April 18, 2013

Spotlight

Letter from Dr. Stephen I. Katz:  Making the Case for NIH

Dear Colleagues:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest source of funding for medical research in the world, is the driving force behind many of the health advances we benefit from every day. Yet, in a recent Research!America survey, only 9 percent of respondents correctly identified the NIH as the agency that funds most of the medical research paid for by U.S. taxpayers. Many are also unaware that most of the NIH budget, greater than 80 percent, goes outside the agency to universities and scientific institutions throughout the country.

Read more.

Image: Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.

News

NIAMS Seeks Tenure-Track Investigators

The NIAMS Intramural Research Program is recruiting outstanding tenure-track scientists (M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D.) active in research areas relevant to musculoskeletal biology or diseases of bone, cartilage or muscle at the basic, translational or clinical level.

Common Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis Reduces Risk of Death

Taking methotrexate—a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory medication—may reduce the risk of death among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to recently published research in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism.

 

NIAMS Welcomes Four New Advisory Council Members

The NIAMS has appointed four new members to its advisory council. The council comprises scientific and lay members who have expertise in the mission areas of the institute. Council members provide advice to the institute on broad policy issues and make recommendations on research proposals.

Image: NIAMS Director Dr. Stephen I. Katz (front left) and Deputy Director Dr. Robert H. Carter (rear right) welcome new members to the Institute’s council.

NIAMS Postdoctoral Fellow Honored With International Dental Research Award

Brian Foster, Ph.D., a researcher in the NIAMS Intramural Research Program, has won the 2013 Distinguished Scientist Young Investigator Award from the International Association for Dental Research. The award is given annually to early-career dental researchers who are making significant contributions to the field of dental research.

Image: Dr. Brian Foster

NIH Names Dr. Jon Lorsch Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences

NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced the selection of Jon R. Lorsch, Ph.D., as Director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Dr. Lorsch is expected to join the NIH this summer.

NIH Director’s Blog

Welcoming the BRAIN Initiative

What an exciting day for science and innovation in the United States! Dr. Collins was thrilled to be present at the White House on April 2, as President Barack Obama announced a pioneering project to explore the complex workings of the human brain: the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. And Dr. Collins is proud to report that NIH-supported scientists will be among those at the forefront of this ambitious endeavor.

Image: Dr. Collins introducing the President at the BRAIN Initiative event in the East Room of the White House (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Meet Alex, Before and After NIH Clinical Trial

When Alex was born, he looked like he’d been dipped in boiling water: his skin was bright red and blistered. He spent most of his time sleeping. When awake, he screamed in agony from headaches, joint pain and rashes. After a torturous 14 months, a rheumatologist told his mother that Alex suffered from Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID).

Image: Alex Barton, with NIAMS investigator Dr. Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky

New Prize Celebrates Biology Breakthroughs

The brand new $3 million Breakthrough Prize in the Life Sciences delivered a very nice reward and well-deserved recognition to 11 exceptionally creative scientists who have devoted their careers to biology and medicine. And, with five awards to be given each year, Dr. Collins hopes this inspires other life scientists to embark on innovative and high-risk endeavors.

Image: NIH grantees receiving the Breakthrough Prize in the Life Sciences

NEW PUBLICATIONS 

NIH Research Matters

NIH Research Matters is a review of NIH research from the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, NIH.

Shaking Out Clues to Autoimmune Disease

Researchers gained new insight into how an immune cell involved in several autoimmune disorders is regulated. Among their findings was a potential link with salt consumption.

 

NIH News in Health

Read practical health information in NIH News in Health, which is reviewed by the NIH’s medical experts and is based on research conducted either by the NIH’s own scientists or by its grantees at universities and medical schools around the country.

MEETINGS

Save the Date: NIAMS Advisory Council Meeting

The next NIAMS Advisory Council Meeting will be held June 4, 2013, in Building 31, 6th floor, C Wing, Conference Room 6, NIH Campus.

NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series

The NIH’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series offers weekly lectures every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH Campus. Renowned scientists from around the globe present research on a variety of topics. The lectures are continuing medical education certified, open to the public and available live via webcast.

Upcoming lecture:

May 15, 2013
Erika Matunis, Johns Hopkins University
“Finding Your Niche: Tales of Tissue Stem Cell Biology From the Drosophila Testis”

NIH Science Lectures and Events Available Online

The NIH hosts a number of science seminars and events that are available online through real-time streaming video. An event can be watched at your convenience as an on-demand video or a downloadable podcast. Most events are available to all; a few are broadcast only for the NIH or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and are marked as such. See additional details on events.

The Genomics Landscape a Decade After the Human Genome Project
When: April 25, 2013, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT 
Where: Natcher Auditorium, Building 45, NIH Campus
Agenda

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS

NIAMS Announcements

Notice of Extension of the Expiration Date for NOT-AR-14-010 “Request for Information (RFI) on the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2015–2019”
(NOT-AR-14-011)

Administrative Supplements for Research on Sex/Gender Differences (Admin Supp)
(PA-14-027)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: Not applicable
Application Receipt Date: February 14, 2014

NIH Common Fund Initiative Announcements

Request for Information (RFI): Identifying Gaps in Understanding the Mechanisms of Physical Activity-Induced Health Benefits
(NOT-RM-14-001)

Collaborative Activities to Promote Metabolomics Research (Admin Supp)
(PA-14-003) 
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: Not applicable
Application Receipt Date: February 14, 2014

Computational Analyses Exploiting Reference Epigenomic Maps (R01)
(RFA-RM-14-001)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: February 3, 2014 
Application Receipt Date: March 3, 2014

Other Funding Announcements

Notice of Updated FAQs for RFA-OD-13-009 “Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25)”
(NOT-OD-14-015)

Notice of Correction to NOT-OD-13-123 “Request for Information: Draft Office of Disease Prevention Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2014–2018”
(NOT-OD-14-016)

Input on the Draft NIH Genomic Data Sharing Policy
(NOT-OD-14-018)

Status of Peer Review Meetings Scheduled to Take Place During the Recent Lapse in Appropriations
(NOT-OD-14-019)

Corrected Link for NIH Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Phase II Pilot Training for Federal Demonstration Partnership Members
(NOT-OD-14-020)

Notice to Clarify Requirements for PA-13-381 “Administrative Supplements to NIH Awards for Validation Studies of Analytical Methods for Natural Products (Admin Supp)”
(NOT-OD-14-021)

Amendment 0002 to Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Contract Solicitation (PHS 2014-1)
(NOT-OD-14-023)

Update to the Interim Agency Policy, NIH Extramural and Intramural Research Involving Chimpanzees
(NOT-OD-14-024)

Annual Reports to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare due January 31, 2014
(NOT-OD-14-025)

NIH Will Require Use of Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) for All Multi-Year Funded Awards
(NOT-OD-14-026)

NIH Reminds Applicants to Use Updated Electronic Application Forms (FORMS-C) for F, K, T and D Submissions with Due Dates on/after January 25, 2014
(NOT-OD-14-027)

Change in the NIH Continuous Submission Policy
(NOT-OD-14-028)

Notice of Reissuance of Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) and Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35)
(NOT-OD-14-029)

If you would like to review information about funding opportunities more frequently than our monthly updates allow, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the primary source for information about NIH funding opportunities. You can also request a weekly Table of Contents from the NIH Guide.
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