Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI-R²) Recovery and Reinvestment

INTERNAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, June 12, 2009

The National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Program (NSF MRI) continues to seek to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, by providing shared instrumentation that fosters the integration of research and education in research-intensive learning environments. Development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organization use are encouraged, as are development efforts that leverage the strengths of private sector partners to build instrument development capacity at academic institutions. To accomplish these goals, the MRI program assists with the acquisition or development of shared research instrumentation that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

To further these goals, a special additional program has been established: the NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program - Recovery and Reinvestment (MRI-R²), in which the anticipated total funding for the program is $200 million. This program will accept proposals either for instrument development or for acquisition of a single instrument or a system of related instruments. It does not cover instrumentation for standard science and engineering courses or for general purpose instrumentation that does not have a common or specific research focus. Research areas include biological sciences, computer science and engineering, geosciences, mathematical sciences, and social, behavioral, and economic sciences. At Ph.D.-granting institutions, such as Johns Hopkins University, the cost of these instruments must be between $100,000 and $6 million. Instruments are expected to be operational for regular research use by the end of the award period.

Johns Hopkins University can nominate up to three (3) proposals, with a maximum of two (2) submissions for instrument acquisition and one (1) submission for instrument development. For further information regarding this program, please refer to the full announcement from NSF: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09561/nsf09561.htm.

Note: Proposals that wholly or substantially duplicate MRI proposals that were submitted under NSF 09-502 and were accepted for review will not be accepted for the MRI-R² competition.

The deadline to submit preliminary applications for internal review is Friday, June 12, 2009. Interested applicants should submit their materials via e-mail to Barbara Christen at bsc2@jhu.edu in the Office of the Assistant Provost for Research Projects Administration. The subject line of your e-mail must read: "NSF 09-561 MRI-R2 internal application," and please attach to the message one PDF that has these materials arranged in the following sequence:

1. JHU limited submission cover sheet (email Barbara Christen at bsc2@jhu.edu for a copy)
2. Abstract (one page, double spaced)
3. Proposal (not including figures and references, four pages maximum in 12-point font with one-inch margins)
4. Curriculum vita/vitae of investigators, including current external research support and publications (two pages maximum @ investigator)
5. Budget (two pages maximum)

Each applicant should expect to receive a confirmation of receipt within 48 hours of his or her e-mail. If you do not receive such an acknowledgment, please contact Barbara Christen directly at (410) 516-5256 or by e-mail.

Completed applications must be received by the National Science Foundation by Monday, August 10, 2009.


Academic Research Infrastructure Program: Recovery and Reinvestment (ARI-R²)

INTERNAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday, June 19, 2009

The National Science Foundation (NSF) continues its long-standing commitment to strengthen the science and engineering enterprise in the United States. The accelerated pace of scientific discoveries, the convergence of disciplines, and the cross-fertilization between them have come to characterize this enterprise in the 21st century. As new scientific opportunities and processes have emerged in this wide-ranging landscape, research facility requirements in the nation have also evolved and changed.

The purpose of NSF 09-562: Academic Research Infrastructure: Recovery and Reinvestment (ARI-R²) is to enable next-generation research infrastructure that integrates shared resources across user communities. The program is intended to revitalize existing research facilities through repair, renovation, or in exceptional cases, replacement. Such facilities include existing shared space where sponsored and/or unsponsored research activities and research training take place, either in "bricks and mortar," mobile, or virtual research space. Renovations can be of many kinds, including those which address underlying infrastructure, such as that necessary for sustaining routines (e.g., laboratory electrical and plumbing systems, etc.), supporting equipment (e.g., basic durable components of a research facility that are integral to its operation such as clean rooms, retractable roofs, etc.), and/or network connectivity among research facilities, including circuit access or fiber deployment and the associated hardware and software.

Awards can range from $250,000 to $2 million for up to three years and from $2 million to $10 million for up to four years. Indirect costs are not allowed and cost sharing is not required. For further budgetary limitations or for further information about the full program, please refer to the complete announcement, available at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09562/nsf09562.htm.

The deadline to submit preliminary applications for internal review is Friday, June 19, 2009. Interested applicants should submit the following materials to Barbara Christen at bsc2@jhu.edu in the Office of the Assistant Provost for Research Projects Administration. The subject line of your e-mail must read: "NSF 09-562 ARI-R2 internal application" and please attach to the message one PDF that has these materials arranged in the following sequence:

1. JHU limited submission cover sheet (email Barbara Christen at bsc2@jhu.edu for a copy)
2. Abstract (one page, double spaced)
3. Proposal (not including figures and references, four pages maximum in 12-point font with one-inch margins)
4. Candidate's current cv including current external research support and publications (two pages maximum @investigator.
5. Budget (one page maximum)

Each applicant should expect to receive a confirmation of receipt within 48 hours of his or her e-mail. If such an acknowledgment is not received, please call me directly at (410) 516-5256.

Johns Hopkins University can nominate one (1) proposal. The letter of intent (LOI) is due Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Completed applications must be received by the National Science Foundation by Monday, August 24, 2009. If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Christen via e-mail bsc2@jhu.edu or by telephone (410) 516-5256.


William Lawrence and Blanche Hughes Foundation (WLBHF) Grant Opportunity - Pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia

Application deadline: September 16, 2009

WLBHF is a non-profit organization whose major goal is to foster discoveries in pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia with a goal of developing effective therapies for the disease. Applicants must either be either an established investigators with an association to an academic institution or must be working closely and part of a lab working with an established investigator.

Grant applications should be no greater than 7 pages (Abstract, Background, Experimental Design, Expected Results, Potential Problems). Also include references, detailed Timeline, Budget Justification, Other Support and Biosketch (NIH format). Last year, 6 grants were awarded; emphasis was placed on the translational merits of the proposal.

Priority will be given to those grants that have a translational bent getting new therapies to children with leukemias. Further areas of studies would be to identify new targets that could be utilized for therapy.

Funding: Direct cost for grants are limited to $150,000/year. Grants are reviewed on a yearly basis and those that are funded and meet their milestones may be renewed on a yearly basis for up to 2 subsequent years. Indirect costs are limited to 10% per year. Initial grant will be funded for one year.

Review of grant: All applicants are reviewed by the grant committee and final approval rest with the Board of Directors. Awarding of the grant is based on the priority score and the availability of funds.

Send grants electronically to (Koeffler@cshs.org). H. Phillip Koeffler, M.D., Director, Hematology/Oncology Division, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., AC1060, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

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