NIH News

Webinar Available on IACUC Responsibilities Regarding Service Animals Are you involved in animal programs or working with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)? Check out this webinar, where Drs. Axel Wolff and Ron Banks discuss laws and regulations relevant to providing access to research facilities for service animals. Further Demographic Analyses of NIH R01 Grant Outcomes of T32 Postdoctoral Participants Postdoctoral NIH T32 programs aim to provide select trainees with experience to enable successful career and research development. In a previous posting, we presented NIH career development, or K award, and R01 equivalent research grant outcomes of participants in post-doctoral T32 programs. Here we present further analyses focusing on the association of under-represented minority (URM) status with subsequent K or R01 awards.

Cures Within Reach

Key Dates Proposals due August 6 This funding opportunity is part of CWR's new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) community. More info about open DEI RFPs is available at https://bit.ly/cwrrfps. Grants will be awarded for clinical repurposing trials:

• In any disease led by underserved PIs based in low and lower-middle income countries (as defined by the World Bank); budgets of up to $50,000 accepted; proposals due August 6

NINDS Diversity Supplement program

Key Date The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has an opportunity to apply for additional funding to support a diverse trainee in your laboratory. NINDS uses the Diversity Supplement program to provide “bridge funds” while the supplementee gains the research experience, preliminary data, and other requirements to develop an application for more traditional NIH funding such as a National Research Service Award (NRSA) or Career Development Award. Specific NINDS procedures and supplementary information can be found at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Funding/Training-Career-Development/Award/SUP-Research-Supplements-Promote-Diversity-Health-Related#DiversitySupplements . Funding decisions for NINDS supplement applications will only be made three times a year, namely by the end of March, June, and December. If you have any questions about our diversity programs, please feel free to contact NINDSDiversityTraining@mail.nih.gov.

Cures Within Reach

Key Date Proposals due July 30 and August 6 The deadline for the Cures Within Reach Request for Proposals (RFP) for US-based underrepresented racial / ethnic minority PIs is July 30, 2021. This funding opportunity is part of CWR's new Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) community. More info about our open DEI RFPs is available at https://bit.ly/cwrrfps. At least three grants will be awarded for clinical repurposing trials:

• In any disease led by US-based racial / ethnic minority PIs underrepresented in biomedical research (as defined by the NIH); budgets of up to $70,000 accepted; proposals due July 30
• Led by Chicagoland-based PIs addressing racial / ethnic health disparities (as defined by the NIH); budgets of up to $80,000 accepted; must include community-based collaborators; proposals due July 30
• In any disease led by underserved PIs based in low and lower-middle income countries (as defined by the World Bank); budgets of up to $50,000 accepted; proposals due August 6

NINDS Diversity Supplement program

Key Dates November 16 to February 15 (Application Due Date); March (Funding Decision) February 16 to May 15 (Application Due Date); June (Funding Decision) August 1 to November 15 (Application Due Date); December (Funding Decision) The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has an opportunity to apply for additional funding to support a diverse trainee in your laboratory. NINDS uses the Diversity Supplement program to provide “bridge funds” while the supplementee gains the research experience, preliminary data, and other requirements to develop an application for more traditional NIH funding such as a National Research Service Award (NRSA) or Career Development Award. Specific NINDS procedures and supplementary information can be found at https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Funding/Training-Career-Development/Award/SUP-Research-Supplements-Promote-Diversity-Health-Related#DiversitySupplements. Funding decisions for NINDS supplement applications will only be made three times a year, namely by the end of March, June, and December. If you have any questions about our diversity programs, please feel free to contact NINDSDiversityTraining@mail.nih.gov.

Houston Methodist Academic Institute Orthopedics Pilot Project Initiative Request for Applications

Key Dates Applications Due: Noon on Aug. 11, 2021 Applications Reviewed: August-September 2021 Awards Announced: September-October 2021 Estimated Funding Start Date: January 1, 2022Houston Methodist Academic Institute is pleased to reissue the Orthopedics Pilot Project Initiative Request for Applications (RFA) in the field of Orthopedics, Musculoskeletal Regeneration, and Orthopedic Surgery. The Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center of Excellence (COE) offers the latest cutting-edge technologies and rehabilitation strategies to restore mobility and quality of life. Applications may address any challenge to advance the field of Orthopedics, such as personalized therapeutic strategies, personalized metal implants, effective restorative cell therapy, and implant coatings and alternatives. Any Houston Methodist-employed faculty with a primary HMAI academic appointment is eligible to apply as a Principal Investigator (PI). Houston Methodist-employed, non-independent researchers with a primary HMAI faculty appointment (e.g., research scientists, research associates and instructors) are eligible to apply as a co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). Non-independent investigators must have the full and written support of his/her department chair, direct scientific or clinical supervisor; and have an eligible Co-PI to support the application. Applications may include a Co-PI from a collaborating institution; however, the contact PI must meet all Houston Methodist eligibility requirements. Competitive applications should propose an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted, and collaborative strategy that promotes creativity and innovation. Each proposal must include at least one basic/translational scientist and one practicing clinician. In addition, at least one PI must be affiliated with the Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine COE. Investigators can serve on multiple applications; however, each application must have a distinct project focus and investigative team. An investigator should pair with a different clinical or scientific partner on additional applications. Successful applications will receive up to $50,000 in direct costs only, for up to 1 year. Full details regarding this funding opportunity can be found in the attached RFA. Applications must be received by noon (CST), Aug. 11, 2021, via electronic submission to: academicaffairs@houstonmethodist.org.

Dyer Fellowship at Houston Methodist

Proposals due Oct. 1Purpose of Fellowship The support provided by the Dyer Fellowship must be used for a program or activity that will benefit and improve patient care at Houston Methodist. The benefit can be provided in one of three ways. Support for a Houston Methodist trainee or medical staff member to travel to another medical center to learn a clinical technique not available at Houston Methodist, or alternatively to bring a recognized expert to Houston Methodist to teach new methods to our staff. Support for a Houston Methodist trainee or medical staff member to conduct a focused research project in the areas of quality and patient safety. Support for a Houston Methodist trainee or medical staff member to develop a focused educational program that will improve an aspect of patient care at Houston Methodist. Nomination Process Nominations will be open once a year. Applications must be received by Oct. 1. The application must include

• nomination letter
• candidate’s proposal and
• candidate’s curriculum vitae.

The nomination letter should include, in less than three pages:

• funding requested (not to exceed $10,000);
• proposed use of funding;
• proposed start date and term of award;
• candidate’s pertinent training and accomplishments;
• other support and resources that will be made available to the candidate;
• envisioned impact of award on the candidate and on Houston Methodist;
• specific commitment of release time from other duties for the candidate. If the nominator is not in a position to commit resources or release time for the candidate, an additional letter must be provided from the unit director who can make such commitments on the candidate’s behalf.

The candidate’s proposal should describe, in less than three pages, the proposed program of academic work that the candidate will undertake. Selection Process

• Continuing Medical Education (CME) Committee will review proposals by Nov. 10.
• Award decision will be approved by the IAM Council of Chairs.
• Review criteria
• Quality of applicant based on CV, nomination letter; references and / or personal interview may be required at committee’s discretion.
• Appropriateness of use of funds (i.e. travel costs, salaries, research projects, education, etc.), budget and cost sharing.
• Importance and impact of proposal to patient care.

Appointment Process The CME Committee will notify the recipient, the nominator and the Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation of the decision on all applications. The Foundation will work with awardees to arrange the details of providing funding. The Foundation will also notify the donors of the individuals and projects that are being funded. Awards will be funded after Jan. 1. Post-Appointment Process

• Foundation may host a lunch or dinner event for fellows and donors.
• Each Fellow will prepare a brief final report on the activity and outcomes of the Fellowship.
• Each Fellow will be required to present the outcomes of the Fellowship at a designated Houston Methodist Grand Rounds.

Submit your proposal here.

Bridge to Translational Research Initiative (B2TRI)

The Houston Methodist Academic Institute (HMAI) is pleased to reissue the Bridge to Translational Research Initiative (B2TRI) Request for Applications, which provides funding for promising and clinically relevant research (molecular, cellular or early pre-clinical research) to advance for TRI funding consideration. Typically, B2TRI eligible projects are not yet positioned for development under Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) conditions or Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), or for clinical trials. Key Dates Applications Due: Oct. 8, 2021, at Noon CST Applications Reviewed: October - November 2021 Awards Announced: December 2021 Estimated Funding Start Date: Jan. 1, 2022 Academic Affairs is pleased to introduce the Houston Methodist Intramural Awards portal. Applications for the Bridge to Translational Research Initiative must be submitted through this portal. More details are provided in the Submission Guidelines section of the attached RFA. Webinar and Q&A dates are listed below. All sessions will be held via Microsoft Teams. Please reach out to Academic Affairs for meeting details. Submission Portal Webinar: Sept. 16, 2021, Noon – 1 pm CST Submission Portal Q&A Sessions: Oct. 4-7, 2021, 11 am – Noon CST Eligibility Any Houston Methodist-employed faculty with a primary HMAI academic appointment is eligible to apply as a Principal Investigator (PI). Proposed projects must be based on Houston Methodist Inventions. Before applying to the B2TRI program, applicants must consult with the Houston Methodist Office of Technology Transfer (OTT), for further details regarding eligibility. Sign off from an OTT representative is a required application component. To help inform the study design as a strategic approach to translation, interested applicants are required to meet with the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Translational Management (Christina Talley - ctalley@houstonmethodist.org). Sign off from an ORATM representative is a required application component. Funding Information Applicants may propose a project funding period of up to six months and a budget of up to $50,000 in total costs, direct costs only. Salary support is not permitted. Subcontracts are not eligible for B2TRI funds. No cost sharing or matching is available or required. The number of awards given under this funding opportunity is subject to the quality of applications, the availability of funds, and program funding priorities. For selected applications, receipt of these funds is contingent upon the acknowledgement and acceptance of the Terms of Award Agreement, which is described in the Terms of Agreement with Inventors section of the RFA. Summary of Submission Requirements Please review the attached RFA for full details. Project Summary/ Abstract

• Application Questions
• List of References Cited
• Budget (budget template provided)
• Budget Justification
• Biosketch
• B2TRI Collaborating Offices Sign-off Form
• Supervisor Support Letter (if applicable)

Applications must be submitted via the Houston Methodist Intramural Awards portal (https://intramural-awards.houstonmethodist.org/) by October 8, 2021, at noon (CST). Email submission will not be accepted. Please see the provided Applicant Guide document for additional details. A webinar and Q&A sessions will be held to help familiarize applicants and administrators with the submission portal. Dates are provided in the Key Dates section of the attached RFA. Link to B2TRI opportunity details page: https://intramural-awards.houstonmethodist.org/#competitionDetail/1845950.