Research News - April 25, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Free Technical MATLAB Seminars at HMS

Please join MathWorks for a free introductory MATLAB seminar and hands-on training workshop on Tuesday, April 29 in the Pechet Room, The Joseph B. Martin Conference Center at Harvard Medical School. Session 1: Introduction to MATLAB for Data Analysis and Visualization and Session 2: Introduction to MATLAB: Problem Solving and Programming. Note: Attendees must bring a laptop to this hands-on workshop. In advance of the session, MathWorks will provide each registrant with a temporary MATLAB license that attendees will be required to install on the laptop. Please register online and contact MathWorks with any questions.

2. Partners Research Management Message - April 24, 2014

Please click here to view the latest Partners Research Management message.

• FY14 Period 1 Effort Certification Forms Due on 4/30/14
• Partners New Core Management System: Pilot Program to Streamline Operations
• Updated Transfer Request Form to Move Core Charges Now Available
• NIH and AHRQ Announce Updated Policy for Application Submission
• May Salary and Payroll Deadlines
• Upcoming Training Courses

3. Core of the Week: High Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) Core

High Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) Core
Director: Joel S. Finkelstein, M.D.
Location: 10 Emerson Place Suite 1, Boston, MA

The High Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) Core Facility offers measurements of the microscopic internal structure of cortical and trabecular bone in the distal radius and tibia. Additionally, the HR-pQCT Core Facility offers Finite Element Analysis to estimate key biomechanical properties of the bone including failure load and stiffness.

By scanning the distal radius and tibia, the HR-pQCT Core can measure a variety of important parameters reflecting the integrity of cortical and trabecular bone. This information cannot be determined using standard clinical imaging techniques such as dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA). A scanning appointment is a 30 minute addition to a clinical research visit and involves less radiation exposure than traditional bone densitometry. With applications for both cross-sectional and longitudinal research, investigators have employed our facilities and expertise to study a variety of bone-related diseases with participants ranging in age from children to the elderly.

The goal of the HR-pQCT Core is to provide facilities and personnel on a per study basis, allowing investigators access to important information about bone structure and function without requiring special expertise and equipment.

To learn more about the High Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (HR-pQCT) Core, please click here.
 

4. PHS Government Affairs Update - April 23, 2014

Please click here to read the latest update from the PHS Government Affairs office.

EVENTS

1. CRP Spotlight Series: Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA)

Wednesday, May 14, 12:00 - 1:00pm, Simches 3.110

Sponsored by the MGH Clinical Research Program and the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA)

The Benefits of Joining a Professional Clinical Research Organization
Speaker: Alyssa Gateman, DFCI Quality Assurance Office for Clinical Trials
Chairperson, SoCRA Boston Chapter

Joining a professional organization can bring many benefits to clinical research staff. Learn what these are during our May seminar as we are joined by Alyssa Gateman from the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA). Ms. Gateman will highlight the benefits of membership in a professional clinical research organization, outline the process for obtaining clinical research certification and discuss the career options for those who become certified. Question and answer period to follow.

Registration is required. Please contact Jillian Tonelli with any questions.
 

2. MGH Seminar Series in Cell Biology

Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 3:00 pm, Isselbacher Auditorium (CNY Bldg. 149-East, Room 7231)

Sponsored by the Division of Nephrology

Spatially-resolved Proteomic Mapping of Mitochondria in Living Cells Using an Engineered Peroxidase APEX
Alice Y. Ting, Ph.D.
Professor of Chemistry
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department of Chemistry

Host: Roy J. Soberman, M.D.
Contact: Christine Plouffe: email: cplouffe@partners.org; phone: 617-724-1502
 

3. Info Session - Master of Physician Assistant Studies at the MGH Institute

Thursday, May 1, 2014 6:00 pm, Catherine Filene Shouse Building, 36 1st Avenue, Charlestown Navy Yard

With a bachelor's degree in any field and at least 1,000 hours of direct patient care, you can become a physician assistant in two years at the MGH Institute of Health Professions. Faculty and staff members will be available at an information session on Thursday, May 1, to answer questions regarding the application process, prerequisite courses, and financial aid.
 

4. Save the Date! MGH Research Core Day

June 12, 2014, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, CNY 149

All members of the MGH and Partners Research Community are invited to learn more about the research core services available at MGH.

Light refreshments will be provided, along with a raffle! We hope to see you all on Thursday, June 12, 2014!
 

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. 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.

Process
Submit a one- to two-page Letter of Intent (LOI) to the MGH Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) via email to ecor@partners.org. In addition to your LOI, please include an NIH Biosketch.

The letter of intent should include:
1. Name of the Principal Investigator with appropriate contact information
2. A descriptive title of the potential application
3. Brief description of the project
4. Brief description of why you specifically should be selected to receive institutional nomination for this award

In the event that there is more than one MGH investigators interested in applying each limited submission award, the LOIs will be used to assess candidates and a review and selection process will take place.

Current Limited Submission Funding Opportunities
Please click here for more information and for our internal deadlines.

• Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (P30)
• Cystic Fibrosis Research and Translation Core Center (P30)
• American Diabetes Association Pathway to Stop Diabetes Research Awards
• William T. Grant Scholars - NEW!
• Atopic Dermatitis Research Network (ADRN) (U19)
• Developing and Improving Institutional Animal Resources (G20)

If there is a limited submission funding opportunity you do not see listed above or you have any additional questions, please contact Erin McGivney at 617-643-6471.
 

2. Private 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 funding opportunities. Note that proposals are still routed through the standard InfoEd/Research Management process.

• Gordon L. Snider Scholar Award, Alpha-1 Foundation
• Building Muscle Initiative Research Grant, A Foundation Building Strength (AFBS)
• FCD Young Scholars Program (YSP), Foundation for Child Development (FCD)
• International Prize for Diabetes Research, Manpei Suzuki Diabetes Foundation
• Ruane Prize for Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
• Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research (formerly the Bipolar Mood Disorder Prize), Brain & Behavior Research Foundation
• Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

Please click here for further details on these funding opportunities.
 

3. NIH Update for Week Ending April 25, 2014

For the latest National Institutes of Health notices, requests for applications, and program announcements, follow this link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/WeeklyIndex.cfm

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Reminders of recently posted funding opportunities, deadlines and events

The Harrington Scholar-Innovator Award
Letter of Intent Deadline: May 2

MGH ECOR Formulaic Bridge Funding
Application Deadline: May 7; 7th day of each month

MGH-MIT RFA Announcement: "Transforming Diagnosis"
Letter of Intent Deadline: May 15

Massachusetts Neuroscience Consortium
Pre-Proposal application Deadline: May 15

Basser Global Prize
Application Deadline: May 15

Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard Pilot Feasibility Project Applications in Nutrition, Obesity or Related Research Fields
Application Deadline: May 15

Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences Awards
Application Deadline: May 19

The Smith Family Awards for Excellence in Biomedical Research
Application Deadline: May 19

Boston Biomedical Innovation Center (B-BIC) Accepting PILOT & DRIVE Grant Pre-Proposals

What is PCORI? - April 30

Next Gen Sequencing: An Introduction and Clinical Applications - May 13

New Research Subject Advocacy Materials for Research Nurses and Research Coordinators - May 28

Executive Committee On Research (ECOR) Massachusetts General Hospital

50 Staniford Street, Suite 1001, Boston, MA 02114

 ecor@partners.org