In this edition:

Feature

Southeast Regional Clinical and Translational Conference – March 4-5

Breakout Sessions Include Health Equity, Infectious Disease & Health Services

Hosted by the Georgia CTSA, mark your calendar and plan to virtually join us in 2021 as we bring together researchers from across the region to present the best new clinical and translational research and build collaborative partnerships. We’re excited to announce that Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH, Boston University, and Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD, University of Connecticut, will be our Keynote Speakers. Register today!

Special Announcement

Georgia CTSA Seeking Grant Reviewers

The Georgia CTSA Pilot Grants program seeks reviewers for the letters of intent (LOI). These LOI are due January 15. Reviewers will be asked to score each LOI on the NIH 1-9 scale. No written comments are required. Scores are due by January 29. Please email Bekeela Davila as soon as possible if you are willing to serve as a reviewer.

Funding (* New Opportunities)

NIH Funding Opportunities Specific to COVID-19

This page contains a listing of active and expired funding opportunities specific to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

* The Halle Institute for Global Research Collaborative Research Grants

The Halle Institute for Global Research offers nine different Collaborative Research Grants, open to Emory regular, continuing full-time faculty in all schools and disciplines. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for innovative collaborative research projects linking with faculty from one of our partner universities. The research may take place in any country or region as long as it is done collaboratively. Upon request, the Halle Institute will offer help creating connections with potential collaborators. Project outcomes may include publications, external funding, and/or other forms of research-based activity.

Georgia CTSA Pilot Grants RFP – LOI Due TODAY!

Georgia CTSA’s Pilot Grants program is soliciting proposals that either a.) generate preliminary data and refine research strategies for subsequent extramural grant applications OR b.) develop the best approaches and methodologies to address complex translational and clinical research problems. Awards involving one institution will be up to $40,000 in total direct costs. Awards involving two or more partner institutions will be up to $50,000 in total direct costs, with no more than $40,000 allotted to each institution. The total number of awards to be made is variable based on merit, funds requested, and Pilot Program budget; a maximum of $200,000 will be awarded in this round. Indirect costs will be added after the awards have been made. Full-time faculty from Emory, Georgia Tech, MSM, and UGA may submit proposals.

CDC Funding Announcement for 2021 Special Interest Projects – LOI Due January 25

The Emory Prevention Research Center (EPRC) received notification that CDC has released a funding announcement for 2021 Special Interest Projects. Please use the link to read the NOFO. Special Interest Projects topic areas: projects address physical activity and nutrition, alcohol use, arthritis-appropriate evidence-based interventions, sun safety, cancer screening surveillance, genetic counseling for cancer, epilepsy, lupus, mental health, and hypertension management. An Investigator Interest meeting is January 15 at 11AM. RSVP to lbundy@emory.edu .

Emory SCORE Pilot Grants – Due January 25

The Emory Specialized Center of Research Excellence on Sex Differences (Emory SCORE) will fund a variable number of one-year, non-renewable awards ranging from $10K - $30K plus indirect costs, for projects that account for sex as a biological variable when examining key sex influences on health processes and outcomes. Additional awards that are in line with the overlapping missions of Emory SCORE - to strengthen science through accounting for sex - and its partner organizations may be funded in partnership with the Emory Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the Emory Diabetes Center (EDC), and the Emory Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS). Applications outside these fields are also strongly encouraged.

Racial Equity 2030 (Lever for Change & Kellogg Foundation) – Due January 28

This $90 million challenge seeks ideas from anywhere in the world and will scale them over the next decade to transform the systems and institutions that uphold inequity. Solutions may tackle the social, economic, political or institutional inequities we see today. Teams of visionaries, change agents and community leaders from every sector are invited to join. An Informational Meeting via Zoom is December 21 at 1:00PM.

Yerkes Pilot Research Program 2021 – Due January 29

The Yerkes National Primate Research Center is seeking proposals for new pilot research projects that will be funded from the upcoming year of the P51 base grant. 2-3 awards will be awarded. These awards will provide one year of support for up to $70,000 in direct costs. Although the awards are open to all investigators, the NIH Office of Research Infrastructure guidelines require the direct involvement of a Yerkes Core Scientist and encourage applications from researchers outside Yerkes, early career investigators, and those new to the use of non-human primates in research, as well as applications that propose translational research projects.

Drug Development Collaboratory (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required) – Due February 9

The purpose of this FOA is to support intramural-extramural collaborations on late-stage translational science projects between NCATS Therapeutic Development Branch (TDB) and extramural researchers, for therapeutic development of small molecules, biologics, or gene therapies.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) Innovation in Regulatory Science Awards – Due February 12

Supports academic researchers developing new methodologies or innovative approaches in regulatory science that will ultimately inform the regulatory decisions FDA and others make. The foundation strongly encourages investigators to address regulatory science in areas of the FDA’s strategic priorities including product manufacturing & quality, and food safety & applied nutrition.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative: Visual Proteomics Imaging – Due February 17

Seeks to support 2.5-year challenge grants in the field of visual proteomics. The ability to view protein molecules in cells and monitor changes in their structure, quantity, distribution, and interactions is key to understanding what causes diseases and finding treatments and cures. This grant program will advance technology development for the field of visual proteomics and aim to obtain near-atomic resolution readouts inside the cell. Opportunity is explicitly aimed at technology development. It is not intended to support question-driven basic or translational research, clinical trials, or drug development.

* Need Funding for Your Biomed Idea? – Meet with Biolocity by February 19

Biolocity provides a combination of funding, project management, and consulting resources to early-stage technologies that address an unmet clinical need and have compelling commercial potential. This includes innovations within any clinical discipline with the ability to impact patient health. Each funding cycle, over $1.5 million in funding and commercialization support is available for distribution. Technology development support is provided through project management, strategy and business planning, marketing, regulatory, and reimbursement consulting. There is no funding limit per project, however budgets are based on commercialization milestones identified as the most critical next step for development during the application process.

Imlay Innovation Fund RFP – Due February 19

The Imlay Innovation Fund is intended solely to support collaborative activities and pediatric innovation and discovery efforts between Georgia Tech and Children’s, focusing on practical steps that will lead to clinical impact as well as potential commercial opportunities. Two types of projects are eligible for funding: Quick Wins and Innovation Investment. Proposals should focus on solving a problem that will impact care delivery and/or has the potential to positively impact child health.

* Limited Competition: Small Grant Program for the NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) – LOI Due February 26

The purpose of this FOA is to enhance the capability of NCATS CTSA Program KL2 scholars and recipients of diversity and re-entry supplements supported by the CTSA Program to conduct research as they complete the transition to fully independent academic translational scientists. These R03 grants will support different clinical and translational science research projects, including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary data analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology.

Cures Within Reach: Clinical Repurposing Research to Impact Veterans – Due February 26

This RFP is seeking repurposed treatments to address unmet and high priority medical needs of veterans, including mental health, PTSD and brain injuries, with up to $50,000 in funding for a repurposing clinical trial. We are interested in generic or proprietary drugs, devices, nutraceuticals or diagnostics that could be repurposed to create "new" treatments.

New Chemistries for Un-drugged Targets through A Specialized Platform for Innovative Research Exploration (ASPIRE) Collaborative Research Program (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) – Due July 8

This FOA aims to promote partnerships between NCATS intramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research within the labs and clinics of NCATS) and extramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research in labs and clinics outside of the NIH). Specifically, The FOA will provide support for extramural investigators to take advantage of the unique research opportunities available at the NCATS ASPIRE Laboratory within the NCATS Division of Pre-clinical Innovation, and develop innovative ASPIRE modules that will facilitate identification of novel chemical entities targeted towards currently undrugged biological space.

Virtual Approaches Towards New Chemistries for Un-drugged Targets through A Specialized Platform for Innovative Research Exploration (ASPIRE) Collaborative Research Program (U18 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) – Due July 8

This FOA will support intramural - extramural collaborations to develop virtual modules that will enhance the platform’s capabilities. The anticipated outcome includes identification, design, synthesis, and validation of new chemical entities as starting points for drug development of novel targets, and the expansion of chemical space available for drug screening.

Education

* Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Diversity in Clinical Trials Career Development Program – Application Portal Now Open

The BMSF DCTCDP is a 2-year program designed to support the career development of early-stage investigator (as defined by NIH) physicians underrepresented in medicine, or physicians who have a demonstrated commitment to increasing diversity in clinical research, to become independent clinical trial investigators who are engaged in advancing health equity through their research and mentoring. The DCTCDP provides an award for salary support to protect time for all program-related activities. The application is a two-step process, beginning with a Letter of Intent (LOI). The application portal is open now and will close on July 2.

Phlebotomy 101 Introduction to Venipuncture – January 28 & 29

Phlebotomy 101 is a two-day classroom and clinical, hands-on training to venipuncture offered through the Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs). The course is offered bi-monthly to research coordinators from Emory, MSM and UGA.

Georgia CTSA TL1 (T32-like) Training Grant Clinical & Translational Research Training - Predoc Due February 15, Postdoc Due March 15

The TL1 program is focused on providing innovative didactic and mentored research training to individuals interested in careers that encompass clinical and/or translational research. The TL1 program supports predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees (medical and PhD students, resident and fellow physicians, PhD postdocs, and PharmD residents).

Georgia CTSA KL2-Mentored Clinical and Translational Research Scholars Program – Due March 1

The goal of the KL2 Scholars program is to support and enhance career development for junior faculty (MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or PharmD) committed to a career in clinical and/or translational research. The Georgia CTSA is committed to assisting junior faculty at partner institutions to become independent, established, and ethical clinical and/or translational research investigators.

Emory BIRCWH Program – Due March 1

The Emory BIRCWH program, short for Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health, is a highly selective career development program for junior faculty interested in women's health research and/or sex/gender science. The ultimate goal of the BIRCWH program is to train junior faculty, through a mentored research and career development experience, to become independent investigators who use novel, interdisciplinary approaches to advance the science of women’s health and sex/gender research. Communicable disease research is one area of focus for the Emory BIRCWH program.

Free Online Trainings for Clinical Research Professionals

Georgia CTSA and the University of Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) have created a new Online Course Catalog with free course and program offerings available to clinical research professionals. Participants earn a certificate or badge with contact hours (continuing education – CE) from an accredited provider upon completion of a course or a program (series of courses). Contact hours can be used to meet requirements for CRP certification renewal. The newest program, “Patient-Centered Drug Development and Real-World Evidence/Data”, is now available online.

Research Resources

N3C - COVID-19 Analytics Platform Now Open

Researchers studying COVID-19 now are able to access an innovative new analytics platform that contains clinical data from the electronic health records of people who were tested for the novel coronavirus or who have had related symptoms. Part of the NCATS National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) Data Enclave, the centralized and secure data platform features powerful analytics capabilities for online discovery, visualization and collaboration.

Search COVID-19 Publications

By the end of December 2020, more than 300,000 researchers from different countries and fields of inquiry have authored more than 81,000 publications on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Now, the profiles of all these coronavirus experts and their network of collaborators are easily searchable through a newly released platform called COVIDAuthors. COVIDAuthors was created by the Weber Lab at Harvard Medical School. The website is freely accessible and is geared specifically to the needs of researchers looking for collaborators and for policymakers seeking local experts to consult.

Georgia CTSA Ethical Dilemma of the Week

Data Representation: Deleting Data Points (PDF)

Innovation & Translation

Bench2Market Talks: Intellectual Property Strategy – January 22

Join us at 11:30 AM to learn the fundamentals any scientist or engineer needs to know about intellectual property. Speaker, James Rains, Director of Practice at Georgia Tech, helps attendees demystify the world of patents by explaining the meaning of patentability, freedom to operate, prior art, and discussing patent strategies.

Community

Participants Needed for COVID-19 Vaccine and Therapeutic Trials

Adults 18 and older, from all races and ethnicities, are needed to participate in COVID-19 trials. Please spread the word to help recruit minorities, especially for vaccine trials.

Events

Team Science Skill Workshop: Developing Trust and Psychological Safety – TODAY

Join Georgia CTSA via Zoom from 12:00 PM -1:30 PM with Associate Professor Jessica L. Wildman, PhD from Florida Institute of Technology. At the end of this session, participants will be able to define trust and psychological safety as they apply within work teams, identify examples of common behaviors that build trust, break trust, and restore trust in work teams. Also, develop strategies to build and maintain trust over time in work teams.

COVID FORCE Seminar Series – TODAY

Join us via Zoom from 1:00 PM – 12:00 PM to learn more about “COVID-19 Vaccines - How Did We Get Here, Where Are We, and Where Are We Going?” from Professor Evan Anderson, MD.

AiR Webinar – January 19

Join AiR (Advances in Research) via Zoom from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM to learn more about “Optimizing Allogeneic gd T Cellular Therapy for Neuroblastoma" with Postdoctoral Fellow Hunter Connell Jonus, PhD and “Single Cell Profiling Provides Novel Insights into Diabetic Foot Ulcers” with Postdoctoral Fellow Debasree Sarkar, PhD.

N3C Open House – January 19 – 25

N3C is hosting an Open House to engage CTSA members, newcomers, and the wider translational research community. The event will be kicked off with a 1-hour symposium, followed by a week of open Clinical Domain Team meetings to welcome new collaborators and help them launch their research questions.

Qualitative Data Analysis Online Workshop - January 19-23

This online workshop integrates principles with skills for conducting rigorous qualitative data analysis. Synchronous sessions are conducted in real time over Zoom and held at 1pm-4pm EST each day and involve participation in skill building activities, interactive discussions and hands-on software sessions. The price of this QUAL-WORKS course is $750.

Social Media: Friend, Foe, or Both for Those Suffering from Mental Disorders? – January 20

Join Georgia Tech’s IPAT Executive Director Elizabeth Mynatt, Ph.D., IPAT Visiting Research Scientist Jessica Pater, Ph.D. and Pediatric Technology Center Chief Engineer Leanne West for a 30-minute discussion at noon via Zoom. Social media channels including popular apps like Tik-Tok and Instagram are often double-edged swords for those suffering from issues like anxiety and eating disorders. They can exacerbate symptoms, harmful behavior, and quality of life for those needing treatment or in early stages of recovery. But they also offer access to support groups and community for many survivors and those seeking to try to understand what they may be experiencing.

Pediatric Research Grand Rounds – January 20

Join us via Zoom at 8:00 AM for a Pediatric Grands Rounds session on “Cytokines, Cytokine Signaling & Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Novel Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications Through the Study of Rare Diseases” with featured speaker Scott Snapper, MD, PhD.

Emory SOM FAALI Lecture Series: Promotions and How to Attain One – January 20

Thinking about going up for promotion? Join via Zoom from 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM with Dr. Kathy Griendling to learn about promotions guidelines, requirements for promotion, and strategies for success.

Mentored Qualitative Analysis Workshop - January 27

This online mentored session is conducted via Zoom with instructors from 1 PM- 4 PM. It enables you to bring your own project or data and receive expert individual mentoring on qualitative data analysis specific to your project. Prerequisite: participation in a previous QUAL-WORKS Qualitative Data Analysis workshop. The price of this course is $200.

CEP Research Symposium – January 29

Join us via Zoom from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM! The goal of the symposium is for researchers, stakeholders, staff, members, care partners and community members to share and discuss research aimed at empowering people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We will take stock, move forward, encourage collaboration, and synergize the center's progress.

CORPH Seminar – February 5

Join CORPH (Clinical Outcomes Research & Public Health) via Zoom from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM to learn more about “Elevating the Impact of Pediatric Research Through Effective Statistical Collaboration” with Research Assistant Professor Shasha Bai, PhD.

Emory SOM FAALI Lecture Series: Pandemic Disruption of the Healthcare Business – February 11

Join us via Zoom from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM to learn more about Pandemic Disruption of the Healthcare Business with Dr. Bryce Gartland.

Emory SOM FAALI Lecture Series: Time Management and Improving Efficiency – February 16

Join us via Zoom from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM to learn more about Time Management and Improving Efficiency with Professor Andi Shane MD, MPH, MSc, and Professor Marianne Celano, PhD, ABPP.

Team Science Skill Series: Leading Teams – February 19

Join Assistant Professor Julie Dinh, PhD from Baruch College for an interactive workshop via Zoom from 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM. At the end of this session, participants will be able to define leadership and its structures within work teams, identify common behaviors that develop and inhibit effective leadership within teams, and develop strategies to maintain leadership in current work environments, including within virtual settings.

Southeast Regional Clinical and Translational Conference - March 4 - 5

Hosted by the Georgia CTSA, mark your calendar and plan to virtually join us in 2021 as we bring together researchers from across the region to present the best new clinical and translational research and build collaborative partnerships. We’re excited to announce that Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, DrPH, Boston University, and Cato T. Laurencin, MD, PhD, University of Connecticut, will be our Keynote Speakers.

HIV & Aging: Mitochondria to the Metropolis - Population Determinants of Health – April 14 -16

This multidisciplinary conference will provide a venue for all attendees to build scientific partnership and contribute useful knowledge to the quality of care and life of persons aging with HIV. Abstracts due January 15.

Southeastern Pediatric Research Conference – June 11 (Abstracts Due: March 1)