Research News - August 22, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Important Update: Do not post material related to eCare on the Internet

As the Partners eCare project of implementing Epic software throughout the Partners Hospitals continues, please do not post any screenshots, reference guides or other materials representing the software to a public website. This type of material is owned by Epic and anything found through search on the Internet that was not posted by Epic could be considered Intellectual Property infringement. If you have any material posted currently, please move it to an Intranet site inside the Partners Network immediately. Visit https://partnersecare.partners.org for information about Partners eCare and contact partnersecare@partners.org with any questions or concerns.

2. Overhead rate for Industry Sponsored Clinical Trials

Effective October 1st, 2014 the overhead rate for industry clinical trials will increase from 25% to 30%.

The current overhead rate for industry clinical trials of 25% has not been increased in over 15 years. Research Management conducted a national review of the rates charged by other large and small academic research institutions for industry clinical trials and reviewed the institutional expenses required to support this activity. From this review, we made the decision to increase the rate to 30% of total direct costs. The increased rate positions our hospital in the midpoint of rates nationally and remains considerably lower than rates charged by other major research hospitals, including UCSF and Johns Hopkins.

On or after October 1st, 2014, all new proposals and amendments for clinical trials from industry sponsors, or via subcontracts from other institutions where the prime is industry, will be subject to the 30% rate.

Harry W. Orf, Ph.D.
MGH Senior Vice President for Research

Maurizio Fava, M.D.
Director, Clinical Research Program
 

3. Annual Boston Fire Department Laboratory Safety Inspection Results

We are pleased to share with you the results of the annual Boston Fire Department Laboratory Safety Inspections that were concluded earlier this week on the MGH Main Campus/Simches Research Center. The inspector found no major violations in any of the areas he visited yesterday nor in any of those he visited earlier this year at our Charlestown Navy Yard Campus. He specifically praised our efforts to perform regular safety rounds, and to address any safety issues encountered.

We would like to extend our thanks to the entire research community and especially to all members of the Research Safety Committee and the EH&S and RSMG staffs for their cooperation and diligence. Working together, we have demonstrated that we can maintain a safe working environment for the MGH Research Community. Keep up the great work!

Research Safety Executive Committee
Bob Castaldo, Michael Fisher, Mary Gervino, Harry Orf
 

4. Core of the Week: Tumor Imaging Metrics Core (TIMC)

Tumor Imaging Metrics Core (TIMC)
Co-Director: Gordon J. Harris, Ph.D.

The mission of the Tumor Imaging Metrics Core (TIMC) is to provide reliable and consistent standardized tumor measurements of radiological images to evaluate treatment response for oncology clinical trials. As an independent core laboratory, the TIMC provides objective anatomic and functional imaging measurements which enhances the efficiency and quality of clinical trials using this service.

To learn more about the Tumor Imaging Metrics Core (TIMC), please click here.
 

5. Partners Research Management Message - August 14, 2014

On August 1, 2014 Partners Research Navigator launched to the Partners research community in beta form. The Research Navigator is a consolidation of research websites, intranets and online resources from across the system into a streamlined web-based portal. Please take time to visit the site, familiarize yourself with the content and functionality, and provide any feedback. Read more about the Research Navigator.

Information on Alerts:
We are also in the process of testing an alert system within the Navigator. This alert would provide you with a weekly digest of new news stories posted in the Navigator. Rather than sending you our content via an email like this, you would get a single summary once a week of the new stories to place into your email newsletter as you see fit. In the following weeks, I will be sending you information on the set up of the alert as well as an example of the alert message.
 

6. The Latest From PCORI - New Round of Funding Available for Pragmatic Studies

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

EVENTS

1. MGH Research Council

Tuesday, September 2, 2014, 12:00-1:00 PM, Simches 3.110
with Broadcast to Isselbacher Auditorium (CNY-149, 7th floor), Lunch available at 11:45 AM

International Travel Guidance for Researchers
Rachel Ackman, Senior Research Compliance Associate, MGH Compliance Office

How to Succeed at In Vivo Research at MGH: Compliance and Support Services
Anne Clancy, Director, Animal Welfare Assurance
Donna Jarrell, DVM, Director, Center for Comparative Medicine

All MGH Researchers welcome!
 

2. Invitation to submit abstracts for MGH Clinical Research Day

On Thursday, October 9, MGH will celebrate the 12th Annual Clinical Research Day. The Clinical Research Program invites investigators from across the hospital to submit abstracts at https://crp2014.abstractcentral.com/ by the September 9th deadline.

Please note that submissions must be about clinical research conducted at MGH and include manuscripts accepted for publication and/or published after September 1, 2013.

MGH awards for best abstracts:

• $5,000 Team Award (Nominations by chiefs required)
• $1,500 Translational Research Award, sponsored by the Department of Molecular Biology
• $1,000 Individual Award
• Departmental Awards for clinical researchers in Anesthesia, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Medicine, Neurology, Ob/Gyn, Orthopaedic Surgery, Pathology, Pediatrics, Performance Analysis and Improvement/Practice Improvement, Psychiatry, Radiology, Surgery

Clinical Research Day will begin at 8 a.m. with the keynote address delivered by Katrina Armstrong, MD, MSCE, Physician-in-Chief, Department of Medicine.

For further information please visit our website. Please contact Jillian Tonelli with any questions.
 

3. How to Make a Poster: Free Instruction and Special Printing Rates on Research Posters for MGH Clinical Research Day

Thursday, September 4, 2014, 11:00am - 12:00pm, 185 Cambridge Street, Simches Room 3.120

Samuel Riley, Photography and Creative Arts Manager

The MGH Photography Department will be offering a poster design class for those who have submitted abstracts for Clinical Research Day. This session has been developed specifically to provide an introduction to the poster design process and give researchers an opportunity to have specific questions answered. Attendees will receive handouts with step-by-step instructions on poster design. Although primarily designed for beginners, advanced topics will be covered as needed, depending on the audience

Registration is required. Contact Jillian Tonelli with any questions.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC) Opens RFP for Pressure Ulcer Treatments

The NEPDC is now accepting proposals for novel technologies to reduce, treat, or prevent pediatric pressure ulcers with. Awards target ideas with a clear potential for commercialization, and support efforts that can be leveraged for subsequent funding opportunities (preliminary data, working prototype, business plan). Proposals should include a plan of work. NEPDC is a collaborative consortium providing rapid, targeted assistance to innovators seeking to address the needs of children with diseases or disabilities. Visit http://nepdc.org/challenge.html or contact us at info@NEPDC.org.

2. Department of Defense Gulf War Illness Research Program

The Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) Defense Appropriations Act provides $20 million (M) to the Department of Defense Gulf War Illness Research Program (GWIRP) to support innovative, high-impact research to improve the health and lives of veterans who have Gulf War Illness (GWI). The GWIRP is administered by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) through the Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).

The GWIRP is providing the information in this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan and develop applications. FY14 GWIRP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are anticipated to be posted on Grants.gov in early September 2014. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released. This pre-announcement should not be construed as an obligation by the government.

Innovative Treatment Evaluation Award 2

• Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent).
• Supports small-scale, early clinical trial evaluations of innovative treatments not previously studied in GWI.
• Pilot Phase 0, I, and I/II clinical trials are allowed.
• Provides opportunity to obtain proof of principle data to support future clinical trials.
• Preliminary data are not required, and if provided, do not necessarily have to come from the GWI research field.
• Studies with clear potential to move forward to Phase II/III clinical trials are encouraged.
• Collaboration with industry and/or academic partners is encouraged.
• Maximum funding of $450,000 for direct costs.
• Period of performance not to exceed 3 years.
• Indirect costs may be proposed in accordance with the institution's rate agreement.

All applications must conform to the final Program Announcements and General Application Instructions that will be available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website. The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov. A listing of all USAMRMC funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420.

Applications must be submitted through the federal government's single-entry portal, Grants.gov. For more information about the GWIRP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website.

Point of Contact: CDMRP Public Affairs, 301-619-9783, usarmy.detrick.medcom-cdmrp.mbx.cdmrp-public-affairs@mail.mil
 

3. Seeking Grant Applications for ADA-BI Targeted Award in CKD

Now through October 15, the Association is accepting targeted grant applications for the American Diabetes Association-Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award: Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Insufficiency in the Setting of Diabetes. This award is aimed at understanding mechanisms underlying the development of renal complications in people with diabetes, and improving the treatment and management of people with chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, and renal insufficiency in turn complicates the care of people with diabetes. This research is critical to better understand the connection between the two diseases, and to find more effective ways of managing them.

Application Guidelines: Applications for basic, clinical, or translational science projects, including fundamental biological research, mechanistic and outcome-based clinical studies, behavioral research, and database and epidemiological research, will be considered. Studies focused on increasing understanding of the development of renal complications in people with diabetes, and improving the evidence base for optimal treatment and management of patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetes, are encouraged.

Support: Awards will range from $345,000 to $660,000 per award, to be paid over three years. The Association intends to fund 3-4 projects through this Request for Applications.

Deadline: October 15, 2014, for anticipated funding beginning April 2015.

To learn more about this targeted research grant opportunity or to apply, visit diabetes.org/grants.
 

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.

• Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) (P30)
• NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25)
• Neurological Sciences Academic Development Award (K12) - NEW!

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.

• Communication and Dissemination, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
• Addressing Disparities, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
• Senior Research Awards, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. (CCFA)
• Warren Alpert Foundation Prize, Warren Alpert Foundation
• Request for Applications, Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR)
• Research Grants, Oxalosis and Hyperoxaluria Foundation

Please click here for further details on these funding opportunities.
 

6. NIH Update for Week Ending August 22, 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

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

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

Minority Faculty Career Development Seminar - September 5-8

Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials - September - October 2014

A Practical Guide to Biobanking for Biomarker and Personalized Medicine Research - October 1

Executive Committee On Research (ECOR) Massachusetts General Hospital

50 Staniford Street, Suite 1001, Boston, MA 02114

ecor@partners.org