MGH Research News for July 7, 2023

July 7, 2023

Announcements, events, funding opportunities and more news for the Mass General Research Institute community.

In this edition:

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

Funding Opportunities

Interim Support Funding 23-3
Simcere-MGB Collaboration
Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine
Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research 2023
2023 Center for Aging and Serious Illness (CASI) Pilot Awards
Limited Submission Funding
Foundation Funding Opportunities

Announcements:

Recipients of the 2023 MGN Transformative Scholar Awards
New Mass General Brigham Policy on Data Sharing
Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials
The Incubator
MGH 20th Annual Clinical Research Day Invitations
Nightingale Biomarker Assay & the MGB Biobank
Call for Summer Research Training Program Abstract Reviewers & Final Presentation Panelists
ChemDraw Software
Mathworks Training

Events:

MGH Postdoc Retreat
HMS HealthTech Fellowship 2024-25 Information Session
Research Administrators Retreat
2023 Virtual Tumor Course: Registration Now Open
Research Tech Talk
Meditation Sessions available every week

Interim Support Funding 23-3

What are they?

The Interim Support Funding (ISF) Program is open to Principal Investigators during a lapse or delay in their research funding from the NIH or another Federal agency (e.g., the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense). Investigators must have applied for independent, long-term support (R01, R21, U01 and P01). The intent of the program is to rescue strong scientific programs that are in need of bridge funding in order to sustain their research. Applications will be accepted regardless of percentile or score, including applications that were not discussed.

When is the deadline?

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 - 5:00 PM

Learn More

Simcere-MGB Collaboration

The Simcere-MGB collaboration is an exclusive program with MGB aimed toward supporting early-stage projects across immunology, oncology and neurology. With this program, Simcere aims to fund cutting-edge research to support new discoveries that can deepen the research community’s knowledge in these areas and support future developments for patients.

Awarded projects will receive:

$250,000 research funding (including institutional indirect costs, the standard IDC for non-clinical industry SRA would apply) for 12 months
Simcere R&D expertise and guidance

Research areas of interest: immunology, oncology and neurology. Please see details in the attached flyer. Please note: the number of bullets under each disease area is not indicative of a level of interest or priority – all areas are of equal interest to Simcere.

Application Process (Please see the timeline in the attached flyer for more details) :

July 21, 2023: Deadline for PIs to submit a non-confidential pre-proposal, along with an up-to-date CV, to Innovation at phsstrategicalliances@partners.or g for review
Please develop a pre-proposal using the attached template
Note: The template allows for up to 5-pages, but 1-2 pages will be sufficient for the pre-proposal stage
July 28, 2023: Deadline for the Innovation Office to submit approved pre-proposals and CVs to Simcere.
Note: No third-party collaborators will be permitted.

Please reach out to Mark Fulton (mfulton3@partners.org) for further information.

Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine

The Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine, presented by the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals – part of The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development – honors a physician-scientist who has moved science forward with notable achievements in innovation, creativity and potential for clinical application.

This annual prize includes:

An unrestricted $20,000 honorarium
The Harrington Prize Lecture, delivered at the 2024 AAP/ASCI/APSA Joint Meeting
Lecture at the 2024 Harrington Discovery Institute Symposium
A personal essay, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation

This prize requires an institutional nomination; however, MGH is not limited in the number of nominees we can submit. If you are interested, please contact MGH ECOR at ecor@partners.org by August 1, 2023 to be considered.

Learn More

Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research 2023

What are they?

"For over two decades, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation has provided significant financial support to some incredibly promising physician scientists, who are applying novel and state-of-the-art techniques to address fundamental problems in the genesis and treatment of blood related cancers. Since 1996, the Foundation has committed more than $40 million in grants to over 300 junior faculty members at the nation’s leading institutions."

MGH is eligible to nominate a maximum of two candidates - one in the mainstream/conventional medical research category and one in the integrative medical research category.

How much is the award?

The award will be for three-year period at $75,000.00 per year (including 10% IDC), contingent on the submission of acceptable annual progress reports.

When is the deadline?

MGH letter of intent deadline: Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 5:00pm

Full application to sponsor: Friday, September 15, 2023

Learn More

2023 Center for Aging and Serious Illness (CASI) Pilot Awards

The 2023 Center for Aging and Serious Illness (CASI) Pilot Awards include:

The Chong Jin Park Innovative Early Career Pilot Award in Aging and Palliative Care, and;
The Ki Sub Joung Innovative Junior Faculty Pilot Award in Aging and Palliative Care

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must have a full-time MGH appointment at the time of application and during the entire award period.
Applicants must not yet have reached the level of Associate Professor (e.g., Instructors and Assistant Professors) at the time of the award start date.
Applicants from any MGH Department are eligible to apply.
Faculty, including those who will be expecting an MGH appointment by the anticipated award start date of September1, 2023, are invited to apply.
Collaboration across Departments, Divisions, Research Units, and the Hospital, as well as partnerships with community-based organizations are strongly encouraged.
At Mass General Hospital, we believe that because of diversity we excel. Therefore, women and URM candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applications Due: July 13, 2023, 5PM EDT

Funding Decision Announced: August 2023

Anticipated Funding Start Date: September 1, 2022

Learn More

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.

Limited Competition: Collaborative Partnership to Advance Global Health Research (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The goal of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to develop, establish, implement, and maintain a successful collaborative partnership to advance NIH priorities, support NIH collaboration on global health, and advance biomedical research internationally. This program will support a partnership between the NIH and the recipient(s) with the commitment and capacity to help extend NIH research-related programs worldwide.

MGH LOI Deadline: 7/10/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 8/01/23

NIH Application Deadline: 9/01/23

Learn more

Cabot Family Charitable Trust Grants – NEW!

The Trust makes grant awards twice a year to nonprofit organizations in the city of Boston and contiguous communities, as well as to organizations in which Cabot family members maintain philanthropic interest. Awards are put to work in the areas of arts and culture, education and youth development, environment and conservation, health and human services, and for civic and public benefit. Within these fields, as appropriate, the trustees prefer programs mainly serving youth and young adults, with a special interest in programs focused on ensuring the healthy growth and development of infants and young children, as a foundation for their future success.

MGH LOI Deadline: 7/14/23

Sponsor Application Deadline: 9/01/23

Learn more

NIH Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research.

To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this NOFO will support educational activities with a primary focus on:

Courses for Skills Development
Research Experiences
Mentoring Activities

MGH LOI Deadline: 7/26/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 8/26/23

NIH Application Deadline: 9/26/23

Learn more

Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases (R25 – Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

MGH LOI Deadline: 9/05/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/25/23

NIH Application Deadline: 10/25/23

Learn more

Cummings $25 Million Grant Programs – NEW!

Award Amount:

First-time and returning recipients: $30,000-$300,000 paid over 3 years
Returning recipients: $300,000-$1 million paid over 10 years

The Cummings $30 Million Grant Program funds a wide variety of local causes, especially those related to human services, education, healthcare, and social justice. While not in any way minimizing the value or importance of organizations focused on the arts (including dance, music, and theater), culture, environment, athletics, or the preservation of land or historic buildings, these areas are not among this program's priorities. To ensure that funds benefit a wide variety of causes, the Foundation limits the number of grants awarded each year to independent organizations affiliated with the same national organization (e.g., Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA).

MGH LOI Deadline: 8/04/23

NIH LOI Deadline: 9/09/23

NIH Application Deadline: 12/22/23

Learn more

EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems Research Infrastructure Improvement Program (National Science Foundation)

The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) fulfills the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide.

MGH LOI Deadline: 10/09/23

Sponsor Application Deadline: 12/06/23

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.

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See full details for all awards on our website.

OSSM-JRF Allograft Research Grant, American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). $50,000. Application Deadline: August 2
NEW! Quality of Care Research Awards, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALS Association). $500,000. LOI Deadline: August 9
Bridging Specialties™ Timely Diagnosis for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), CHEST Foundation/American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP). $150,000. Application Deadline: August 14
Basic Science Research Call, Coeliac UK. ≈$318,000. Application Deadline: October 2
IBD Ventures Initiative, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc. (CCFA). $500,000. LOI Deadline: September 4
Seed Funding Research Grants, Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound). $50,000. Application Deadline: September 1
Faculty Research Grants (multiple opps), National Ataxia Foundation (NAF). $100,000. LOI Deadline: September 15
Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award, National Ataxia Foundation (NAF). $35,000. LOI Deadline: September 15
Research Support Grants (multiple opps), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation (OMSF). $150,000. Application Deadline: August 31
A Kids' Brain Tumor Cure (AKBTC) Research Grant, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). Unspecified amount. LOI Deadline: Continuous

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.

Review the Funding Opportunities

Recipients of the 2023 MGN Transformative Scholar Awards

The Transformative Scholar Awards encourage and support young investigators in conducting laboratory and/or clinical research in the Neurosciences, Neurodegeneration, Brain Health, and Tinnitus. The awards offer junior investigators at the level of Instructor or Assistant Professor with an MD and/or Ph.D. a commitment of $150,000 total costs ($75K annually total costs for two years, inclusive of 20% indirect costs) intended to support salary and/or research expenses during a two-year period at Mass General.

This year we received 41 applications from 8 MGH departments and were able, through the generous support of our donors, to fund 5 outstanding proposals. Congratulations to the deserving awardees!

Transformative Scholar Award in Neuroscience: Dr. Leonora Balaj

Transformative Scholar Award in Neuroscience: Dr. Jacqueline Clauss

Transformative Scholar Award in Brain Health: Dr. Matteo Fecchio

Transformative Scholar Award in Neurodegeneration: Dr. Anna Goodheart

Transformative Scholar Award in Tinnitus: Dr. Giovanni Battistella

Learn More

New Mass General Brigham Policy on the Limitations and Restrictions for Data Sharing

The new NIH DMS Policy (became effective January 25, 2023) promotes the sharing of scientific data, applies to all research that results in the generation of Scientific Data, and is funded in whole or in part by the NIH.

Under this policy, the NIH recognizes that certain factors may limit the ability to preserve and share data. Mass General Brigham is releasing a systemwide policy that describes limitations and restrictions for sharing data when creating a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) as required by the NIH DMS Policy. The Mass General Brigham policy includes:

Legal and contractual limitations/restrictions for sharing data
Technical limitations to sharing data
Human data: ethical and legal limitations/restrictions on sharing
Animal data: ethical and legal limitations/restrictions on sharing

Please be sure to familiarize yourself with this policy when writing your next DMS Plan. Links to the policy are available in the DMPTool MGB Template as well as the MGB Navigator page.

View the updated policy

Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials

Tuesdays and Thursdays: September 5 – November 2, 2023 | 5:00 – 6:30pm

Online via OpenCourses

Applications due August 26, 2023

The Division of Clinical Research Education Unit, in collaboration with the MGH Infectious Disease Unit and the Department of Psychiatry, is offering a thirteen-session intensive course, Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials (DCCT), this September through November.

Physicians with a serious interest in clinical trials will be introduced to theoretical and practical issues facing clinical researchers. Course participants will learn how to envision, plan, develop and execute effective clinical trials. Study content includes research designs, protocols, ethical patient recruitment, informed consent, regulations, and clinical trial management. The course is ideally suited for clinical fellows starting their research years, junior faculty pursuing careers in clinical research, and physicians with an interest in becoming more actively involved in clinical research.

All participants are expected to use the course curriculum to develop and present a trial design at the final session of the course.

Enrollment is limited to facilitate interaction and individual attention. To ensure placement in the course, early application is recommended. All applications will be reviewed after the August 26th deadline.

Contact tla@mgh.harvard.edu with any questions.

Learn more

The Incubator

Overview

The Incubator is an initiative of the Harvard Biotech Club operating since 2014

dedicated to unlocking the potential of early-stage life science discoveries and biotechnologies by partnering innovators with a world class advisory team, industry experts, and the diverse scientific expertise of Harvard Medical School academic

trainees.

Annual Program

Each year the Incubator holds a zero equity 8-month pre-commercial program for Boston-based early stage life science companies. The class size for the annual program is limited to 1-2 participating start-ups to provide an experience personalized to the needs of innovator or company. Over the course of the program, innovators/company teams participate in a structured curriculum, consisting of weekly mentorship gatherings (typically Thursdays), paired with expert talks and workshops.

Learn more

MGH 20th Annual Clinical Research Day

October 12, 2023

Invitation to Submit Abstracts for MGH Clinical Research Day 2023

Abstract Submissions will open on June 1, 2023, with a deadline of July 15, 2023.

Mandatory Criteria for Abstract Submissions:

Abstracts must be about clinical research or educational research conducted at MGH.

Mandatory Criteria for Award Consideration: Data must represent novel research results published or accepted for publication between September 2021 and July 2023.

All abstracts that present novel results from a clinical research or clinical education project will be considered for the hospital-wide awards: Clinical & Outcomes Research, Translational Research, Team and Health Professions Education Research. MGH Departments will also be giving monetary awards.

Please, submit abstracts here by July 15, 2023.

Invitation to Submit Nominations for the Mary "Kay" Ryan Award for Excellence in Support of Clinical Research at MGH

The Mary "Kay" Ryan Award for Excellence in Support of Clinical Research at MGH was established in memory of Mary "Kay" Ryan, a dedicated member of the MGH Clinical Research community for 15 years, who died on July 6, 2017. Kay, as she was known to her colleagues, is remembered for her devotion to helping Clinical Research Investigators and Study Staff. She selflessly did her work under the radar while making MGH great. A $500 award will be presented on October 12, 2023, during MGH Clinical Research Day, to honor MGH Clinical Research Staff for exceptional service.

All full-time MGH Clinical Research Study Staff (study coordinators, research assistants, program/project managers, and research nurses) are eligible for the award. Nominees must be able to attend (virtually) Clinical Research Day on October 12th for presentation of the award. Anyone may provide a nomination - supervisor, co-worker or colleague. A committee of MGH Clinical Research Staff and Investigators will select the honoree.

Please, submit nominations here by September 1, 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact Tiereny Morrison-Rohlfs.

Nightingale Biomarker Assay & the MGB Biobank

The Mass General Brigham Biobank is working on a deal with Nightingale Health to run their Biomarker Assay (NMR) on 48,000 Mass General Brigham Biobank samples that have genomic data available. The list of assays includes lipoprotein lipids, fatty acids, and small molecules such as amino acids, ketones, and glycolysis metabolites. Nightingale is providing a significant discount for this work, (~30%) and institutional funding would cover assays for half the samples (24,000).

We are looking for investigators who are interested in funding assays for their phenotypes of interest at $16/sample. These investigators would provide funding, obtain data for their cohort of interest at a significant discount, and would have access to the data for one year for their teams to publish. After one year, the biomarker data would be shared more broadly with the Mass General Brigham investigator community. So far, several investigators have expressed interest in doing this, and we want to validate whether there are other people who would be interested in participating in funding assays for this initiative.

If you are interested and/or have any questions about this initiative, please email biobank@mgb.org.

Learn more about Nightingale

Call for Summer Research Training Program

Abstract Reviewers & Final Presentation Panelists

The MGH Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) is preparing for the 2023 Summer Research Trainee Program (SRTP) and seeking clinical, fundamental, and population health faculty researchers to serve as SRTP student Abstract Reviewers or Final Presentation Panelist. If you would like to get involved and support our SRTP students this year, please consider being a SRTP student abstract reviewer or final presentation panelist. Please click here to see details and to provide your availability.

Abstract Reviewers:

Review 3 – 4 abstracts and discuss feedback with students via Zoom

Zoom meeting options (1 hour/15 min per student):

July 12: Anytime between 8 am to 1 pm or 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

July 13: Anytime between 8 am to 1 pm or 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm

Provide your availability

Final Presentation Panelists:

Listen and score student presentations, and provide written feedback

Student final presentations schedule:

July 11 (1 student) – 5 pm to 6 pm

July 26 (13 students) - 11:30 am to 5:30 pm

July 27 (13 students) - 7:30 am to 1:30 pm

August 3 (3 students) - 1 pm to 2 pm, 4 pm to 5 pm, or 5 pm to 6 pm

Provide your availability

Mass General Women in Leadership Group

Seeking Membership Applications

The Mass General Women in Leadership Committee is now welcoming applications for new member-at-large positions for a two-year term beginning October 1, 2023.

Committee membership is open to all MGH female-identified administrative, clinical leaders and research staff. We ask members to regularly attend monthly meetings, participate in WIL events and serve on at least one subcommittee. Reaffirming MGH’s dedication to creating an inclusive community, we hope that people of diverse backgrounds and career paths will apply to maintain and foster a supportive professional network.

To apply, please complete the application form linked here by Friday, June 30. The first eight questions on page one request contact and demographic information. The four questions on page two are listed below for your reference. Applications can be submitted by selecting “done” on page three. Please note that all submissions will go through a de-identification process.

Please describe your particular interest in becoming a member of the WIL Committee and what you hope to gain from the experience.
Please describe ways in which you have demonstrated inclusive leadership in your role at MGH, regardless of your formal position.
Please describe how you can contribute to the advancement of the MGH female-identified professional network and your proposed level of involvement.
Is there anything else you would like the WIL selection committee to know?

To learn more about WIL, please visit our website at https://apollo.massgeneral.org/wil-committee/. If you have any questions, please email us at MGHWIL@mgb.org.

ChemDraw Software

ChemDraw licenses are offered at a discounted rate through the ERIS Research Computing Core. ChemDraw is a powerful, yet easy-to use, tool for producing chemical and biological drawings. You can create your own drawings or use those provided in the library of available templates.

This is a subscription service with an annual fee, which must be renewed each May 25th, to continue access. Once ordering you will receive an email with installation instructions (new users) or an activation code (renewals). Request through the ERIS Research Computing Core Service Catalog.

MathWorks Training

Online training is available, offered by MathWorks.

MGH Postdoc Retreat

Date: Sept 6, 2023 (8:30-6pm)

Location: MGB Assembly Row

The Postdoctoral Division has organized a one-day retreat for Mass General Postdocs. Planned talks and events:

Applying for Academic Faculty Positions
Transitioning to Industry – Moderna HR rep will be present!
Mock NIH Study Section
Networking with MGH Faculty and Administrators

The event will be in-person and, therefore, will have a cap on the number of postdocs that can attend. Please click below to sign up if you are interested in attending.

Feel free to email pdd@partners.org if you have any more questions.

HMS HealthTech Fellowship 2024-25 Information Session

Wednesday, July 12th from 12:00 - 1:00 pm (EDT)

Want to create meaningful change in healthcare through a proven innovation process?

Join this Q&A webinar to learn more about the 2024-25 HMS HealthTech Fellowship, a rigorous 10-month immersion program where you can apply the principles of Biodesign to identify unmet clinical needs, test and build innovative solutions, and receive mentorship from leaders in the world of medtech, healthcare, and entrepreneurial endeavors. Applications open July 10th.

To learn more about HMS HealthTech, click here

Want program updates from HMS HealthTech? Sign up for our distribution list.

Research Administrators Retreat

Thursday, July 20, 8:30AM – 4:00PM

Keynote Speakers

1. Lindsey Baden, MD – VP, Clinical Research, BWH

2. Claire-Cecile Pierre, MD – Associate CMO, VP of Community Health, BWH

Where:

Assembly Row – MGB Headquarters

Target Audience:

MGB research and grant administrators, compliance professionals, protocol administrators, and other research administration staff.

We welcome those in the above roles across all MGB institutions.

Please note that there will be no virtual option for this event.

View Agenda

2023 Virtual Tumor Course

Tuesday, Oct. 24 to Friday Oct. 27, 2023

38TH CRITICAL ISSUES IN TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT, ANGIOGENESIS, METASTASIS AND IMMUNOLOGY

The 38th Annual Critical Issues in Tumor Microenvironment: Angiogenesis, Metastasis and Immunology course will continue to offer the best in critical analysis of what is currently known about the tumor microenvironment, angiogenesis, metastasis, immunology. This will include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, tumor metabolism, and the role of microbiome.

The internationally recognized faculty speakers will present their latest findings from the clinic and the lab and highlight key gaps in the knowledge of cancer and outline future directions for research at the bench, in the clinic, and in drug development.

The course will continue its four-day online webinar-based live lecture format. Learning formats will include didactic lectures, Q&A and group case discussions.

The faculty will encourage an open discussion and will provide critical comments on challenges and future opportunities in research in cancer and in establishment of novel therapy approaches and biomarkers to guide treatment. The aim of this course is to analyze and synthesize the most up-to-date findings.

Faculty will present valuable information in a systematic and comprehensive framework, along with a critical review of the latest techniques. This course is dedicated to helping to improve clinical translation of this knowledge and competence, leading to improved cancer treatment.