In this edition:

(Scroll down for more info and click on the links for additional details)

Funding Opportunities

• NEW Mass General Brigham Precision & Genomic Medicine T32
• Pilot & Feasibility Grants in Nutrition, Obesity, and/or Metabolism
• MGH Physician and/or Scientist Development Award 2024
• The Tommy Fuss Scholars Program in Precision Psychiatry
• The MGH Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards
• Limited Submission Funding
• Foundation Funding Opportunities

Announcements:

• Mass General Brigham MESH Core 2024
• My Green Lab Certification
• NORC Initiative – Inspire Program 
• The Global Non-Communicable Disease Research Training
• Discounted Stata Licenses

Events:

• NEW MGH Logo Event
• Speed Mentoring Hour
• Engage and Retain Research Subjects, and Publish Results Faster
• Parenting Series Panel: “Looking Ahead to College"
• 2023 Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series 13
• NEW Ethical Considerations of Access to Investigational Medicines
• Two Meditation Sessions available every week

NEW Mass General Brigham Precision & Genomic Medicine T32



The MGB Training Program in Precision & Genomic Medicine, co-led by Jordan W. Smoller, MD, ScD, and Heidi Rehm, PhD, brings together three outstanding components to build a world-class training program in precision and genomic medicine:

1. An internationally-recognized faculty with expertise in precision and genomic medicine across a broad range of disciplines.
2. Outstanding institutional resources bridging clinical, genomic, and data sciences.
3. Deep engagement with cutting edge, collaborative initiatives at the regional, national, and international levels to provide rich training experiences.

Funding is for 2-years and awards cover salary, travel to professional meetings, and other training-related expenses. Trainees will perform research in their respective Mentor’s lab but will participate in all T32 training related requirements (meetings, journal club, etc.) throughout the Mass General Brigham Healthcare System.

Application materials are due February 23, 2024 at 5:00 PM, and the fellowship term begins July 2024. Please direct any inquiries to Program Manager, Marina Wilson (mwilson49@mgh.harvard.edu). 

Pilot & Feasibility Grants in Nutrition, Obesity, and/or Metabolism



The Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard (NORCH) is currently seeking applications for Pilot & Feasibility Grants related to nutrition, obesity, and metabolism. These awards are for up to $30,000, with the possibility for up to $30,000 additional funding during year 2 via a competitive renewal. The deadline to apply is February 2, 2023.

MGH Physician and/or Scientist Development Award 2024

The MGH Physician and/or Scientist Development Award (PSDA) is designed for MD and/or PhD investigators at MGH who are considered underrepresented in academic medicine (UiM). This Award is intended to provide transitional funding for support in the development of physicians and scientists underrepresented in academic medicine, and thereby increase opportunities for UiM researchers to advance to senior positions in academic medicine at MGH. This award is a key faculty initiative of the CDI. 

How much is the award?

$180,000 plus 20% indirect costs will be awarded to be spent over a three or four-year period, with a maximum of $60,000 plus indirect costs per year for 3-year awards and a maximum of $45,000 plus indirect costs per year for 4-year awards. 

When is the deadline?

Wednesday, February 7, 2024– 5:00 PM

The Tommy Fuss Scholars Program in Precision Psychiatry

The Center for Precision Psychiatry (CPP) is committed to fostering the careers of early career investigators in the emerging area of precision psychiatry. Integrating research, clinical implementation, education and training, the Center is committed to driving innovation to implementation and making discoveries that can be translated to clinical care.

The Tommy Fuss Scholars Program in Precision Psychiatry will support innovative research efforts by early career investigators. Scholars will work with CPP faculty on projects aligned with the CPP mission and goals including therapeutics, big data analytics, precision treatment matching, mobile health technologies, genomics, neuroscience, and clinical trials.

Applications Due: January 15th, 2024, 5:00pm EST

Please direct any questions to mghctrprecisionpsych@mgh.harvard.edu

The MGH Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards

for Junior Faculty Women Investigators 

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. Jane D. Claflin, Honorary Trustee, was established to facilitate the academic careers of women in science at MGH.  

How much is each award?

These are two year awards for $60,000 per year in direct costs, plus 20% for indirect costs.

When is the deadline?

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 - 5:00 PM

Limited Submission Funding Opportunities

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. 

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See full details for all awards on our website.

NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

MGH LOI Deadline: 12/12/23

Learn more

NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Required)

MGH LOI Deadline: 12/12/23

Learn more

NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00 – Independent Clinical Trial Required)

MGH LOI Deadline: 12/12/23

Learn more

The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)

MGH LOI Deadline: 1/10/24

Learn more

Foundation Funding Opportunities

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 InfoEd/Research Management process.

For all open foundation funding announcements, see the MGB Innovation External Funding Database



CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See full details for all awards on our website.

1. Bridge to Success Award (multiple career stages), American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)/American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). $100,000 (8% IDC). Application Deadline: January 8
2. Focused Projects Grant for Junior Investigator, American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)/American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). $50,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: January 8
3. Physician Scientist Training Award (PSTA), American Sleep Medicine Foundation (ASMF)/American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). $100,000 (8% IDC). Application Deadline: January 8
4. CURE Epilepsy Award, CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. $250,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: January 9
5. CURE Taking Flight Award for Early Investigators, CURE, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. $125,000 (No IDC). LOI Deadline: January 9
6. Novel Insulins Innovation Incubator (multiple phase funding), Diabetes UK. ≈$3.8 million (No IDC). LOI Deadline: January 30
7. Elevance Health Foundation Grants (mental health equity in SUDS), Elevance Health Foundation/Anthem Foundation. Unspecified amount (Unspecified IDC). Application Deadline: January 31
8. NEW! Research Grants, International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD). $40,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: January 12
9. Dermatology Research Grants, LEO Foundation. ≈$580,000 (5% IDC). Application Deadline: January 8
10. NEW! Grants (multiple opps), Leprosy Research Initiative. ≈$302,000 (Unspecified IDC). LOI Deadline: January 26
11. Community Practice Innovation Award, Rheumatology Research Foundation/American College of Rheumatology (ACR). $80,000 (8% IDC). LOI Deadline: January 15
12. NEW! Correlates of Protection to Support Vaccine Development, Wellcome Trust. ≈$6 million (15% IDC). Application Deadline: February 6
13. Basic Neurobiology Research Grants (multiple opps), Whitehall Foundation, Inc. $300,000 (25% IDC). LOI Deadline: January 15

Do you want to learn more about identifying external funding opportunities? Please click here to request a research consultation with Amy Robb or see ECOR’s website for information on the Pivot database.

Mass General Brigham MESH Core 2024

Join us at Mass General Brigham MESH Core 2024! Submit your abstract for poster or oral presentation at this unique healthcare innovation course, happening on May 20th and 21st in Boston.

MESH Core, presented by MGB Innovation, is a two-day intensive, in-person, hands-on healthcare innovation course designed for beginners and seasoned innovators alike. Open to both internal and external attendees, the course is suitable for physicians, researchers, allied health professionals, students, executives, investors, and the public. A combination of lectures, hands-on cases, networking, roundtables, and scientific sessions.

The abstract submission deadline is December 15th, 2023, and top-voted abstracts have a chance to win a cash award. Accepted abstracts will be notified in early 2024.

My Green Lab Certification

MGB is looking for 20 labs interested in receiving My Green Lab Certification

Research is one of the most energy and waste-intensive parts of the healthcare enterprise, with labs using up to 10 times more energy than typical office space, and producing large amounts of plastic, chemical, and biohazard waste. As part of its effort to meet the Healthcare Sustainability Pledge, Mass General Brigham (MGB) will provide funding for 20 research labs across the system to enroll in the “My Green Lab” Certification Program in laboratory sustainability. 

Funding for participating labs will pay for the cost of enrolling in the My Green Lab certification process. In addition, MGB will gather additional research data via short questionnaires and lab-specific energy and waste monitoring. The questionnaire will assess how participation in the program affects environmental attitudes and workplace satisfaction. Energy and waste monitoring will help MGB measure the overall direct impact of the program and calculate potential savings.



Applicants must have a primary full-time faculty appointment and their own research lab at a Mass General Brigham institution.  

NORC Initiative – Inspire Program 

The INSPIRE Program is an inter-NORC initiative whose overarching goal is to promote the careers of early career scientists (i.e. INSPIRE Scholars) by facilitating speaking opportunities and career development mentorship at NORCs outside of the Scholar’s institution. INSPIRE Scholars will be paired one to one with mentors (i.e. INSPIRE Champions) who will provide guidance and support for research presentations, facilitate national speaking opportunities, and provide career development mentorship.

INSPIRE Scholars will also be provided opportunities to receive peer to peer mentorship with other INSPIRE Scholars with events/ meetings hosted by the INSPIRE Program. Further, the program will also provide funding to Scholars to cover costs associated with in-person national presentations facilitated by the INSPIRE Champions.

Application Deadline: December 18, 2023 at 5pm EST

The Global Non-Communicable Disease Research Training

This post-doctoral fellowship, led by Dr. Jessica Haberer, is now accepting applications! We encourage you to apply for this fellowship if you are interested in research training related to a wide range of global NCDs, primarily involving cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, lung, and blood (non-cancer) diseases, as well as interactions between infectious diseases and such conditions. Types of research include clinical epidemiology, clinical trials, environmental exposures, diagnostics, genomics, health services research, and implementation science.

The application deadline is December 15, 2023.

For any questions, reach out to Lindsey Garrison (legarrison@mgh.harvard.edu). 

Discounted Stata Licenses

The Research Computing Core offers Stata licenses to the Research Community at a discounted rate via rcservices.partners.org. Stata is a statistical software package that provides tools for analysis, data management and graphics. Interested in learning new tips or looking to learn about new functionality with Stata 18? Check out the Stata Webinars, which are offered free of charge via the vendor's website.

See these events and more on the calendar of events

NEW MGH Logo event at the Charlestown Navy Yard Building 149

Wednesday, December 13th, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm

Items Available

• Long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts with the MGH Research Institute logo
• Fleece Jackets with the MGH logo
• MGH hats, keychains, lanyards, and water bottles
• Payment can be made by cash, credit cards or payroll deduction.

Take 20% off all MGH logo items. Preferred cardholders receive an additional 10% off.

Speed Mentoring Hour

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Every month, two mentor leaders from different departments will answer your questions about any aspect of being a mentee or mentor. You do not need to be in the same department as the leaders—this event is open to faculty across MGH, but registration is required. Come ready with your questions and be ready to learn not only from the senior mentoring leaders but also from fellow attendees.

This session is scheduled for December 13, 12 – 1 pm, with Patricia D’Amore, PhD, MBA, Vice Chair, Basic and Translational Research, Department of Ophthalmology; and Joshua Goldstein, MD, PhD, Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs, Emergency Medicine.

Mentor leaders will meet with up to 8 faculty members, each given 7-8 minutes to ask questions on any aspect of mentoring or being mentored and receive input from the mentor leaders.

Parenting Series Panel: “Looking Ahead to College"

Wednesday, December 14, 2023, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

“College”—this one word can set a parent’s heart racing. How does a parent navigate the tempestuous winds of personal expectations for one’s child, social pressures, the vast panoply of available advice, financial considerations, and a child’s wishes, needs, and academic profile? The rite of passage from high school to college brings with it a strong current of emotion, not least of which is knowing one’s child will be leaving home. We have brought together this panel of parents to share their experiences in the aim of creating a community of support and understanding, a safe space to discuss concerns, confusions, and questions.

Panel Speakers:

Anne Levy, PhD, Senior Program Manager, Center for Faculty Development

Andy Nierenberg, MD, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, HMS

Bo Rueda, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, HMS

Sue Slaugenhaupt, PhD, Professor, Department of Neurology, HMS

Engage and Retain Research Subjects, and Publish Results Faster

Wednesday, December 14, 2023, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

The presentation will show how to engage and retain clinical research subjects using a web-based portal with incentives, secure messaging, and personalized information. It will also demonstrate a more efficient way to analyze data and generate manuscripts for publication.

The presentation is designed for clinical researchers, statisticians, and study coordinators who are involved in clinical trials, observational studies, surveys, or patient registries. By attending, they will gain insights into the features of Studytrax, a data capture system, and explore case examples to better understand its functionality.

2023 Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series 13

Tuesday, December 19, 2023, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

"Pediatric Heart Health: 4 High Impact Topics for General Pediatricians and Pediatric Cardiologists"

The Anne Klibanski Visiting Lecture Series was created to support and advance the careers of women. These lectures offer the opportunity for women faculty from outside institutions that have hosted Anne Klibanski Scholars to present on their expertise, either alone or in tandem with an Anne Klibanski Scholar.

Learning Objectives:

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

• Discuss the role of preventive cardiology in general and subspecialty pediatrics care.
• Discuss the role and impact of targeting modifiable childhood cardiovascular disease risk factors.  
• Discuss recent advances in fetal cardiology. 
• Discuss recent advances in pediatric cardiology.

Target Audience: This activity is intended for faculty and faculty trainees.

Course Director: Darshan H. Mehta, MD, MPH, Office for Well-Being; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Presenters:

Hanano Watanabe, MD, MS, Assistant Professor and General Pediatric Cardiologist, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York

NEW Ethical Considerations of Access to Investigational Medicines

Thursday, January 18 | 1:30 – 2:45 pm

This lecture is co-sponsored by the Research Ethics Consultation Unit of the Division of Clinical Research and the Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics.

During the development of new medicines, manufacturers and research sponsors may be confronted with a decision about whether to provide access to a medicine that has not yet been approved for use by a health authority. This question can arise during the conduct of clinical trials when there is a gap between the end of a trial and when the medicine is available to be prescribed. Or it may come up as a request for “compassionate use” when a patient is facing a life threatening condition for which there are no available treatments. This talk will explore the ethical considerations underpinning these decisions and the importance of considering the various stakeholder perspectives.

Speaker:

Karla G. Childers, BA, MSJ, MSBE

Head, Bioethics-based Science & Technology Policy

Office of the Chief Medical Officer

Johnson & Johnson

Two Meditation Sessions available every week

SESSION 1: Meditation Mondays with Dr. Darshan Mehta 

Every Monday, 8:00 – 8:30 am, Zoom, next session, Monday, December 11!

Co-sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being and the MGPO Frigoletto Committee

Join Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH, Director, Office for Well-Being, for a guided meditation session on Monday morning. 

Register and add to calendar

SESSION 2: Midweek Meditation with Guest Leader 

Every Wednesday, 8:00 – 8:30 am, Zoom, next session, Wednesday, December 3!

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

Register and add to calendar

See these events and more on the calendar of events

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