November 14, 2014

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Core of the Week: Laboratory for Molecular Medicine

Laboratory for Molecular Medicine
Director: Heidi Rehm, PhD, FACMG
Location: 65 Landsdowne Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139

The Laboratory for Molecular Medicine (LMM) is a CLIA-certified molecular diagnostic laboratory, operated by Partners HealthCare Personalized Medicine. The LMM is led by a group of Harvard Medical School-affiliated faculty, geneticists, clinicians, and researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Partners' founding members. Our mission is to bridge the gap between research and clinical medicine by remaining focused on the following:

• Leading the implementation of advanced technologies and practices into molecular diagnostic testing;
• Accelerating the adoption of new molecular tests into clinical care;
• Incorporating information technology (IT) support into the day-to-day operations of the clinical laboratory; and
• Advancing clinical care with our participation in innovative programs, aiming to keep physicians current on and knowledgeable of genetic information relevant to their patients.

Through this work, the LMM is taking the promise of personalized medicine from the lab and into the clinic. Each year, we provide services to more than 4,000 patients and their physicians through over 100 targeted genetic tests, whole gene sequencing, and now, whole exome sequencing. From detecting presymptomatic heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy (Pan Cardiomyopathy Panel), to tests for genetic-based hearing loss in children (OtoGenomeTM), and diagnosing lung conditions (PulmoGene Panel), we are working with researchers and physicians to make a difference in the lives of patients.

To learn more about the Laboratory for Molecular Medicine, please click here.

 

2. NIH Update: Inclusion Data Reporting System, Workforce Diversity Awards, A Pause in Funding Certain Types of Gain-of-Function Research

Please click here to read the NIH Extramural Nexus.

3. PCORI November Newsletter: Hypertension Initiative, Engagement Awards, Upcoming Webinars

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

EVENTS

1. The 2014 Warren Triennial Prize & Symposium

Monday, November 24, 2:00 - 5:00 PM, Simches Auditorium 3.110
with broadcast to Isselbacher Auditorium, CNY 149, 7th Floor

First awarded in 1871, the Warren Triennial Prize recognizes scientists who are seekers of and contributors to new knowledge in the service of medicine. This year's symposium will focus on The "Genetics of Cancer" and honor the 2014 recipient, Bert Vogelstein, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, featuring guest speakers such as:

• Gad Getz, PhD (Broad/MGH)
• Tyler Jacks, PhD (MIT/HHMI)
• Kornelia Polynak, MD, PhD (DFCI)
• Alice Shaw, MD, PhD (MGH)

For more information on the event agenda, please click here. For more information about past winners and the history of the Warren Triennial Prize, click here.

All are welcome to attend!

 

2. 2015 World Medical Innovation Forum - Neurosciences

April 27-29, 2015, Boston, MA

Partners HealthCare, its world leading hospitals - Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital - and its Harvard Medical School appointed faculty invite you to be part of the World Medical Innovation Forum. Join 1,000 international innovation decision-makers as they define the state of the art in neuroscience technology, care and research. Directly interact with the CEOs bringing game-changing CNS products to market, world-class clinicians delivering the highest-quality care and the scientists rapidly propelling this crucial field forward.

From start to finish every speaker an expert, every panel unique - an unrivaled view into CNS discovery, technologies, markets, and healthcare innovation overall

• Directly engage with world leading clinicians, scientists, CEOs, and investors as they chart CNS innovation and explain its unmet needs
• See the neurotechnology breakthroughs that are reshaping health care
• Assess and enhance the prospects for innovation in a transformed health care industry
• Jointly define the state of the art in neuroscience technology, care, and research
• Meet, share perspectives, and strategize with hundreds of top executives, clinicians, deal makers, investors, scientists, government, and international leaders

A reduced registration rate is available until January 1, 2015. Please join the World's Medical Innovation Forum, its unmatched speakers and cutting edge topics. Join your fellow medical innovation leaders from throughout health care.

Register Now! Please contact Chris Coburn, Partners Vice President, with any questions.

3. "Science BITES" CNY Faculty Lunch Seminar Series

Tuesday, November 18, 2014, 1:30pm - 2:30pm, CNY Building 149, Conference Room A, behind Eat Street Cafe

"Mechanisms in wound healing and inflammatory angiogenesis"
Alexander G. Marneros, MD, PhD
Department of Dermatology
Cutaneous Biology Research Center

Please Join Us! 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

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

1. DEADLINE EXTENDED! The MGH Research Scholars Program

Due to procedural issues, we have EXTENDED the deadline for submitting applications for the MGH Research Scholars Program to Monday, November 17, 2014 at 5:00 PM.

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?
Monday, November 17, 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. Call for Nominations: Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program for Women (ELAM)

Harvard Medical School (including its affiliated health care institutions) has been invited to nominate up to two candidates for the 2015 Hedwig van Amerigen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine Program for Women (ELAM), a faculty development program for women leaders in academic medicine. ELAM offers an intensive one-year program of leadership training with extensive coaching, networking and mentoring opportunities aimed at expanding the national pool of qualified women candidates for leadership in academic medicine, dentistry and public health.

Eligible candidates must:

• Hold the rank of associate or full professor for at least 2 years and have had administrative experience in personnel and budget management.
• Have a clear desire for attaining a leadership position.
• Embrace strategic risk-taking in their career path.
• Possess growth opportunities, either formal or informal, within their institution

If selected, recipients will participate in a one year curriculum focused on strategic finance, organizational dynamics and personal leadership effectiveness. The candidate and/or her institution are responsible for the program fee of $12,100 plus travel and lodging for the program sessions. More information on ELAM can be found at www.drexelmed.edu/elam.

To apply, a PDF that includes the following materials should be sent to Betty Carbunari in the Office of Academic and Clinical Affairs at Betty_Carbunari@hms.harvard.edu.

Required materials:
1. Nomination letter from direct supervisor (limit 2 pages)
2. Candidate's CV
3. Please answer the following questions:

• What are your specific 5-year career goals? Be as concrete as possible.
• How will participating in this program help you achieve these goals?
• Please supply the name of the Dean/CEO who will advise you in your leadership role.

Applications are due November 26, 2014 by 5:00PM.

3. Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award

HMS Application Deadline: November 25, 2014 by 5:00pm

Funding Amount: $450,000 over 3 years plus debt repayment program

The Clinical Investigator Award program supports early career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented research. The goal of this innovative program is to increase the number of physicians capable of moving seamlessly between the laboratory and the patient's bedside in search of breakthrough treatments.

Clinical Research is defined as:
1. Patient-oriented research: research conducted with human subjects
2. Epidemiologic and behavioral studies
3. Outcomes research and health services research

Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues but do not deal directly with patients. This award is designed to support physicians who adhere to "The Handshake Rule," meaning that he/she will conduct research studies that directly involve patients.

Eligibility Criteria:
1. Applicants must be an instructor or assistant professor.
2. Applicants must have received an MD or MD/PhD degree(s), completed his/her subspecialty training and be board-eligible.
3. Applicants must be within the first four years of assistant professor appointment (cut-off July 1, 2011).
4. Applicants must apply in conjunction with a mentor who is established in the field of clinical translational cancer research, cancer prevention and/or epidemiology and can provide critical guidance during the period of the award.
5. Must commit 80% time to research.
6. Applicants may not concurrently hold another physician-scientist career development award from a private source. See foundation website for examples. Candidates holding or awarded R01s at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
7. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Applicants are encouraged to review the Foundation website as well as the list of most recently awarded grants.

To apply please use the HMS Foundation Funds application. Please note that this is a limited submission funding opportunity and all MGH investigators must apply directly through HMS to be considered. 

If you have any questions, please contact Betty Carbunari at betty_carbunari@hms.harvard.edu, or via phone at 617-432-7463.

4. Boston Area Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center is now accepting Pilot and Feasibility Research Grants

The Boston Area Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center is now accepting Pilot and Feasibility Research Grant Award Applications for studies of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

The Boston Area Diabetes Endocrinology Research Center is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases (NIDDK) to support research in Diabetes and its complications. Research grants up to $30,000 will be awarded for meritorious proposals from candidates whose eligibility is defined by one or more of the following three criteria:

1. Junior faculty without past or current NIH support to conduct Diabetes research.
Not eligible if you have any support that is mandatory 100% effort where you cannot accept any federal funding.
2. Established non-Diabetes researchers who have an innovative idea relevant to Diabetes.
3. Established Diabetes investigators who have an innovative idea/approach relevant to Diabetes that represents a distinct departure from their established line of investigation.
4. Co-PI's are not allowed, and if you are not accepting salary and or less than 5%, please mention if there is cost sharing.

It is anticipated that up to four meritorious applications will be funded.

Letters of Intent, Biosketch, Other support and Abstract due November 21, 2014

If proposal accepted, Applications due by December 23, 2014

If you qualify based on one of the three criteria listed above, please email a letter of intent in MS Word that includes your name, degree, title and email address and a brief description of your research. In addition to the LOI email, please include an abstract with the title of your project (NIH form page) of your research, a biosketch and OS page. If your proposed research is deemed compatible with the goals of the BADERC, instructions for the preparation of a five-page application for a Pilot and Feasibility Research Grant Award will be forwarded to you. The deadline for the Grant application will be December 23, 2014. Funding will be effective April 1, 2015.

Please send Letters of Intent and abstract page with the title of your project in word via (email) to
Prendable@molbio.mgh.harvard.edu 

Joel Habener, M.D.
Director, Pilot & Feasibility Award Program
Endocrinology Research Center
Wellman 320
50 Blossom St
Boston, MA 02114
Email: JHABENER@PARTNERS.ORG
cc: MMUNRO@PARTNERS.ORG
Tel. (617) 726-3420
Fax. (617) 726-5649

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@mgh.harvard.edu. 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.

• Clinical and Translational Science Award (U54)
• NIH Director's Early Independence Awards (DP5)

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.

• Research Fellowship for Early Career Faculty Investigators, Shock Society
• Allergic Respiratory Diseases Research Award, AAAAI

Please click here for further details on these funding opportunities.

7. NIH Update for Week Ending November 14, 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

NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs)
Application Deadline: November 17, 2014

Pilot Funding Opportunity: Early Clinical Data Support for Grant Submissions
Application deadline: November 20, 2014

Center for the Human Immunology (CHI) Pilot Feasibility Program
Application deadline: December 1, 2014

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

The Warren Triennial Prize & Symposium - November 24

CRP Spotlight Series: Delegation of Responsibilities in a Clinical Research Study - December 4

HMS Faculty Seminar - “Meet and Greet” Faculty Networking Lunch with Dr. Susan Slaugenhaupt - December 9

Introduction to Proteomics and Metabolomics - December 18 

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@mgh.harvard.edu