Research News - July 18, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Research Featured on the Mass General Home Page

The home page of Mass General website was updated this week with a new feature that tells the story of research here at the hospital through the work of Gary Tearney, MD, PhD. Tearney, an investigator with the Wellman Center for Photomedicine and the Mike and Sue Hazard Family MGH Research Scholar, has developed a new method of imaging the esophagus called Tethered Capsule Endomicroscopy, which has the potential to be a non-invasive, cost-effective screening tool for conditions like Barrett’s Esophagus.

Check it out! http://www.massgeneral.org
 

2. Core of the Week: Ragon Institute Virology Core

The Ragon Institute Virology Core addresses the need for a reliable source of many HIV characterization services such as nucleic acid isolation, viral stock propagation, and viral genome sequencing. The Core gives users access to top-of-the line equipment and to the specific expertise necessary to properly design and safely execute HIV research in BSL-2+ facilities.

With a solid customer base, knowledgeable staff, and nearly a decade of experience, the Ragon Virology Core is a dependable resource for HIV characterization support. With the HIV Virology Core, researchers have a timely, reliable option for the generation of viral stocks and a variety of virus characterization methods while continuing with their own research.

To learn more about the Ragon Institute Virology Core, please click here.
 

3. Looking for equipment for your Research?

Visit the MGH Research Equipment Management page to see if your needs can be met by generous colleagues within our research community. Equipment is available for sharing, sale and some items are even free!

4. Syncplicity, a New Collaboration Tool for Research

Syncplicity is the new enterprise online file sharing service that provides secure and automatic file synchronization, mobile access and sharing. It is approved for research and external collaboration at Partners and affiliate institutions (BWH, MGH, MCL, SRH).

Partners has procured an initial pool of 1200 Syncplicity licenses for the research community. These 1200 licenses include 100GB of cloud storage and are available at no cost until August 2016. After the 1200 licenses have been consumed, additional licenses can be purchased at $50/year. After August 2016, the service is expected to remain at $50/year. All individuals have the option to double the amount of storage from 100GB to 200GB for $165/year.

For more information or to request a license, click here.
 

5. Updates from PCORI: Our Latest Research Awards and New Funding Opportunities

Please click here to read the latest news from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

EVENTS

1. Research Application Group Presents: Systems Day

July 22, 2014, 11:00am - 5:30pm, Haber Auditorium

As a follow up to last year’s well received System’s Day the Research Applications Group will be holding an all-day session to walk through in detail some of the exciting new functionality and applications along with a look ahead at what is coming. The goal of this all day session is to enhance and develop the user community of research applications.

Session Topics Include:

• Research Navigator - Demo and Timeline
• Research Applications Security (RAS) Demo
• DCR Project - Project Overview, Timeline and Impact for Depts
• InfoEd PD Usability Project - Project Overview and Timeline
• Insight Roadmap
• MicroStrategy Reporting Demo - Project Overview and Timeline 

Specifically, these sessions will provide:

• Live demonstration of the new functionality being developed across the system user groups
• Open Question and Answer sessions

Please RSVP if you will be attending all or some of the sessions by e-mailing czirpolo@partners.org, with the subject: "RM Systems Day".
 

2. Clinical Research Spotlight Series: Study Coordinator Discussion Group

Monday, August 4, 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Simches 3.130

Sponsored by the MGH Clinical Research Program
 
Francine Molay, Senior Project Manager, Clinical Research Program
Colin Gorman, Project Manager, Clinical Research Program
Maureen Hames, Senior Study Coordinator, MGH Clinical Research Program
Ana Fernandes, Senior Study Coordinator, MGH Clinical Research Program
Taylor Huhta, Study Coordinator II, MGH Reproductive Endocrine Unit

Having trouble recruiting subjects? Having trouble retaining subjects? Completely perplexed by the IRB? How do I develop a budget? Am I permitted to perform a certain study-related task?

If you are a new coordinator please join us and bring your study-related questions or issues. If you are an experienced coordinator bring your concerns and get a second opinion on how to solve an issue or problem. This is informal discussion group. The level of interactive will depend on the questions brought to the discussion.

Registration is required. Contact Jillian Tonelli with further questions about this session.

 

3. Research Subject Remuneration and Reimbursement: Policy Review and Navigating the Process

Wednesday, August 13, 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Simches 3.110

Sponsored by the MGH Clinical Research Program, MGH Office of Research Compliance and MGH Materials Management

Pamela Richtmyer, Associate, MGH Research Compliance
Karen Walsh, Manager, Materials Management

Pamela Richtmyer, MGH Research Compliance Associate, will review the do's and don’ts of research subject remuneration and the policies on payments to human subjects and cash control accountability. Karen Walsh, Manager of Materials Management, will provide an overview of Partners Materials Management including how to order, expected timelines, communication about status and the approval process for purchase requisitions and check requests. This seminar is a must for all clinical research staff ordering supplies or managing payments to research subjects.

This course is geared towards investigators, research nurses, study coordinators and all other study staff. 

Registration is required. Contact Jillian Tonelli with further questions about this session.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. MGH ECOR Deliberative ISF and Sequestration Relief Funding

The Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) is accepting applications for the August 1st deadline for the Deliberative Interim Support Funding & Sequestration Relief Funding. August is the second of three standing deadlines for these awards in 2014. The next deadline will be December 1st.

What are they?

Deliberative Interim Support Funding
This 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

Deliberative Interim Support process is open to:

1. Investigators whose grants were not scored or whose scores were not translated into a percentile ranking.
2. Investigators whose grants received scores >20th percentile.
3. Investigators who were awarded Formulaic Bridge Funding (grants with scores < or = 20th percentile), and are now requesting additional financial support (in excess of $75,000 for RO1s, and $37,500 for R21s).
4. A PI who has already received Formulaic Bridge Funding or Deliberative Interim Support on their A0 grant application must apply through the Deliberative Interim Support process for their A1 or A0 resubmission regardless of the score they received on their resubmitted grant.

Sequestration Relief Funding
This is open to Investigators that have experienced a funding shortfall as a result of sequestration and do not qualify for either Formulaic Bridge Funding or Deliberative Interim Support.

For eligible applicants:
a. The total funded amount, if awarded, will be sourced 50:50 with the Department. For example, if a PI applies for $100,000, then $50,000 will be sourced from ECOR funds and $50,000 will be sourced from Departmental funds.
. All applications for additional funds must include the Chief’s Letter of Support & Cost Sharing Authorization Form for ECOR Funding.

When is the deadline?
Friday, August 1, 2014 - 5:00 PM

How do I learn more and apply?
Deliberative Interim Support Funding - Click here
Sequestration Relief Funding - Click here
 

2. 2015 Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine

The Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine, presented by the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) and the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals - part of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, honors the physician-scientist who has moved science forward with notable achievements in innovation, creativity and potential for clinical application.

This annual prize provides the awardee with:

• An unrestricted $20,000 honorarium
• The Harrington Prize Lecture, delivered at the ASCI/AAP Joint Meeting
• A review, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation

This prize requires Institutional Nomination; 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, 2014 to be considered. Please contact Erin McGivney if you have questions regarding this process.

Click here for more information about the Harrington Prize. Nominations are being accepted through August 15, 2014.
 

3. Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC)

The Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC) is seeking applications for collaborations and research studies focused on the impact and sequelae of mTBI/CTE on active duty service members and veterans. Studies will address questions and areas complementary to the Consortium's mission and alignment to specified programmatic needs and funding alignments. Information on the CENC can be found at https://cenc.rti.org. Information on the CENC integrated grant program and the Fall 2014 Request for Applications (RFA) can be found at https://cenc.rti.org/Research-Studies/CENC-Grant-Program.

Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to the CENC Peer Review Program Chair, Dr. Steven West at slwest2@vcu.edu.
 

4. 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 for 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.

• The National Cancer Institute (NCI) announces the Outstanding Investigator Award (R35) – NEW!
• Clinical Trial on the Effects of Interventions Aiming to Reduce Chronic Inflammation in Older Adults: Pilot Phase (U01)
• Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) (P30)

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.
 

5. 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.

• Gates Vaccine Innovation Award, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
• Research Project Grants, Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation
• Multiple Award Programs, Progeria Research Foundation
• Therapeutic Pipeline Program, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Please click here for further details on these funding opportunities.
 

6. NIH Update for Week Ending July 18, 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

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

Minority Faculty Career Development Seminar - September 5-8

Executive Committee On Research (ECOR) Massachusetts General Hospital

50 Staniford Street, Suite 1001, Boston, MA 02114

ecor@partners.org