Research News - August 18, 2017

On Thursday, 8/24/17 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm CCM will be performing routine maintenance to the Animal Ordering Web Site  (http://ccm.partners.org). Please do not attempt to access the application during this maintenance window.  

We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.   If you have any questions or problems, please email us at MGHCCM@PARTNERS.ORG

Partners is aware of some phishing scams, over the phone, impersonating the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Callers are informing people that they have been selected for a $14,000 grant from NIH. In order to collect the grant money, a fee must be paid through a money card, or by providing a bank account number. This is not legitimate.
 
These scams also happen through text message and email. Please watch out for these malicious messages.
 
Remember the following:

• Never respond to requests for personal or financial information through phone, email, text message, or social media.
• Always be suspicious of a caller asking you for access or asking you to enter anything into your internet browser.
• Do not open an email or click on a link if you don’t know the sender. Use the Report Phishing button to alert the Security Team of suspicious emails.

If you are suspicious, or don’t know a caller/number, ask the caller for their name and a callback number, then hang up and call the IS Service Desk to report. For more information, contact your Information Security Officer.
 
To learn more about this specific scam visit the FTC website, please click here.

MGH has recently purchased licenses for the MGH research community for ChemOffice and PyMOL. ChemOffice Professional is an integrated suite of scientifically intelligent productivity tools that enables researchers to capture, store, retrieve and a share data and information on compounds, reactions, materials and their properties. PyMol is a molecular visualization system on an open source foundation, maintained and distributed by Schrödinger.  To use these resources, please follow the instructions provided below.

ChemOffice
The starting point for a ChemOffice download is http://sitesubscription.cambridgesoft.com/#M, which marks the head of a list of institutions with names beginning with M. Scroll down to the entry for Massachusetts General Hospital and click on the link. You must have an email address ending in mgh.harvard.edu to receive your activation code.

PyMOL
PyMOL may be downloaded from http://pymol.org/dsc. The invoice number is 23514, the username is 18jul16 and the password is tvcwoyc4.

If you are applying for a Claflin Award, and have questions about your application, the Center for Faculty Development's Office for Women's Careers (OWC) encourages you to take advantage of the pre-award Claflin Consultation Initiative (CCI) for applicants.

The CCI is designed to help eligible faculty prepare their best application for the 2018 Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards. Many prior Claflin winners have volunteered their time to answer questions and offer guidance and encouragement to potential applicants. Coaches may give advice on all aspects of the application, including the research plan, budget, description of child-rearing responsibilities, and advice for repeat applicants.  

Please click here to request a consultation by Fri, Sep 8.

Note: If you have questions about your eligibility, please click here or email ecor@mgh.harvard.edu before registering for the CCI.

Do you want to learn skills and gain experience to take your career in a new direction? The Career Pathways for Postdocs (CPP) initiative offers short-term, part-time internships to help you make informed choices about careers away from the laboratory bench.  Internship opportunities for fall 2017 include: academia-industry collaborations, non-profit administration/communications, program development and management, regulatory compliance, research core administration, research innovation and commercialization, and science communication in different settings (academic research, internet presence, museum exhibits).

Please click here for more information.

Deadline for applications is 4:00pm on Wednesday, September 13, 2017.

For questions, please email orcd@partners.org.

Click here to read the latest update from the Office of Extramural Research.

Tuesday, September 5, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Simches Auditorium 3.110 & Video-conferencing to CNY

AGENDA

• ECOR Grants and Awards:  Tips & Guidelines for Applicants                          
• Insight 4.0 Update - Research

Following each Research Council meeting, there will be a Researcher Resource Room in Simches 3.120, adjacent to the auditorium. Over 15 representatives will be on hand to distribute materials and answer your questions.

**Please note that the September Research Council will be held on a TUESDAY!**

All MGH Researchers welcome!

Tuesday, September 5, 10:30 AM, Simches 3.130

HMS Faculty and Postdocs are invited to attend and learn about HMS Foundation Funds opportunities.

Please join us for an informational meeting on Tuesday, September 5, 10:30 AM, MGH Simches Building 3rd Floor, Room 3.130.

Please direct all inquiries to:
Clare Lamont, Program Coordinator
HMS Foundation Funds, Office of Academic and Clinical Affairs
617-432-7463, Clare_Lamont@hms.harvard.edu

Thursday, September 21, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, Simches 3.120
Sponsored by the MGH Clinical Research Program and Partners Research Computing

Stacey Duey, Project Specialist, RPDR

This lecture will provide an overview of the Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) Query Tool. There is new functionality that includes match controls, patient analysis and mixed timing model. Match Controls allows investigators to assemble a list of patients that meet specific matched criteria in order to use them as a control set for their study. The Analyze Patients tab allows the user to further analyze and compare RPDR queries, patients and concepts. The new mixed timing model allows a user to select different timing options within the same query.

The RPDR is a centralized clinical data registry that gathers data from various hospital systems (MGH, BWH, NSMC, NWH, FH and SRH) and stores it in one place. The RPDR brings clinical information to researchers through the online Query Tool, which is used to query RPDR data for aggregate patient totals. With proper IRB approval, researchers can request more detailed medical record data on the user-defined group. For more information about the RPDR go to http://rpdr.com

This course is geared towards investigators, research nurses, study coordinators and all other study staff.

Thursday, September 21, 12:30 – 1:30pm, Simches Room 3.120

The Partners HealthCare Biobank is a large research data and sample repository. It provides researchers access to over 30,000 high-quality, consented samples to help foster research, advance our understanding of the causes of common diseases, and advance the practice of medicine. The Partners Biobank Portal at http://biobankportal.partners.org/ is a web-based tool that allows researchers to access and query clinical and genomic data about consented Biobank subjects as well as make Biobank sample requests for plasma, serum and DNA.

The first hour of the course will provide an introduction to the use of the Biobank Portal and aims to help participants achieve the following:

• Understand the types of data stored in the Biobank Portal
• Navigate through the main functions of the tool
• Create a query and make a request for clinical samples
• Understand concepts of Healthy Controls, Curated Disease populations, Genomic data and temporal query constraints

The last half hour of the course will be optional for any participants who would like additional time to see live demonstrations and work with a Portal expert directly regarding their queries and questions.
This course is geared toward investigators and staff at all levels interested in using the Biobank Portal for their research.  It is recommended that participants register to use the Biobank Portal at http://biobankportal.partners.org/ prior to the course.

Registration is required. Please contact Cassidy Peters with any questions.

Thursday, September 14, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, CNY Campus

The Post Doctoral Division and Graduate Student Division invite research fellows and graduate students to this presentation.

This one hour seminar will provide an overview of the various professional associations, groups, and other organizations that are active in the Boston area life sciences ecosystem and will highlight some of the various networking events, conferences, and meetings happening in the Boston area. "Welcome to Boston" will also cover news sources and websites useful to gain information about specific research areas and/or industry trends related to different areas of the life sciences sector.

Lastly, this seminar will discuss how to utilize these sources to identify organizations and people of interest and how to follow up with them to build a career network.
Please note that this program is open to Research Fellows, graduate students and Instructors. Lunch will be served; advanced registration is requested.

Facilitator: Lauren Celano, CEO, Propel Careers

Please click here to register. Email pdd@partners.org with questions.

Tuesday, September 19, 1:30-2:30 pm, MGH Main Campus

The Post Doctoral Division invites all post doctoral research fellows to join us for ice cream, networking and raffle prizes.

In honor of Post Doc Appreciation Week, and all of your hard work all year long, please join us for an ice cream social! Create your own ice cream sundae, mingle with lab mates, and catch up with staff from the Office for Research Career Development.

Please click here to register. Email pdd@partners.org with questions.

October 17-20, 2017

Applications due September 11th

This four-day survey course offers an introduction to the skills necessary to embark on a career in translational research, with a focus on the principles of translational medicine as they apply to the development of a new drug (small molecules and/or biologics), device, or diagnostics.

Please click here to learn more: http://catalyst.harvard.edu/services/ittm/

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 fundamental (basic) or clinical research at the level of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor.  The intent of these awards is to support the careers of outstanding MGH investigators doing cutting-edge research that is highly innovative and expected to result in fundamental scientific discoveries and/or clinical applications.  This year, we are asking applicants to choose one of three categories based on the research proposed in the application: Clinical research, Fundamental research, or Population and healthcare research.

How much is each award?
These awards are for $500,000 over 5 years; and will be funded at $100,000 per year, including 15% indirect costs.

When is the deadline?
Thursday, October 12, 2017 – 5:00 PM

How do I learn more and apply?

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!

Applying for the Claflin Awards? Enroll in the OWC Claflin Consultation Initiative

If you are applying for a Claflin Award, and have questions about your application, the Center for Faculty Development's Office for Women's Careers (OWC) encourages you to take advantage of the pre-award Claflin Consultation Initiative (CCI) for applicants.

The CCI is designed to help eligible faculty prepare their best application for the 2018 Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards. Many prior Claflin winners have volunteered their time to answer questions and offer guidance and encouragement to potential applicants. Coaches may give advice on all aspects of the application, including the research plan, budget, description of child-rearing responsibilities, and advice for repeat applicants.  Please click here to request a consultation by Fri, Sep 8.

Note: If you have questions about your eligibility, please click here or email ecor@mgh.harvard.edu before registering for the CCI.

(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.

Call for Proposals: Innovation Discovery Grants 2018
Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cognitive Computation, and Machine Learning

The Innovation Discovery Grants (IDG) program aims to enhance the commercial outcomes of the Partners HealthCare community and increase its innovative potential. It is designed to stimulate new inventive concepts, identify areas of commercially significant scientific strength and accelerate commercialization of PHS intellectual assets.

In 2018, the IDG program will fund ten projects – each up to $50,000 total cost (inclusive of 15% indirect costs) - focused on the advancement of opportunities in artificial intelligence, data science, cognitive computation, and machine learning. Project plans must demonstrate tangible outcomes towards commercialization opportunities that improve patient health or healthcare delivery.

Proposals will be evaluated in terms of the following criteria:

• Patient or healthcare impact
• Probability of meeting articulated milestones within the award period and budget
• Likelihood that achievement of target endpoints would lead to a licensing opportunity and/or creation of a spinoff company or an industry partnership
• Potential for attracting follow-on development investment

This PHS-wide initiative is managed by Partners Innovation and is open to any full-time employee at PHS or an institution within the Partners HealthCare System, or faculty member with a primary appointment at an institution within the Partners HealthCare System. Pre-proposals are due no later than September 25, 2017. Detailed program guidelines and instructions for submissions can be found at idg.partners.org.

If you have any questions about IDG policies or procedures contact Olga Kuperman, at idg@partners.org or Lesley Watts, at lwatts@partners.org.

Questions related to the business opportunity should be directed to your Innovation Licensing Manager or Market Sector Leader at 857-307-2440.

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.

• 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)
• Population Dynamics Centers Research Infrastructure Program FY 2018 (P2C)

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 8/18/17

• ADDF/NIH Request for Proposals, Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)
• Uncovering New Patterns Fellowships (Uncovering New Patterns Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke), American Heart Association (AHA)/Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine
• Uncovering New Patterns Grants (Uncovering New Patterns in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke Grant), American Heart Association (AHA)/Institute for Precision Cardiovascular Medicine
• Calder Research Scholar Award in Vitiligo/Pigment Cell Disorders, American Skin Association (ASA)
• DMRF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, Dystonia Medical Research Foundation (DMRF)
• Prader-Willi Syndrome Research, Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR)
• Improved Biomarkers and Clinical Outcome Measures Program, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF)
• Mitochondrial Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF)

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

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

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

Responsible Conduct of ‘Omics’ Research - September 11

IRB Roundtable: New Submissions - September 14

Qualitative Coding – September 20

MGH Clinical Research Day - October 5

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