Research News
MEDICAL SCHOOL OFFICE OF RESEARCH
July 2015
EVENTS 

Leonard M. Schuman Opening Lecture
"So You Think
You Can Innovate?"

Monday, July 13

5:15 PM

Auditorium M1020, 

SPH Building II

 

A reception will immediately follow in the Community Room (1680) of SPH I.

 

 

CBSSM Seminar "International Biomedical Research: Science, Society,
and Pharmaceutical Innovation & Development"

Tuesday, July 14

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

CBSSM, B001E

NCRC Building 16

 

 

The Pittsburgh Model: Building a Collaborative and Productive Research Environment

Wednesday, July 22

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Kahn Auditorium, BSRB

 

 

Researchpalooza

Thursday, August 20

11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Circle Drive in front of Med Sci I

 

 

U-M Injury Center Sport Concussion Summit

Thursday, September 24

8:00 AM - 4:45 PM

Junge Family

Champions Center at Michigan Stadium

 

Early registration for

this event is strongly encouraged.

 

 

Creating

Effective Slides:

Design, Construction, and Use in Science

Monday, September 28

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

BSRB Seminar Rooms

 

 

Doing Biomedical Research? There's a Map for That!

Friday, October 9

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

BSRB Seminar Rooms

 

 

Essential Skills for Successful Leadership for Faculty

Monday, October 19

8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

BSRB Seminar Rooms

 

Please note that this workshop is for faculty only.

 

 

SAVE THE DATE

U-M Orthopaedic Pathology OITE Review

Monday, November 9

 

 

Health System Headlines Research Seminars & Events 

RESEARCH NEWS 

QUICKLINKS
Fact Sheets
& Hot Topics

Find UMHS facts and figures for your next proposal!

Research Project
Route Map


MBECT Resources 

 

UMMS Office

of Research

 

U-M Medical School

 

Competition Space

 

IN THIS ISSUE 
 
Leadership
  • Funding
  • Policies
  • Training & Professional Development
  • Announcements
  • Accolades & Milestones
  • FundingOpps
    Select Research Funding &
    Award Opportunities
    External Limited Submissions
    AwardDeadline
    2016 Searle Scholars ProgramTuesday, August 4


    Other Opportunities

    For additional details about funding resources, we encourage you to visit the U-M Library's Research Funding & Grants Guide
    Library.Portal
    Searching for Research Funding
    Just Got Easier
    U-M Library Launches Campus-wide Resources
    to Help Researchers

    Between juggling administrative and teaching responsibilities, attending meetings, and working in the lab, finding the time to seek out research funding can be difficult.

     

    In response to a recent survey conducted by the Medical School Office of Research in which faculty and staff expressed frustration with the time it takes to search for new funding opportunities and the lack of one, central campus guide for funding resources, the U-M Library has partnered with the Medical School Office of Research, the Office of Research & Sponsored Projects, U-M Foundation Relations, and UMHS Corporate & Foundation Relations to launch two new resources that make the search for research funding much easier:

     

     

    The new Research Funding & Grants Guide, maintained by the Library, is a one-stop shop for finding information about research funding. No matter the type of funding (internal, external, or crowd-sourced) or information resource (upcoming research seminars, grant-writing training, funding database tutorials), the Guide will point you in the right direction.

     

    Jane Blumenthal, associate university librarian and director, Taubman Health Sciences Library, said, "The library's information experts (librarians and informationists) are well versed in the various information resources for identifying research funding as well as in the search techniques to use time most efficiently, and can tailor information retrieval to a researcher's needs. The University Library's scope covers facets of U-M research from medicine to the arts. We have the ability to serve as the funding information hub for the U-M research enterprise."

     

    New to research at the University? Overwhelmed with where and how to start looking for funding? Then simply go to the Guide and submit a request to the U-M Library for a personalized research funding search consultation. The information experts at the Library will meet with you one-on-one to understand your research objectives and connect you to all of the tools you'll need for a successful search. 

     

    "Whether you're looking for ways to stay informed of the latest funding news in your field, or just need some assistance with the expansive funding databases offered by U-M, the library can connect you," Blumenthal said.

     

    With the launch of these new resources, there's never been a better time to get assistance with a funding search for your next big idea. So what are you waiting for? Help is just a click away!

     

    Visit the Research Funding & Grants Guide or contact
    the U-M Library at [email protected] for
    more information.

    FFCT
    Fast Forward Clinical Trials Update
    Last November, Senior Associate Dean for Research Steve Kunkel announced that an important next step for the U-M Medical School's Strategic Research Initiative is transforming the clinical trials enterprise, and Dean Woolliscroft and the Research Board of Directors (RBOD) have underscored their commitment to this initiative, dubbed "Fast Forward Clinical Trials," with significant financial and leadership support.

    The development of Fast Forward Clinical Trials (FFCT) will be a dynamic, iterative process that will present challenges -- and ultimately high rewards -- for faculty, staff, and the University of Michigan at large. As FFCT moves forward, Research News will include a bi-monthly update on progress, and these articles will also be posted to the FFCT webpage.

    Key to FFCT is an organizational structure of local service "nodes," collaborating with centralized work streams that are primarily managed by units of the Medical School Office of Research. Progress in those areas -

    Nodes
    • Proposals were submitted to the Clinical Trials Subcommittee earlier this year, and consequently four
      pilot nodes have been selected: 
      • 1. Acute and Critical Care Clinical Trials Node
      • 2. Children's Clinical Trials Node
      • 3. Heart Vessel Blood Node, and
      • 4. Oncology Node
    • The Clinical Trials Subcommittee is reviewing funding
      and budget models for the nodes, with consultation from established departmental and study team experts. The business model will ultimately be approved by the RBOD.

    Central Function Work Streams
    • An RFP for a new, integrated Clinical Trials Management System (CTMS) was released late last year, and it's expected that the chosen vendor will be announced later this summer.
    • Department- and institute/center-based subject matter
      staff experts, under the leadership of George Mashour, M.D., are drafting an Operations Manual that will be used as a standard playbook by the nodes on how we conduct trials at UMHS. They are targeting completion by the end of the summer.
    • Ensuring that study staff are appropriately trained, as well as professionalizing the study coordinator role, is a very important part of FFCT. Work is underway on job descriptions, training objectives, and mentor expectations.
    • Tapping into patient data will also be crucial to FFCT, so staff are surveying the resources available -- DataDirect, EMERSE, MiChart, UMClinicalStudies.org, etc. -- and will make recommendations on how to better leverage these technologies.
    CLICK HERE for more background details about Fast Forward
    Clinical Trials. 

    Additionally, the Clinical Trials Subcommittee and supporting staff continue to engage faculty and staff for feedback, and welcome questions and comments at [email protected].
    Searle
    2016 Searle Scholars Program
    Seeking Applicants
    Internal application deadline: Tuesday, August 4
    The Medical School Office of Research is pleased to announce a competition for the following limited submission funding opportunity:

    2016 Searle Scholars Program
    Internal Deadline:
    Tuesday, August 4 at 11:59 PM
    Research Emphasis:

    The Searle Scholars Program gives grants to support independent research
    in medicine, chemistry, and the biological sciences for exceptional early-career scientists who have recently begun their appointment at the assistant professor level, and whose appointment is their first tenure-track position.

    Funding Available:

    $300,000 total
    ($100,000 per year for a three year period)

    Faculty Eligibility:
    • Hold a doctorate degree
    • Candidates should have
      begun their appointment
      as an independent investigator
      at the assistant professor level
      on or after July 1, 2014. The appointment must be in their first tenure-track position at their current institution.
    • Expected to be pursuing independent research careers in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and related areas
      in chemistry, medicine, and the biological sciences.
    Faculty nominations from all units of the University are welcome.
    Institutional Nominations Allowed:
    Two
    Sponsor Deadline:
    Wednesday, September 30

    U-M Foundation Relations will be holding an information session about this funding opportunity later this week. Researchers interested in submitting an application for this competition are strongly encouraged to attend the session:

    Thursday, July 16
    10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    Great Lakes Room South
    4th Floor, Palmer Commons

    To apply for internal competition
    For consideration as an institutional nominee, please visit Competition Space and look under Limited Submissions for program guidelines and application requirements. 

    If you have questions, please contact Camille Mrozowski via email or phone at (734) 615-8802.
    MTRAC
    U-M MTRAC Accepting Proposals until Tuesday, September 8
    Year #3 for Fast Forward Commercialization Funding Program
    The U-M Medical School has issued a Request for Proposals for the U-M Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization for Life Sciences Program (U-M MTRAC).

    Sponsored by the Medical School in partnership with the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Office of Technology Transfer, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, MTRAC supports funding for proof-of-concept and other early-stage development studies, regulatory guidance, and consultation and mentoring from industry and investment experts outside the University.

    MTRAC is using Medical School Competition Space to manage the proposal submission process, and each proposal must have a Principal Investigator with efforted appointment at the Medical School. 

    Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of scientific merit, potential health care impact and significance, the potential for commercialization, and likelihood of obtaining further support.
    In previous years, funding for 22 different proposals has been awarded in four target markets: devices, diagnostics, therapeutics, and healthcare IT. CLICK HERE to view those projects.

    Instructions for proposal submission can be found at the U-M MTRAC website.

    Proposals must contain a comprehensive research plan with deliverable milestones and are due Tuesday, September 8.  

    Questions?
    Contact Bradley Martin, Commercialization Program Director at (734) 936-8577 or [email protected]
    M-Inform
    Involved with: Stocks? Consulting? Board of Directors?
    It's Time for Your Annual Disclosure in M-Inform

    U-M policies require faculty, fellows, house officers, and executive and management staff to complete an annual disclosure of their related outside interests and activities in the online disclosure system, M-Inform.

     

    Annual M-Inform disclosures are due between
    Wednesday, July 1 and Friday, July 31.


     
    A few examples of "related" outside interests include:

    • An activity that relies upon the same expertise as does your ability to carry out your University responsibilities such as a physician consulting with a drug or device company;
    • Biomedical industry stock owned by a healthcare provider or researcher (does not include mutual funds, retirement accounts, etc.);
    • Volunteer community health service; and
    • Paid service for a professional society.

    Don't risk non-compliance, missing grant deadlines, or losing funding. Login and complete your disclosure today!

     

    Please note: those required to disclose but who have no outside interests, activities, or relationships must still login to complete the conflict of interest training and attest to having nothing to disclose.

     

    Follow these steps to complete your disclosure now:

    1. Go to https://minform.it.umich.edu
    2. Use the "decision tree" located here to assist with disclosure reporting decisions
    3. Remember: employees must disclose job-related outside interests of their family members (spouse, domestic partner, children) as well as of themselves.

     

    For general questions pertaining to the annual M-Inform Update, send an email to [email protected].

     

    For technical assistance (e.g., "where do I click?"), call the ITS Help Desk at (734) 764-4357.

    Postdoc.Award
    Announcing First Annual Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award
    Submissions due Wednesday, July 15 by 11:59 PM

    The U-M Postdoctoral Association (UMPDA), along with the U-M Medical School Office of Postdoctoral Studies, the College of Engineering, and the Rackham Graduate School, are pleased to announce the first annual Outstanding Postdoctoral Fellow Award.

     

    This award is open to all postdocs, regardless of department,
    and is designed to recognize outstanding postdocs who have demonstrated excellence in research, mentorship, teaching, leadership, and service.

     

    Submissions are due by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, July 15.

     

    For more information, including award submission requirements and application materials, please visit the new UMPDA website.

    Green.Chem.Award
    Nominations Sought for Michigan Green Chemistry Governor's Awards
    Nominations must be received by Friday, July 17
    Peter J.H. Scott, Ph.D., from the
    U-M Medical School (pictured far left) accepts the 2014 Michigan Green Chemistry Governor's Award.
    Created by the State of Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
    in 2009, the Michigan Green Chemistry Governor's Award Program recognizes unique projects, technologies, and leadership that incorporate the principles of green chemistry, which involve reducing or eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances in products and processes.

    Nominations of individuals and organizations are currently being sought for the 2015 Michigan Green Chemistry Governor's Award Program

    Nominations must be received by Friday, July 17.

    Winners will be notified prior to the official public announcement, and awards will be presented during the 2015 Michigan Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, which will take place on Wednesday, November 4 at the University of Michigan's North Campus Research Complex in Ann Arbor.

    Learn more about previous award winners, including several from U-M, and download the nomination package by visiting the DEQ Green Chemistry website.

    Questions about eligibility, nomination procedures, or the Award Program should be directed to the Michigan Green Chemistry Program via email or phone at (800) 662-9278.
    OSEH.Gloves
    We've Got You Covered:
    OSEH Helps with Glove Selection

    Gloves are an important and necessary part of many research procedures. Your lab probably uses nitrile or latex exam gloves for common tasks around the lab. These types of gloves are excellent for many types of low hazard

    chemical work that require a high degree of dexterity, but it's important to consider the chemical compatibility of the gloves you are using.

     

    Choosing the wrong glove can cause chemicals to quickly degrade a glove or sometimes penetrate through to the skin. Also, keep in mind that glove chemical resistance and glove thickness can vary between manufacturers of the same glove material. For instance, not all nitrile or latex gloves are the same. Check the manufacturer's glove compatibility chart for information specific

    to the model of glove that you use. Be aware of how frequently you change your gloves as well.

     

    Disposable gloves are meant to be disposed of and not reused. Reusing disposable gloves is more likely to spread chemical, biological, or radiological contamination to your skin and other surfaces in the lab.

     

    Don't forget that Occupational Safety & Environmental Health (OSEH) is available for consultation on appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to request a consultation on appropriate PPE, we encourage you to contact your OSEH Representative or call (734) 647-1143.

    PFDI.Symposium
    2nd Annual Protein Folding Diseases Initiative Symposium Coming Soon
    Save the date: Friday, September 18

    The 2nd Annual Protein Folding Diseases (PFD) Initiative Symposium will be held on Friday, September 18 in
    the Kahn Auditorium of the 
    Biomedical Science Research Building. 

     

    This year's focus is on molecular
    machines and how they function in health and disease. The Symposium begins at 
    9:00 AM and includes keynote talks from:

    • Judith Frydman, Ph.D.,
      Professor of Biology and Genetics,
      Stanford University
    • Franz-Ulrich Hartl, Ph.D.,
      Director, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (Germany)
    • Tom Rapoport, Ph.D.,
      Professor of Cell Biology and
      Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator,
      Harvard University

    Also featured are talks from U-M faculty:

    • Catherine Collins, Ph.D.,
      Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
    • Daniel Southworth, Ph.D.,
      Life Sciences Institute,
      Biological Chemistry and Biophysics 
    • Billy Tsai, Ph.D.,
      Cell and Developmental Biology
    • Kristen Verhey, Ph.D.,
      Cell and Developmental Biology

    We are currently soliciting poster presentations from 

    laboratories who plan to attend the symposium. Please visit the PFD website for more information. 

    MICHR.K.Workshop
    MICHR Workshop Will Help Junior Faculty and Fellows Prepare K Grant

    The Michigan Institute for Clinical
    & Health Research (MICHR)
    offers a 
    structured, three-part workshop designed to assist junior faculty and fellows who are preparing competitive career development grant applications (NIH K and VA CDA) for 2016 submission.

     

    Participants will exchange drafts of proposal sections and receive peer critique and feedback from senior faculty experienced in NIH study section thinking. The workshop only "works" if participants have drafts to discuss. Those who are not writing one of these awards are encouraged to contact MICHR's Research Development Core for any grant needs.

     

    Registration is required and closes on Monday, October 19. Click here to learn more. 

    IRBMED.PEERRS
    Important IRBMED Reminder:
    PEERRS Certification Requirements
    Current certification demonstrating a basic level of human subjects' protection education is required for certain study team roles before IRBMED Approval or Exemption determination.

    This applies to the following roles:
    • Principal Investigator (PI)
    • Co-Investigator (Co-I)
    • Faculty Advisor
    • Study Coordinator/Project Manager
    • Research Staff *
    * Note: Research Staff are required to complete certification
    under IRBMED practice; PIs, Co-Is, Faculty Advisors, and Study Coordinators/Project Managers are required to complete certification under institutional policy.

    This certification requirement applies to the above study team roles for the following application types:
    • New Applications
    • Amendments adding new staff
    It is the responsibility of the PI to enforce appropriate human subjects protection education for other study team roles. IRBMED strongly encourages that all listed study team members maintain current PEERRS certification or equivalent training, particularly those who interact with human subjects and/or obtain identifiable data.

    Please review the Statement of Practice issued by IRBMED
    for additional details. You can also learn more about the U-M's Program for Education and Evaluation in Responsible Research and Scholarship (PEERRS) Certification process by visiting the PEERRS homepage.

    Questions about this or other policies pertaining to human subjects research should be directed to IRBMED via email or phone at (734) 763-4768.
    HBO.Milestone
    Honest Broker Office Celebrates
    Major Milestone
    1,000+ research requests in two years of service

    In just over two years the Honest Broker Office (HBO), a unit of the Medical School Office of Research and part of the Medical School's Strategic Research Initiative, has supported 1,000 (and counting) research requests for UMHS health data and/or access to self-serve data tools.

     

    The HBO collaborates with partners from the Medical School Office of Research, Medical Center Information Technology, and Medical School Information Services to continually develop relationships, procedures, and systems that accelerate researcher access to patient level health data. 

     

    They offer a variety of tools and services to help facilitate access to patient health data for U-M research purposes, including:

    If you are interested in having the Honest Broker Office present on accessing clinical data for research at your next department meeting, please contact them via email or visit the HBO webpage for more information. 

    ORSP.Director
    U-M Names New Director of Research and Sponsored Projects 
    Craig Reynolds, new director of the U-M Office of Research and Sponsored Projects.

    Craig Reynolds has been appointed director of the U-M Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP), following a nationwide search.

     

    Reynolds brings a rich background in research administration to this challenge, having worked in both central and unit offices at U-M, and in administrative capacities at Central Michigan University, the National Science Foundation, and the University of Pennsylvania. 

     

    Since February 2013, Reynolds has been associate director of research and sponsored projects. Prior to that, he was chief administrator of the Department of Biological Chemistry within the U-M Medical School.

     

    Reynolds' appointment was effective Wednesday, July 1.

    Coulter.Awards
    U-M Coulter Translational Research Partnership Selects Projects for
    2015-2016 Funding

    Intraocular injections have transformed the treatment landscape for many previously blinding retinal diseases, including macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. The standard method of anesthesia for eyes receiving injections is an additional injection of anesthetic medication given at the surface of the eye. This additional injection can be uncomfortable and unnerving for patients. In addition, it takes time for the numbing medicine to work, leading to increased wait times for patients and physicians alike.

     

    Drs. Kevin Pipe, Cagri Besirli, and Stephen Smith have designed a portable, battery-operated device that uses rapid, targeted cooling to anesthetize the eye surface prior to ocular injections. This device has the potential to significantly improve patients' experience while also improving workflow for retina specialists. This is one of five projects recently selected for funding by the U-M Coulter Program.

     

    The U-M Coulter Program is endowed by the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and supports collaborative translational research projects involving Engineering and clinical faculty co-investigators. Typically, projects develop medical devices or other biomedical products, with the goal of new company formation or licensing the technology to industry partners within 1 - 2 years of Coulter funding.

     

    In addition to funding, projects receive guidance from the Coulter Program Director on: 

    • New product planning
    • Market opportunity evaluation
    • Patent filing
    • Regulatory strategy planning, and
    • Sourcing for follow-on funding or licensing.

    This includes a pre-award training program, C3i, where teams triaged for the final selection meeting undergo training in the commercial aspects of developing their technology, while receiving formal market assessments, mentoring from venture capital investors as well as leading medical device company business development professionals, and consulting services from regulatory, intellectual property, and reimbursement experts.

     

    Visit the program website for a full list of funded projects. For more information about the Coulter Translational Research Partnership, please contact Thomas Marten, Coulter Program Director, at [email protected].

     

    Look for the next Coulter Call for Proposals in late Fall 2015.

    MedatMichigan
    Medicine at Michigan seeking books authored by faculty

    Medicine at Michigan is currently seeking news of books authored or edited by Medical School faculty -- or guest editorship of a full journal issue -- for the "In Print" section of the magazine's next issue.

     

    Please send the following information to Lauren Crawford by Friday, August 7 for inclusion in the upcoming fall issue:

    • Publication information including title, co-authors/editors, publisher, and publication date 
    • A high-resolution (300 DPI) image of the cover or forward the book or journal to:
      • Lauren Crawford 
        UMHS Office of Development 

        1000 Oakbrook, Suite 100
        Ann Arbor, MI 48104-6815

    Note: If a physical copy is submitted, the cover will be scanned to print specifications and the image will likely appear with the publication announcement. Please indicate if you would like your items returned after scanning.

    UROP
    Could You Use Some Assistance
    with Your Research?
    Over 1,000 UROP students available to help during 2015 - 2016 academic year
    UROP Outstanding Mentor Award winner Dr. Alvaro Rojas-Pe�a (right)

    with student Joshua D'Arcy

    Have you ever wished you had an extra person to help with literature reviews? What about an additional helping hand to assist with data collection?

     

    This year, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) will admit more than 1,000 students ready to start working on research projects in September 2015 and continuing through April 2016.

     

    UROP research assistants can help with your clinical, laboratory and survey research, plus literature reviews,
    data analysis and more.

    The program currently needs additional lab,
    clinical, and public health projects for the upcoming academic year. 

     

    U-M clinical and research faculty, research investigators, fellows, and visiting scholars who will be on campus September 2015 through April 2016 are eligible to apply for help.

     

    Program Details

    There is no financial cost to you. Supplemental funding of $500 - $1000 per project is available for student-related research costs.

     

    UROP is not a match program. Instead, UROP provides a list of approved projects and interested students contact the researcher directly. As the researcher, YOU decide who you want to interview and who you want to offer the position to.
     

    In addition to working on their research project, UROP students attend bi-weekly seminars addressing a variety of research topics, meet regularly with their UROP peer advisor who is an alumnus of the program, and are offered skill-building workshops and other resources.

     

    Learn More and Apply Now

    If you could use help with your research project this year and are interested in getting involved with UROP, please take a moment to fill out the brief online application

     

    Project applications will be accepted through mid-August for distribution to the entire cohort (1,000+) of UROP students.

     

    If you would like additional information,
    or have questions about UROP, please contact the UROP Office via
    email 
    or phone at (734) 615-9000.

    Open.Access.Journal
    U-M and BioMed Central Publish First Issue of New Open Access Journal
    Journal offers peer-reviewed articles from top names in diabetes and endocrinology research

    Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology,

    a peer-reviewed, online, open access journal that aims to promote better care for people with diabetes and endocrine disease, recently launched its very first issue. The journal publishes for health professionals and researchers on a variety of aspects related to diabetes and endocrine diseases and their management.

     

    "The idea behind the journal is to contribute new knowledge related to these diseases," says Meng H. Tan, M.D., Editor-in-Chief and Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes at the University of Michigan. "There is a wide audience who will find value in these articles, including physicians, researchers, nurses, nutritionists, pharmacists, podiatrists, psychologists, epidemiologists, exercise physiologists, and health care researchers."

     

    With the goal of supporting the University of Michigan's desire to share knowledge with the world, the collaborators of this journal chose to make this an open access journal to make it more available to health professionals on a global scale. While access is free to readers, authors pay a fee to publish and are the copyright holders of their articles (BioMed Central copyright and license agreement).

     

    To learn more, including how to submit an article, visit the Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology website.

     

    For more information about publishing, open access, or Medical School Information Services Learning Design & Publishing, please contact Jasna Markovac at [email protected].

    SharpFocus
    Much Ado About Funding
    Sharpening Your Focus:
    Tips on Grant Proposal Preparation
    By Jill Jividen, Ph.D., Senior Manager
    for Research Development Support,
    U-M Medical School Office of Research

     

    (One in a series of tips published in UMMS Research News about writing proposals.) 

    Researchers know that grants.gov is the best source for big federal funding opportunities, but where does one explore alternative funding options? Seed funding for new ideas? Foundations and non-profits? Crowdfunding? 

     

    Resulting from a collaborative effort, the U-M Library has launched a new Research Funding & Grants Guide that is
    a comprehensive resource -- whether you are looking for:

    • Internal awards
    • Foundations supporting your field
    • A refresher course on searching databases
      like COS Pivot
    • Discovering the buzz about RocketHub. 

    The portal is a response to a faculty survey and the needs expressed therein, including a desire for a central site with campus-wide resources and requests for more tailored services. It compiles all the internal funding opportunities available to faculty on campus, from bridging support to pilot funding to subvention. 

    Click on screenshot to visit
    Research Funding & Grants Guide.

     

    Additionally, faculty indicated interest in learning about crowd sourcing -- turning to social media to solicit money from a number of people for a specific project or cause. The library site links to six such services and briefly explains how each is used. 

     

    Perhaps most importantly, the site can be used for learning how to make the best use of the available resources. Sign up for a consultation with an Informationist who will walk you through the funding databases, help you set up personalized RSS feeds from various sites, and ensure you are registered for relevant research listservs. 

     

    If you can't find time to meet, explore database tutorials from your laptop or check out training events coming up on campus. 

    Office of Research
    Our mission in the Office of Research is to foster an environment of innovation and efficiency that serves the U-M Medical School community and supports biomedical science from insight to impact.