Research News - October 6, 2017

As many of you are aware, MGH F&A rates are now being negotiated annually.  The MGH F&A rate negotiation (Base Year: FY2016) will be taking place in the next 1-2 months.  In the interim, as the rates charged to grants are applied on a fiscal year basis, MGH has requested updated Provisional rates effective 10/1/2017.  The Onsite Provisional rate is being reset to 68.5% to reflect the change in MGH costs and research base activity for FY18.  There is no change to the Offsite rate, which will remain at 32%.  When the current rate negotiation is completed, MGH will receive a new rate agreement with FIXED rates for FY18.

Until the interim rate agreement is available, new proposals can be prepared using the lower Provisional rate.   Any proposals submitted using the 71% Onsite rate per the current rate agreement do not need to be updated at this time.  Note: For proposals that are funded, budgets will be adjusted at the Just-in-Time Submission with the rates per the most recent rate agreement.

For new awards issued under the existing rate agreement, the award amount will not be re-adjusted for a change in F&A rates; the expenses can be re-budgeted between direct and indirect costs.   For non-competing renewal awards, the original award amount will not be re-adjusted for the change in F&A rates; the expenses can be re-budgeted between direct and indirect costs.

Please click here to read the memo for additional details on the indirect rates and for the FY18 fringe benefit rates.

Do you want to include a link to your lab or profile page in communications from your lab, but don’t want something long and complicated?

We have implemented a new way to create customized shortcut links that seamlessly redirect users to your page: massgeneral.link/yourpageornamehere

The system is the result of a great suggestion that was submitted through our Isuggest portal by Ed Ryan, MD.

Example:
Dr. Ryan’s original doctor profile link was:
http://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/doctor.aspx?id=16382

Now, Dr. Ryan can provide this simplified address:
http://massgeneral.link/EdRyanMD

To request a shortcut link, please email Brian Burns at bburns4@partners.org.

GraphPad Prism software is offered at considerable savings for researchers through the ERIS Research Computing Core. Both Windows and Mac systems are fully supported. The program combines scientific graphing, comprehensive curve fitting (nonlinear regression), understandable statistics, and data organization into one package. To order, please submit the request form (you must be on the Partners network to log in). This a subscription service that is up for annual renewal on September 1, 2018; there is no prorating.  

Partners has embarked on a strategy to improve the computing experience across the variety of devices used at work to assure productive, clean and stable computers (Windows PCs, Apple Macs, smartphones and tablets). With the recent virus and ransomware attacks, both within our System and Internationally, Partners is accelerating this effort to improve the security of our environment. Visit https://rc.partners.org/cybersecurity-changes for more information, timelines and check back as updates will be made.

Click here to read the Innovation newsletter.

Always register your international work travel with TravelSafe. Check out this new Knowledge Base article to learn what options you have for accessing resources like Partners email or internal websites with or without 2-factor authentication. MobileIron and Workspace are options for accessing internal resources without VPN. In order to connect to VPN when traveling internationally, you may need to register an international phone or enable international text and roaming for US phones to receive a unique access code. Please read through this article to better understand your options to connect. Contact the IS Service Desk with VPN requests

Thursday, October 12, 12:00 - 1:00 PM, CNY 149, Conference Room A

On Thursday, October 12th, from 12:00-1:00 pm, Mr. Martin Duenas, the founder of OnPAR, will give a presentation about this new funding platform in conference room A in Building 149 in the Charlestown Navy Yard.  Leidos Life Sciences partnered with the NIH to create OnPAR, whose goal is “to match quality biomedical research projects with priority areas of interest of private foundations, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and/or other private biomedical research funders to advance research, discovery, and development that will benefit the world.”  To provide a funder’s perspective, Mr. Phil Cronin from the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, which is an OnPAR member (see current list here), will also be part of this event.

Please note: OnPAR’s target population is early career researchers, who submitted unsuccessful, but well scored (30th percentile), NIH R01 applications over the past 18 months. 

OnPAR’s therapeutic interests include:

• Cardiology, Hematology, Oncology, Women and Healthcare, Gynecology Therapies, Men’s Health, Ophthalmology, Radiology
• Diabetes and Complications
• Infectious Diseases
• Heart & Kidney
• Cancer: Breast, Lung, Prostate, Brain, Colon, Bone, and others 
• Neurosciences (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Migraine, Huntington)
• Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriasis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative colitis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, Lupus nephritis, Atopic dermatitis
• Devices
• Respiratory (COPD, Asthma)
• Osteoarthritis, Gastroenterology, Endocrine, Heart failure, Neurology
• Pain Research
• Rare Diseases - many

This is a brown bag event; light refreshments will be provided.  Please RSVP, and/or send any questions, to Tristan Barako (tbarako@mgh.harvard.edu).

Thursday, October 12, 12:00 PM, CNY 149, 7th Floor, Isselbacher Auditorium
(Broadcast to MGH Bulfinch 165)

Title: “Development of Tissue-Resident Lymphocytes”
Speaker: Laura Mackay, PhD, University of Melbourne, Australia

Contact Person – Fiona Chen (617/726-1527)
http://www.massgeneral.org/ciid/ourseminars/seminarseries.aspx

Monday, October 23, 9:00am-12:00pm, Simches 3.120

Speakers: Roy Perlis, MD Center for Quantitative Health; Victor Castro, Research Information Science and Computing (RISC)

Course Description
Electronic health records are an emerging tool for the study of clinical outcomes, risk stratification, and pharmacovigilance, among many other topics relevant to clinical investigators. MGH has the advantage of having been an early adopter of such records, with more than a decade of such data, and contributed to the development of tools for applying these records for research. Still, the barrier to entry remains high, particularly for new investigators or those without access to experienced coders and analysts. 

This half-day course will introduce EHR research using CQH-Mart, a tool adapted from RPDR/i2b2 that is intended to simplify longitudinal analysis of clinical data. CQH-Mart encompasses more than 1.1 million MGH and BWH hospital admissions, and includes a range of curated clinical data and outcomes. The course is particularly aimed at advanced residents, postdoctoral fellows or junior faculty looking to conduct clinical research in parallel with their clinical work. At the end of 3 hours, participants will be able to generate a deidentified data set for future analysis, either independently or with biostatistical support.

This software is still in the testing phase, so course enrollment will be restricted to the initial 12 respondents who provide a clinically relevant question they would like to investigate in a subset of hospital discharges. Those who enroll also agree to complete necessary IRB permissions to join the primary research protocol in order to access the data. (In the future, investigators with a valid IRB approval will be able to use CQH-Mart to access deidentified data directly).

Registration is required. Please contact Tiereny Morrison-Rohlfs @ tmorrison-rohlfs@partners.org with questions.

Tuesday, November 14, 12:00 - 1:30pm, O’Keefe Auditorium (with live broadcasting to Charlestown, Chelsea and Revere Healthcare Centers)

The Executive Committee on Community Health (ECOCH) & The Mass General Research Institute invite you to attend the 2nd Community Research Symposium.  Presentations will be given by the following:

• Impact of Smoke-free Rules in Public Housing
  • ​Doug Levy, PhD, Mongan Institute Health Policy Center, MGH
  • John Kane, MPP, Boston Housing Authority
     
• Retention in care for HIV Infected Latino Immigrants
  • Julie Levison MD, MPhil, MPH, Division of General Internal Medicine, MGH
  • Carmen Rios, Respite Case Manager, Barbara McInnis House
     
• Cultural Considerations and Health Literacy
  • Nancy Morris, PhD, ANP, UMass Medical School Graduate School of Nursing
  • Chioma Nnaji, MEd, MPH, Africans for Improved Access-Multicultural AIDS Coalition
     
• Mental Health and Cancer Care
  • Kelly Irwin, MD, MPH, Psychiatry & the MGH Cancer Center
  • Ben Macri, NP, North Suffolk Mental Health

Registration is required for this event.  Please click here to register (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CommunityHealthcareSymposiumRSVP)

March 23 - 26, 2018, Cold Spring Harbor, NY

Application Deadline: January 31, 2018

Instructors:
Carl M. Cohen, Workshop Director 
Suzanne L. Cohen, Workshop Co-Facilitator
Marquita M. Qualls, Guest Instructor
See the roll of honor - who's taken the course in the past 

This is a highly interactive 3.5 day workshop in which you will develop the skills necessary to lead and interact effectively with others, in both one-on-one and group settings. The workshop will focus on techniques, situations, and challenges that relate specifically to leading and managing in the scientific workplace. It will emphasize learning by doing and will involve role playing, giving and receiving feedback, and group problem solving. Much of the learning will be peer-to-peer. Participants will be expected to discuss their own experiences and listen to others as they discuss theirs.

The workshop will help participants identify areas where they need guidance and growth, as well as how to capitalize on areas of strength. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experiences and challenges with others and to receive feedback and guidance from others with experience in leading scientists in a variety of settings. At the end of the course, participants will be linked through a unique on-line community in which they can continue learning from one another and from the course instructors.

Key focus areas of the workshop will include:

• Recognizing and understanding leadership in a science setting
• Using negotiation as a tool in scientific discussions and problem solving
• Identifying and resolving conflicts in the lab
• Dealing with difficult people and situations
• Communicating your ideas and plans in a way that engages others
• Leading effective and productive meetings
• Becoming effective citizen scientists

For more information, please click here. If you are planning to attend this workshop, please let us know at ecor@mgh.harvard.edu.

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?

• 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.

NIMHD is participating in two new funding opportunity announcements along with other NIH institutes and centers: 

Research on the Health of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) calls for research on the health of transgender and gender nonconforming people of all ages, including both youth and adults who are questioning their gender identity and those individuals who are making or who have made a transition from being identified as one gender to the other. This group encompasses individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex on their original birth certificate or whose gender expression varies significantly from what is traditionally associated with or typical for that sex.  

• Research on the Health of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations (R01) (PA-17-478)
• Research on the Health of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Populations (R21) (PA-17-477)

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 would normally hold the position of Assistant Professor, and have demonstrated the potential to rise to a leadership position in their chosen field. Applicants who hold a full-time appointment in any MGH Department and are primarily engaged in research, are eligible to apply.

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, 2018.  

When is the deadline?
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 – 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.

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!

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 most 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. 
Proposal deadline:  5:00 pm – November 1, 2017
 Award decision:  December 22, 2017

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.

• Population Dynamics Centers Research Infrastructure Program FY 2018 (P2C)
• Dr. Ernest J. Ring Academic Development Grant (SIR Foundation)
• Diabetic Foot Consortium – Clinical Research Units (U01) – NEW!
• Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – NEW!

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 10/6/17

• Innovation Grant, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF)
• Bridge to Success Award for Early Career Investigators, American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)/American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)
• Bridge to Success Award for Mid-Career/Senior Investigators, American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)/American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)
• AACR-Janssen Fellowship in Cancer Interception Research, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation-AACR Career Development Awards for Translational Breast Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
• AACR-Bristol-Myers Squibb Fellowships in Translational Immuno-oncology, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
• AACR Fellowships in Lung Cancer Research, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
• Mentored Research Scholar Grant, American Cancer Society (ACS)
• Career Development Award, American Heart Association (AHA)
• Biomedical Research Grant (RG), American Lung Association (ALA)
• Research Grant Program, American Tinnitus Association (ATA)
• CCF Fellowship Program, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (CCF)
• Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist Training Award, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
• Enhanced Career Development Award (Enhanced Research and Clinical Training for Physicians in Inherited Orphan Retinal Degenerative Diseases), Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB)

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

MGH Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards
Application Deadline: October 11

MGH Research Scholars Program
Application Deadline: October 12

The Football Players Health Study
Application Deadline: October 13

Pfizer Centers for Therapeutic Innovation Fall 2017
Application Deadline: October 13

HMS Foundation Funds
Application Deadline: October 16

Howard M. Goodman Fellowship 2018
Application Deadline: October 25

Bullock Postdoctoral Fellowship
Application Deadline: November 1

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

PCORI - Click here for the latest funding opportunities from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

Technical Training Session on ClinicalTrials.gov Registration and Results Reporting – October 10
Clinical Research Billing from Study Start to Completion – October 12
Clinical Research Fellows Orientation at MGH – October 18
Clinical Research Program: Developing a Peer to Peer Auditing Program – November 7

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