Research News - October 3, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Core of the Week: MGH Morphometric Analysis Center

MGH Morphometric Analysis Center
Director: Nikos Makris, M.D., Ph.D.
Location: Building 149 13th Street, Room 10.006, Charlestown

The MGH Morphometric Analysis Center (MMAC) is established for the generation of neuroanatomic morphometric measurements. The operational synergies in the combined approaches of the Center for Morphometric Analysis (CMA) and the Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging as well as the commonality of the application areas represent a unified approach to the delivery of these morphometric measures to the Partners community. The Core transitions morphometric methods developments into "production mode", as the efficiency and quantity of application areas grow. The MGH Morphometric Analysis Center provides the infrastructure to support the necessary level of administrative, operational, financial and physical presence that is necessary to provide a more efficient, cost effective and flexible morphometric measurement service to meet the needs of the clinical community.

To learn more about the MGH Morphometric Analysis Center, please click here.

2. Research Navigator Tips: A consolidated view of tasks through the Activity Feed

Launched in August, Research Navigator is a consolidation of Partners research sites, hospital research intranet sites, and administrative systems into a single portal for all research-related content at Partners.

Members of the research community are encouraged to log into Research Navigator each day. Once you log into Research Navigator, the homepage will provide a personalized view of all of your action items, notifications, and project deliverables stemming from InfoEd and Insight. This section, called My Activity Feed, will help you stay organized and keep actionable items top of mind. In this space you will be able to monitor notifications relevant to your role, including tasks associated with your Principal Investigator and projects.

Take a look at the Activity Feed, by clicking here .

The Activity Feed is a live data feed from InfoEd and Insight and will update and refresh along with these systems. An active connection to these systems is currently needed for the activity feed to load, so make sure you're signed into Insight or InfoEd if you 't see the data right away.

To learn more about the Activity Feed feature, please visit this page.

You can email questions to ResearchNavigator@partners.org.

3. Mac Users: Please complete a survey regarding the Apple Screen Saver Policy

Enterprise Research Infrastructure & Services (ERIS) and the Research Information Security Officer (RISO) invites our Mac community to complete a brief, six-question survey soliciting feedback on the implementation of a locking screensaver requirement. Community feedback helps us to position new security controls appropriately by measuring the impact to the community. Our goal is to provide the "right amount" of security by minimizing any productivity impact. We are conducting this survey to gather feedback prior to implementing a technology change for Apple desktops and laptops enrolled in the Partners Enterprise Apple Support (PEAS) program. 

4. NIH Update: Look at science funding across agencies, Considering sex as a biological research variable, Peer review webinars, Subaccounting for NIH awards

Please click here to read the NIH Extramural Nexus.

5. Updates from PCORI - Board Approves $102 Million in Funding; $20 Million Uterine Fibroids Study Announced; New Board Member

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

EVENTS

1. MGH Research Council

Monday, October 6, 12:00-1:00 PM, Simches 3.110
with Broadcast to Isselbacher Auditorium (CNY-149, 7th floor), Lunch available at 11:45 AM

MGH Research and the HMS Quad: Opportunities for Collaboration
Jeffrey S. Flier, MD, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

"Top 10" Things MGH Researchers May Not Know, But Should!
Harry Orf, PhD, Sr VP for Research

All MGH Researchers welcome!

2. MGH Faculty Happy Hour

Wednesday, October 8, 2014, 5:00-7:00 PM, Paul S. Russell, MD Museum; 2 North Grove St., Boston, MA 02114

Need an excuse to relax with your colleagues after the October 6 NIH Deadline?

ECOR invites our Research Faculty to our Fall Faculty Happy Hour on October 8!

Please RSVP: ecor@mgh.harvard.edu!

3. "Science BITES" CNY Faculty Lunch Seminar Series

Wednesday, October 8, 2014, 12:00pm - 1:00pm, CNY Building 149, Conference Room A, behind Eat Street Cafe

"Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors - New Targets for Neuroimaging"
Anna-Liisa Brownell, PhD
Department of Imaging
Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging

Bring your lunch and we'll provide cookies!

Come learn about the exceptional and remarkably diverse research going on within MGH East.

Feed your brain with cool science and meet "the faces behind the names" in our scientific community.

Contact: JLFuller@partners.org

4. 12th Annual MGH Clinical Research Day

Thursday, October 9, 2014

The Clinical Research Program invites you to join us for our 12th annual MGH Clinical Research Day on Thursday, October 9. The day starts at 8 am in the O'Keeffe Auditorium and features:

8 am - Keynote address: Integrating Patient-Centered Research and Patient Care 
Katrina Armstrong, MD, MSCE, physician-in-chief, MGH, Jackson Professor of Clinical Medicine, HMS

Dr. Armstrong's work focuses at interface of genomics, cancer and social policy. She has illuminated factors influencing the translation of advances in genomics into improvements in cancer control and identified novel mechanisms underlying cancer disparities. Currently, her research seeks to improve outcomes of breast cancer screening through personalized approaches.

9 am - Poster session
View posters by researchers from across the institution

11 am - Panel discussion: Bridging the Clinical Research Gap through Patient Engagement and Translation Initiatives
Katrina Armstrong, MD, MSCE and Maurizio Fava, MD, will moderate the Clinical Research Day's panel discussion regarding: What do we need to do now to make our data answer the questions of the future? with Shawn N. Murphy, MD, PhD, Outcomes Research: Past, Present and Future with Joshua P. Metlay, MD, PhD, How stakeholders are strengthening our research and its impact? with Elsie M. Taveras, MD, MPH, Patient Powered Research Networks with Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD, and Where is MGH investing to position us to lead in this area of clinical research? with Harry W. Orf, PhD.

The keynote address and panel discussion will be held in the O'Keeffe Auditorium and the poster session will be held under the Bulfinch tents.

Please click here for the MGH Clinical Research Day 2014 Event Schedule. Please contact Jillian Tonelli with questions or for more information.

5. MGH New Faculty Orientation

Thursday, October 23, 12:00 - 3:00 pm, Location provided upon registration.

Presented by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD)

Have you recently joined MGH as a new faculty member on or after July 2013? Did you recently transition to HMS instructor after being a research fellow? The CFD's New Faculty Orientation will allow you to meet key faculty leaders and administrative leaders, and familiarize yourself with important information and resources to enhance your MGH experience. A session geared to research faculty is part of the new faculty orientation agenda!

Speakers include: Peter L. Slavin, MD, Harry Orf, PhD, Robert Kingston, PhD, Anne Klibanski, MD, Maureen Connelly, MD and others!

Faculty with HMS academic appointments please click here for more information and click here to register by Friday, October 10.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. Howard M. Goodman Fellowship 2015

Applications are now being accepted by the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) for the MGH Howard M. Goodman Fellowship.

What is it?
This is an endowed fellowship established by the MGH Department of Molecular Biology in honor of the founding Chief of the Department, Dr. Howard M. Goodman. The award is intended to further the careers of outstanding independent young scientists who have demonstrated the potential to rise to a leadership position in their chosen field. Independent Fellows, Instructors, and new Assistant Professors from any MGH Department are eligible to apply for this award.

How much is the award?
The award is for two years at $150,000, plus 15% indirect costs, per year and is effective April 1, 2015.

When is the deadline?
Tuesday, October 28, 2014 - 5:00 PM

How do I learn more and apply?

• Click here to read more and apply online.
• Click here to see a list of past recipients.
• Visit the ECOR website for other funding opportunities.

2. The MGH Research Scholars Program

Applications are now being accepted by the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) for the MGH Research Scholars Program.

What is it?
The Massachusetts General Hospital Research Scholars Program was established with the aim of supporting MGH research faculty who are pursuing either basic or clinical research at the level of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor.

How much is each award?
These awards are for $500,000 over 5 years; and will be funded at $100,000 per year.

When is the deadline?
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 - 5:00 PM

How do I learn more and apply?

• Click here to read more and apply online.
• Click here to see a list of past recipients.
• Visit the ECOR website for other funding opportunities.

3. Bullock Postdoctoral Fellowship

Proposal deadline: 5:00 pm - November 3, 2014

Award decision: December 19, 2014

The Wellman Center for Photomedicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital is pleased to invite applications for the Bullock postdoctoral fellowship for research aimed at understanding and solving important biomedical problems. PhD, MD and MD PhD research fellows are eligible for this award.

This multidisciplinary fellowship was created to foster interactions between researchers from diverse fields of science and medicine. Combined mentorship and collaboration between two Harvard Medical School faculty members, at least one of whom is based at the Wellman Center, is required. An external collaborator is preferred. It is anticipated that the fellow will perform the majority of their research at the Wellman Center. For additional information regarding the Wellman Center please visit http://www.massgeneral.org/wellman/

The Fellowship will provide one year of support. An award of up to $60,000 direct costs is anticipated. The award will be administered by the Wellman Center. Funds may be used for stipend (minimum effort 60%), fringe benefits and research supplies. Recipients will be required to submit periodic progress reports, present their work at a noon lecture and submit a final written report .

Criteria for funding are scientific quality, an enabling collaboration that might not occur otherwise, potential medical and scientific impact, and career development of the Fellow.

Eligibility and other award information can be found by clicking here.

4. HMS Foundation Funds

Each year several foundations invite HMS faculty and postdocs to apply for their fellowships and grants, which serve as critical funding at the early stages of a research career. Interested investigators must first apply for the HMS nomination through the HMS Foundation Funds, and a committee will select the final candidates to submit applications to the foundations.

Information on funding opportunities offered through the HMS Foundation Funds is available online at: http://hms.harvard.edu/FoundationFunds

Awards include:

• Brain Research Fund Fay/Frank Seed Grant Program
• Breast Cancer Alliance Exceptional Project Grant (Requires MGH Nomination)
• Bullock-Wellman Postdoctoral Fellowship
• Dana Foundation David Mahoney Neuroimaging Program
• Macy Foundation Faculty Scholars Program
• Mary Kay Innovative/Translational Cancer Research Award
• Packard Fellowships in Science and Engineering
• Rita Allen Faculty Scholars Program

Faculty and postdocs interested in applying for any of the awards listed above can apply for the HMS nomination by submitting an application online no later than October 15, 2014 at 5:00PM. Please direct all inquiries to the Office of the HMS Dean for Academic and Clinical Affairs, 617-432-7463, Betty_Carbunari@hms.harvard.edu.

If you are an MGH investigator, you should not apply directly to HMS for several of the funding opportunities offered through the HMS foundation funds annually. Please see the chart located here to determine where to apply and for information on the process.

If you have any questions, please contact Erin McGivney at 617-643-6471.

5. 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.

• American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network: Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease
• NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25)
• Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54)

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.

6. 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.

• Innovation Awards, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF)
• Young Investigator Awards, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF)
• Heart to Heart Grant, Alpha Phi Foundation

Please click here for further details on these funding opportunities.

7. NIH Update for Week Ending October 3, 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

ADA-BI Targeted Award in CKD 
Application Deadline: October 15, 2014

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

Responsible Conduct of Research Series: Responsible Authorship - October 14

Save the Date! The Warren Triennial Prize & Symposium - November 24

Save the Date! SAC 2015 - April 1 &2, 2015

Executive Committee On Research (ECOR) Massachusetts General Hospital

50 Staniford Street, Suite 1001, Boston, MA 02114

ecor@partners.org