EVENTS 
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Thursday, February 18
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Room G2400,
Towsley Center
Rackham Graduate School Friday, March 11 -
Friday, April 8 Four-week course Room 6000, Taubman Health
Sciences Library 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM BSRB Seminar Rooms (breakfast provided) Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest SAVE THE DATE! Wednesday, April 27 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Founders Room, Alumni Center Abstract submissions due by Friday, March 11. Please contact Kerry Ryan with any questions. Additional details available here. 5th Annual BRCF Technology & Services Showcase Thursday, June 2 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM Great Lakes Room & Forum Hall, Palmer Commons
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RESEARCH NEWS
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QUICKLINKS
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IN THIS ISSUE
Funding
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Training & Professional Development
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Policies
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Accolades & Milestones
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Announcements
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Select Research Funding &
Award Opportunities
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External Limited Submissions
Bridging Support
Featured Foundation Grants
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Award
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Deadline
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Thursday, February 11
| | One Brave Idea Team Science Award | Sunday, February 14 | Marfan Foundation Victor A. McKusick
Fellowship Grant Program | Tuesday, February 16 | Marfan Foundation
Early Investigator Grant Program | Tuesday, February 16 | |
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Tuesday, March 1
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| Tuesday, March 15 | Sontag Foundation
2016 Distinguished Scientist Awards | Wednesday, March 16 | March of Dimes Foundation
Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar
Research Award 2017 Program | Wednesday, March 16 | |
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Monday, April 11
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Friday, April 15
| Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Investigators in the Pathogenesis
of Infectious Disease Award | Friday, July 15 |
Visit the UMHS Corporate and Foundation Relations website for more foundation funding opportunities.
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AAHRPP will visit campus March 30 - Friday, April 1
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Who's involved?
Anyone involved in human research, including:
- Principal Investigators and their study teams,
- IRB members and staff,
- U-M HRPP representatives, and
- The U-M Vice President for Research.
What's expected?
 You may be selected by site visitors for an interview. It's never too early to prepare for an AAHRPP site visit! Now is the time to re-familiarize yourself with U-M's Human Research Protections Program (HRPP).
To start, it is recommended that you review:
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NIH to Require Formal Instruction
in Rigor & Transparency in FY2017
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Toward the effort to enhance reproducibility of research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) will soon require formal instruction in rigor and transparency for all individuals supported by institutional training grants, career development awards, or individual fellowships (mostly T, K, and F series awards).
NIH originally announced that these new training plans had to be delineated in proposals submitted for the May 25 deadline; however, they have recognized that institutions need more time to implement substantive and effective instructional plans.
The implementation date has been pushed back to 2017 to allow for the development of curricula that ensure in-depth, transformative education and training in rigorous experimental design and data interpretation, across all the different disciplines supported by NIH funding.
Click here for more information on these upcoming requirements.
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Fast Forward Clinical Trials Update
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Last week, the Clinical Trials Subcommittee hosted a meeting to update the community on the latest developments and to discuss the next round of node proposals. The Subcommittee plans to work in close partnership with their colleagues contemplating forming a node, allowing stakeholders to find synergies, and optimizing the ultimate number of nodes.
Clinical Trial Nodes
In other news with the pioneer nodes, two of the three have completed interviews and hired individuals for their Node Lead Administrator position(s). These individuals will serve as the senior administrative leads for clinical trials infrastructure operations and development within the nodes.
These administrators will work in close partnership with the Medical Director, Medical School Office of Research, Clinical Trials Subcommittee, and one another to develop and implement the clinical trials infrastructure for the nodes.
OnCore Clinical Trials Management System
In January, the CTMS project team hosted Forte Research as they lead basic training sessions in OnCore. A select group of future end-users from across the institution are working to fully evaluate the usability of the software during the Proof of Concept phase by testing real protocols in the system.
The Clinical Trials Subcommittee and supporting staff continue to engage faculty and staff, and welcome questions and comments at ffctgroup@umich.edu.
For more information about Fast Forward Clinical Trials, including an archive of past updates, CLICK HERE. |
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Looking for Funding for Your Research?
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Check out MICHR's Pilot Grant Offerings
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The Michigan Institute for Clinical & Health Research (MICHR) offers funding to facilitate and support innovative research across the translational spectrum. We encourage interdisciplinary collaborations that promote the development of transformative solutions for improving patient outcomes.
Applications for six funding mechanisms are due Friday, March 11. The application for most of these mechanisms has been shortened. Applications for several smaller grants are accepted on a continual basis.
All faculty with lecturer or instructor appointments (or higher) from all schools and colleges at the University of Michigan are eligible to apply as Principal Investigators. This includes basic, clinical, and social scientists.
MICHR is accepting applications with the potential for co-funding from departments, schools, centers, institutes, and other University of Michigan entities. Applications for Round 20 are due Friday, March 11 by 12:00 PM.
Community and academic investigators who want to learn more about the Community University Research (CURES) partnership funding opportunity are encouraged to view an informational webinar.
For more information about MICHR's pilot grants, including application expectations and eligibility requirements, click here. See our latest round of awardees here.
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Summary of Changes to UMMS Industry-Sponsored Speaking Policy
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The revised policy:
- Is more concise,
- Allows acceptance of a speaking invitation from industry,
- Prohibits speakers bureau and similar activity,
- Allows industry to cover reasonable travel expenses of a speaker, and provide an honorarium which cannot exceed $1,500 per talk and $5,500 per day.
Under the previous version, invitations from industry could only be accepted to present findings from an industry-sponsored research project up to one year of the project's completion.
If you can answer "yes" to the following questions, then the activity is permitted:
- Will the presentation be your own work and
be based upon your own research and scholarship? - Will you retain intellectual and editorial
independence over the content? - Will time be allowed for critical discussion
of your presentation? - Will your travel expenses reflect fair market value?
- Will the honorarium fall within the amount allowed?
If a faculty or staff member is unclear as to whether a presentation is allowed, they should seek guidance from the Regulatory Affairs Office at ra-office@umich.edu.
For more information, please visit the Medical School Policies
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DataDirect Tool Now Available
for House Officers, Fellows
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 Use of the advanced features in the DataDirect self-serve tool is now available to house officers and fellows. Previously, the ability to securely download a custom-built dataset with identifiers was only available to faculty.
Residents and fellows who are study team members on a given IRB-approved study are now able to utilize this advanced feature with written sponsorship from their faculty advisors. Access can be obtained by completing an "Access Request Form" available through the Data Office for Clinical
and Translational Research.
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Featured Foundation Grants
for Biomedical Research
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One Brave Idea -
$75 Million Team Science Award
Through a $75 million investment over at least five years, the American Heart Association and Verily, with support from AstraZeneca, are embarking on a groundbreaking research enterprise focused on preventing or reversing coronary heart disease and, ultimately, improving and restoring cardiovascular health. This marks the start of a bold new chapter as the largest one-time investment in a team with a focus to end coronary heart disease.
*Applicants may submit up to three (3) separate proposals, although they may separately be included on a team for other proposals.
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association has several research grant opportunities available under its 2016 Core Research Program. Amounts range from $195,000 to $1.6 million and include awards for: junior faculty career development; innovative basic and clinical/translational research; postdoctoral fellows; minority postdoctoral fellowships; and minority undergraduate internships.
March of Dimes Foundation -
Basil O' Connor Starter Scholar Research Award
The March of Dimes Foundation, whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, is currently seeking applicants for its Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Award 2017 Program.
This award is designed to support young scientists just embarking on their independent research careers, whose research interests are consonant with those of the March of Dimes Foundation.
Each application should be accompanied by a letter of support from a nominator.
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Award
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Amount
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Deadline
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$300,000*
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Wednesday, March 16
by 5:00 PM EST
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*The award is $150,000 for two years, including 10 percent indirect costs to sponsoring institutions.
Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Investigators
in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease
The Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease (PATH) Award provides $500,000 over five years to support accomplished investigators at the assistant professor level to study pathogenesis, with a focus on the interplay between human and microbial biology, shedding light on how human and microbial systems are affected by their encounters.
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Award
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Amount
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Deadline
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$500,000
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Pre-proposals due
Friday, July 15
by 4:00 PM EST
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Questions about these award opportunities should be directed to Joe Piffaretti in UMHS Corporate and Foundation Relations via email at piffaret@med.umich.edu or phone at (734) 763-1318.
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Reconciling Clinical Research Billing?
You Should Know About This!
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Research Account Review in MiChart
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& Analysis Office (CRAO) wants study teams to know that, in addition to your Report 2 Web statements, you have another option for tracking research account activity.
Try out the Research Study Maintenance function
in MiChart!
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Step-by-step instructions (available via PDF download) for viewing subject charges that have posted to your research account can be found on the Clinical Research Billing Guidance page on the CRAO website.
If you have any questions, please contact CRAO via email
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Nominations Sought for
U-M Research Faculty Awards
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Submissions due Wednesday, February 17
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The U-M Office of Research has established three Research Faculty Awards to recognize excellence among
U-M research faculty.
Nominations are being sought for the following awards:
- Collegiate Research Professorship - recognizes exceptional scholarly achievement and impact on advancing knowledge in science, engineering, health, education, the arts, the humanities, or other academic field of study, as well as exceptional ability to convey the excitement and significance of scholarship and creative activities to the educated public.
- Research Faculty Achievement Award - recognizes outstanding scholarly achievements, as represented by significant contributions to an academic field of study over time, a specific outstanding discovery, or the development
of innovative technology.
- Research Faculty Recognition Award - recognizes exceptional scholarly achievements, as evidenced by publications and/or other scholarly activities, in any academic field of study.
Awardees will have prominently displayed announcements and profiles of their careers and work featured in a fall issue of the University Record. The awards are conferred at the annual Faculty Awards Ceremony and dinner hosted by the U-M President each fall.
To nominate an individual for one of these awards, read the guidelines, complete the nomination questionnaire, and return it with other nomination materials to the U-M Office of Research.
Submissions must be received by Wednesday, February 17.
For more information about the Research Faculty Awards, please contact Ann Leffler in the U-M Office of Research.
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UMHS RERC Awards $10K Grant; Spring 2016 Competition Now Open
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Her project, a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation's Orthotics and Prosthetics Center, will be funded by U-M's Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC). Her faculty mentors are Dr. Kira Barton and Dr. Brian Kelly.
The Spring 2016 Call for Proposals is Now Open
Proposals are currently being sought for apps, games, or other types of innovative technology to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. All members of the U-M community, including students, fellows, staff, clinicians, and faculty are eligible to apply.
The application deadline for the Spring 2016 cycle is Wednesday, March 9.
Additional details, including submission guidelines and proposal templates, are available here. Questions should be directed to RERC staff via email at UM-PMR-CTHI@med.umich.edu.
The RERC is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number #H133E130014). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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Nominate Your Mentor for the 2016 MICHR Distinguished Mentor Award
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Nominations due Tuesday, March 1
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Is your mentor an outstanding advisor, advocate, sponsor, colleague, and collaborator?
Do you know a University of Michigan faculty member who shares his or her knowledge and research experience with students and scholars, many from different disciplines, with no thought of reward or recognition?
Consider nominating your mentor for this award, which honors the efforts and accomplishments of faculty across the University who demonstrate consistent high-quality research and career mentoring in areas of clinical and translational research.
Nominees must be faculty members (tenured or non-tenured) from any discipline in any school, department, or program at U-M who have mentored in an area of clinical and translational research. Nominees are not required to have any previous affiliation with MICHR.
Nominations for the 2016 MICHR Distinguished Clinical and Translational Research Mentor Award must be received by Tuesday, March 1.
Find out more and learn how to submit a nomination here.
Click here to read about the recipients of the 2015 Award.
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M-CHEAR Leverages Cores
for $9.5 Million Grant
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U-M will serve as one of six national research hubs as part of the new CHEAR Program, called M-CHEAR. The program will be directed by John Meeker, professor of environmental health sciences and associate dean for research at the U-M School of Public Health.
Co-PI on the grant, Dana Dolinoy, an associate professor of environmental health sciences and nutritional sciences at the School of Public Health, and director of the Biological Response Indicator Resource, credited the success of the application to the substantial assets that are available at U-M through the Biomedical Research Core Facilities (BRCF) and other shared resources.
She explained that the University's application was remarkable because of the resources available in our Cores and centers. "It's the breadth and individuality of our Cores: if you think about the essential dogma of biology (DNA transcribed to RNA, and RNA translated to Protein), our team is very unique in that it offers a holistic approach that reflects the full spectrum."
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Dr. Dolinoy said that other competing universities have capabilities in many of the resources, but the University of Michigan was distinctive due to our capacity to offer all of these things at M-CHEAR. "There are not many institutions that offer all that we can offer."
Multiple BRCF Cores, including the DNA Sequencing Core, Epigenomics Core, Metabolomics Core, and Proteomics & Peptide Synthesis Core, were all included on the proposal.
"We were the only ones to put some of these assays on our proposals that aren't offered many other places in the country...
but in particular, the really high-level next generation sequencing analysis of epigenetics, led by [Core Directors] Maria (Ken) Figueroa, and Bob Lyons and lipidomics, and untargeted metabolomics, led by [Core Director] Charles Burant."
Read the full article online here.
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Save the Date
for the Annual LSI Symposium
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Symposium takes place on Tuesday, May 10
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This year's theme is Chemical Biology:
Rise of the Cellular Machines.
The keynote will be Suzanne Walker, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunobiology at the Harvard Medical School. Other speakers are being finalized.
More details, including a full symposium schedule and list of speakers, coming soon.
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Rigor & Better: Implementing NIH's New Standards for Reproducibility
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Sharpening Your Focus:
Tips on Grant Proposal Preparation
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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.) There are many questions regarding how to address the National Institutes of Health (NIH)'s enhanced attention to rigor and reproducibility in new grant applications. Updated proposal requirements aim to strengthen scientific foundations and foster integrity of research, ensuring that investigators provide enough detail that other researchers can replicate and build on results. In other words, if outcomes cannot be successfully reproduced, how sound was the scientific premise?
The NIH defines scientific rigor as "the strict application of the scientific method to ensure robust and unbiased experimental design, methodology, analysis, interpretation and reporting of results." There is an expectation of transparency in reporting experimental details so that others may reproduce the findings under controlled conditions.
How to incorporate these new criteria into proposals: - Significance: Describe the strengths and weaknesses of prior research being cited; consideration of strengths and weaknesses might include attention to rigor of previous experimental designs, as well as a discussion of relevant biological variables and authentication of key resources.
- Approach: Be as detailed as possible when describing research design and proposed methods. Address how
you will achieve robust and unbiased results. Provide enough detail that the research could be replicated.
- Biological Variables: Toward rigor and transparency, research plans should address sex and other biological variables, including strong justification from literature, preliminary data, or other sources for studying only one sex (or which biological variables are tested/controlled). Justify any exclusion of variables that may be relevant but are not considered in the research plan.
For more information on this and Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources:
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The 
