Research News - June 17, 2016

In this quarterly newsletter, learn how performance and availability are foundational concepts in the success of Epic at Partners. Another article describes how cybersecurity is everyone’s job with both general and specific tips for employees to adopt. Also find best practices for protecting credit card information. Lastly, read how the annual Tech Summit is an annual blockbuster event for Partners IS.

Monday, June 20, 2016, CNY 149

On June 20, 2016, the MGH Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging will participate in the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual “Longest Day” fundraising event. We will open the doors of the Center to the public, offering patients, families and others a behind-the-scenes look at how we are tackling Alzheimer's disease using a range of state-of-the-art imaging techniques.

The day’s events will include:

Tours of Our MR and PET Imaging Facilities (10am, 10:30am, 1pm, 1:30pm)
The Martinos Center is home to some of the most advanced imaging technologies in the world. When our integrated MR-PET system was installed in 2010, for example, it was one of only two in the U.S. The tours of our facilities will offer a rare look at the technologies and how we are using them to better understand Alzheimer’s.

Talks by Alzheimer’s Experts (11am, 11:45am, 12:30pm)
Three guest speakers will discuss the ways in which they and others in their respective fields are working to tackle Alzheimer’s.

• Scott McGinnis, M.D., a staff neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and MGH and an instructor at Harvard Medical School, focuses on improving diagnostic and treatment methods in neurodegenerative dementias. He has particular interests in, for example, atypical, non-memory presentations of Alzheimer disease. (11am)
• Jonathan Jackson, Ph.D., a clinical neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School and MGH investigates genetic, neurophysiological, and cognitive changes as people get older, as well as in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. His work explores the intersection of these methods as a basis for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease, especially before memory problems begin. (11:45am)
• Katie Brandt, M.M., is a powerful public speaker and passionate advocate, educator and trainer in the areas of caregiver support, Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) and the impact of dementia on caregivers and families. Her many presentations have examined the legal, financial, logistical and emotional challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia. (12:30pm)

Visitors can also explore poster presentations (all day) describing cutting-edge studies of Alzheimer’s and find additional information from the MGH Institute for Brain Health and Division of Clinical Research, the Alzheimer’s Association, and others at our Resource Tables (10am-3pm).

Complimentary boxed lunches will be available. Please click here for more information and to register!

Friday, June 24, 2016, 1:00 – 3:00 pm, CNY 149, Conference A and Atrium Area

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

When: Friday, June 24, 2016, 1:00-3:00 PM
Where: CNY 149, Conference A and Atrium Area
Light refreshments will be provided, along with a raffle!  
We hope to see you all on Friday, June 24, 2016

If you are interested in registering your core for this event, please email ResearchManagement@mgh.harvard.edu

Thursday, June 30, 12:00 – 2:00pm, WebEx or Prudential Center

Carl Blesius, MD, Director, Knowledge & Learning Technologies, MGH Lab of Computer Science will discuss the lab's infrastructure and current projects. Esmond Kane, Deputy Chief PHS Information Security Officer will present, "The Anatomy of Breach" - a detailed description and analysis of a security breach and lessons learned. RSVP Online by 6/28 and note if you plan to attend remotely so that details are sent. Contact rcc@partners.org with questions about Tech Lunch.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016, 2:00– 3:30 pm, Simches 3.120

Sponsored by the MGH Division of Clinical Research

Speaker: Melissa Frumin, M.D., M.S., Chair, Partners IRB
In this course, participants will receive an overview of the ethical foundation of Human Subject Protection in clinical research. This will be done through case studies of typical protocols that have come before the Partners IRB. These cases will raise issues of risk/benefit, surrogate consent, research with children, decisionally impaired subjects and medical record review.

Registration is required.  Please contact Kelsey Gay with questions.

July 25, 2016, 9:00 am – 12:30 pm, Simches 3.120

This orientation program will provide Fellows who are completing their clinical year and entering their research years at MGH with an overview of the process of clinical and translational research at MGH. In this course, participants will receive an overview of clinical research at MGH, review the overall architecture of clinical research, and will be introduced to key resources available to clinical/translational investigators at MGH.

This course will be limited to Fellows who are completing their clinical year and entering their research years at MGH.

Please register here: Clinical Research Fellows Orientation Please contact Jillian Tonelli with any questions.

Tuesday, August 9, 2016, 12:00 -1:00 pm, MGH Main Campus, details provided with registration

The Center for Faculty Development's Office for Women’s Careers (OWC) and Office for Research Career Development (ORCD) present a seminar for MGH faculty with HMS academic appointments:

Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards Panel Discussion
Would you like to know more about the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards? These awards are designed to provide bridge funding for junior faculty women to sustain research productivity during the child-rearing years with the intention of advancing women in academic medicine.

This information session will cover:

• Resources to help you apply
• Tips on putting together your best application
• Advice from recent Claflin Scholars
• How the award can help advance your career

Please click here for Claflin Award eligibility requirements. Eligible faculty with HMS academic appointments, please click here to register early.

Mondays, 7/25 & 8/22, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, One Constitution Center, Charlestown, MA

The ERIS Scientific Computing team is offering courses to familiarize researchers with both the Linux OS and how to incorporate this knowledge to utilize the ERISOne Linux Cluster. ERISOne is a computing cluster used for data processing and analysis available as a shared resource at no cost. Each hands-on course has limited space, and registration is required. Visit rc.partners.org/events to register for the course that fits your experience level.

The Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) is accepting applications for the August 1st deadline for the Deliberative Interim Support Funding.  August is the 3rd of three standing deadlines for these awards in Fiscal Year 2016.  The next deadline will be December 1, 2016. 

What are they?
Deliberative Interim Support Funding 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 have already received Formulaic Bridge Funding or Deliberative Interim Support on their A0 grant application and are now requesting support for their A1 or A0 resubmission.  Investigators in this category must apply through the Deliberative Interim Support process for their A1 and A0 resubmission regardless of the score they received on their resubmitted grant.

When is the deadline?
Monday, August 1, 2016 - 5:00 PM

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

Preliminary applications are now being accepted by the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards.
 
What is it?
The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award Program supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independent research directly after completion of their terminal doctoral/research degree or clinical residency, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career.

MGH is eligible to nominate two candidates to apply to NIH for this award.

When is the deadline?  
MGH internal preliminary applications: July 5, 2016 – 5:00 PM

How do I learn more and apply?
Click here to for more information and to apply for this award.

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 July 15, 2016 to be considered.

Click here for more information.

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:

• Name of the Principal Investigator with appropriate contact information
• A descriptive title of the potential application
• Brief description of the project
• 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.

• Fogarty Global Health Training Program (D43)
• Occupational Safety and Health Education and Research Centers (42)
• 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.

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
• AFTD Pilot Grants for Basic Science and Clinical Research, Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)
• Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI), Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF)
• Clinical Investigator Career Development Grant, Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants, Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF)
• W.F. Enneking Career Development Award, Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF)
• Basic Science Grants, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)/Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Research Foundation
• Design and Development Projects, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)/Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Research Foundation
• Postdoctoral Fellowships, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)/Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Research Foundation
• Clinical Applications, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)/Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Research Foundation
• Pharmaceutics - Research Starter Grant, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, Inc. (PhRMA Foundation)
• Clinical Pharmacology - Faculty Development Awards, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, Inc. (PhRMA Foundation)
• Pharmacology/Toxicology - Research Starter Grants, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, Inc. (PhRMA Foundation)
• Informatics - Research Starter Grants, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Foundation, Inc. (PhRMA Foundation)
• Individual Research Grant, Wings for Life (WFL) Spinal Cord Research Foundation
• Project Research Grant, Wings for Life (WFL) Spinal Cord Research Foundation

Please click here for further details on these funding opportunities.

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

JDRF Training Awards 
Application Deadline: June 27

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

Stepping Strong Innovator Awards
Application Deadline: July 18

Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium Brain Machine Interface
Application Deadline: August 22

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

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