Research News - May 20, 2022

Are you looking for a new opportunity within the Mass General Research Institute or hoping to promote a newly posted job within your department? Check out the Research Job Board, powered by the Division of Clinical Research! All members of the community are able to submit postings or apply for positions. 

Click here to learn more.

For those who completed their primary vaccine series between August 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022, a booster must be received by June 30, 2022. Those who are not yet compliant with our booster vaccine policy will begin receiving email notifications this week. 

How employees can receive the vaccine
Occupational Health is currently offering Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines at the following Occupational Health Clinics: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital and Salem Hospital. Appointments for the month of May can be made here.

These same Occupational Health locations will offer clinics in June, providing Pfizer booster vaccines for eligible workforce members. Appointments can be made through the Vaccine Clinic Bookings links on The Pulse. 

Individuals who need a Johnson & Johnson or Moderna booster are encouraged to leverage a location in their local community. There are many sites, including CVS and Walgreens, offering free booster shots. Visit vaccines.gov, mass.gov or vaccines.nh.gov to find a location near you. You can also text your zip code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233. 

Discounted SAS statistical licenses are offered through the ERIS Research Computing Core. The price for a SAS Citrix or SAS Server license dropped to $240/license per year/platform and can be accessed from multiple devices. To purchase a new license or renew a Desktop license, please visit the ERIS Research Computing Core Request Catalog: rcservices.partners.org (and log in with MGB Username and Password). Please read about the different offerings of discounted SAS licenses at rc.partners.org/sas. Please contact us at rcc@partners.org with any questions.

BioRender licenses are available at a discounted rate through the Research Computing Core. BioRender is a web application that can be used to create scientific figures, diagrams, and illustrations from a scientifically accurate image library, all in a matter of minutes. Using a simple drag and drop model, BioRender will save you time, so you can focus more on the science and less on illustration. BioRender requires no installation and you may log into your account on any computer, to access the BioRender portal. For more information on BioRender, go to the Research Computing Core's software page or order now at rcservices.partners.org (MGB login required). All questions may be directed to rcc@partners.org

Friday, May 20, 2022, 7:00 am – 5:30 pm, Virtual 

7:01 am: Unique photobiological features of pheomelanin
David Fisher, MD, PhD, Chief, Dermatology, MGH 

7:14 am: Remote consequences of local photobiological effects
Tayyaba Hasan, PhD, Dermatology, MGH 

Registration is free but required | Click here to register. 

Friday, May 20, 2022, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being 

Fun Fridays offer a refreshing mid-day break from work to indulge in physical, mental, or creative activity. 

Do you have stories to tell but can’t get yourself to write them? Here’s a quirky, fun, and effective technique to convey your tales: using 3-word sentences! Come try it. 

Instructor: Anne Levy, PhD, is the Senior Program Manager in the Center for Faculty Development. She has always loved and practiced creative writing, incorporating it into her former career of teaching high school English. 

Click to register

Monday, May 23 – Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Virtual

Mass General Brigham is hosting a unique event in partnership with Advarra to bring together thought leaders and community representatives who can drive systemic change towards achieving equity and inclusion in clinical research. 

Discussions and presentations will challenge us to work together to:
Name it! Acknowledge the past and identify the future
Act on it! Innovate and implement solutions
Change it! Demonstrate and measure systemic transformation 

Conference Description 

• Virtual conference with option to pre-record sessions to facilitate availability of speakers  
• Stakeholders/Audience
  • Researchers 
  • Research Administration & Leadership 
  • Research Sponsors (Industry, Federal, Private) 
  • Government Regulators 
  • Community 

The conference will address inclusion from a broad standpoint to include issues related to race and ethnicity, disability, age/sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, culture, social determinants, and urban/rural issues. A unique aspect of the conference will be prioritizing the involvement of the community not only as attendees, but also as speakers, moderators and discussants. 

Click here to learn more. 

Monday, May 23, 2022, 2:00 – 3:00 pm, Zoom

Join subject matter experts online for 1:1 support with Research IS & Computing tools and services available to help your research and innovation, discuss problems and answer your questions. No appointment necessary. The Scientific Computing team is available at 1p.m. to provide extra support for ERISOne Linux Cluster, R, Python and the new ERISXdl platform. We hope to see you then!

Check back to https://rc.partners.org/events for additional offerings. 

Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 4:00 - 5:00 pm, Zoom 

Provided by: Mass General Brigham and MGH Center for Faculty Development 

"Stories that Heal: Supporting Each Other Through the Darkness of Depression" 

The Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series was created to support and advance the careers of women. These lectures bring together faculty from institutions that have hosted Anne Klibanski Scholars with MGH scholars, on topics that overlap both research areas. 

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to: 

• Recognize the prevalence of depression in healthcare providers 
• Describe techniques for supporting colleagues 
• Identify local and national mental health resources 

Target Audience: This activity is intended for faculty and faculty trainees.
Course Director: Miriam A. Bredella, MD 

Presenters:
Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD, Associate Chief for Clinical Faculty for the MassGeneral Hospital for Children and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School
Megan Fix, MD, Associate Professor; Director of Education, Emergency Medicine; Faculty Director of Student Mentoring, University of Utah School of Medicine 

ACCREDITATION
Mass General Brigham is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

Mass General Brigham designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Click to register 

Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Provided by: Mass General Brigham and MGH Center for Faculty Development 

Session 1 of the Presentation Skills Series 

Good comedy is unifying and even a small amount in an otherwise dry lecture can make it (and you!) significantly more engaging. Learn how to identify and take advantage of organic comedic opportunities in your presentations. We’ll cover the basic rules of comedy writing, including self-awareness, specificity, breaking patterns, rules of threes, joke structure, and why some words are funnier than others. The ultimate goal isn’t to force comedy or make every presentation hilarious, simply to add a bit of seasoning when and where it will be appreciated most. 

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explore how the addition of authentic humor helps presenters connect more efficiently to their audience. 
• Identify common opportunities for humor in everyday presentations. 
• Apply the basic rules of comedy writing to make the most of comedic opportunities, resulting in a more engaging and effective final product. 

Target Audience: This activity is intended for faculty and faculty trainees.
Course Director: Miriam A. Bredella, MD 

Presenter: Beth Sherman is a 7-time Emmy Award-winning comedy writer. Her credits include Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Ellen DeGeneres Show, as well as MTV’s Video Music Awards, the Screen Actors’ Guild Awards and the Academy Awards (the Oscars.) Prior to that, she spent more than a decade doing stand-up comedy, performing at clubs, colleges, and military bases all over world, including Kuwait and Iraq. 

As a speechwriter, she's the founder of "Authentically Funny Speeches," a ghostwriting and coaching service focused on helping non-show business professionals add humor to personal and professional toasts, speeches, and presentations. 

ACCREDITATION
Mass General Brigham is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

Mass General Brigham designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Click to register 

Thursday, May 26, 2022, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Sponsored by the Office for Research Careers 

Christian Tidona, the founder and managing director of the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg, Germany, will talk about his journey as a scientist entrepreneur. In his talk, you will learn about the three success factors for innovation and what you should be looking for as a future innovator or entrepreneur. You will get first-hand advice on bridging the gap between academic biomedical research and successfully developing new therapies for the benefit of patients, as well as guidance on transitioning from academic research to building a pharma industry career or a startup company. 

Facilitator: Christian Tidona, PhD, is a biotech entrepreneur, business angel, and founder of the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg, Germany. He studied molecular biology and received his doctoral degree in virology from the University of Heidelberg. Throughout his entire professional life, his focus was always to seed innovation at the interface between academia and industry. Christian is co-founder of BioRN, the cluster management organization at the center of one of the strongest biomedical innovation hubs in Europe, co-founder of the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine HI-STEM, member of the International Board of the Weizmann Institute of Science, and member of the Board of Directors of Yeda Research and Development, one of the world’s most renowned technology transfer organizations in Israel. Christian is married and father of two children. 

Click to register 

Thursday, May 26, 2022, 12:00 – 2:00 pm, Zoom 

Presenters: Dr. Randy Trumbower, Director of the Spaulding INSPIRE Lab will offer an overview of the lab, its current initiatives and its research using technology the lab developed. Kenneth Heckman, Sr. Technical Project Manager of MGB Radiology and Dr. Randy Gollub, MGB Psychiatry, will give an overview of EMI and updates on their project offering access to radiological images. 

Click here to learn more. 

Friday, May 27, 2022, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being

Join artist Patricia Nolan-Brown, who will be demonstrating her favorite way to paint - which anyone can learn! You will see how painting can be a form of joyful meditation once you let go of expectations. 

Facilitator: Patricia Nolan-Brown, BA (aka Troods) is an artist, with a BA in art from Framingham State University. She has used her creative brain to launch many inventions, build businesses, publish a book about the creative process and raise her three daughters. She interprets and paints things she loves such as travel, nature, and family, working with oils in an expressive impasto style. She has been accepted and awarded the Denis Diderot Grant for a 4-week Artist-in-Residence at the Chateau d'Orquevaux [dork-VO] in France where her work will be part of the chateau's permanent collection. 

Click to register 

Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Virtual 

“The Neurobiology of Eating Behavior in Obesity: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets” 

The Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard (NORCH) invites you to attend our 23rd Annual Symposium, featuring the latest research on a wide range of topics including appetite regulation, gut-brain communication, and mechanisms of surgical and non-surgical obesity interventions. 

Click here to register now. We are expecting a high volume of attendees and encourage you to secure your spot early. Additional event info and speaker information can be found here. 

Register now | Download program flyer 

Thursday, June 9, 2022, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, Zoom

The Novelline Innovation Speaker Series is hosted by HTL and brings regional and national experts in healthcare innovation to share their work and perspectives with the MGH audience. 

This next session features Kevin Schulman, Professor of Medicine, Associate Chair of Business Development and Strategy in the Department of Medicine, Director of Industry Partnerships and Education for the Clinical Excellence Research Center (CERC) at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and, by courtesy, Professor of Operations, Information & Technology at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. The title of his presentation is: Defining a Strategy to Achieve Tech Enabled Care. More information about the presentation and how to register for this event are located here. 

Contact us at hctransformationlab@partners.org if you have questions.

Please visit the MGB web page for COVID funding opportunities that provides a central database for researchers to view open and competitive funding announcements. 

We have aggregated opportunities from federal and private funding sources including NIH, DoD, CDC, EPA, foundations, and more. The database defaults to sorting by award amount and can also be sorted by deadline or filtered by research focus. 

Upcoming deadlines:

•  Ramsay Research Grant Program in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) or Long Covid (deadline 5/23/22) 

Recently added: 

• No recent additions

Preliminary applications are now being accepted by the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards. 

What are they?
“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. The Early Independence Award is intended for these select junior investigators who have already established a record of scientific innovation and research productivity and have demonstrated unusual scientific vision and maturity; typical post-doctoral training would unnecessarily delay their entry into independent research.” 

MGH is eligible to nominate two candidates for the NIH Director’s Early Independence Award. 

When is the deadline?
MGH internal pre-proposal: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 – 5:00 PM 

How do I learn more and apply?
Click here to for more information and to apply for the nomination. 

A program of the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation 

The Smith Family Awards for Excellence in Biomedical Research 

“The mission of the Awards Program is to launch the careers of newly independent biomedical researchers with the ultimate goal of achieving medical breakthroughs. The three‐year Award supports newly independent faculty engaged in basic or translational biomedical research. Investigators in the physical sciences (physics, chemistry and engineering) whose projects focus on biomedical science are also encouraged to apply. While basic research projects involving human subjects, data, and samples are eligible, clinical trials research is beyond the scope of this program. 

“In recognition of the importance of research collaboration by the scientific community, collaboration is an additional, but not required, positive ancillary factor. These projects may involve researchers within and/or outside MGH.”

This opportunity is open to full-time faculty at MGH who received or will receive their Assistant Professor appointment on or between 10/1/19 and 4/1/23. The award is $300,000 over three years, inclusive of 5% institutional overhead. 

The foundation now has a two-stage application process, and there are no limits on the number of applications from an institution. An internal selection process is no longer required. All eligible faculty at MGH should apply directly to the sponsor.

Please contact Foundation Relations in the Office of Development at devcfr@mgh.harvard.edu if you wish to submit a proposal in response to this opportunity. They will be able to advise you on the application process. 

Initial proposal deadline: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at 12:00 Noon (Those applicants who make it to the second stage will be invited to submit a full proposal in early November). 

Click here to learn more and apply. 

The Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard (NORCH) is currently seeking applications for Pilot & Feasibility Grants related to nutrition, obesity, and metabolism. This award is up to $30,000 over 1 year, with possibility for up to $30,000 additional funding during year 2 via a competitive renewal if good progress is achieved. 

Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, June 1, 2022. The funding period will begin on August 1, 2022. 

Click here to learn more and apply. 

The primary mission of this program is to promote the development of a diverse, translational research workforce that is capable of participating and/or leading cross-disciplinary team science relevant for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and AD-related dementias. The trainee will pursue a targeted research project under the mentorship of world-class researchers in the Harvard research community in three key areas:

[1] biology of aging and neurodegeneration;
[2] data sciences, computational biology, statistics, math/engineering/physics;
[3] drug discovery and development 

Most T32 faculty are within the MGH Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and/or Massachusetts Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Training includes targeted coursework, didactic lectures, and a dedicated T32 lecture series. General training includes research conduct, diversity and inclusion, mentoring, career development, and grant development activities. 

Eligibility: PhD, MD, MD/PhD and U.S. citizen or permanent resident (see NIH PAR-18-524), with rolling admission for 4 training slots. Our goal is to recruit a truly diverse T32 trainee pool that is highly representative of URM and women trainees. 

Additional information: Please see https://pricelab.martinos.org/t32-adrd/ for further information including application instructions. Please submit questions to: Krystal Whitfield (T32 Administrative Contact) at T32ADRD@mgh.harvard.edu. 

Phase 2 of the Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) program has been launched with a total budget of $225 million over the next 5 years. The goal of this phase is to accelerate the development of genome-editing therapeutic agents by facilitating IND-enabling studies, establishing pathways to regulatory approval, and disseminating successful strategies for initiating first in human clinical trials. To accomplish this, we are currently seeking applications for the following initiatives: 

• RFA-RM-22-014: Technologies and Assays for Therapeutic Genome Editing INDs (U01) 
• RFA-RM-22-015: IND-enabling Studies of Somatic Genome Editing Therapeutic Leads (U19) 
• RFA-RM-22-016: Platform Clinical Trials of Somatic Genome Editing for Multiple Diseases (UG3/UH3) 
• RFA-RM-22-017: Somatic Cell Genome Editing Translational Coordination and Dissemination Center (U24) 

Key deadlines (for all initiatives):
Letter of Intent: 06/17/2022
Application Receipt Date: 07/19/2022 

Interested in learning more?
Check out https://www.commonfund.nih.gov/editing to learn more. 

Deadline for submission of applications is Friday, June 3, 2022. 

Please find eligibility details and application instructions below. 

We are currently soliciting applications for available slot(s) on the MGH Cancer Center’s Training Program in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics. This program is funded by a T32 Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) under the direction of Daniel A. Haber, MD, PhD, and Lecia Sequist, MD, PhD. 

Recipients will receive a stipend in-line with the fiscal year 2022 NIH NRSA stipend guidelines for postdoctoral fellows, and additional funds for tuition/fees and travel to a scientific meeting(s). 

Eligibility:
1. Applicants must have completed a minimum of three years in clinical training. Applicants must also be willing to commit to a minimum of two years in biomedical research. Rare exceptions will be made for candidates with less clinical training.
2. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents.
3. Applicants must have an MD or MD, PhD degree to be considered.
4. Applicants must hold the title of a Research and/or Clinical Fellow as of the time of appointment.
5. Prior research experience is highly preferred, although not required.
6. Applicants must be available to accept the stipend as of July 1, 2022. 

Selection Process:
Candidates from any field of oncology are welcome to apply. This program is committed to attracting and strongly considering excellent candidates from groups underrepresented in biomedical research, as well as those who have disabilities. 

The main criteria for selection include:

• Plan for research project and mentoring. 
• Commitment to a career in cancer research, especially translational research. 
• Experience, competence, and level of training. 
• Past research productivity. 
• References 

Application Format:
1. Application Coversheet:

• Title of research project.
• Applicant’s name, institutional address, phone number and email address.
• Name and contact information of mentor(s): institutional address, phone number, and email address. 

2. Copy of applicant’s NIH Biosketch.
3. Copy of mentor(s) NIH Biosketch.
4. Description of prior research experience, proposed research project, and career goals. (Maximum of two pages.)
5. Signed statement of support from the trainee’s mentor(s).
6. Letter of reference from the applicant’s Chief of Service. 

Please forward a PDF of the application to Celia D. Harris at charris23@mgh.harvard.edu, no later than Friday June 3, 2022. Please do not hesitate to contact her with any questions or need of assistance either via email or at 617-726-5475. 

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:
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 

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. 

• NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN): Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) 
• NICHD Neonatal Research Network (NRN): Clinical Centers (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional) 
• NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network: Clinical Centers (UG1 Clinical Trial Optional) 
• NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network: Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) 
• NIAMS Rheumatic Diseases Research Resource-based Centers (P30 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

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

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 opportunities. Note that proposals are still routed through the standard Insight/Research Management process. 

Please be aware 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 submitting a proposal. Training fellowships from foundations, public charity, and non-profit organizations are excluded from this minimum IDC requirement. 

Week of 05/20/22

• Young Investigator Grants, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer (ALSF). $150,000. Application Deadline: December 12 
• Faculty Innovation in Education Award, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. $100,000. Application Deadline: August 15 
• Clinical Research Professor Grants, American Cancer Society (ACS). $400,000. LOI Deadline: August 1 
• Bridge to Success Award for Early Career Investigators, American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)/American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). $100,000. Application Deadline: June 13 
• Bridge to Success Award for Mid-Career/Senior Investigators, American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)/American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). $100,000. Application Deadline: June 13. 
• Junior Faculty Research Award, American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)/American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). $200,000. Application Deadline: June 13 
• Physician Scientist Training Award (PSTA), American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)/American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). $100,000. Application Deadline: June 13 
• Seed Grant, Foundation for OCD Research (FFOR). $600,000. LOI Deadline: August 8 
• Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Award, March of Dimes Foundation. $150,000. Application Deadline: June 30 
• Biostatistics/Informatics Junior Faculty Award, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). Unspecified Amount. Pre-Application Deadline: August 10 
• Mentor-Based Postdoctoral Fellowship In Rehabilitation Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). Unspecified Amount. Pre-Application Deadline: July 13 
• SCCM Research Grants, Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM). $100,000. Application Deadline: August 1 

MGH Town Hall Meeting Recordings 

MGB Community Connects

Mentor MGB 

Check out the Coronavirus Resource Guide for MGH Researchers! 

NIH Update for Week Ending May 20, 2022

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

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