be submitted, an internal peer review to select the nominees will be managed through the Provost's Office.

Required Materials:
1. JHU Cover Sheet (attached)
2. Project Summary (3-4 pages)
3. Principal Investigator's Curriculum Vitae (2-4 pages)
4. The names of all other investigators
5. One page anticipated budget
6. A letter of recommendation from the candidate's department head

Interested candidates should submit a complete packet of materials for internal review no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 29, 2006, via email, to graceb@jhu.edu. This ensures that the internal selection can be completed in a timely fashion and the final proposal can be submitted electronically to the National Science Foundation by the January 25, 2007 deadline.

If you have any questions, please contact Grace Bigelow (graceb@jhu.edu) or visit the University Research Projects Administration website: http://jhuresearch.jhu.edu/
funding.htm#jhu-coordinated.

American Association for Cancer Research Invites Applications for Research Awards

Deadline: December 1, 2006.

The American Association for Cancer Research offers a number of research grants for cancer researchers at various stages in their careers to foster the development of promising scientists.

Please note: An internal review by the Provost's Office is not required for these programs. Applications should first be submitted as a proposal for funding through the candidate's divisional research administration office. A copy of the finalized proposals should be sent to graceb@jhu.edu.

Applications are being accepted for the following programs:

AACR Research Fellowships: Open to postdoctoral fellows and clinical research fellows at an academic facility, teaching hospital, or research institution who will be in the first, second, or third year of their postdoctoral training at the start of the fellowship term on July 1, 2007. Fellowships provide one-, two-, or three-year grants of $30,000 to $40,000 per year to support the salary and benefits of the fellow. Fellowships are designed to foster basic, translational, clinical, and epidemiological research by scientists at the beginning of their careers in the cancer field. Candidates must be nominated by a mentor.

AACR-Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award: Open to tenure-track scientists at the level of assistant professor who completed his or her postdoctoral studies or clinical fellowships no later than July 1 of the application year and ordinarily not more than five years prior to the award year. The award provides a one-year grant of $50,000 for salary and benefits, laboratory supplies, and limited domestic travel to support research in cancer etiology, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention (basic, translational, or clinical cancer research). Candidates must be nominated by the dept. chair or Dean; only 1 grant is awarded each year.

AACR Career Development Awards: Open to junior faculty who, at the start of the grant term, are in the first, second, or third year of their first full-time appointment after completing their postdoctoral studies at an academic or medical institution. Eligible positions include instructor, acting assistant professor, research assistant professor, assistant professor, or an equivalent full-time appointment. The awards provide two-year grants of $50,000 per year for direct research expenses. Candidates must be nominated by the dept. chair or Dean.

Visit the AACR Web site for complete program information, application guidelines, and eligibility restrictions. http://www.aacr.org/home/scientists/travel-grants--research-
funding/research-funding.aspx.


The American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) Grant Competitions

DEADLINES: Multiple dates in December, 2006

Please note: An internal review by the Provost's Office is not required for these programs. Applications should first be submitted as a proposal for funding through the candidate's divisional research administration office. A copy of the finalized proposals should be sent to graceb@jhu.edu.

AFAR Research Grants:
AFAR provides up to $60,000 for a one- to two-year award to junior faculty (both MDs and PhDs) to do research that will serve as the basis for longer term research efforts. Deadline for receipt of application is December 15, 2006.

The Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Foundation/AFAR New Investigator Awards in Alzheimer's Disease:
This new program supports research in areas in which more scientific investigation is needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. The program also encourages junior investigators in the United States and Israel to pursue research and academic careers in the neurosciences, and Alzheimer's disease in particular. Up to five one- to two-year awards of $60,000 each will be awarded. Deadline for receipt of application is December 15, 2006.

The Fannie E. Rippel Foundation/AFAR New Investigator Awards on Gender Differences in Aging:
This new program provides two awards of up to $60,000 each to junior faculty committed to pursuing careers in gender-based aging research. The program encourages scientific investigation that leads to a better understanding of normal biological aging as well as mechanisms underlying age-related diseases and disorders as they relate to gender aging. Deadline for receipt of application is December 15, 2006.

Paul Beeson Career Development Awards in Aging Research Program:
This initiative will sustain and promote the research careers of clinically trained individuals who are pursuing research careers in aging. Deadline for letter of intent is November 20, 2006 (not required); application receipt date is December 20, 2006. The 2007 RFA is not available yet but will be posted as soon as possible.

The Julie Martin Mid-Career Award in Aging Research:
Sponsored by the Ellison Medical Foundation, this program encourages outstanding mid-career scientists who have not been engaged in aging research but whose research is relevant and could lead to novel approaches to aging. Also eligible are aging researchers whose research is high risk, and thus not attractive to NIH or other traditional sources, but has the potential for high payoff in advancing our understanding of basic aging. Two four-year awards of $550,000 will be awarded. Deadline for receipt of application is December 15, 2006.

Glenn/AFAR Breakthroughs in Gerontology Awards:
The goal of this program is to provide timely support to a small number of pilot research programs that may be of relatively high risk but which offer significant promise of yielding transforming discoveries in the fundamental biology of aging. Full-time faculty members at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher who can demonstrate a strong record of independence are eligible. Up to four two-year grants of up to $200,000 each will be awarded. Deadline for receipt of application is December 15, 2006.

The Cart Fund, Inc.:
Encourages exploratory and developmental AD research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual plans of those projects that may not yet be supported by extensive preliminary data, but have the potential to substantially advance biomedical research. One award of up to $250,000 will be awarded in 2007. Deadline for receipt of Letter-of-Intent is December 13, 2006.

Ellison Medical Foundation/AFAR Senior Postdoctoral Fellows Research Program:
The program encourages and furthers the careers of postdoctoral fellows (both MDs and PhDs) in the fundamental mechanisms of aging. Fellows with at least three and not more than five years of prior postdoctoral training are eligible. Up to three two-year fellowships of $100,000 will be awarded in 2007. Deadline for receipt of application is December 15, 2006.

Visit the AACR Web site for complete program information, application guidelines, and eligibility: http://www.afar.org/grants.html

If you have any questions, please contact Grace Bigelow (graceb@jhu.edu) or visit the University Research Projects Administration website: http://jhuresearch.jhu.edu/
funding.htm#jhu-coordinated.


Funding for Prostate Cancer Research

Deadline: Monday, January 8, 2007.

Funding is available to support multidisciplinary research in prostate cancer through the Patrick C. Walsh Prostate Cancer Research Fund. Awards of $50,000 to $100,000 for up to 2 years are available to fund career development and developmental research programs (pilot projects). New Ideas Encouraged!

For more information visit: http://prostatecancerprogram.onc.jhmi.edu/.

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