In this edition:

Feature

Did You Know?

Georgia CTSA Leaders Find New Bibliometric Measure Helps Predict a Publication’s Influence

One method Georgia CTSA Evaluation and Continuous Improvement (ECI) program uses to evaluate impact of research programs is by tracking its publication output. Traditional publication metrics analyze publication impact by citation counts, whereas Altmetrics provide a new methodology for reporting early publication influence in nonacademic media/community outlets, such as news, tweets, and blogs. In the article, Predicting Citation Impact from Altmetric Attention in Clinical and Translational Research: Do Big Splashes Lead to Ripple Effects , Clinical and Translational Science, February 2022, ECI finds early Altmetric attention predicts later citation influence and potential for translational advancement.

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).

Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences– Internal Due April 14

Provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. The program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in their first few years of their appointment at the assistant professor level. This program does not fund clinical trials research. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied biomedical research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply.

A Call for Investigator-Initiated Seed Grants in Healthcare Innovation Focus: Dealing with Pandemics– LOI Due April 15

Seed grants will fund multi-investigator & multi-disciplinary teams examining healthcare services and clinical effectiveness involving adult and/or pediatric patients. Awards will support innovative approaches that address issues of healthcare quality, costs, and/or access that are consistent with the goals of HIP.

Emory SOM Bridge Funding Program – Due April 15

The program will assist investigators who have temporarily lost significant federal research funding, and to facilitate carefully planned changes in research direction. Bridge funding up to $100,000 (including Department support/matching funds) will be available to investigators based on merit, potential for renewal of external funding, and availability of SOM funds. (DoM applicants – Internal review due April 1.)

Pediatric Research Alliance Pilots Grants – LOI Due April 15

Children's and Emory offer pilot grants for faculty and centers in the Pediatric Research Alliance. These pilots are designed to stimulate new research projects, build new collaborations, and increase extramural funding for pediatric research. Proposals should be aimed towards generating preliminary data for subsequent extramural grant applications.

Emory and University of St Andrews Collaborative Research Grant – Extended Due April 21

Grant fosters international research broadly. Applicants from all schools and disciplines are encouraged to submit funding applications for innovative and sustainable projects built around collaborative research linking faculty from the University of St Andrews and Emory. The research may take place in any country as long as it is done collaboratively. The expectation is that these initial projects will lead to longer-term collaborations, institutional and research relations, and when applicable, generate publications, art, exhibitions and/or external funding for ongoing collaboration. Applications that include students and/or collaborations across schools, disciplines, and units are encouraged.

* ALS Clinical Trial Awards Program – LOI Due April 21

The clinical trial awards program provides support for early-stage interventional clinical trials to discover new treatments and cures for ALS. Type of clinical trials supported through this program are early to mid-phase (phase 1, phase 2a) exploring safety or biomarkers to justify larger phase 2b studies (such as the Healey platform trial platform). The program is open to industry and academic investigators and includes the development of pharmacological treatments, biological therapies, or gene therapies.

Emergency Awards: RADx -UP - Social, Ethical, and Behavioral Implications (SEBI) Research on Disparities in COVID-19 Testing among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) – Due May 2

The goal of this RADx -UP FOA is to conduct social, ethical, and behavioral implications search to understand and reduce barriers to COVID-19 testing, as well as COVID-19 disparities that arise from barriers to testing among underserved and vulnerable populations.

Emergency Award: RADx-UP Community-Engaged Research on Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Testing among Underserved and Vulnerable Populations (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) – Due May 2

The goals of this FOA are to implement and rigorously evaluate SARS-CoV-2 rapid testing strategies in communities experiencing COVID-19 health disparities. These two-year Rapid Testing Research Projects will evaluate (1) rapid testing interventions to prevent and control COVID-19 transmission among underserved and vulnerable populations and (2) partnership-driven research to implement and evaluate rapid testing and reduce COVID-19 disparities.

Bridges to the Doctorate Research Training Program (T32) – Internal Due June 15

FOA provides support to eligible, domestic institutions to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed approaches to biomedical training and mentoring that will keep pace with the rapid evolution of the research enterprise. NIGMS expects that the proposed research training programs will incorporate didactic, research, mentoring, and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the nation.

Education

K24: Special Request for Application from Underrepresented Researchers – Apply Now

The Research Education Component of Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center in collaboration with the DoM Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Council is issuing a special request for applications from trainees and junior faculty from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in medicine, who are interested in developing greater experience in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementia (ADRD) research. Applicants who are interested in exploring the link between vascular factors and AD/ADRD are encouraged to apply.

Emory Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) Program – Due April 15

The Emory Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) degree program, in the Laney Graduate School at Emory University, provides innovative didactic and mentored research training to those interested in pursuing a career in clinical and/or translational research. The MSCR degree is designed for predoctoral (medical students or PhD students), postdoctoral trainees (resident and fellow physicians or PhD postdocs), and junior faculty (physicians, PhD-level scientists).

Certificate Program in Translational Research (CPTR) – Apply by April 29

The Certificate Program in Translational Research (CPTR) is a formal 16-credit Emory Laney Graduate School program for trainees who seek to conduct research at the interface between basic and translational science and clinical medicine. The CPTR enhances and transforms translational research training for predoctoral PhD students, postdoctoral fellows (PhD or MD) and junior faculty at Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the University of Georgia.

Research Resources

Georgia CTSA Match

Looking to connect with experts in your field? Join the new Georgia CTSA Match! The platform encourages meaningful networking and collaboration by pairing researchers based on similar interests. These matches will help you to build networking opportunities acting as a catalyst to spur your research forward. Discover more and Join Now!

Georgia CTSA Ethical Dilemma of the Week

Data Interpretation and Management: Patience is a Virtue (PDF)

Innovation & Translation

Emory x Georgia Tech Case Competition – Register by April 1

Calling ALL graduate students! Are you looking for a healthcare improvement project where you can apply classroom knowledge in real time? Sign up to compete in the Emory x Georgia Tech Case Competition! The top two winning teams will win a cash prize of $5,000 for first and $2,500 for second place.

Translational Science 2022 – Chicago – April 20-22

The Association for Clinical and Translational welcomes trainees, educators, researchers, physician scientists, and other health professionals engaged in clinical and translational science. Georgia CTSA Community Engagement Director, Dr. Tabia Akintobi, will be on a leadership panel on April 21 from 4:00 PM-5:00 PM to discuss the state of community engaged clinical research.

NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge for Maternal Health – Due April 22

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Biomedical Engineering is launching the NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge for Maternal Health. Up to $1 million in cash prizes to spur and reward the development of low-cost, point-of-care molecular, cellular, and/or metabolic sensing and diagnostic technologies to guide rapid clinical decision-making, improve patient outcomes, and ultimately prevent maternal morbidity and mortality.

Georgia Tech BME Capstone Design Fall 2022 – Due July 15

What's the answer to your "I wish I had..." or, "What if we could...?" when it comes to your ideas for enhancing patient care through novel medical device technology? What if you could partner alongside and advise a Georgia Tech Biomedical Engineering (BME) team to investigate and design a patentable solution for that idea in just 16 weeks? BME Capstone is seeking project proposals for the Fall 2022 semester. Capstone teams work over 500 hours per project to ideate, design, and prototype real solutions that address unmet clinical needs.

Community

RADx COVID-19 Research Testing

Emory, Georgia Tech, and Children's are working with NIH’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) program to evaluate and bring more tests to market. Participants will receive a $50 gift card and free PCR COVID test. RADx is currently seeking symptomatic participants who may have COVID-19. Samples will be collected at 59 Executive Park South NE, Atlanta, by an experienced research coordinator or nurse, and you may receive a test kit with instructions to conduct a test on yourself or your child.

COVID-19 Variant Immunologic Landscape Trial COVAIL Trial (Phase II)

To address durability and effectiveness of CoVID-19 booster vaccinations in the context of variants of concern (e.g., Delta, Omicron, etc.), Morehouse School of Medicine has been selected as one of 26 sites to recruit/consent/enroll participants (for 4 week period, target 1500 trial participants across the U.S.) in Phase 2 randomized open-label, non-placebo controlled, multi-site, multi-stage clinical trial. If you are interested in this vaccine trial or know anyone who might be, please register.

GSK-Lullaby Study

This study is looking at different strengths of a potential new investigational vaccine (called the “study vaccine”) against chickenpox (varicella). The study will look at how safe the study vaccine is and will also determine whether it works to help prevent chickenpox in children. The study vaccine will be compared with an approved chickenpox vaccine, Varivax® (called the “reference vaccine”). Varivax® has been available for use in the USA since 1995. Please email us if interested.

Events

Marcus Grand Rounds – TODAY

Join us via Zoom from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM to learn more about “Bias & Racism in Medicine: Our Role and Responsibility” with Dr. Jada Bussey-Jones.

All of Us Research Program Researchers Convention – March 31, April 1

Join us for a two-day virtual event! The All of Us Researchers Convention provides an opportunity for a broad spectrum of researchers using the All of Us Research Program data and tools offered through the Research Hub to showcase their work with colleagues, peers, and others who share a passion for advancing health research.

Team Science Skill Series: Team Leadership and Motivation – April 8

Join us via Zoom at 12:00 PM to learn more about ' Team Leadership and Motivation ' presented by C. Shawn Burke, PhD, University of Central Florida.

Blue Sky Group: Opioids – April 11

Join researchers and clinicians from across the Georgia CTSA for a session on Opioids via Zoom at 5:00 PM! Share your experience, learn from others, enjoy opportunities for interdisciplinary networking and find potential collaborators!

Enabling and Promoting Inter-Institutional Clinical and Genomic Research – April 13

Join CLIC via Zoom at 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM for a session hosted by the Genomic Information Commons. GIC sites seek innovative and collaborative ideas from across the CTSA Consortium to evaluate acceptability and scalability of the prototype system, and to ideate around next steps and future directions.

SCORE RIP Meeting – April 13

Join us via Zoom at 12:00 PM to learn more about “Sex-and Gender-Specific HIV Transmission: Defining the Impact of Sex Hormones on the Transcriptome and Function of Rectal Mucosal Immune Cells” with Assistant Professor Cassie Grimsley Ackerley, MD and “Search, Triangulate, Validate, Repeat: Assembling a Cohort of People with Disorders (Differences) of Sex Development” with Professor Michael Goodman, MD, MPH.

Vevo 3100 Ultrasound: Virtual Seminar – April 14

Join us via Zoom at 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. A representative from Fujifilm will be providing a 1-hour virtual seminar discussing the variety of uses of the Vevo 3100 Ultrasound that is available for use in the Animal Physiology (AP) Core.

Atlanta Workshop for Single cell Omics – April 14-15

AWSOM 2022 will be the first annual meeting hosted by the Atlanta Initiative for Single-Cell Omics and Analysis. This Workshop will both showcase our expertise and introduce four keynote speakers from across America. Two mini-symposia will highlight short talks in the areas of bioinformatics/single cell analytics, and in experimental applications of single cell technologies including scRNAseq, snATACseq, Multi-omics, and others, for biological, clinical, and translational research.

Use of Race in Research Town Hall – April 26

Join us via Zoom at 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM. This session will encourage participants to explore how is race utilized, reported, and interpreted in biomedical research. We will consider whether the use of race as a variable in clinical research is practical or problematic and how investigators can responsibly participate in health equity scholarship that leads to meaningful change?

8th Annual Health Services Research Day – May 4

Join Georgia CTSA colleagues at Emory University SOM on May 4 for this symposium and networking opportunity where researchers across Georgia will learn about ongoing quality, effectiveness, and value-based research activities.

Atlanta VA Research Symposium – May 19

The Atlanta VA Research & Development Service Line will be hosting the first Annual Robert J. Pollet Memorial Symposium in person from 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM! Our event will feature a keynote lecture by an internationally recognized VA-funded, physician-scientist; presentations by several prominent Atlanta VA investigators; poster presentations by current investigators, students, and trainees; boxed lunches for registered attendees, and opportunities for discussion and collaboration. Abstracts Due: April 1

Annual Southeastern Pediatric Research Conference – June 3

Join us in-person at the Georgia Aquarium or virtually for the 11th annual conference. The conference will highlight the scope of pediatric research conducted across the US southeast, with emphasis on research from Emory, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Tech, and Morehouse School of Medicine. This year’s conference theme is "Development and Disease: Translating Insights from Genes and Environment to Transform Outcomes." Submit Abstract by April 1.