HIRN Network
SEPTEMBER 2018
NEWSLETTER
Hot Topics!
2019 Annual Investigator Meeting

Save the date for the 2019 HIRN Annual Investigator meeting. It will be held on April 28-May 1, 2019 at the Capital Hilton, Washington DC.
IIDP Islet Award Initiative

The Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) is now accepting applications for the Islet Award Initiative (IAI). The award will provide up to 100,000 IEQs to a maximum of 10 eligible investigators per year, without the need for a subscription fee. The next round of applications are due by October 1st . The IAI is generously supported by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Funding Opportunities
HIRN NIH Requests for Applications (RFAs)

RFA-DK-18-011 : Human Islet Research Network: Consortium on Human Islet Biomimetics (CHIB)
  • NIDDK intends to commit $3 million in FY 2019 to fund 2-3 awards.
  • Letter of Intent due: November 11, 2018
  • Application due: December 11, 2018

NIH Requests for Applications (RFAs)
RFA-PAR-18-886 : New Par adigms in Tissue Communication-from mediators to metabolic function (RC2 Clinical Trials Optional)
  • Letter of Intent due: Six weeks prior to application due date
  • Application due dates: Nov 1, 2019; May 30, 2019, October 31, 2019; June 2, 2020

RFA-DK-18-005 : Mechanisms Underlying the Contribution of Type 1 Diabetes Disease-associated Variants (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • NIDDK intends to commit $3.25 million in FY 2019 to fund 4-5 awards
  • Letter of Intent due: November 6, 2018
  • Application due: December 6, 2018

RFA-DK-17-031 :   The Characterization and Discovery of Novel Autoantigens and Epitopes in Type 1 Diabetes (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
  • NIDDK intends to commit up to $1.25 million to fund 2-3 awards in FY 2018 and up to $1.25 million to fund 2-3 awards in FY 2019.
  • Letter of Intent due: March 26, 2018 and November 6, 2018
  • Application due: April 26, 2018 and December 6, 2018
NIH Regenerative Medicine Innovation Projects


RFA-HL-18-031 : Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials (UG3/UH3 – Clinical Trial Required)

RFA-HL-18-033 : Small Business Technology Transfer Cooperative Agreement ( UT2 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)


  • Letter of Intent due: September 19, 2018
  • Application due: October 19,2018

Check the NIH NIDDK website for additional Special Diabetes Funding Program Opportunities
JDRF Requests for Applications (RFAs)



  • Letter of Intent due: September 12, 2018
  • Application due: November 14, 2018

  • Letter of Intent due: October 8, 2018
  • Application due: January 7, 2019
Job Opportunities
Additional details on these postings are available on the HIRN Website
Postdoctoral Position
The Labs of Drs.  Maike Sander  and  Kyle Gauton at   University of California, San Diego  is recruiting a candidate with a Ph.D. in Biological Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related field, and have experience with high-throughput sequence data.  Send detailed CV, list of publications and statement of research directly to Drs.  Maike Sander and  Kyle Gaulton . 
Senior Research Associate
The Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP) at University of Pennsylvania  is recruiting an applicant with a Ph.D. or equivalent, with expertise in either multispectral imaging or single cell genomics. Send CV and two letters of recommendation directly to  Dr. Klaus Kaestner . 

Postdoctoral Position
The Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP) at University of Pennsylvania is recruiting an application with a Ph.D. or equivalent, with expertise islet biology and molecular genetics. The individual will contribute to the “ Drivers and consequences of beta cell DNA damage in type 1 diabetes ” project within HIRN CBDS consortium. Send CV and two letters of recommendation directly to  Dr. Klaus Kaestner .
Postdoctoral Position
The Lab of Dr. Abdelfattah El Ouaamari at Rutgers University/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is recruiting self-driven, creative and organized candidates with a PhD in neuroscience, biochemistry or molecular and cellular biology. The candidate must possess skills in manipulating and assessing neuronal activity. Candidates should have a strong record of productivity and publication in the fields of neuroscience/neurobiology or islet biology. Interested candidate should send CV, cover letter and 3 references directly to  Dr. El Ouaamari . 
Postdoctoral Position
The Lab of  Dr. Amelia Linnemann a t the  Center for Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases at Indiana University School of Medicine is recruiting for a postdoc with interest in islet biology, microscopy (confocal, multiphoton, super-res), and animal models of diabetes (zebrafish, mouse) in the highly interactive NIH-funded Diabetes Center at Indiana University. Please contact  Dr. Amelia Linnemann directly for additional information or to apply.
Postdoctoral Position
The Lab of  Dr. Julia Laskin at Purdue University Department of Chemistry is recruiting for highly motivated individuals with PhD in chemistry, biology, or engineering and a background in microfluidics and mass spectrometry. The successful candidate will be involved in the development of advanced analytical techniques for imaging of biological samples with high spatial resolution. Please contact  Dr. Julia Laskin  directly for additional information or to apply.
Upcoming Meetings
European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2018 Annual Meeting

The 2018 EASD Meeting will be October 1-5, 2018 at the Messe Berlin Convention Center in Berlin, Germany.
2018 Biomedical Engineering Society Meeting

The 2018 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) Meeting will be October 17-20, 2018 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta GA.
Gordon Research Conference

The 2019 Gordon Conference on Pancreatic Diseases will be June 16-21, 2019 at the Jordan Hotel at Sunday River in Newry, ME.