January 2022 NEWSLETTER
HIRN FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT: CATALYST AWARD
The Human Islet Research Network (HIRN) announces a new funding initiative to support investigators in developing bold, innovative, and challenging projects that will catalyze the diabetes research field and provide important advances in topics of interest to the network. Applicants must propose aims focused on an original scientific idea or question that is distinct from current HIRN funded research. The scientific focus of application to the HIRN Catalyst program must fall within the purview of one (or more) of the current HIRN consortia. Foreign applications not allowed.

Key Dates
Posted Date:   
Letter of Intent Due Date:         
Application Due Date:                
Scientific Review:                       
Start Date:                                                  
December 1, 2021
March 1, 2022
May 2, 2022  
May – July, 2022
August 1, 2022                
MONTHLY WEBINARS
The next HIRN Webinar will be on Thursday, January 27, 2022 (2:00 pm Eastern/11:00 am Pacific). Drs Rohit Kulkarni and Dario De Jesus from Joslin Diabetes Center will be presenting on "mRNA Modifications in Islet Biology."
Register HERE.

Reminder: The recordings from previous HIRN Monthly Webinars are available to view and download on our YouTube Channel.
UPCOMING WEBINAR
dkNET Webinar: Pancreatlas

The  NIDDK Information Network (dkNET) is inviting you to join them for a webinar "Pancreatlas." Pancreatlas is an online resource that houses and links human pancreas imaging data with clinical data to facilitate advances in the understanding of diabetes, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. Increasingly, human tissue phenotyping programs and projects are generating complex data from numerous imaging modalities, yet only a fraction are shared as static figures for publication.

Drs. Marcela Brissova, Dr. Jean-Philippe Cartailler, and Diane Saunders from Vanderbilt University will be presenting this webinar on Friday, January 28, 2022, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Pacific. Learn more HERE.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
JDRF nPOD Annual Investigator Meeting

The nPOD JDRF Group invites you to the 14th Annual Meeting from January 30 - February 2, 2022. The meeting will be hybrid (in-person and online broadcast) to accommodate all attendees. To learn more about the meeting, view the program, abstract or register click HERE.
NIDDK Exocrine/Endocrine Pancreas Workshop

The goal of this 1.5-day workshop will be to gather clinical and basic science investigators who are interested in diseases of the exocrine and/or endocrine pancreas and in achieving an understanding of how the two compartments interact in disease. This workshop will provide an opportunity for investigators in exocrine diseases to come together with those studying islets in diabetes as a means to foster interdisciplinary discussion and identify areas for advancement. Learn more HERE

This meeting will be held May 30 - June 3, 2022 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, New Orleans, Louisiana. Abstract Submission Deadline: January 31, 2022. Click HERE for more information.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
dkNET Funding Opportunity for Early Stage/New Investigators

Are you an early stage or new investigator seeking to apply computationally-intensive methods to diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolic disease research? Check out the dkNET New Investigator Pilot Program in Bioinformatics! The dkNET New Investigator Pilot Program is designed to: (i) facilitate the ability of Early Stage and New Investigators with computational and bioinformatics expertise to pursue research questions in diabetes, endocrinology, and metabolic diseases (DEMD), or (ii) allow Early Stage and New PIs currently pursuing DEMD-related research to explore incorporating computational, mathematical, statistical, and/or bioinformatics approaches into their research projects. Letter of intent due on January 28, 2022 and application due on February 28, 2022. Learn more HERE.
IIDP Islet Award Initiative

The Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) is now accepting applications for the next Islet Award Initiative (IAI). This initiative, generously supported by JDRF, will provide investigators new to the human islet field with up to 100,000 IEQs without the need for a subscription fee. Applications are due on March 31, 2022. Learn more about the program and eligibility criteria HERE. Contact IIDP directly with questions.

IIDP Islet Isolation Centers Request for Proposals

The Integrated Islet Distribution Program (IIDP) is seeking experienced human islet isolation centers to apply for their Affiliated Islet Isolation Centers (IICs) Request for Proposals. An informational webinar is scheduled for January 24th for all interested parties, and to answer questions related to the RFP. Applications are due on March 31, 2022. Click HERE to download the RFP, and HERE to register for the webinar. Please share this opportunity with your islet isolation colleagues.
Announcing the New Funding Program from the Innovative Science Accelerator Program (ISAC)

Next submission deadline (April 15, 2022):
The Innovative Science Accelerator (ISAC) Program supports truly innovative, disruptive, risky research to accelerate breakthrough discoveries. SAC provides:
  • Funding for small high-risk/high reward projects via a streamlined process to support cutting-edge research and accelerate true innovation in areas of science of interest to the Kidney-Urologic-Hematologic (KUH) research communities.
  • Collaboration and Events for researchers and trainees to efficiently exchange ideas and resources to accelerate innovation.
NIH FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
RFA-DK-21-017: High-Resolution Exploration of the Human Islet Tissue Environment [HIRN Human Pancreas Analysis Consortium (HPAC)] (U01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • Application due date: March 3, 2022

RFA-DK-21-030: New Investigator Gateway Awards for Collaborative T1D Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • Application due date:  June 1, 2022 and March 20, 2023 
  • Foreign applications allowed

F31 PAR-19-378: Bioinformatics Interdisciplinary Predoctoral Fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases 
  • Application due date:  Standard dates apply 
  • Foreign applications allowed

F32 PAR-19-379: Bioinformatics Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases 
  • Application due date:  Standard dates apply 
  • Foreign applications allowed

PAR-20-140: Catalytic Tool and Technology Development in Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  • Application due date:  Standard dates apply
  • Foreign applications are allowed
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Below is a summary of the most recent job postings by category (Faculty, Research Staff/Admin, Postdoc). Visit the HIRN Website for a full listing for job opportunities.
LEADERSHIP/FACULTY
Program Director for Integrative Physiology of Human Diabetes
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is hiring a Program Director for Integrative Physiology of Human Diabetes. A scientist with strong managerial, communications and interpersonal skills, and experience in integrative physiology relevant to diabetes, is sought for the position of Program Director for Integrative Physiology in the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases (DDEMD) in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), at the National Institutes of Health. Research to be managed by the Director of DDEMD’s Integrative Physiology program is supported through multiple mechanisms, including regular research grants and cooperative agreements. Activities to be pursued include planning, establishing, and overseeing a wide range of goal-directed initiatives to expedite and enhance translational, pre-clinical and clinical research in diabetes. Apply HERE.
Program Officials
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is hiring program officials with expertise in translational research in any of the following four topic areas as they specifically relate to key questions in diabetes, endocrine or metabolic diseases:
·      Integrative physiology of human diabetes, including physiology of counter-regulatory responses to hypoglycemia, mechanisms involved in regulation of peripheral metabolism, autonomic nervous system regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, and basic and clinical studies investigating effects of bariatric surgery on diabetes and diabetes-related outcomes;
·      Neuroscience of human behavior and behavior change, including brain and peripheral systems that impact the onset, severity or resolution of diabetes or obesity pathophysiology; 
·      Immune regulation and inflammation, including innate and adaptive immune mechanisms influencing peripheral insulin resistance in animal models and humans;
·      Precision medicine in diabetes and obesity.
 
The mission of the Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases is to support broad-based research programs focused on both basic and clinical research in the areas of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Apply Here
Staff Scientist
A staff scientist is sought to fill a position to work in the diabetes research and regenerative medicine laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Millman at Washington University in St. Louis. The laboratory focuses on the generation insulin-producing pancreatic β cells for the study and treatment of diabetes. We have a wide diversity of projects involving stem cells differentiation, genetic engineering with CRISPR, disease modeling, transplantation into animal models of diabetes, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, and single-cell sequencing technologies and has been very productive with publications in high impact journals. The ideal candidate would be able to provide high level support across multiple projects. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to
Physician Scientist
The University of Chicago's Department of Medicine is searching for full-time physician scientist faculty members at any rank. Appointees will maintain a productive research program and provide patient care directly. Other responsibilities will include teaching and supervision of trainees and students. We are interested in applicants in any area of scientific investigation and clinical subspecialty, and especially welcome those whose research focus more broadly is in the areas of immunology/inflammation, diabetes, obesity, metabolism, sleep disorders, or cancer biology. Prior to the start of employment, qualified applicants must: 1) have a medical doctorate or equivalent, and 2) hold or be eligible for medical licensure in the State of Illinois. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Mirmira
RESEARCH STAFF/ADMIN
Project Manager
A multidisciplinary team at Vanderbilt seeks a Project Manager to coordinate multiple aspects of the Pancreatlas™ imaging resource, a public platform created to bring together imaging data from human pancreas samples to accelerate diabetes-related research. The candidate will oversee project operations, including maintaining documentation and organizational structures, leading regular meetings and establishing milestones, developing data visualization and metadata fields for new data types, identifying potential connections and collaborators, and creating written communications for conferences, meetings, or general publicity within the research community. The candidate will also provide biological expertise for data curation and publication. For more information and official job posting, contact Dr. Diane Saunders
Data Curator
The Powers & Brissova Research Group seeks a Data Curator to lead data and metadata curation for human pancreas and islet phenotyping projects. As a member of a multidisciplinary research team, the candidate will coordinate and maintain project timelines, assess and continually improve on best practices for local metadata/data storage and annotation, and assist group members with data analysis, visualization, and sharing. These responsibilities will include supporting the Pancreatlas™ imaging resource, a public platform created at Vanderbilt to bring together imaging data from human pancreas samples to accelerate diabetes-related research. The candidate will assist contributors with submitting and publishing imaging and other data types, including integrating existing metadata ontologies and identifying opportunities for cross-referencing with different scientific programs. The candidate will also use their knowledge of data structures to assist database developers in building a graph database and visualization tools connecting imaging and omic resources. For more information and official job posting, contact Dr. Marcela Brissova.
Research Technician
A new Stem Cell and Genome Editing Core Facility situated within the Kieffer Research Group has an opportunity for a highly motivated and collaborative technician to support diverse regenerative medicine research initiatives. The candidate will assist with the day to-day operation of the Core, will generate human induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs), and will culture and differentiate human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and iPSCs down pancreatic lineages. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Tim Kieffer.
POSTDOCTORAL
Postdoctoral Position
A Postdoctoral research Opportunity In Translational Immunology Columbia Center for Translational Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY. The lab of Megan Sykes, MD, is inviting highly motivated, creative and experienced individuals with a strong interest in innovative immunology research in transplantation tolerance with significant translational potential. Human immune systems from patients and other hematopoietic cell sources will be developed and analyzed in human immune system mouse models. These projects evolve from more than 25 years of experience in these models and benefit from a strong infrastructure and expertise within the laboratory. The work is supported by the extensive resources of the Columbia Center for Translational Immunology and affiliated centers, including CyTOF, full spectrum flowcytometry (Cytek Aurora), 10x genomics platform, humanized mouse core and human studies core. We work in close collaboration with computational biologists in the Department of Systems Biology. A strong background in immunology and technical experience are required. Must have a PhD and/or MD degree. Applicants should submit a CV, brief description of accomplishments and goals, and contact information of 3 references HERE.
Postdoctoral Position
The laboratory of Dr. Leonardo Ferreira in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is searching for a postdoctoral fellow to lead regulatory T cell (Treg) research projects in the lab. The objective of the Ferreira Lab is to design and develop engineered immune cell therapies for autoimmune disease and aging. The candidate must have a PhD in biology, immunology, or a related field, and have demonstrated quality publication of their work. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with three references to
Postdoctoral Position
A postdoctoral associate position is available at the Diabetes Research Institute of the University of Miami. The main lines of research in the Beta Cell Regeneration Lab revolve around the development of regenerative strategies for type 1 diabetes, including stem cell differentiation into insulin-producing β-cells and islet regeneration. In particular, our current research is focused on the induction of human pancreatic ductal BMP-responsive progenitor cells, which we have identified and characterized by lineage tracing (Klein et al., Diabetes, 2015; Qadir et al.Cell Reports, 2018); single-cell RNAseq and transplantation of sorted populations (Qadir et al., PNAS, 2020); and organotypic culture (human pancreatic slices) techniques (Qadir et al.Nature Comms, 2020). Our seminal contribution to the development of the latter has enabled for the first time the real-time monitoring of β-cell regeneration in an in vitro setting that resembles the native organ. Interested applicants are encouraged to send a letter/statement of interests, CV, and contact information for 2-3 references to Dr. Juan Dominguez-Bendala.
Postdoctoral Position
Benaroya Research Institute’s Center for Interventional Immunology seeking outstanding clinical investigator for faculty position as well as post-doctorate candidates or research fellows interested in clinical/translational research in type 1 diabetes and/or autoimmunity. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Carla Greenbaum.
Postdoctoral Associate
The laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Millman in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipid Research at Washington University School of Medicine is searching for a postdoctoral associates to lead several new research projects in the lab. The objective of the Millman Lab is to generate and study stem cell-derived beta cells for use in diabetic disease modeling and cell therapy. The candidate must have a PhD in cell biology, biomedical engineering, or related fields and has demonstrated quality publication of their work. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to Dr. Jeffrey Millman.
Postdoctoral Position
Post-Doctoral Fellowship positions in the Kulkarni Lab at Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical SchoolTwo positions are available immediately for a period of 3 years each. For both positions applications are invited from individuals with a PhD or MD or MD PhD degrees. 1) The first position is for training in exciting projects focused on Metabolism such as defining pathways and identifying mechanisms that regulate pancreatic (endocrine and exocrine) biology including inter-organ cross-talk in the overall maintenance of glucose homeostasis. The projects will utilize including induced pluripotent stem cells, genetically engineered and humanized mouse models. Topics are flexible - some examples include growth factor (e.g. insulin/IGF-1) signaling, mRNA modifications and stem cell biology. Candidates should have a strong background in molecular biology, cell biology (stem/iPS cells) and biochemistry. It is an advantage if candidates have the ability to interrogate “omics” and sequencing datasets. Candidates should possess skills or be willing to learn handling human islets, in vivo animal studies, rodent islet isolation and immunostaining. 2) For the second position candidates with expertise in Bioinformatics will be especially relevant. Prospective candidates should have expertise in handling large ‘omics’ databases and be willing to work closely with other Fellows in the lab to assist in analyses of biological data from diverse projects. Candidates will also be encouraged to develop their own research interests. Applicants for both positions should provide a brief statement of research interests, CV, and the names of three references to Dr. Kulkarni.
Postdoctoral Position
The Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute at City of Hope is looking for a talented postdoctoral fellow. The collaborative laboratories of Drs. John Kaddis and Bart Roep are jointly seeking innovative postdoctoral candidates to conduct in-silico translational research in the field of type 1 diabetes (T1D). This individual will participate in one or more projects that examine the role of molecular, cellular, genetic, and epidemiological variation in T1D. This candidate will have an opportunity to work with specialists in the fields of immunology, diabetes, and data/computer science. Expertize in statistical methods for disease risk prediction and modeling, as well as clinical data, genome sequence, SNP array, “-omics”, and large-scale genetic association analysis is helpful. Experience with public databases/repositories is highly desired.  Necessary skills include those from bioinformatics, computer/data science, mathematics, software engineering, and computational biology. Please send your CV, cover letter, and contact information with 3 references to
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