Announcements

NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term

There are several NCATS opportunities related to the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative. These opportunities will allow you to learn about and develop breakthrough approaches for addressing pain, addiction and overdose. 

NCATS ASPIRE Design Challenges

Are you an innovator who wants to ignite the field of automation and AI in medicinal chemistry? If so, NCATS invites you to participate in the NCATS ASPIRE Design Challenges and help revolutionize the discovery, development and pre-clinical testing of new and safer treatments for pain, opioid use disorder and overdose. The total prize purse is $2.5 million.

The five Design Challenge areas are:

  • Integrated Chemistry Database
  • Electronic Synthetic Chemistry Portal
  • Predictive Algorithms
  • Biological Assays
  • Integrated Solution (two or more areas)

We anticipate that the tools and technologies developed through the Design Challenges will address bottlenecks in medicinal chemistry and help accelerate drug discovery. Design solutions must be submitted to Challenge.gov by noon ET on May 31, 2019. For Challenges 1-4, up to five winners per Challenge will each receive $100,000. For Challenge 5, up to two winners will each receive $250,000.

Want more details?

Collaborate on Developing Human Cell-Based Testing Platforms and Drugs

We’re accepting pre-proposal applications to collaborate with our pre-clinical scientists to develop human cell-based platforms and advance promising compounds for pain, addiction and overdose.

The research collaborations aim to:

  • Identify and de-risk potential therapies that work in new ways through the development of assays (tests), high-throughput screening and the optimization of promising compounds.
  • Accelerate the identification of promising chemical structures and develop them into pharmacological or drug-like compounds.
  • Advance promising new drug candidates through rigorous pre-clinical efficacy and safety studies for first-in-human clinical trials as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Pre-proposal submissions are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Submissions for Cycle II are due by July 18, 2019. The call for proposals webpage has additional details, including a PDF with detailed application instructions. For more information, email us at NCATSDPIHEALCollab@nih.gov.

University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center Request for Pilot Research

Request for Pilot Research Proposals Addressing Injuries & Violence: 2019

The University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center (UI IPRC) funded by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the availability of funds to support pilot projects. The mission of the UI IPRC is to support multidisciplinary academic and community efforts to prevent and control traumatic injuries and violence, especially among rural populations.

Pilot Project Program Objectives- The primary objective of the pilot project grant program is to encourage the development of new injury and violence prevention research projects and attract new investigators to the field. The UI IPRC is particularly interested in interdisciplinary pilot projects which concern injuries in rural contexts; however all injury and violence prevention and control projects will be considered. Priority is given to pilot proposals that hold greatest potential for leading to a larger research proposal.

Eligibility

Applicants from the Colleges of Engineering, Liberal Arts & Sciences, Medicine, and Public Health are highly encouraged to submit a proposal. Faculty members across all ranks and scientific staff are eligible. Post-doctoral fellows and graduate students are eligible but must have a faculty sponsor who will oversee the research. A letter of support/commitment from the faculty sponsor must accompany the proposal. All applicants must be affiliated with the University of Iowa.

Funding Available

Pilot project grant awards will generally range from $20,000-$22,500 with a maximum of $22,500 (direct) for each project. The UI IPRC expects to fund up to four proposals. Funding is available for the usual categories of cost in an NIH grant, such as salary and fringe for research assistants and graduate students, laboratory supplies, equipment, data analysis cost, travel associated with research (but not to attend professional meetings), and office expenses. Postdoctoral scholar and junior faculty salary support is an eligible expense. Faculty salary support is not eligible under this pilot project program. The funding limitation is based on direct costs. No funds shall be spent for indirect costs.

Learn more

Download more information

Deadline

Applications must be received no later than Friday, March 8, 2019.

It is anticipated that proposals will be reviewed in early April. Funding will be available on July 1, 2019 and projects must be completed within one year.

Contact information

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Corinne Peek-Asa at 319-335-4895 or email corinne-peek-asa@uiowa.edu regarding scientific questions about the pilot grant program and Lisa Roth at 319- 359-9444 or email lisa-m-roth@uiowa.edu regarding budgetary and administrative procedures.

Mallinckrodt Foundation Grant Program

Program Summary

The Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation is a private foundation that funds basic biomedical research in St Louis and throughout the United States. The mission of the Foundation is to support early stage investigators engaged in biomedical research that has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of disease.

Limitation/Eligibility

Each institution is allowed to submit only one application annually. Any domestic biomedical institution, whether solely research or educational, is invited to submit a candidate for the Mallinckrodt Board's consideration.  The funds are designed to provide faculty members who hold M.D. and/or Ph.D. degrees, and who are in the first to fourth year of a tenure-track position, with support to move the project forward to the point where R01 or other independent funding can be obtained. Applicants with current R01 funding should not apply.

Award Information

Regular grants provide $60,000 per year for a period of up to three years. The grants are not renewable. The foundation does not fund overhead. Salary is acceptable.

UI Internal Competition Details

UI Deadline

Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 11:59 PM

Mallinckrodt Foundation Deadline

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Sponsor’s website

UI Limited Submission Opportunities

Pragmatic Clinical Trials-A Tale of Two Studies

This conference will be of particular interest and value to the faculty, staff, and students of the College of Public Health and the other health science colleges.

After this seminar you will be able to:

  • Describe the goals of a pragmatic clinical trial.
  • Discuss the advantages and limitations of pragmatic clinical trials.
  • Interpret a PRECIS diagram.
  • Identify potential funding sources for pragmatic clinical trials.
  • Give two examples of pragmatic clinical trials for low back pain.

Speaker

Christine Goertz, DC, PhD

  • Chief Executive Officer, The Spine Institute for Quality (Spine IQ)
  • Adjunct Associate, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Iowa

Event details

Thursday, February 21 from 11:30 am to 12:20 pm in Ellig Classroom (N120 CPHB)

Questions

For more information, contact the Department of Epidemiology at 319-384-1540.

Apply for NCATS SBIR and STTR Funding

NCATS invites small businesses and academic researchers to apply for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Small businesses and research organizations involved in commercializing innovative medical technologies are encouraged to apply. NCATS is particularly interested in applications that address research areas relevant to any stage of translation, from target validation through pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, to intervention implementation and dissemination, including:

Application

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 5, 2019 at 5 pm.

SBIR and STTR applicants can apply for Phase I and Phase II funding. SBIR applicants can also now opt to apply for Direct-to-Phase II Funding. This award allows small business concerns to submit Direct-to-Phase II SBIR applications if the small business had performed the Phase I stage-type research through other funding sources. An updated SBIR/STTR Application Guide with additional instructions for the newly reinstated SBIR Direct Phase II application preparation and submission is now available.

Tips for Applying:

  1. Clear all administrative requirements: Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and must complete all required registrations prior to submission. Register your small business with Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and the NIH eRA Commons as soon as possible. Principal Investigators must also individually register with NIH eRA Commons. Those eligible to certify as a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) should obtain the WOSB designation, and those eligible to certify as a Minority Owned Small Business obtain certification.
  2. Build and submit a strong application: Follow the SBIR/STTR Application Guide to ensure proper grant application content and format. You can also find examples of successful applications on a variety of topics on the NIH website.
  3. Submit before the deadline: Completing all the required steps can take a month or two, so don’t wait until the last minute: Plan ahead to help ensure your application moves forward successfully.

Contact

NCATS encourages applicants to email NCATS-SBIRSTTR@mail.nih.gov to discuss potential project ideas and related questions.

Community Engaged Research Lecture

What is community engaged research and why should you consider community engagement as you design and carry out your research? Why are national funding agencies encouraging—and sometimes requiring—community engagement plans in research studies?

Discuss the benefits of engaging communities in health research at our first Community Engagement Lecture.

Speaker

Dr. Edith Parker, MPH, DrPH, Dean of the College of Public Health

A nationally recognized expert on Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), Dr. Parker’s work centers on engaging community members in the design, implementation, and evaluation of research interventions, and translating and disseminating research findings for program and policy change.

Event

Monday, March 11 from 3 to 4 pm in C44-A GH (Elevator BW, Level 4)

Register here

This event is co-sponsored by the University of Iowa Research Development Office. 

Finding Funding Opportunities with Pivot and Other Resources

Training sessions

  • Wednesday, January 30, 11 am to Noon, at UCC 2390 Executive Conference Room
  • Tuesday, February 5, 11 am to Noon, Hardin Library West Information Commons

No registration required

NINDS Clinical Trials Methodology Course

The NINDS Clinical Trials Methodology Course (CTMC) is accepting applications for the 2019 cohort. The goal of CTMC is to help investigators develop scientifically rigorous, yet practical clinical trial protocols. The focus is on investigators who have not previously designed their own prospective, interventional clinical trials.

The residential part of course will be help from July 22 to 25 in Iowa City, IA. Funding for travel (within the U.S.) and accommodations will be provided for participants.

Course

There is a combination of distance learning activities and a required residential course, along with small group mentorship from experienced clinical trialists and biostatisticians.

Who should apply?

Qualified applicants from clinical disciplines focused on neurological disease or injury, along with biostatisticians working on projects with clinical neuroscience researchers should apply.

All preliminary trial ideas are encouraged, but it is required that protocols be focused on the clinical neurosciences. Trainees should have content area mentors to assist them with the science and implementation of their project. A small number of projects may qualify for additional work using clinical trial simulation.

Application

Please check this website for the final application to be released.

Deadline

The application submission deadline is February 28, 2019 at midnight, Pacific Time.

Application forms and additional details are available on the course website. Early applications may be considered for early acceptance.

Questions

Please contact NINDS‐CTMC‐Info@umich.edu or William Meurer, MD, MS with any questions.

Organic Engagement: Planting the Seeds to Engage Iowa Veterans in Health Services Research

Stakeholder engagement has gained traction in quality improvement and research circles in recent years, particularly in the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development (VA HSR&D). In 2015, the Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), convened our first attempt to engage Veterans in the research process as collaborators rather than research subjects.

What exactly does it mean to engage Veterans in research? This talk explores the ongoing development of CADRE’S Veteran Engagement Panel in the context of the broader movement to include patients as partners in medical research. Each speaker will share their respective insights as panelist, liaison, and researcher.

Speakers

  • Stephen Drop, US Army Veteran​
  • Kenda Stewart Steffensmeier, PhD
  • Aaron Scherer, PhD

Event details

Wednesday, February 6 from 12 to 1 pm in C44-A GH.

Keck Research Grant Program

Program Summary

The Keck Foundation strives to fund endeavors that are distinctive and novel in their approach. It encourages projects that are high-risk with the potential for transformative impact. "High-risk" comprises a number of factors, including questions that push the edge of the field, present unconventional approaches to intractable problems, or challenge the prevailing paradigm.

Limitation / Eligibility

The University of Iowa may submit one application per grant cycle to the Science and Engineering Research program as well as one application per grant cycle to the Medical Research program. Both Senior and Early Career investigators are encouraged to apply. Keck will review in advance no more than eight concept papers (4 in medical research and 4 in science and engineering) and will select, in conjunction with the Office of the Vice President for Research, which projects will advance to Keck’s Phase I application stage, due Wednesday, May 1, 2019.  Formal proposals are by invitation only.

Keck does not consider resubmissions on the same topic, even if there are additional data that strengthen the resubmission.

Program Priorities

Funding is awarded to universities and institutions nationwide for projects in research that:

  • Focus on important and emerging areas of research
  • Have the potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation or methodologies
  • Are innovative, distinctive and interdisciplinary
  • Demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches, or by challenging the prevailing paradigm
  • Have the potential for transformative impact, such as the founding of a new field of research, the enabling of observations not previously possible or the altered perception of a previously intractable problem
  • Does not focus on clinical or translational research, treatment trials or research for the sole purpose of drug development
  • Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies
  • Demonstrate that private philanthropy generally, and the W. M. Keck Foundation in particular, is essential to the project’s success

Award Summary

Research grants range from $500,000 to $5 million, and are typically $2 million or less.  Duration of grants ranges from one to five years.

UI Internal Submission Details

Deadlines

  • UI internal submission deadline:  Monday, January 14, 2019, 11:59 PM
  • Keck’s Phase I Concept Paper deadline: Wednesday, May 1, 2019 (full proposals are by invitation only)

Sponsor’s website

UI Limited Submission Opportunities

CTSA Webinars

NCATS developed the Trial Innovation Network to test and develop new approaches for conducting clinical research and improving efficiency in clinical trials. The Network brings together CTSA Program hubs to study and advance best practices in conducting multi-site clinical trials. This webinar will highlight the goals of the Trial Innovation Network, introduce ways that investigators within CTSAs can use the Network to advance their research, and present what's happening at a Trial Innovation Center and a Recruitment Innovation Center.

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET

Speakers:

  • Jane C. Atkinson, DDS, Director, Trial Innovation Network, NCATS
  • J. Michael Dean, MD, MBA, University of Utah
  • Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Register

Translational Science 2019 Abstracts

Showcase your original research by presenting an abstract at Translational Science 2019!

This is the ideal place to highlight your expertise, engage thought leaders, and facilitate discussions for funding and collaboration.

Submit your abstract by November 15. 

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Grand Challenges Exploration

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is inviting proposals for the latest round of the Grand Challenges Explorations initiative.

Applications on the following six topics will be accepted until Wednesday, November 14, 2018 11:30 am PST: 

Grand Challenges Explorations (GCE) grants have already been awarded to almost 1400 researchers in more than 65 countries. Initial grants are for USD $100,000 and successful projects are eligible to receive follow-on funding of up to USD $1 million.

Proposals are solicited twice a year for an expanding set of global health and development challenges. Applications are only two pages, and no preliminary data is required. Applicants can be at any experience level; in any discipline; and from any type of organization, including colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies.

NIH Loan Repayment Programs

Awardees can receive up to $70,000 of qualified educational debt repayment with a two-year contract.

The application cycle is open from September 1 to November 15.

Learn more about eligibility requirements, application dates, and many benefits of the program.

ACTS Translational Science 2019

Mark your calendars for Translational Science 2019, March 5-8, 2019, in Washington, DC at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park. 

Translational Science brings together more than 1,000 trainees, researchers and federal officers to learn about the latest research, and explore new opportunities for funding and collaboration. You'll benefit from attending a comprehensive lineup of educational sessions, networking events and the abstract hall. 

Plus, another day has been added to include extra content! That means more workshops and mini-symposiums, abstract presentations, and time to meet with key thought leaders in the field. 

Don't miss your chance to catch up with old friends and meet new connections in the nation's capital. It's the perfect place to educate policymakers on the country's investment in clinical research and translational science.

Learn more

Write Winning Grant Proposals

The Research Development Office in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (OVPRED), in collaboration with the Carver College of Medicine Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, are pleased to announce that Dr. John Robertson from Grant Writer’s Seminars & Workshops will conduct the Write Winning Grant Proposals Phase I seminar.

A Phase II workshop sponsored by OVPRED will be help in February 2019.

Phase I Seminar

Title: Write Winning Grant Proposals

Date: Friday, October 26, 2018

Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm

Place: Hilton Garden Inn, Iowa City (328 S. Clinton Street)

Cost: $150 (includes supplemental materials and lunch)

Seminar Agenda

Learn more

Cures Within Reach

The UI Division of Sponsored Programs is pleased to announce its renewed partnership with Cures Within Reach and their platform dedicated to repurposing research, CureAccelerator.

Cures Within Reach catalyzes repurposing research to quickly and affordably improve patient lives.  They connect researchers and funders, facilitate crowd sourcing and community, and identify alternative financing models and incentives.  Repurposing tests existing drugs and devices to create treatments for unsolved diseases. 

Learn more about repurposing

Contact Information

Please contact DSP for more information if you have an idea for a repurposing research project for submission to Cures Within Reach. This sponsor has special requirements that you need to understand prior to application.

First Generation Student Summit

Faculty, staff, and students you are invited to submit proposals for presentations at the "I'm the First" First Generation Student Summit.

The University of Iowa wants to spread awareness and understanding of what it means to be a first-generation college student.

Submit your proposal by Wednesday, February 28

Summit is on Saturday, April 7 at the Iowa Memorial Union

Learn more

APSA Midwest Regional Meeting

The University of Iowa is honored to be hosting the 2018 American Physician Scientist Association (APSA) Midwest Regional Meeting at the Carver College of Medicine. The aim of the conference is to facilitate opportunities, research, and career development for trainees interested in translational medicine, while promoting networking and collaboration across career levels.

The conference features notable keynote speakers and breakout sessions that will cover a variety of topics including: MD, MD/PhD, and PSTP admissions; clinical trials; humanities in medicine; and more!

Registration is FREE and open to all current and prospective MD, MD/PhD and PhD students with an interest in medicine, clinical research, and/or a career as a physician scientist regardless of APSA membership. 

 

Friday, January 12 and Saturday, January 13

Download Flyer

Learn more

Faculty Women's Symposium

The 10th Annual Women Faculty Development Conference is on the total leadership concept and life-work integration. 

Friday, February 16, 2018

Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Coralville

Register here

View the brochure

PCORI Panel Discussion

Need funding for your patient-centered research? Learn best practices and available resources for applying to PCORI!

October 12, 2017

3:00 - 4:00 pm

C44-A GH

Panelists

Natalie Denburg, PhD - Associate Professor Internal Medicine

Mark Vander Weg, PhD - Associate Professor Internal Medicine

Amanda Miller, MSW - Program Director Mood Disorders Center

Register

Call for Proposals for Pfizer's Centers for Therapeutic Innovation Program

NCATS announces opportunity for NIH intramural researchers to submit proposals to collaborate with Pfizer’s Centers for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI).

Pfizer’s CTI program pairs NIH researchers with Pfizer resources to pursue scientific and medical advances through joint therapeutic development. The CTI model is the first NIH-wide biologics initiative with a pharmaceutical partner that NCATS coordinates on behalf of all NIH intramural researchers.

Goals include identifying biologic compounds with activity in a pathway or target of interest to both an NIH intramural researcher and to Pfizer, and moving the compounds into the clinic to test them.

Due Dates

Pre- proposals are due to the investigator’s NIH Institute or Center’s technology transfer office by Oct. 13, 2017.

Technology transfer staff must submit the pre-proposals by Oct. 20, 2017, via the Pfizer CTI submission portal.

More Information

How to Apply

FAQs

Learn more about Pfizer's CTI for NIH Researchers

SMART IRB Webinar

Check out the next SMART IRB webinar on "Your Roadmap to Single IRB Review: Implementing the SMART IRB Agreement."

Thursday, September 21

2:30-4:00 pm ET

Register Here

Intro to Statistics Courses

The Statistics Outreach Center (SOC), a service center funded by the Iowa Measurement Research Foundation in the College of Education, periodically offers statistical software training. These courses are free and open to all faculty, staff, and students at the University of Iowa. No reservations are required

Courses will be offered on Wednesdays from 6-8 pm in room N166 in the Lindquist Center.

  • August 30 - Introduction to R
  • September 6 - Introduction to SPSS
  • September 27 - Introduction to SAS

If you have questions contact the Statistics Outreach Center.

Congratulations to Our Nurses!!

Julie Cayler and Elaine MacClure, both from the Clinical Research Unit, were named 100 Great Iowa Nurses!!

Their service and dedication to their patients in the Clinical Research Unit shows the passion they have for each of their patients. We are honored to work with Julie, Elaine, and the rest of our amazing nurses!

They will both be honored in Des Moines this coming may during Nurse's Week.

University of Iowa selected nurses

Learn more about Iowa Great Nurses

HHS Takes Steps to Provide More Information About Clinical Trials to the Public

Read More from the NIH

Final Rule Webinar Series

 

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