MEDICAL SCHOOL OFFICE OF RESEARCH
December 2015
EVENTS 
Tips on Partnering from the Industry Playbook Thursday, December 3 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Rooms G063 & G064, NCRC Building 10


Friday, December 4
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
MICHR
Collaboration Station,
NCRC Building 400


Tuesday, December 8
5:00 PM
Kahn Auditorium, BSRB

A reception will immediately follow the presentation in the BSRB Atrium. 


Quantitative Proteomics for Clinical Applications Thursday, December 10 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Danto Auditorium, CVC


Metabolomics:
Maternal and
Child Health

Thursday, December 10
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Cure Room (5050),
Brehm Tower


Oral Health
Seminar Series:
"Beyond the Boy in the Bubble: Development of a Gene Therapy Product for ADA-SCID"

Thursday, December 10
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
G550, School of Dentistry

This session features speaker Erika De Boever, D.D.S., M.P.H., Ph.D., Senior Director Clinical Development, Rare Diseases Unit, GlaxoSmithKline.


Monday, December 14
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Room 1430, ISR


Great Epic Cool Stuff Ahead Roadshow
Tuesday, December 15
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Ford Auditorium, University Hospital


Thursday, December 17
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Rachel Upjohn Building Auditorium


Writing Research
Grant Proposals in the
New Era of Competition for Faculty

Tuesday, February 2
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
BSRB Seminar Rooms

Breakfast and lunch included.


RESEARCH NEWS 

QUICKLINKS
Fact Sheets
& Hot Topics

Find UMHS facts and figures for your next proposal!

Research Project
Route Map


Research Funding
& Grants Guide


MBECT Resources 

 

UMMS Office

of Research

 

U-M Medical School

 

Competition Space

 

IN THIS ISSUE 
 
Leadership
  • Funding
  • Training & Professional Development
  • Policies
  • Announcements
  • Accolades & Milestones
  • FundingOpps
    Select Research Funding &
    Award Opportunities
    Pilot Grants
    External Limited Submissions
    Award
    Deadline
    NIH - Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Award (R01)
    Tuesday, December 8

    Bridging Support
    Award
    Deadline
    Tuesday, December 15

    Other Opportunities
    Featured Foundation Grants

    Visit the UMHS Corporate and Foundation Relations website for more foundation funding opportunities.

    For additional details about funding resources, please visit the
    U-M Library's
    Research Funding & Grants Guide
    Kunkel
    A Holiday Message from Dr. Kunkel
    Dear Colleagues,
     
    As the end of year holidays approach, it's the perfect opportunity to look back at our accomplishments for 2015 as well as look forward in anticipation of what the New Year has in store. 

    The Medical School Office of Research had a busy year providing services to our faculty and staff, with a few highlights including: 
    • Launch of Fast Forward Clinical Trials, with three nodes already approved -- Acute & Critical Care, Heart Vessel Blood, and Children's.  
    • 44 R01 Boot Camp participants successfully garnered
      $37 million in new awards.
    • Launch of the new Epigenomics Core.
    • 220,000 biospecimens under the management of the Central Biorepository and DNA isolated from 20,000 samples for GWAS studies with over 500,000 SNPs recorded per sample.
    • Release of an enhanced version of DataDirect with increased functionality -- providing a link with the Central Biorepository to search for cohorts with available samples, as well as offering a self-serve option to download datasets from the research data warehouse.
    • 10 new startups, 166 new invention reports, and $63.7 million in industry funding.
    • Submission of an all-time annual record number
      of proposals
       for extramural funding.
       
    These are just a few of the many efforts the Office of Research team has been making on behalf of our research community, keeping the U-M Medical School on course as one of the most recognized research enterprises in the country.
     
    In addition, there are hundreds of research faculty and staff who are working every day to maintain our preeminent status as a world-renowned academic medical center. 

    Thank you for everything you do, and I wish you and your families the happiest of holidays.
     
    Best regards,
    Steve

    Steven L. Kunkel, Ph.D.
    Senior Associate Dean for Research
    University of Michigan Medical School
    FFCT.Update
    Fast Forward Clinical Trials Update
    On Wednesday, November 11, the Fast Forward Clinical Trials (FFCT) team hosted a session called "Working Together to Transform Clinical Trials" as part of the Medical School Office of Research's NCRC Seminar Series. Attended by more than 70 individuals interested in the latest details about the initiative, the event included a deep dive into the progress being made in the work streams that will affect many staff and faculty who are in the trenches of clinical trial work. CLICK HERE to view the presentation slides from the event.

    In other FFCT news: 
        
    Clinical Trial Nodes  
    • The Clinical Trials Subcommittee approved three nodes with funding in October, including the Acute & Critical Care Clinical Trial Node, Heart Vessel Blood Node, and the Children's Clinical Trial Node. The nodes are actively commencing a staged operationalization of their vision to offer valuable support to study teams. More details will be forthcoming over the next few months.     
    Future-State Workflows
    • The Medical School Office of Research-Huron Consulting project team conducted future-state design sessions where individuals involved in clinical trials operations across the institution mapped out a first draft of the future-state processes to manage the life cycle of clinical trials from concept to closure. Representative groups of early-career and experienced investigators are reviewing these draft future-state workflows and providing valuable feedback to the project team. Under the proposed new model for operations, many of the non-clinical, administrative functions of conducting clinical trials will, ultimately, be performed by the nodes to decrease the administrative burden on study teams and to maximize their ability to focus on the research.     
    OnCore Clinical Trials Management System 
    • The project team is finalizing the Proof of Concept (POC) plan for the OnCore Clinical Trials Management System (CTMS). During the POC, faculty and staff end-users, as well as technical team members, will assess OnCore's overall usability and its ability to support our future-state workflows and the breadth of the trials conducted by U-M investigators.     
    The Clinical Trials Subcommittee and supporting staff continue to engage faculty and staff, and welcome questions and comments at [email protected].

    For more information about Fast Forward Clinical Trials, including an archive of past updates, CLICK HERE
    Holiday.Hours
    Several UMMS OoR Units
    Maintaining Special Holiday Hours
    Stay informed, plan ahead, and act early
    Several units in the Medical School Office of Research will be closed or operating at limited capacity during the upcoming holiday season. Below is a list of operating schedules and plans for service areas that may have a direct impact on researchers.

    To ensure that your research needs are met quickly and efficiently before the end of the calendar year, please review and share these schedules with your team, plan ahead, and act early. 

    Biomedical Research Core Facilities
    As in previous years, the Biomedical Research Core Facilities will have special holiday hours to allow staff members to use their University Season Days. Each individual laboratory's schedule may vary during the holidays, so please make sure to review their hours here.

    Download the printable PDF flyer of individual lab schedules to post in your work area and to share with your staff.

    Grant Review & Analysis Office 
    The deadlines to submit research proposals never stop, but the Grant Review & Analysis Office staff will not be on site Friday, December 25 - Sunday, January 3.

    If you have an emergency proposal* you will be able to reach the Grant staff by phone. In this instance, please call the main Grant Office phone number at (734) 763-4272, which will be forwarded to a cell phone. If needed, Grant staff will facilitate contacting ORSP during this time.

    * Emergencies are considered to be proposals that need to be submitted by Monday, January 4 or sooner. If you know you have an upcoming submission, please contact the Grant Office in early December.

    IRBMED
    The IRBMED Office will close at the end of the business day on Thursday, December 24 and will re-open at the start of the business day on Monday, January 4.

    Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine
    ULAM-ASOR and ULAM-Training Core will be closed Thursday, December 24 - Friday, January 1. 
     
    ULAM-IVAC Laboratory Services will close at 2:00 PM on Thursday, December 24 and re-open at 9:00 AM on Monday, January 4. 
     
    ULAM Administration and Finance Office will be closed Friday, December 25 - Friday, January 1.
     
    For questions regarding order and delivery schedules affected by the holidays, contact [email protected] or call
    (734) 764-0277.

    If you have specific questions about a particular unit or services not listed above, please contact that unit directly.
    Foundation
    Featured Foundation Grants
    for Biomedical Research 
    null
    UMHS Corporate and Foundation Relations would like to draw your attention to the following foundations who currently have open RFPs for biomedical research grants:

    The Sontag Foundation
    The Sontag Foundation is currently seeking proposals for four-year awards targeting early career scientists with the potential to create new waves across the brain cancer field. The Foundation's goal is increased survival rates and improved recovery for patients, with the hope of a cure or, at the very least, treatments to make brain cancer a manageable chronic disease.
    Award
    Amount
    Deadline
    2016 Distinguished
    Scientist Awards
    $600,000
    Wednesday, March 16
    by 12:00 PM EST

    The JDRF and Eli Lilly & Company
    The JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and the Eli Lilly & Company are jointly seeking proposal applications for the discovery of novel glucose-responsive glucose-modulating drugs for better treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and reducing the burden of daily management of the disease, particularly Type 1 diabetes.
    Award
    Amount
    Deadline
    Research Toward Glucose-Responsive Glucose-Modulating Therapies
    $400,000
    Thursday, January 14
    by 5:00 PM EST

    Pfizer Independent Grants for Learning & Change
    As part of its Independent Grants for Learning & Change InitiativePfizer has issued a request for proposals for projects that focus on closing the gap in time between the onset of symptoms indicating rheumatoid arthritis and initiation of appropriate treatment. Projects that employ well-considered, systems-based changes likely to result in patient outcomes improvement will be given priority during review. 
    Award
    Amount
    Deadline
    Narrowing the Time Gap Between Onset of Symptoms and Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis
    $330,000
    LOI due
    Thursday, February 11
    by 11:59 PM EST

    Questions about these award opportunities should be directed to Joe Piffaretti in UMHS Corporate and Foundation Relations via email at [email protected] or phone at (734) 763-1318.
    Map
    Doing Biomedical Research?
    There's a Map for That!
    Have you ever wondered how to navigate the complexities of the research enterprise at the University of Michigan?

    Here is your opportunity to hear from the leaders of various research offices about how they can help you find your way along the Research Project Route Map. Whether you're new to research at Michigan or are a seasoned Principal Investigator, you're sure to learn something new at this session to help you focus on great science while others assist you with the details. 

    Friday, January 22
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    BSRB Seminar Rooms
    FREE breakfast and lunch provided
    RSVP today to reserve your spot!

    Participants will have the opportunity to meet with the panelists one-on-one over lunch. For more information, contact Sarah Colbert in the Medical School Faculty Development Office.
    MICHR
    Looking for Funding to Support Your Collaborative Research Project Idea?
    Check out MICHR's New Funding Opportunity
    Are you looking for funding to support a collaborative research project idea? Are you interested in partnering to address shared community health priorities? 
        
    The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) is offering an exciting new funding opportunity called TeamWorks that supports new research projects (up to $40,000) addressing shared community-defined health priorities in the state of Michigan. The TeamWorks Award encourages partnerships to use principles of community-based participatory research and focus on translational research efforts to test novel interventions and apply findings in real world clinical and/or community-based settings. The long-term goal of the award is to ensure that research discoveries lead to community health improvements through effective programs, practices, and policies. 

    Application Instructions
    Applications must be submitted on behalf of partnerships that include at least two community partners representing distinct non-academic community organizations in Michigan, and at least one academic partner affiliated with the University of Michigan. 

    Applicants who attended the MICHR Communities Engagement Summit in September, or who have been involved in post-Summit activities, are encouraged to reference this involvement in their application. Applicants interested in receiving feedback and guidance on project ideas are encouraged to request a consultation through MICHR's Communities Engagement Program well in advance of the due dates below. 

    An Intent to Apply Form is required for this funding opportunity and must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, January 8. Applications are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, February 5. 
        
    To learn more, please contact the MICHR Communities Engagement Program and reference TeamWorks. The full request for proposals is available on MICHR's Communities Engagement Program website
    IBC
    New IBC Application in eResearch
    What you need to know if you're working with potentially hazardous biological materials
    As part of U-M's Research Safety Initiative, the oversight responsibilities of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) are expanding beyond recombinant DNA (rDNA) to cover work with other potentially hazardous biological materials; including work with infectious agents, biological toxins, and materials derived from humans and certain vertebrate animals.
     
    A new IBC Application has been developed in the eResearch Regulatory Management (eRRM) system, and will go live on Monday, January 11.  

    The new application includes a re-designed section for work with recombinant DNA, plus new sections for each of the other biological materials (e.g., infectious agents). 

    For Existing IBC Registrants
    Existing approvals for your rDNA work will continue to be valid until the following occurrences (whichever comes first):
    • Your renewal is due. IBC staff will notify Principal Investigators (PIs) with renewals due before 2/28/2016
      to advise them of their submission options. 
    • An amendment is needed due to changes in rDNA work
      or for the addition of work in the other IBC oversight categories.
    For New IBC Registrants
    PIs new to performing or planning to perform research with potentially hazardous recombinant or non-recombinant biological materials (either naturally occurring or synthetically created) will need to use the new IBC application.

    To initiate IBC Applications before the January 11 go-live date, please contact IBC staff at [email protected].
     
    CLICK HERE for more information, or contact IBC staff via email or phone at (734) 615-3960 with any questions.
    Young.Scientist
    New Developing Physician Scientist Collaborative Announced
    Group formed to support young physician scientists at the University of Michigan
    Balancing the demands of clinical care and an early investigative career as a physician scientist can be challenging. The Developing Physician Scientist Collaborative aims to help physician scientists-in-training navigate these challenges.

    This group was recently formed to provide support and resources to basic and translational scientists working towards a career in academic medicine. The group also aims to foster collaboration between members of different departments that otherwise have limited interaction.

    Planned events include paper and grant writing working groups as well as workshops on the topics of securing funding as a trainee, and job titles and their limitations. Eligible members include residents, postdoctoral and clinical fellows, and clinical lecturers with a substantial background in basic science or translational research who intend to pursue these interests as part of their clinical academic careers.

    The next group meeting will be on
    Friday, January 8 at 6:00 PM,
    location TBD. 


    Inquiries should be directed to Priya Dedhia or Aislinn Williams.
    Coulter
    Have A Technical Innovation Idea
    That Could Improve Patient Care?
    U-M Coulter Program Seeking Proposals for 2016
    The U-M Coulter Translational Research Partnership Program is pleased to announce its 2016 Call for Proposals.

    The deadline for proposal submission is Friday, January 15 by 5:00 PM.

    The U-M Coulter Program is funded through proceeds of an endowment from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and supports collaborative translational research projects that involve co-investigators from any engineering department and a clinical department.  

    The goal of this program is to accelerate the development and commercialization of new medical devices, diagnostics, and other biomedical products that address unmet clinical needs and lead to improvements in health care.

    Projects are supported and mentored by a team of industry- experienced experts who proactively work to accelerate Coulter Program objectives of developing new product concepts to the point of partnering with industry or forming start-up companies with follow-on funding to commercialize new products envisioned from translational research efforts. Funding does not require cost-sharing of salaries. 

    Distinctive aspects of the Coulter Program include business assessment work that dovetails with technical milestones for each project. Specific benefits to each project include:     
    • Business development support 
    • Intellectual property advice 
    • Regulatory guidance 
    • Follow-on funding guidance 
    • Mentorship from Oversight Committee 
    • The C3i training program     
    To learn more, visit the Coulter Program website or download the Proposal Application & Instructions.
        
    Please contact Thomas Marten, Coulter Program Director, at [email protected] or (734) 647-1680 with any questions.
    Innovator
    Nominations Sought for U-M's
    Highest Faculty Innovator Award 
    Nominations due Friday, January 8
    Stephen Forrest, Ph.D., 2015 Distinguished University Innovator
    Award Winner
    The U-M Office of Research is currently seeking nominations for the 2016 Distinguished University Innovator Award, the U-M's highest honor for faculty who have shown leadership in bringing new ideas to the marketplace.

    Nominees can include a faculty member of the tenured, tenure track or research faculty track, or a team of up to three such faculty members.

    Nominations are due by Friday, January 8, and the selection will be announced in February 2016.

    Additional details on the nomination and selection processes, award criteria, and previous winners can be found here.

    Questions about the award should be directed to Ann Leffler in the U-M Office of Research at [email protected].
    Massey.TBI
    Register Today for The Massey Foundation TBI Grand Challenge!
    The Michigan Center for Integrative Research in Critical Care (MCIRCC) will host its second Grand Challenge thanks to a generous gift from the Joyce and Don Massey Family Foundation. 
        
    About the Grand Challenge 
    The Grand Challenge targets big problems and rewards bold solutions by supporting high-impact proposals for milestone-driven research over 12-months. 
        
    In 2016, The Massey Family Foundation Critical Care Grand Challenge will fund integrated science teams that can develop innovative solutions to improve outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) diagnosis. Up to $500,000 will be available to fund diagnostic, device, therapeutic, or health information technology solutions. 
        
    MCIRCC will partner with the Department of Defense, who will assist in reviewing and selecting proposals for funding and provide oversight to funded projects. 
        
    About the Two-Day Event 
    The program starts with an in-depth TBI State of the Art Symposium on Friday, January 22, followed by the release of a request for proposals on Saturday, January 23. There will also be a networking lunch and mixer on Day 1, allowing attendees to mingle with colleagues from across campus to discuss research opportunities.

    CLICK HERE to see the Grand Challenge Event Brief and Agenda.
        
    Who Can Apply?
    The TBI Grand Challenge is open to all U-M faculty and staff. Researchers from all disciplines are encouraged to apply in collaboration with a U-M physician who can provide a clinical perspective on the problem. 
        
    To be considered for funding, you must attend the two-day event. REGISTER HERE.
        
    If you have any questions, please contact Bria Wiltshire at [email protected]
    AHI
    Conference on Adolescent Health Seeking Poster Abstracts
    Abstracts due Friday, December 18 by 5:00 PM
    The UMHS Adolescent Health Initiative has issued a Call for Poster Abstracts for its 2016 Conference on Adolescent Health. Researchers who have created and implemented an innovative program, and/or professionals or students with an innovative approach or solution to a problem in adolescent health, are welcome to submit an abstract for review.

    Posters will be on display during the afternoon and evening of Monday, April 18 and all day Tuesday, April 19 during the conference. Presenting author(s) of accepted abstracts must be registered to attend, at a minimum, the Tuesday session of the conference.

    To submit an abstract, download and complete the Abstract Submission Form and send it to Vani Patterson via email at [email protected]Submissions must be received by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 18.

    For additional details, including the criteria being used to evaluate submissions, visit the conference website.

    Questions?
    Email [email protected] or call (734) 998-2034.
    Depression.Center
    Depression Center Research Awards
    Multiple funding opportunities available
    The U-M Depression Center is pleased to announce three funding opportunities available to Depression Center members.* 

    Proposals for all three awards are due by Monday, December 21 and should be submitted via UMMS Competition Space.
        
    Oscar Stern Award for Depression Research 
    Award Amount:
    $50,000
    Research Focus:
    The intent of this award is to promote innovative and translational research in mood disorders. 

    Investigators with high impact, innovative ideas leading to strategic interventions to prevent or manage mood disorders are encouraged to apply for this award.
    Eligibility:
    Awards are available to early career faculty members including research faculty members, lecturers, or any rank up to Assistant Professor who are members of the Depression Center.*
    More Information:
     
    Berman Depression Research Award 
    Award Amount:
    $25,000
    Research Focus:
    This award provides pilot or seed funding for an innovative research project in the area of depressive illness, including neurobiologic research, psychosocial research, genetics, neuroimaging, or similar fields.

    Projects that focus on the intersection between depression and cardiovascular disease are welcomed.
    Eligibility:
    Awards are available to early career faculty members including research faculty members, lecturers, or any rank up to Assistant Professor who are members of the Depression Center.*
    More Information:
    Available here
     
    Strategic Translational Research (STAR) Awards
    Award Amount:
    $10,000
    Research Focus:
    Funds may be used to gather additional and new quantitative or qualitative pilot data, refine methodology, test tools, analyze data, or further any aspect of depression-related research.
    Eligibility:
    STAR Awards are available to Depression Center members who are students, residents, fellows, or postdoctoral candidates.*
    More Information:
    Available here

    * Those who are not currently Depression Center members can review criteria for membership here
        
    Questions about these awards should be directed to Kim Weber in the Depression Center at [email protected]. 
    IRBMED
    IRBMED Updates
    Changes to Standard Informed Consent Template 
    IRBMED has recently made minor adjustments to its standard informed consent template.

    The list in Section 9.2 itemizing subject information that researchers may access, use, and disclose has been modified to mirror the list within section 25 of the eResearch application. This minor consent template revision does NOT necessitate re-consent.

    Plain Language Medical Dictionary
    The IRBMED Guidance page now links directly to this dictionary.

    Hosted by the U-M Library, the Plain Language Medical Dictionary widget is a project of the
    U-M Taubman Health Sciences Library, where it was developed as part of the Michigan Health Literacy Awareness project.
    MCIT
    Need a Faster Way to Find Reports?
    MCIT developing proof-of-concept Report Catalog to help UMHS community
    The MCIT Information & Data Management group, led by Reporting & Data Warehousing Associate Director Audrey Schmidt, is developing a proof-of-concept UMHS Report Catalog designed to help the UMHS community search for and find available reports. 
        
    So far, it contains 75 reports, and the long-range goal is for it to become a one-stop-shop for people throughout the Health System looking for any type of report. The Report Catalog is one of several new resources -- including the UMHS Data Set Catalog and UMHS Information Management Glossary -- that are part of the Comprehensive Analytics Services & Support (COMPASS) Initiative, which is focused on collaborating with faculty, staff, and students across the Health System and the University to develop data strategies and tools that support and strengthen research, patient care, and education efforts. 
        
    "In developing this new resource, we are excited to collaborate with MSIS and our colleagues in other areas," says Schmidt. "Ultimately, we hope it will serve as a model for the kind of initiatives Dr. Runge is calling for, that is, projects that more closely align the Medical School with our patient-care enterprise while increasing opportunities for collaboration within the Health System as well as between the Health System and University." 

    Please visit the COMPASS website for more information. 
    Cancer.Center
    Cancer Center Names New Leader in Cancer Prevention, Control Research
    Bhramar Mukherjee, Ph.D., named new Associate Director for Population Science Research
    Bhramar Mukherjee, Ph.D.
    The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center recently named Bhramar Mukherjee, Ph.D., as its new associate director for population science research.

    Dr. Mukherjee is a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology in the
    U-M School of Public Health. She also serves as the associate chair for biostatistics and is actively involved in global health research.

    In her new role, Mukherjee will oversee the Cancer Center's research on cancer screening, detection and prevention, research on cancer outcomes, and disparities and new models of cancer care delivery.

    Additional details about Dr. Mukherjee's research interests, as well as the full announcement about her new appointment, are available here.
    AAAS
    Six U-M Faculty Members Named AAAS Fellows
    Six University of Michigan faculty members are among 347 newly elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

    This year's U-M faculty fellows, John Carethers, M.D., James Dalton, Ph.D., William Giannobile, D.D.S., M.S., D.M.Sc., Peter Green, Ph.D., Timothy McKay, Ph.D., and Edward Stuenkel, Ph.D., were elected by their peer AAAS members in recognition of their efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically or socially distinguished.

    Founded in 1848, the AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society and also the publisher of the journal Science.

    CLICK HERE to read the full announcement, which includes additional details on each newly elected U-M faculty fellow.
    SharpFocus
    NIH Grant Application Changes -
    Phase II
    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.) 

    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced several changes to 2016 grant application policies, instructions and forms. The changes will take place in two phases:
    • Phase I will apply to proposals submitted
      on or after January 25, 2016;
    • Phase II will apply on or after May 25, 2016.
    For Phase I details, please see the November 2015 Sharpening Your Focus article.
     
    Phase II implementation further extends changes, incorporating updated application forms (FORMS-D). The current application packages (FORMS-C) will expire after the May 7 AIDS due date.
     
    Towards "Rigor and Transparency" -- the effort to enhance reproducibility of scientific findings -- updated application forms will include an attachment for the new "Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources" document. Additionally, PHS 398 Research Training Program Plans will require a new "Plan for the Instruction in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility."
     
    Other policy and application changes are as follows:
    • The Vertebrate Animals section will add questions regarding euthanasia and will apply to all proposals in Phase II. (NOT-OD-16-006)
    • The "Data Safety Monitoring Plan," required for clinical trials proposals, must be attached separately in the new forms.
    • Research Training tables will be reduced from 12 to 8 tables, individual-level reporting will be minimized, and tracking of trainee outcomes will be extended to 15 years; NIH's new xTRACT system will help applicants prepare the new tables. (NOT-OD-16-007)
    • Applicants will make assignment and peer review requests through the new PHS Assignment Request form.
      (NOT-OD-16-008)
    • Clarification of some biosketch instructions include: URLs for publication lists must link to government websites (e.g., My Bibliography); publications may be cited in both Personal Statement and Contributions to Science; graphics, figures, and tables are not allowed in any section.
    • New NIH flexibility on fonts. (NOT-OD-16-009)
    Review these resources for more information:
    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.