Research News - July 14, 2017

Partners has upgraded the software used to sign in to Office 365 applications, which includes Research Navigator. If you are logged into the Partners network, all you need to do is enter your email address in the Office 365 screen to access Navigator - you no longer need to enter your Partners username and password. Additionally, once you’ve entered your email address the first time, then future times you can simply click on the entry. 
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You can get to Research Navigator from the link above or from the Partners Applications menu. If you are not logged in to the Partners network, the sign in process will be the same as before (email > username > password). Please email researchnavigator@partners.org with questions. 

Each year on July 1, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issues new wage data which is used to calculate the prevailing wage for several visa categories including the H-1B, H-1B1 (Singapore and Chile), and E-3 (Australia) work visa. This wage information, among other details, is collected on the required labor condition application (LCA).
In order to ensure that employers are not using visa holders to undercut U.S. workers, there is a prevailing wage requirement for those visa categories. The prevailing wage is the threshold below which an H-1B cannot be paid.

As of July 1, 2017, DOL set the new prevailing wage at $51,210 for the occupational category that covers Research Fellows. This means that any Research Fellow H-1B, E-3 or H-1B1 request being submitted to PIPS must offer a minimum salary of $51,210.

Employees who currently have active or pending H-1Bs will NOT immediately be affected by this increase. It only affects people who are seeking new H-1B status or an H-1B extension and for whom an LCA has not yet been filed and certified.

Finally, this is not related to an Executive Order or a new policy designed to challenge visa seekers. The wage data has been known to fluctuate as it is based on DOL annual survey data. Prevailing wage changes may also affect other occupational categories for which H-1B (H1-B1, E-3) status is sought.
If you have questions about the prevailing wage for a specific case, please follow-up with the assigned advisor.

Technology and Innovation (T&I) is currently soliciting manuscripts for a special
issue on technologies for disabilities.

Rapid technological advancements and innovations continue to largely target the “able” population with little consideration to accessibility, leaving behind the 15 percent (1 billion) of the world’s population who has some form of disability. Individuals with disabilities often must adapt themselves (usually unsuccessfully) to available devices and software designed with accessibility as an afterthought rather than as an integral component from ideation to development. Ad hoc solutions are common in which disparate technologies are combined to circumvent accessibility issues, often with much struggle. There is therefore a pronounced need for research on innovative assistive and rehabilitative technologies spanning diverse disabilities, including sensory, physical, and cognitive impairment as a result of an injury, disease, disorder, and/or aging. We invite authors to submit articles representing cutting edge advances and outcomes in assistive and rehabilitative technology intended for use by:

• Individuals with sensory impairment, including visual (e.g., blindness, low vision) and/or hearing (e.g., deafness, hard-of-hearing)
• Individuals with motor impairment due to stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, Cerebral Palsy, or other causes
• Individuals with cognitive impairment affecting speech, language, memory, attention, and/or Learning
• Individuals with psychiatric disabilities (e.g., anxiety, mood disorders)

Initial manuscripts should be submitted by January 2, 2018. Instructions for authors, including journal
policies, manuscript formatting information, and author forms, can be found at: http://academyofinventors.org/ti/resources.asp

T&I is published by the National Academy of Inventors and presents information encompassing the entire field of applied sciences, with a focus on transformative technology and academic innovation, and welcomes manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. We publish original articles in basic and applied research, critical reviews, surveys, opinions, commentaries, essays, and patent and book reviews of interest to our readers.

If you have questions or would like to submit a manuscript, please contact
associate editor of T&I, Kimberly Macuare, at kmacuare@academyofinventors.org.

Wednesday, July 26, 2017, 12:00 - 1:30 pm, MGH Main Campus, location provided upon registration

A seminar for MGH research faculty and fellows sponsored by the Office for Research Career Development.

The team from the Partners Innovation Fund (PIF) will present an introduction to their venture fund, which is a $165M fund specifically focused on early stage investments in Partners’ technologies. In addition, faculty who have collaborated with the PIF team will discuss their experiences.

Partners Innovation Fund – Let’s Make a Deal

Panel includes: Mark W. Albers, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, HMS and Meredith Fisher, PhD, MBA, Partner, Partners Innovation Fund. Additional speakers to be added.

July 27​, 2017 from 3-5p.m - Introduction
August 24, 2017 from 3-5p.m. - Intermediate
Assembly Row Training Room 2W31, 399 Revolution Drive, Somerville MA, 02145

The Scientific Computing team offers free, hands-on 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 to all researchers at no cost. This includes basic storage quota, shared computational resources and assistance from the ERIS support teams. There is limited space in each course, and registration is required. Contact hpcsupport@partners.org with questions.

Thursday, August 10, 2017, 12:00 – 1:00pm, MGH Main Campus (details provided upon registration)

Would you like to know more about the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards?  This panel discussion is designed for women who are considering or preparing an application for the 2018 awards.  In this session you will learn about:

• Eligibility requirements
• Resources to improve your application
• Advice from recent Claflin Scholars
• How the award can advance your career

Please click here to register:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/20170810ClaflinPanel

Tuesdays and Thursdays, September - October 2017, 5:00pm – 6:30pm, Potts Conference Room

Sponsored by the MGH Division of Clinical Research, the Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Department of Psychiatry

Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials is an intensive thirteen-session course offered from early-September through late October. Physicians with a serious interest in clinical trials will be introduced to theoretical and practical issues facing clinical researchers.  Course participants will learn how to envision, plan, develop and execute effective clinical trials. Study content includes research designs, protocols, ethical patient recruitment, informed consent, regulations, and clinical trial management.

The course is ideally suited for clinical fellows starting their research years, junior faculty pursuing careers in clinical research, and physicians with an interest in becoming more actively involved in clinical research.  All participants are expected to use the course curriculum to develop and present a trial design at the final session of the course. 

Enrollment is limited to facilitate interaction and individual attention. To ensure placement in the course, early application is recommended. All applications will be reviewed in mid-August.

To submit an application and/or view a course schedule, please go to: Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials. Contact Cassidy Peters with any questions.

The MGH Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards
for Female Junior Faculty Investigators in Fundamental &
Clinical Research

Applications are now being accepted by the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) for the
Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards!

What are the Claflin Awards?
Although women scientists are recruited to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) programs, their advancement to senior faculty positions is still far less frequent than that of their male counterparts.  In 1993, The Women in Academic Medicine Committee, originally chaired by Mrs. R. Morton Claflin, Honorary Trustee, was established to facilitate the academic careers of women in science at MGH.  Recognizing that a significant obstacle to career advancement is the difficulty of maintaining research productivity during the child-rearing years, this Committee, with the sponsorship of the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR), established the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards.  It is intended that this funding will increase opportunities for women to advance to senior positions in academic medicine.

How much is each award?
These are two year awards for $50,000 per year in direct costs, plus 15% for indirect costs.

When is the deadline?
Wednesday, October 11, 2017 - 5:00 PM

How do I learn more and apply?
Click here to read more and apply online! For additional information, attend the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards Informational Panel Discussion

The Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) is accepting applications for the August 1st deadline for the Deliberative Interim Support Funding.  August is the third of three standing deadlines for these awards in Fiscal Year 2017.  The next deadline will be December 1, 2017.  

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 have already received Formulaic Bridge Funding or Deliberative Interim Support for a previous submission of this grant and are now requesting support for the resubmission of the same grant.  Investigators in this category must apply through the Deliberative Interim Support process for this application regardless of the score they received.

When is the deadline?
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 - 5:00 PM

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

(This award is designed for Canadian Citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens of Canada.)

What is it?
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program provides funding to the very best postdoctoral applicants, both nationally and internationally, who will positively contribute to the country's economic, social and research-based growth. The award is designed for Canadian Citizens, permanent residents of Canada and foreign citizens of Canada.

The objective of the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship program is to:

• attract and retain top-tier postdoctoral talent, both nationally and internationally
• develop their leadership potential
• position them for success as research leaders of tomorrow 

There is no set cap on the number of applicants MGH can endorse, however there is a significant amount of institutional involvement required for this application process.  The internal application will be used to confirm the applicant's eligibility and to assist the applicant with obtaining the required institutional letter of endorsement. 

How much is each award?
The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is a stipend of $70,000 (taxable) per year for 2 years and does not support indirect costs (IDC).  There are no additional funds provided for travel/research.  This Fellowship is not subject to the MGH 15% IDC requirement.

When is the deadline?
MGH Internal Application Deadline: Monday, August 21, 2017
Sponsor Application Deadline: September 20, 2017

How do I learn more and apply?

• Click here to read more and apply online.
• To review the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship application guidelines and process, please click here.

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

If there is more than one MGH investigator 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 Research Sites for the Network of Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials (NeuroNEXT sites) (U24)
• Gabrielle's Angel Foundation
• Avon Breast Health Outreach Program (Avon BHOP)
• NEI Center Core Grant for Vision Research (P30)
• NIAMS Rheumatic Diseases Research Resource-based Centers (P30)
• Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (P30)
• George M. O'Brien Kidney Research Core Centers (P30)

If there is a limited submission funding opportunity you do not see listed below or you have any additional questions, please let us know at ecor@mgh.harvard.edu.

Please note that any grant that brings in less than 15% in indirect costs (IDC) will need to be supplemented up to the 15% equivalent by existing investigator or departmental sundry funds. Resolution of this issue must occur prior to submission of the award.

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.

Week of 7/14/17

•  Understanding, Preventing, and Managing Immunotherapy-related Adverse Events (irAEs) Associated with Checkpoint Inhibition for Melanoma and Other Cancers, American Cancer Society (ACS)
• Translational Research Program (TRP), Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS)
• Research Grant Program, Oxalosis and Hyperoxaluria Foundation (OHF)

MGH ECOR Formulaic Bridge Funding Support
Application Deadline: August 7, 2017; 7th day of each month

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

MGH Clinical Research Day - October 5

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