AGING

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

Title: The Role of Apolipoprotein E, Lipoprotein Receptors and CNS Lipid Homeostasis in Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (R01)
Agency:  National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification: PA-09-217
CFDA Number: 93.866
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-217.html 

Other index term: Neurosciences

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. During Fiscal Year 2010, the estimated amount of funds available to support projects under this FOA is $2,500,000.  Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary.  Given the likely range of budgets, it is anticipated that 4 to 7 awards could be made during Fiscal Year 2010.  The availability of funds and the number of awards in future years will depend upon annual appropriations.

Research Scope

This FOA encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to elucidate the role of Apolipoprotein E, lipoprotein receptors and CNS lipid homeostasis on brain aging and on the transition to neurodegeneration in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. We strongly encourage studies that aim to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD and other age-related neurodegenerative conditions. Research spanning multiple levels of analysis and multiple species (from mice to man) is particularly encouraged. Also of great interest are projects that aim to use lipidomics, various types of imaging and other cutting edge technologies to identify and develop early biomarkers of neurodegeneration related to lipid metabolism.

Examples of research areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:

• Understand the role that Apolipoprotein E and lipoprotein receptors play in the course of normal brain aging and how ApoE-isoform specific signaling via these receptors impacts various aspects of cognitive aging. Of particular interest are the mechanisms by which ApoE influences synaptic plasticity, innate immunity, CNS bioenergetics, age-related myelin breakdown and microvascular remodeling.
• Identify common pathogenic mechanisms mediated by Apolipoprotein E across neurodegenerative disorders.
• Understand the isoform-specific effects of Apolipoprotein E on Amyloid beta-associated and Amyloid beta-independent pathogenic mechanisms in AD and determine if and how these pathways interact.
• Identify new therapeutic targets related to the mechanisms by which Apolipoprotein E e4 confers greater risk for late onset AD.
• Understand the mechanisms by which Apolipoprotein E e2 reduces AD risk.
• Identify the underlying mechanisms of the pharmacogenetic effect of Apolipoprotein E on various AD therapeutics.
• Apply a lifecourse approach to examine how the isoform specific effects of Apolipoprotein E on brain development influence various aspects of cognitive aging.
• Apply an epigenetic approach to understand the mechanisms by which genetic and environmental factors interact in different populations to modulate the negative effects of the Apolipoprotein E e4 allele on brain aging.
• Understand how CNS lipid homeostasis changes during aging and during different stages of neurodegeneration.
• Determine the mechanisms by which lipid dysregulation in the CNS influences cognitive aging and the transition to neurodegeneration in AD.
• Understand the impact of chronic changes in circulating cholesterol on lipid homeostasis in the CNS and on other processes associated with cognitive aging and neurodegeneration.
• Determine how cholesterol transport between glial cells and neurons changes during brain aging and in response to different types of brain injury.
• Understand the mechanisms underlying myelin breakdown during aging and elucidate the role of myelin breakdown in cognitive aging and AD pathogenesis.

 

 

Title: Mechanisms Underlying the Links between Psychosocial Stress, Aging, the Brain and the Body (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification:  PA-09-216
CFDA Numbers: 93.866, 93.399, 93.242
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-216.html 

Other index terms: Behavioral Sciences & Mental Health, Cancer, Immune Mechanisms, Neurosciences

Research Scope

This FOA encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to elucidate the mechanistic links between psychosocial stress and health in aging, as well as how the aging process and age-related diseases affect the responses to psychosocial stressors.  Generally, research should be focused on (1) aging and how neural mechanisms respond to psychosocial stress and affect other body systems, (2) characterizing the behavioral, psychological and social mechanisms and pathways involved in transducing psychosocial stressors into health outcomes, (3) how stressors modulate physiological process underlying life-span, immune mechanisms, and metabolism, and (4) how psychosocial stress contributes to the development or progression of geriatric syndromes, chronic medical conditions, and disabilities in later life. Research is strongly encouraged that aims to identify appropriate targets for intervention, at any level of analysis, from societal to molecular.  Research spanning multiple levels of analysis is particularly encouraged. Research focused on oxidative stress or on environmental or physical stressors of a non-psychological nature is not appropriate to this FOA.     

To advance research on stress-health relationships in aging, a variety of fundamental research questions remain to be addressed, including, but not limited to the following:

• How do various neural and psychological mechanisms involved in the transduction of stressors and elicitation of the stress response interact with age-associated psychological, neurobiological and physiological changes and with specific diseases of aging? How can we distinguish normal age-related dysregulation from dysregulation due to the impact of psychosocial stressors?  What are normal parameters of the psychosocial stress response in aging organisms? 
• How do age-related changes in the psychological and neural systems for emotional and cognitive function impact stress anticipation, reactivity and recovery both within these and other systems involved in the stress response and in systems involved in downstream physiological dysregulation?  How does aging impact the transition from acute to chronic stress?
• What are the receptors and signal transduction mechanisms responsible for cytokine and neuromolecular actions in the older stressed brain?  What are the factors regulating stress-related brain cytokine and neuromolecular expression, release, inactivation and degradation under conditions of psychosocial stress?  How do these factors influence gene expression and activation of signaling molecules in the brain?
• How do psychosocial stressors exert their effects in multiple pathways, and what are the pathways of dysregulation?  Do different psychosocial stressors have more relevance or impact at different life stages?  Do these differ by gender? What neuronal pathways are differentially involved?
• What are the mechanisms underlying positive functions of stress (“eustress/hormesis”) versus the negative aspects (“distress”) in shaping stress-health relationships over the life course? How does aging diminish the immune enhancing effects of stress and eustress?
• What are the mechanisms by which psychosocial stress affects daily behaviors?  Do these vary by life stage? How do patterns of neural and behavioral responses to psychosocial stressors contribute to biological embedding of vulnerability or resilience?  
• What are the neural and behavioral mechanisms linking the social environment to stress-related health outcomes, and how do these differ across geographical regions, time and social groups?
• What are the mechanisms underlying individual differences in response to psychosocial stressors, and responsible for resilience and vulnerability over the life course? What are the linkages between psychological, neurobiological, and genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of stress vulnerability and resilience?
• To what extent do specific psychosocial stressors contribute to risk of developing age-related chronic medical conditions, acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, and/or functional impairments beyond traditionally identified risk factors? How do aging-related physiologic changes influence the degree to which specific psychosocial stressors contribute to this risk? Can interventions that prevent or mitigate specific psychosocial stressors affect the incidence or progression of age-related medical conditions or disabilities?
• How can animal and human models for life course and aging be used to study cumulative psychosocial stress exposure and its physiological and clinical consequences?  Can tracking accumulating dysregulation across systems over the life course be used to test concepts such as biological embedding and cumulative effects? Analytic approaches are needed that allow modeling of temporal sequences of dysregulation, interactions across systems, and incorporation of multiple levels of analysis.
• To what extent are the effects of chronic stress reversible, and what are the critical time points and targets for intervention?

BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & MENTAL HEALTH

 

Title: Mechanisms Underlying the Links between Psychosocial Stress, Aging, the Brain and the Body (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification:  PA-09-216
CFDA Numbers: 93.866, 93.399, 93.242
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-216.html 

Other index terms: Aging, Cancer, Immune Mechanisms, Neurosciences

Research Scope

This FOA encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to elucidate the mechanistic links between psychosocial stress and health in aging, as well as how the aging process and age-related diseases affect the responses to psychosocial stressors.  Generally, research should be focused on (1) aging and how neural mechanisms respond to psychosocial stress and affect other body systems, (2) characterizing the behavioral, psychological and social mechanisms and pathways involved in transducing psychosocial stressors into health outcomes, (3) how stressors modulate physiological process underlying life-span, immune mechanisms, and metabolism, and (4) how psychosocial stress contributes to the development or progression of geriatric syndromes, chronic medical conditions, and disabilities in later life. Research is strongly encouraged that aims to identify appropriate targets for intervention, at any level of analysis, from societal to molecular.  Research spanning multiple levels of analysis is particularly encouraged. Research focused on oxidative stress or on environmental or physical stressors of a non-psychological nature is not appropriate to this FOA.     

To advance research on stress-health relationships in aging, a variety of fundamental research questions remain to be addressed, including, but not limited to the following:

• How do various neural and psychological mechanisms involved in the transduction of stressors and elicitation of the stress response interact with age-associated psychological, neurobiological and physiological changes and with specific diseases of aging? How can we distinguish normal age-related dysregulation from dysregulation due to the impact of psychosocial stressors?  What are normal parameters of the psychosocial stress response in aging organisms? 
• How do age-related changes in the psychological and neural systems for emotional and cognitive function impact stress anticipation, reactivity and recovery both within these and other systems involved in the stress response and in systems involved in downstream physiological dysregulation?  How does aging impact the transition from acute to chronic stress?
• What are the receptors and signal transduction mechanisms responsible for cytokine and neuromolecular actions in the older stressed brain?  What are the factors regulating stress-related brain cytokine and neuromolecular expression, release, inactivation and degradation under conditions of psychosocial stress?  How do these factors influence gene expression and activation of signaling molecules in the brain?
• How do psychosocial stressors exert their effects in multiple pathways, and what are the pathways of dysregulation?  Do different psychosocial stressors have more relevance or impact at different life stages?  Do these differ by gender? What neuronal pathways are differentially involved?
• What are the mechanisms underlying positive functions of stress (“eustress/hormesis”) versus the negative aspects (“distress”) in shaping stress-health relationships over the life course? How does aging diminish the immune enhancing effects of stress and eustress?
• What are the mechanisms by which psychosocial stress affects daily behaviors?  Do these vary by life stage? How do patterns of neural and behavioral responses to psychosocial stressors contribute to biological embedding of vulnerability or resilience?  
• What are the neural and behavioral mechanisms linking the social environment to stress-related health outcomes, and how do these differ across geographical regions, time and social groups?
• What are the mechanisms underlying individual differences in response to psychosocial stressors, and responsible for resilience and vulnerability over the life course? What are the linkages between psychological, neurobiological, and genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of stress vulnerability and resilience?
• To what extent do specific psychosocial stressors contribute to risk of developing age-related chronic medical conditions, acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, and/or functional impairments beyond traditionally identified risk factors? How do aging-related physiologic changes influence the degree to which specific psychosocial stressors contribute to this risk? Can interventions that prevent or mitigate specific psychosocial stressors affect the incidence or progression of age-related medical conditions or disabilities?
• How can animal and human models for life course and aging be used to study cumulative psychosocial stress exposure and its physiological and clinical consequences?  Can tracking accumulating dysregulation across systems over the life course be used to test concepts such as biological embedding and cumulative effects? Analytic approaches are needed that allow modeling of temporal sequences of dysregulation, interactions across systems, and incorporation of multiple levels of analysis.
• To what extent are the effects of chronic stress reversible, and what are the critical time points and targets for intervention?

 

Other index terms: Clinical Research, Neuroscience
Title: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinical Treatment Research Among Active Duty Army Soldiers
Agency: Department of the Army, USAMRAA
Application Deadline:  November 24, 2009
Identification: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX
Link: Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX

U.S. Army Soldiers are enduring unyielding high operational tempo in garrison and the combat field of operations in order to keep pace with ongoing Wartime mission requirements. The high tempo and increasingly common multiple deployments present many human physical and psychological challenges that have a rippling effect on Soldier well-being, as well as Army retention and recruitment. The complicated presentation of PTSD may likely contribute to the finding that existing evidence-based treatments are up to 50% ineffective in treating PTSD symptoms. 

This funding opportunity seeks Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) to optimize efficacious theory driven evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments and/or pharmacotherapy for “complicated” PTSD in active duty Army service members. Proposals focused on identifying specific active components of effective/evidence-based psychosocial and/or behavioral treatments for “complicated” PTSD are encouraged. Applicants are also encouraged to submit proposals that focus on evaluating methods for optimizing delivery of treatment (e.g., number of sessions, length of sessions, spacing, in-theatre, timing of treatment, group vs. individual, face-to-face vs. telehealth, treatment titration, etc.). Expected Number of Awards: 2 /Award Ceiling: $3,500,000. To view opportunity, please go to Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX

BIOINFORMATICS

Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Application Deadline: October 14, 2009
Identification: NSF 09-573
Link: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO  

Other index terms: Bioinformatics

General Information

Synopsis of Program:
The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology to recent recipients of the doctoral degree for research and training in selected areas of biology supported by BIO and with special goals for human resource development in biology.  The fellowships encourage independence at an early stage of the research career to permit Fellows to pursue their research and training goals in the most appropriate research locations regardless of the availability of funding for the Fellows at that site.  For FY 2010, these BIO programs are (1) Broadening Participation in Biology and (2) Biological Informatics.  In future years, these areas will change as new scientific and infrastructure opportunities present themselves; and this solicitation will be changed to reflect the areas being funded. The fellowships are also designed to provide active mentoring of the Fellows by the sponsoring scientists who will benefit from having these talented young scientists in their research groups. The research and training plan of each fellowship must address important scientific questions in contemporary biology within the scope of the BIO Directorate and the specific guidelines in this fellowship program solicitation. Because the fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in their careers, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of BIO fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoral programs. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.

 

Title: Recovery Act Limited Competition: Protection of Human Health by Immunology and Vaccines (U01, U19)
Agency: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
LOI Deadline: September 15, 2009
Application Deadline: October 15, 2009
RFA Identification: RFA-AI-09-040
CFDA Number: 93.701
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-09-040.html

Other index terms: Immune Mechanisms, Infectious Diseases, Systems Biology

This NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), supported by funds provided to the NIH under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“Recovery Act” or “ARRA”), Public Law 111-5, invites new applications from single domestic institutions, or consortia of institutions, to participate in creating a network of human immunology profiling research groups. Applications are sought that propose to study human immune responses (1) following infection, (2) prior to and following vaccination against an infectious disease, or (3) prior to and following treatment with an immune adjuvant that targets a known innate immune receptor(s). The purpose of this FOA is to capitalize on recent advances in immune profiling to measure the diversity of human immune responses under a variety of conditions, using bioinformatic, multiplex, and/or systems biology approaches to study samples from well-characterized human cohorts and to measure aspects of the human transcriptome and/or proteome. 

• Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the U01 and U19 cooperative agreement grant mechanisms.

• Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. The NIAID intends to commit approximately $20 million in total costs (direct plus indirect costs) in fiscal year 2010, which includes support for an Infrastructure and Opportunities Fund of up to $2 million total costs in year one and up to $5 million total costs in years two through five. The Infrastructure and Opportunities Fund will support consortium infrastructure, collaborative projects, pilot projects, and new research opportunities that arise post-award. Recovery Act funds will be used to support this FOA in fiscal year 2010 only; the NIAID will provide funds for four future years (FY 2011-2014). The NIAID anticipates that 6-10 awards will be made for fiscal year 2010, pending the number and quality of applications and the availability of funds.

BIOSTATISTICS & EPIDEMIOLOGY

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

CANCER

Title: The Early Detection Research Network: Biomarker Developmental Laboratories (U01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
LOI Deadline:  September 29 2009
Application Deadline: October 29, 2009
RFA Identification:  RFA-CA-09-017
CFDA Number: 93.393, 93.394
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-09-017.html

PRE-APPLICATION MEETING
The NCI anticipates holding a pre-application meeting on September 29, 2009 at 9:00 AM - noon EDT to which all interested prospective applicants are invited. NCI program and review staff members will make presentations to explain the goals and objectives for the NCI Early Detection Research Network and its components, including Biomarker Developmental Laboratories. The discussion will also cover the preparation of applications and the peer review process. An NCI Grants Management Specialist will be available to answer financial questions. The meeting will be videocast with an opportunity for internet viewers to submit questions by e-mail.

• Purpose. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits cooperative agreement applications for Biomarker Developmental Laboratories (BDLs), one of the four components of the Early Detection Research Network (EDRN). EDRN is a national consortium funded to discover, develop, and validate biomarkers for early cancer detection, risk assessment, and the molecular diagnosis and prognosis of early cancer. The BDLs have responsibility for the development and characterization of new, or the refinement of existing, biomarkers and biomarker assays. The other three main components of the EDRN are: the Biomarker Reference Laboratories (BRLs), which serve as Network resources for clinical and laboratory validation of biomarkers; the Clinical Validation Centers (CVCs), which conduct clinical research on the validation of biomarkers in early cancer detection and risk assessment and serve as resource centers for the EDRN by participating in collaborative biomarker validation studies and collaborating with EDRN BDLs and BRLs; and the Data Management and Coordinating Center (DMCC), which supports statistical and computational analyses, informatics infrastructure, and the coordination of network-wide meetings and conferences.
• Mechanism of Support. This FOA utilizes the NIH Cooperative Agreement (U01) award mechanism. Parallel FOAs for other EDRN components include RFA-CA-09-018 (U01) for CVCs, RFA-CA-09-019 (U24) for BRLs, and RFA-CA-09-020 (U24) for DMCC.
• Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. The NCI expects to commit $10-11 million per year to fund 20 - 25 BDLs.

• Budget and Project Period. An applicant may request a project period of up to 5 years at a budget of up to $600,000 per year (direct costs).

 

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

Title: Mechanisms Underlying the Links between Psychosocial Stress, Aging, the Brain and the Body (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification:  PA-09-216
CFDA Numbers: 93.866, 93.399, 93.242
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-216.html 

Other index terms: Aging, Behavioral Sciences & Mental Health, Immune Mechanisms, Neurosciences

Research Scope

This FOA encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to elucidate the mechanistic links between psychosocial stress and health in aging, as well as how the aging process and age-related diseases affect the responses to psychosocial stressors.  Generally, research should be focused on (1) aging and how neural mechanisms respond to psychosocial stress and affect other body systems, (2) characterizing the behavioral, psychological and social mechanisms and pathways involved in transducing psychosocial stressors into health outcomes, (3) how stressors modulate physiological process underlying life-span, immune mechanisms, and metabolism, and (4) how psychosocial stress contributes to the development or progression of geriatric syndromes, chronic medical conditions, and disabilities in later life. Research is strongly encouraged that aims to identify appropriate targets for intervention, at any level of analysis, from societal to molecular.  Research spanning multiple levels of analysis is particularly encouraged. Research focused on oxidative stress or on environmental or physical stressors of a non-psychological nature is not appropriate to this FOA.     

To advance research on stress-health relationships in aging, a variety of fundamental research questions remain to be addressed, including, but not limited to the following:

• How do various neural and psychological mechanisms involved in the transduction of stressors and elicitation of the stress response interact with age-associated psychological, neurobiological and physiological changes and with specific diseases of aging? How can we distinguish normal age-related dysregulation from dysregulation due to the impact of psychosocial stressors?  What are normal parameters of the psychosocial stress response in aging organisms? 
• How do age-related changes in the psychological and neural systems for emotional and cognitive function impact stress anticipation, reactivity and recovery both within these and other systems involved in the stress response and in systems involved in downstream physiological dysregulation?  How does aging impact the transition from acute to chronic stress?
• What are the receptors and signal transduction mechanisms responsible for cytokine and neuromolecular actions in the older stressed brain?  What are the factors regulating stress-related brain cytokine and neuromolecular expression, release, inactivation and degradation under conditions of psychosocial stress?  How do these factors influence gene expression and activation of signaling molecules in the brain?
• How do psychosocial stressors exert their effects in multiple pathways, and what are the pathways of dysregulation?  Do different psychosocial stressors have more relevance or impact at different life stages?  Do these differ by gender? What neuronal pathways are differentially involved?
• What are the mechanisms underlying positive functions of stress (“eustress/hormesis”) versus the negative aspects (“distress”) in shaping stress-health relationships over the life course? How does aging diminish the immune enhancing effects of stress and eustress?
• What are the mechanisms by which psychosocial stress affects daily behaviors?  Do these vary by life stage? How do patterns of neural and behavioral responses to psychosocial stressors contribute to biological embedding of vulnerability or resilience?  
• What are the neural and behavioral mechanisms linking the social environment to stress-related health outcomes, and how do these differ across geographical regions, time and social groups?
• What are the mechanisms underlying individual differences in response to psychosocial stressors, and responsible for resilience and vulnerability over the life course? What are the linkages between psychological, neurobiological, and genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of stress vulnerability and resilience?
• To what extent do specific psychosocial stressors contribute to risk of developing age-related chronic medical conditions, acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, and/or functional impairments beyond traditionally identified risk factors? How do aging-related physiologic changes influence the degree to which specific psychosocial stressors contribute to this risk? Can interventions that prevent or mitigate specific psychosocial stressors affect the incidence or progression of age-related medical conditions or disabilities?
• How can animal and human models for life course and aging be used to study cumulative psychosocial stress exposure and its physiological and clinical consequences?  Can tracking accumulating dysregulation across systems over the life course be used to test concepts such as biological embedding and cumulative effects? Analytic approaches are needed that allow modeling of temporal sequences of dysregulation, interactions across systems, and incorporation of multiple levels of analysis.
• To what extent are the effects of chronic stress reversible, and what are the critical time points and targets for intervention?

CARDIOVASCULAR

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

 

CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH

Title: Barth Syndrome Foundation Science and Medicine Research Grants
Agency: Barth Syndrome Foundation
Application Deadline: October 31, 2009
Link:  http://www.barthsyndrome.org/english/View.asp?x=1635    

Other index term: Genetics

The Barth Syndrome Foundation, a nonprofit organization that strives to save lives through education, advances in treatment, and pursuit of a cure for Barth syndrome, has announced the availability of funding for research internationally on the natural history, biochemical basis, and treatment of Barth syndrome.

Barth syndrome is a serious X-linked genetic condition associated with cardiomyopathy, neutropenia, skeletal muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, growth delay, and diverse biochemical abnormalities (including defects in mitochondrial metabolism and phospholipid biosynthesis). Because many clinical and biochemical abnormalities of Barth syndrome remain poorly understood, the foundation is seeking proposals for research that may shed light on any aspect of the syndrome.

The foundation is most interested in providing "seed money" to be used by experienced investigators for the testing of initial hypotheses and collection of preliminary data leading to successful long-term funding by the National Institutes of Health and other major granting institutions around the world. In addition, the foundation is especially interested in attracting new investigators to the very interesting field of Barth syndrome research.

The foundation anticipates awarding several one- or two-year grants of up to $40,000 each.  Complete program guidelines are available at the Barth Syndrome Foundation Web site (http://www.barthsyndrome.org/english/View.asp?x=1635).

 

 

Title: Basic and Clinical Studies of Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
CFDA Numbers: 93.847, 93.865
PA Identification: PA-09-226
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-226.html      

Other index terms: Clinical & Translational Research, Genetics, Renal & Kidney Diseases

This Program Announcement is sponsored by the NIDDK and the NICHD.  Congenital obstructive uropathy is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease (ESRD) in infants and children. The pathogenesis of this disorder, however, remains poorly understood. Many controversies and clinical uncertainties exist in the detection, prognosis, and effective treatment strategies for this condition. The impact of early fetal detection and neonatal intervention, the long-term effects of watchful waiting and the various surgical interventions have not been well studied and documented. There is also no consensus on the indications for, or ideal timing of surgical intervention. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to address the numerous scientific and clinical uncertainties related to the development, treatment and prognosis of congenital obstructive uropathy, by encouraging and facilitating research in diverse areas. These areas include: the development of objective prognostic markers; the genetic determinants of this congenital disorder; the development of reliable animal models of the disorder; and, evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of various treatment strategies.

Objectives and Scope

This funding opportunity is intended to stimulate novel and productive research focusing on congenital urinary tract obstruction.  Examples that illustrate possible areas of research are presented below. They are intended only to provide a broad direction for research and should be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Some potential goals include but are not limited to:

• Identification of biomarkers of renal maldevelopment and significant congenital obstruction relevant to humans as well as animal models. These should include functional as well as cellular and molecular metrics. These biomarkers should have the potential to permit the development of less invasive monitoring approaches for either investigational study or clinical care, including improvement in the determination of whether, and when surgery is indicated.
• Hypothesis-driven basic science proposals that address the cellular and molecular basis of renal development and ureteral morphogenesis, specific genetic defects and the link between functional and developmental physiology. Some examples are regulation of collecting duct branching, afferent sensing mechanism in the tubule that lead to dilatation or cystic changes, biology of nephrogenic blastema, regulation of interstitial fibrosis, stimuli that initiate renal cellular response to obstruction,determinants of the number of nephrons in the obstructed kidney, and regulation of ureter migration and trigone formation.
• Investigation of the relationship of lower tract to upper tract changes, including the gender differential.
• Characterization of animal models to determine which are most similar to human disease.
• Establishment of comprehensive registries with well-characterized patients, that may include samples of urine, serum, biopsy / surgical tissue, radiographs.
• Determination of long-term bladder, sexual and reproductive function in patients diagnosed with lower tract disease in infancy and early childhood.

CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH

 

Title: Basic and Clinical Studies of Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
CFDA Numbers: 93.847, 93.865
PA Identification: PA-09-226
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-226.html      

Other index terms: Child & Adolescent Health, Genetics, Renal & Kidney Diseases

This Program Announcement is sponsored by the NIDDK and the NICHD.  Congenital obstructive uropathy is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease (ESRD) in infants and children. The pathogenesis of this disorder, however, remains poorly understood. Many controversies and clinical uncertainties exist in the detection, prognosis, and effective treatment strategies for this condition. The impact of early fetal detection and neonatal intervention, the long-term effects of watchful waiting and the various surgical interventions have not been well studied and documented. There is also no consensus on the indications for, or ideal timing of surgical intervention. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to address the numerous scientific and clinical uncertainties related to the development, treatment and prognosis of congenital obstructive uropathy, by encouraging and facilitating research in diverse areas. These areas include: the development of objective prognostic markers; the genetic determinants of this congenital disorder; the development of reliable animal models of the disorder; and, evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of various treatment strategies.

Objectives and Scope

This funding opportunity is intended to stimulate novel and productive research focusing on congenital urinary tract obstruction.  Examples that illustrate possible areas of research are presented below. They are intended only to provide a broad direction for research and should be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Some potential goals include but are not limited to:

• Identification of biomarkers of renal maldevelopment and significant congenital obstruction relevant to humans as well as animal models. These should include functional as well as cellular and molecular metrics. These biomarkers should have the potential to permit the development of less invasive monitoring approaches for either investigational study or clinical care, including improvement in the determination of whether, and when surgery is indicated.
• Hypothesis-driven basic science proposals that address the cellular and molecular basis of renal development and ureteral morphogenesis, specific genetic defects and the link between functional and developmental physiology. Some examples are regulation of collecting duct branching, afferent sensing mechanism in the tubule that lead to dilatation or cystic changes, biology of nephrogenic blastema, regulation of interstitial fibrosis, stimuli that initiate renal cellular response to obstruction,determinants of the number of nephrons in the obstructed kidney, and regulation of ureter migration and trigone formation.
• Investigation of the relationship of lower tract to upper tract changes, including the gender differential.
• Characterization of animal models to determine which are most similar to human disease.
• Establishment of comprehensive registries with well-characterized patients, that may include samples of urine, serum, biopsy / surgical tissue, radiographs.
• Determination of long-term bladder, sexual and reproductive function in patients diagnosed with lower tract disease in infancy and early childhood.

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Title: About the Clinical Neuroscience Research Grant Program
Agency: Dana Foundation
Application Deadlines: Rolling deadline for 2-pg Letters of Intent
Link: http://www.dana.org/grants/clinical/

Other index term: Clinical Research

Research on brain diseases, as on any disease affecting humans, often proceeds from taking promising results produced in studying an animal model of a disease and applying these results to the first studies in human patients who have that disease. These first studies in patients usually determine whether the animal model has accurately portrayed what is actually occurring in the human disease, and whether the intervention (such as a drug, a device, or a surgical technique) works safely in patients. This first research in humans also tries to determine whether these interventions, which appeared to work in the animal model of the disease, also show promise in treating patients who have the disease.

In 2003, Dana began inviting grant proposals for these "first in man" studies of patients with devastating brain diseases for which there currently is no effective treatment. Funded researchers set up "controlled clinical studies" in patients with a specific brain disease, based on promising animal studies suggesting that a specific therapy either treated the condition or prevented it from getting worse. In these controlled clinical studies, the new therapy is tested in some of the patients while the other patients continue to receive currently available treatment. Through this process, clinical researchers determine whether the tested new therapy shows initial promise beyond currently available treatment.

Grant studies can receive up to $300,000 payable over three years.

How to Apply
Researchers interested in being considered to receive an invitation to apply to this program are welcome to send a brief (maximum two-page, 11-point font) description of the proposed research along with an NIH-style abbreviated CV to Angie Marin at amarin@dana.org. Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Those investigators chosen to submit full proposals will be notified and provided with further instructions.

Title: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinical Treatment Research Among Active Duty Army Soldiers
Agency:         Department of the Army, USAMRAA
Application Deadline:          November 24, 2009
Identification:         W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX
Link:          Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX

Other index terms: Behavioral Sciences & Mental Health, Neuroscience

U.S. Army Soldiers are enduring unyielding high operational tempo in garrison and the combat field of operations in order to keep pace with ongoing Wartime mission requirements. The high tempo and increasingly common multiple deployments present many human physical and psychological challenges that have a rippling effect on Soldier well-being, as well as Army retention and recruitment. The complicated presentation of PTSD may likely contribute to the finding that existing evidence-based treatments are up to 50% ineffective in treating PTSD symptoms. 

This funding opportunity seeks Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) to optimize efficacious theory driven evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments and/or pharmacotherapy for “complicated” PTSD in active duty Army service members. Proposals focused on identifying specific active components of effective/evidence-based psychosocial and/or behavioral treatments for “complicated” PTSD are encouraged. Applicants are also encouraged to submit proposals that focus on evaluating methods for optimizing delivery of treatment (e.g., number of sessions, length of sessions, spacing, in-theatre, timing of treatment, group vs. individual, face-to-face vs. telehealth, treatment titration, etc.). Expected Number of Awards: 2 /Award Ceiling: $3,500,000. To view opportunity, please go to Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX

 

DIGESTIVE DISEASES & GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEMS

Title: Calcium Oxalate Stone Diseases (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification: PA-09-213
CFDA Number: 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-213.html   

Other index terms: Digestive Diseases & Gastrointestinal Systems, Renal & Kidney Diseases

Objectives and Scope

It is the intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to increase novel and productive research focusing on primary hyperoxaluria, Dent Disease and the recurrent idiopathic oxalate stone diseases and to encourage both new and experienced investigators from related fields of research to apply their knowledge and skills to this area. 

Research topics which are included within the scope of this FOA include, but are not limited to:

• Studies to identify, characterize and investigate the genetic defects, environmental and other risk factors causing calcium oxalate stone diseases, particularly in recurrent calcium oxalate stone formers.
• Studies on oxalate physiology and homeostasis in the liver, kidney and gut (including modulation by enteric bacteria).
• Identification and characterization of genetic modifier loci that influence the progression of primary hyperoxaluria, Dent Disease or other heritable recurrent calcium oxalate stone diseases.
• Development of novel strategies to replace, correct, prevent or ameliorate the effects of the genetic defect identified in primary hyperoxaluria or Dent Disease, including the use of hepatocyte transplantation.
• Studies of methods to correct defective processing, folding or organelle targeting of mutant enzymes.
• Elucidation of the molecular events underlying disease progression, including identification of biomarkers that signal susceptibility to development of the disease or specific complications.
• Development of new or improved animal models for the study of human hereditary and idiopathic calcium oxalate stone diseases
• Development of new diagnostics or imaging technologies to identify stone type and characteristics, and/or quantify stone burden to aid clinical studies.
• Clarification of the etiologic factors for development of oxalate stone disease in patients with bowel disease or bariatric surgery and identification of improved prevention and therapy options in this patient population.
• Development of imaging techniques or other biomarkers to predict acute and chronic renal injury resulting from hyperoxaluria alone or from the results of stone surgery or treatment.
• Research on dietary, pharmacologic or probiotic interventions to ameliorate adverse outcomes or to decrease or prevent recurrence.
• Development or improvement and evaluation of novel surgical and other minimally invasive approaches or technological devices to improve outcomes of nephrolithiasis
• Research on subgroups of recurrent stone formers and treatments to optimize outcomes.
• Development of new methods to predict and/or prevent symptomatic stone passage and recurrence.
• Epidemiology of idiopathic calcium oxalate stone disease burden, including assessment of disease and treatment costs.

EXERCISE & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

 

GENETICS

Title: Barth Syndrome Foundation Science and Medicine Research Grants
Agency: Barth Syndrome Foundation
Application Deadline: October 31, 2009
Link:  http://www.barthsyndrome.org/english/View.asp?x=1635    

Other index term: Child & Adolescent Health

The Barth Syndrome Foundation, a nonprofit organization that strives to save lives through education, advances in treatment, and pursuit of a cure for Barth syndrome, has announced the availability of funding for research internationally on the natural history, biochemical basis, and treatment of Barth syndrome.

Barth syndrome is a serious X-linked genetic condition associated with cardiomyopathy, neutropenia, skeletal muscle weakness, exercise intolerance, growth delay, and diverse biochemical abnormalities (including defects in mitochondrial metabolism and phospholipid biosynthesis). Because many clinical and biochemical abnormalities of Barth syndrome remain poorly understood, the foundation is seeking proposals for research that may shed light on any aspect of the syndrome.

The foundation is most interested in providing "seed money" to be used by experienced investigators for the testing of initial hypotheses and collection of preliminary data leading to successful long-term funding by the National Institutes of Health and other major granting institutions around the world. In addition, the foundation is especially interested in attracting new investigators to the very interesting field of Barth syndrome research.

The foundation anticipates awarding several one- or two-year grants of up to $40,000 each.  Complete program guidelines are available at the Barth Syndrome Foundation Web site (http://www.barthsyndrome.org/english/View.asp?x=1635).

 

 

Title: Basic and Clinical Studies of Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
CFDA Numbers: 93.847, 93.865
PA Identification: PA-09-226
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-226.html      

Other index terms: Child & Adolescent Health, Clinical & Translational Research, Renal & Kidney Diseases

This Program Announcement is sponsored by the NIDDK and the NICHD.  Congenital obstructive uropathy is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease (ESRD) in infants and children. The pathogenesis of this disorder, however, remains poorly understood. Many controversies and clinical uncertainties exist in the detection, prognosis, and effective treatment strategies for this condition. The impact of early fetal detection and neonatal intervention, the long-term effects of watchful waiting and the various surgical interventions have not been well studied and documented. There is also no consensus on the indications for, or ideal timing of surgical intervention. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to address the numerous scientific and clinical uncertainties related to the development, treatment and prognosis of congenital obstructive uropathy, by encouraging and facilitating research in diverse areas. These areas include: the development of objective prognostic markers; the genetic determinants of this congenital disorder; the development of reliable animal models of the disorder; and, evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of various treatment strategies.

Objectives and Scope

This funding opportunity is intended to stimulate novel and productive research focusing on congenital urinary tract obstruction.  Examples that illustrate possible areas of research are presented below. They are intended only to provide a broad direction for research and should be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Some potential goals include but are not limited to:

• Identification of biomarkers of renal maldevelopment and significant congenital obstruction relevant to humans as well as animal models. These should include functional as well as cellular and molecular metrics. These biomarkers should have the potential to permit the development of less invasive monitoring approaches for either investigational study or clinical care, including improvement in the determination of whether, and when surgery is indicated.
• Hypothesis-driven basic science proposals that address the cellular and molecular basis of renal development and ureteral morphogenesis, specific genetic defects and the link between functional and developmental physiology. Some examples are regulation of collecting duct branching, afferent sensing mechanism in the tubule that lead to dilatation or cystic changes, biology of nephrogenic blastema, regulation of interstitial fibrosis, stimuli that initiate renal cellular response to obstruction,determinants of the number of nephrons in the obstructed kidney, and regulation of ureter migration and trigone formation.
• Investigation of the relationship of lower tract to upper tract changes, including the gender differential.
• Characterization of animal models to determine which are most similar to human disease.
• Establishment of comprehensive registries with well-characterized patients, that may include samples of urine, serum, biopsy / surgical tissue, radiographs.
• Determination of long-term bladder, sexual and reproductive function in patients diagnosed with lower tract disease in infancy and early childhood.

 

Title: Calcium Oxalate Stone Diseases (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification: PA-09-213
CFDA Number: 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-213.html   

Other index terms: Digestive Diseases & Gastrointestinal Systems, Renal & Kidney Diseases

Objectives and Scope

It is the intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to increase novel and productive research focusing on primary hyperoxaluria, Dent Disease and the recurrent idiopathic oxalate stone diseases and to encourage both new and experienced investigators from related fields of research to apply their knowledge and skills to this area. 

Research topics which are included within the scope of this FOA include, but are not limited to:

• Studies to identify, characterize and investigate the genetic defects, environmental and other risk factors causing calcium oxalate stone diseases, particularly in recurrent calcium oxalate stone formers.
• Studies on oxalate physiology and homeostasis in the liver, kidney and gut (including modulation by enteric bacteria).
• Identification and characterization of genetic modifier loci that influence the progression of primary hyperoxaluria, Dent Disease or other heritable recurrent calcium oxalate stone diseases.
• Development of novel strategies to replace, correct, prevent or ameliorate the effects of the genetic defect identified in primary hyperoxaluria or Dent Disease, including the use of hepatocyte transplantation.
• Studies of methods to correct defective processing, folding or organelle targeting of mutant enzymes.
• Elucidation of the molecular events underlying disease progression, including identification of biomarkers that signal susceptibility to development of the disease or specific complications.
• Development of new or improved animal models for the study of human hereditary and idiopathic calcium oxalate stone diseases
• Development of new diagnostics or imaging technologies to identify stone type and characteristics, and/or quantify stone burden to aid clinical studies.
• Clarification of the etiologic factors for development of oxalate stone disease in patients with bowel disease or bariatric surgery and identification of improved prevention and therapy options in this patient population.
• Development of imaging techniques or other biomarkers to predict acute and chronic renal injury resulting from hyperoxaluria alone or from the results of stone surgery or treatment.
• Research on dietary, pharmacologic or probiotic interventions to ameliorate adverse outcomes or to decrease or prevent recurrence.
• Development or improvement and evaluation of novel surgical and other minimally invasive approaches or technological devices to improve outcomes of nephrolithiasis
• Research on subgroups of recurrent stone formers and treatments to optimize outcomes.
• Development of new methods to predict and/or prevent symptomatic stone passage and recurrence.
• Epidemiology of idiopathic calcium oxalate stone disease burden, including assessment of disease and treatment costs.

HEALTH DIFFERENCES & DISPARITIES

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

HIV/AIDS

Title: Oral Mucosal Vaccination against HIV Infection (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
LOI Deadline: November 2, 2009
Application Deadline: December 2, 2009
RFA Identification: RFA-DE-10-001
CFDA Number: 93.121
Link:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DE-10-001.html

Other index terms: Immune Mechanisms, Oral & Craniofacial Health

This FOA issued by the NIDCR, NIH, solicits R01 applications that focus on harnessing oral mucosal and innate immunity to develop prophylactic HIV vaccines delivered through the oral mucosa.  Specifically, the NIDCR is seeking applications that will address studies on the: 1) mechanisms linking oral mucosal and innate immunity with systemic adaptive immunity; 2) development of HIV vaccine antigens in oral expression vectors that are stable in the oral cavity and have the ability to trigger anti-HIV protective immunity; 3) mechanisms of HIV infection of target cells in the oral cavity (e.g., epithelial cells and immune cells) and effects of oral dendritic (DC),and natural killer (NK) cell subset changes during disease progression or upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination; 4) DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral cavity and relationship to systemic adaptive immunity upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination; 5) similarities and differences between DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral mucosal site compared with other mucosal sites, and 6) characterization of soluble defense molecules produced in oral secretions upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination.  This FOA welcomes applications that further develop already characterized target vaccine antigens and formulations and relevant model antigens for oral delivery, target validation and early preclinical evaluation in relevant animal models. This FOA will not support basic vaccine antigen discovery, HIV vaccine clinical trials, projects on enteric vaccines for oral delivery, projects on nasal delivery methods for oral mucosal HIV vaccines, or therapeutic vaccine research.

• Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) award mechanism.
• Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. NIDCR intends to commit approximately $2 million in total costs (Direct costs plus Facilities and Administrative costs) in fiscal year 2010 through this announcement to support approximately 4-6 awards.  Awards issued under this FOA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

 

Scope

The major gaps in our knowledge for the development of a prophylactic oral mucosal vaccine include an understanding of the interaction of innate and adaptive immune responses to HIV/AIDS, adjuvants, delivery systems and sustained cellular and humoral immune responses to the virus. Research that will address these areas and facilitate the development of an effective oral mucosal vaccine is encouraged. Applications for therapeutic vaccine research, clinical HIV vaccine trials, enteric vaccines for oral delivery, nasal delivery methods for oral mucosal HIV vaccines, and antigen discovery are beyond the scope of this initiative. Examples of research topics that this initiative addresses include but are not limited to the following:

• Mechanisms linking oral mucosal and innate immunity with systemic adaptive immunity;
• Development of HIV vaccine antigens in oral expression vectors that are stable in the oral cavity and have the ability to trigger anti-HIV protective immunity;
• Mechanisms of HIV infection of target cells in the oral cavity (e.g., epithelial cells and immune cells) and effects of DC and NK cell subset changes during disease progression or upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral cavity and relationship to systemic adaptive immunity upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• Similarities and differences between DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral mucosal site compared with other mucosal sites;
• Characterization of soluble defense molecules produced in oral secretions upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• Characterization of oral epithelial cells and other cell types of the oral cavity upon oral HIV vaccination, vaccine antigen exposure, and/or oral HIV infection and their interaction with oral innate and mucosal immune cells to trigger local and systemic immunity;
• Development  of oral mucosal vaccine strategies that will induce sustained high levels of broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies to primary isolates at oral as well as other mucosal sites of infection such as the rectum and vagina;
• Methodologies to increase or mobilize antigen presenting cells (e.g., immature DCs) to oral mucosal vaccination sites;
• Mechanisms involved in maintaining the balance between inductive vaccine responses and tolerance to facilitate the development of oral mucosal vaccines against HIV;
• Approaches to enhance and characterize HIV vaccine-induced immunologic memory and long term protection to oral mucosal vaccination;
• Approaches to harness innate immunity and regulatory T cell responses together for development of an oral mucosal vaccine;
• Development and validation of adjuvants (e.g. TLR ligands, fusogens, cytokines) that will improve the immunogenicity of oral mucosal vaccines;
• Comparison of HIV-specific systemic and mucosal immune responses to HIV following parenteral and oral mucosal routes of vaccine delivery in humans and/or non-human primate models for AIDS;
• Determination of immune correlates of oral transmission and protection from HIV of breast fed neonates;

Approaches to exploit innate intracellular immune factors (e.g., TRIM5-α, APOBEC3G) for development of oral mucosal vaccines.

HEARING & COMMUNNICATION DISORDERS

Titles: Proteomics in Auditory Developmental and Disease Processes (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm 
CFDA Number: 93.173
PA Identification: PA-09-228
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-228.html

Other index terms: Proteomics, Signal Transduction

Research Objectives
High throughput technologies with the singular goal of acquiring the most inclusive collection of representative genomic sequence, transcript, and/or protein, is one current view of biomedical research. Data sets of transcript and protein expression provide investigators a comprehensive cellular snapshot of existing proteins of a given protein complex, cell type, tissue and environmental condition. While both sequence and transcript profiling have made significant advances in their technologies and utilization, there remains a need to comprehensively catalog protein content within many important cell types and tissues of the auditory sensory system.

The molecular exploration of hearing has identified an exquisite array of developing sensory organs and tissues. The identification of genes and the regulation of their corresponding proteins are important to normal and abnormal developmental processes, genetic disorders and environmental noise trauma. Numerous cell types, and their substructures, unique to the inner ear, such as hair cells, Deiters, Hensen, Claudius', interdental, and marginal/dark cells, have been virtually unexplored from a proteomic perspective. Additionally, middle ear infections (otitis media) and other diseases of the auditory system such as otosclerosis and cholesteatoma, pose important clinical challenges involving the identification of causative extrinsic factors, infectious organisms and the complexity of host response. Microarrays and other transcript sensing technologies have been used successfully to increase the number of candidate genes, but clearly there remain interpretive limitations to the correlative protein function. These assays bypass and/or inadequately address such substantial issues of post-translational modifications, turnover, and alternately spliced transcripts.

Proteomic approaches have become increasingly successful and are gaining utility for studying complex biological problems relevant to the auditory system. Technologies using tandem coupled two-dimensional (2D-DIGE) gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MS) for protein peptide identification (PMF-peptide mass fingerprinting) combined with the differentially isotopic labeling of protein allows profile comparisons between two different cellular states (e.g. disease versus non-disease). There are numerous variations of protein separation matrices as well as dispersion and analysis, e.g. ESI/HPLC, ESI-TOF/ ESI-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF, etc., and the designation of use is often preferenced by the biological parameters of the sample. Other types of high throughput assays, such as cell biochips encompassing both antigen and antibody based arrays, yeast two-hybrid systems, co-immunoprecipitations, used in combination with 2-DE/MS/PMF (or other) followed by bioinformatical analysis allow even further specialized approaches of biopolymer identification for both proteomic and subproteomic data. The attempt to generate a comprehensive proteome atlas has limitations with regard to sensitivity and detection, as well as, sufficient material acquisition; improvements have increased measurements from picomoles, to femtomoles, with some reports of attomole measurements allowing smaller sample sizes to be accurately measured.

Proteomic roadmaps display insight into the complex interactiveness of signal transduction pathways and the interconnectedness of protein associations. They provide working protein profiles that identify numerous relationships of a given interactome, and allow comparison of protein species in a comprehensive manner. There will continue to be the need for improved technologies and novel proteomic approaches that enhance sensitivity and increase comprehensiveness. These technological developments would be of particular interest when accomplished through projects directed at understanding or solving problems related to cells, organs and/or diseases of the auditory system.

The following examples are not meant to be comprehensive or restrictive, but rather represent projects relevant to the NIDCD hearing mission. Examples of projects appropriate to this FOA include but are not limited to:

• Proteomic analysis of specific cell types of the inner ear and/or their subcellular structures
• Proteomic analysis of specific otocyst cell/tissue types through a variety of developing stages
• Comparative analysis between proteome and transcriptome of a defined auditory cell and/or tissue type; comparative determination between proteomic and transcriptome results.
• Comparative analysis of infection state in middle ear tissue, cell type, in response to invasion with otitis media pathogens; comparative proteomic analysis of infectious pathogens involved in middle ear infections upon biofilm or infection stimulus.
• Proteomic analysis of auditory genetic disorders, environmental noise or drug trauma; biological and/or clinical in design.
• Proteomic analysis of purified and/or in vitro propagated cultures of putative auditory progenitor cells.
• Use of proteomic approaches to study the signal transduction networks related to transcription factors, cell surface receptors, growth factors, and other biomarkers relevant to auditory development.
• Proteomic identification of novel signaling molecules and pathways involved in cell development, differentiation, communication, function and destruction, as applied to auditory signaling processes.
• Development of novel proteomic bioinformatics as related to annotating genomic and protein sequence information for auditory function.

IMMUNE MECHANISMS

Title: Mechanisms Underlying the Links between Psychosocial Stress, Aging, the Brain and the Body (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification:  PA-09-216
CFDA Numbers: 93.866, 93.399, 93.242
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-216.html 

Other index terms: Aging, Behavioral Sciences & Mental Health, Cancer, Neurosciences

Research Scope

This FOA encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to elucidate the mechanistic links between psychosocial stress and health in aging, as well as how the aging process and age-related diseases affect the responses to psychosocial stressors.  Generally, research should be focused on (1) aging and how neural mechanisms respond to psychosocial stress and affect other body systems, (2) characterizing the behavioral, psychological and social mechanisms and pathways involved in transducing psychosocial stressors into health outcomes, (3) how stressors modulate physiological process underlying life-span, immune mechanisms, and metabolism, and (4) how psychosocial stress contributes to the development or progression of geriatric syndromes, chronic medical conditions, and disabilities in later life. Research is strongly encouraged that aims to identify appropriate targets for intervention, at any level of analysis, from societal to molecular.  Research spanning multiple levels of analysis is particularly encouraged. Research focused on oxidative stress or on environmental or physical stressors of a non-psychological nature is not appropriate to this FOA.     

To advance research on stress-health relationships in aging, a variety of fundamental research questions remain to be addressed, including, but not limited to the following:

• How do various neural and psychological mechanisms involved in the transduction of stressors and elicitation of the stress response interact with age-associated psychological, neurobiological and physiological changes and with specific diseases of aging? How can we distinguish normal age-related dysregulation from dysregulation due to the impact of psychosocial stressors?  What are normal parameters of the psychosocial stress response in aging organisms? 
• How do age-related changes in the psychological and neural systems for emotional and cognitive function impact stress anticipation, reactivity and recovery both within these and other systems involved in the stress response and in systems involved in downstream physiological dysregulation?  How does aging impact the transition from acute to chronic stress?
• What are the receptors and signal transduction mechanisms responsible for cytokine and neuromolecular actions in the older stressed brain?  What are the factors regulating stress-related brain cytokine and neuromolecular expression, release, inactivation and degradation under conditions of psychosocial stress?  How do these factors influence gene expression and activation of signaling molecules in the brain?
• How do psychosocial stressors exert their effects in multiple pathways, and what are the pathways of dysregulation?  Do different psychosocial stressors have more relevance or impact at different life stages?  Do these differ by gender? What neuronal pathways are differentially involved?
• What are the mechanisms underlying positive functions of stress (“eustress/hormesis”) versus the negative aspects (“distress”) in shaping stress-health relationships over the life course? How does aging diminish the immune enhancing effects of stress and eustress?
• What are the mechanisms by which psychosocial stress affects daily behaviors?  Do these vary by life stage? How do patterns of neural and behavioral responses to psychosocial stressors contribute to biological embedding of vulnerability or resilience?  
• What are the neural and behavioral mechanisms linking the social environment to stress-related health outcomes, and how do these differ across geographical regions, time and social groups?
• What are the mechanisms underlying individual differences in response to psychosocial stressors, and responsible for resilience and vulnerability over the life course? What are the linkages between psychological, neurobiological, and genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of stress vulnerability and resilience?
• To what extent do specific psychosocial stressors contribute to risk of developing age-related chronic medical conditions, acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, and/or functional impairments beyond traditionally identified risk factors? How do aging-related physiologic changes influence the degree to which specific psychosocial stressors contribute to this risk? Can interventions that prevent or mitigate specific psychosocial stressors affect the incidence or progression of age-related medical conditions or disabilities?
• How can animal and human models for life course and aging be used to study cumulative psychosocial stress exposure and its physiological and clinical consequences?  Can tracking accumulating dysregulation across systems over the life course be used to test concepts such as biological embedding and cumulative effects? Analytic approaches are needed that allow modeling of temporal sequences of dysregulation, interactions across systems, and incorporation of multiple levels of analysis.
• To what extent are the effects of chronic stress reversible, and what are the critical time points and targets for intervention?

 

 

Title: Oral Mucosal Vaccination against HIV Infection (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
LOI Deadline: November 2, 2009
Application Deadline: December 2, 2009
RFA Identification: RFA-DE-10-001
CFDA Number: 93.121
Link:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DE-10-001.html

Other index terms: HIV/AIDS, Oral & Craniofacial Health

This FOA issued by the NIDCR, NIH, solicits R01 applications that focus on harnessing oral mucosal and innate immunity to develop prophylactic HIV vaccines delivered through the oral mucosa.  Specifically, the NIDCR is seeking applications that will address studies on the: 1) mechanisms linking oral mucosal and innate immunity with systemic adaptive immunity; 2) development of HIV vaccine antigens in oral expression vectors that are stable in the oral cavity and have the ability to trigger anti-HIV protective immunity; 3) mechanisms of HIV infection of target cells in the oral cavity (e.g., epithelial cells and immune cells) and effects of oral dendritic (DC),and natural killer (NK) cell subset changes during disease progression or upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination; 4) DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral cavity and relationship to systemic adaptive immunity upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination; 5) similarities and differences between DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral mucosal site compared with other mucosal sites, and 6) characterization of soluble defense molecules produced in oral secretions upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination.  This FOA welcomes applications that further develop already characterized target vaccine antigens and formulations and relevant model antigens for oral delivery, target validation and early preclinical evaluation in relevant animal models. This FOA will not support basic vaccine antigen discovery, HIV vaccine clinical trials, projects on enteric vaccines for oral delivery, projects on nasal delivery methods for oral mucosal HIV vaccines, or therapeutic vaccine research.

• Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) award mechanism.
• Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. NIDCR intends to commit approximately $2 million in total costs (Direct costs plus Facilities and Administrative costs) in fiscal year 2010 through this announcement to support approximately 4-6 awards.  Awards issued under this FOA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

 

Scope

The major gaps in our knowledge for the development of a prophylactic oral mucosal vaccine include an understanding of the interaction of innate and adaptive immune responses to HIV/AIDS, adjuvants, delivery systems and sustained cellular and humoral immune responses to the virus. Research that will address these areas and facilitate the development of an effective oral mucosal vaccine is encouraged. Applications for therapeutic vaccine research, clinical HIV vaccine trials, enteric vaccines for oral delivery, nasal delivery methods for oral mucosal HIV vaccines, and antigen discovery are beyond the scope of this initiative. Examples of research topics that this initiative addresses include but are not limited to the following:

• Mechanisms linking oral mucosal and innate immunity with systemic adaptive immunity;
• Development of HIV vaccine antigens in oral expression vectors that are stable in the oral cavity and have the ability to trigger anti-HIV protective immunity;
• Mechanisms of HIV infection of target cells in the oral cavity (e.g., epithelial cells and immune cells) and effects of DC and NK cell subset changes during disease progression or upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral cavity and relationship to systemic adaptive immunity upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• Similarities and differences between DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral mucosal site compared with other mucosal sites;
• Characterization of soluble defense molecules produced in oral secretions upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• Characterization of oral epithelial cells and other cell types of the oral cavity upon oral HIV vaccination, vaccine antigen exposure, and/or oral HIV infection and their interaction with oral innate and mucosal immune cells to trigger local and systemic immunity;
• Development  of oral mucosal vaccine strategies that will induce sustained high levels of broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies to primary isolates at oral as well as other mucosal sites of infection such as the rectum and vagina;
• Methodologies to increase or mobilize antigen presenting cells (e.g., immature DCs) to oral mucosal vaccination sites;
• Mechanisms involved in maintaining the balance between inductive vaccine responses and tolerance to facilitate the development of oral mucosal vaccines against HIV;
• Approaches to enhance and characterize HIV vaccine-induced immunologic memory and long term protection to oral mucosal vaccination;
• Approaches to harness innate immunity and regulatory T cell responses together for development of an oral mucosal vaccine;
• Development and validation of adjuvants (e.g. TLR ligands, fusogens, cytokines) that will improve the immunogenicity of oral mucosal vaccines;
• Comparison of HIV-specific systemic and mucosal immune responses to HIV following parenteral and oral mucosal routes of vaccine delivery in humans and/or non-human primate models for AIDS;
• Determination of immune correlates of oral transmission and protection from HIV of breast fed neonates;

Approaches to exploit innate intracellular immune factors (e.g., TRIM5-α, APOBEC3G) for development of oral mucosal vaccines.

OBESITY

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

ORAL & CRANIOFACIAL HEALTH

Title: Oral Mucosal Vaccination against HIV Infection (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
LOI Deadline: November 2, 2009
Application Deadline: December 2, 2009
RFA Identification: RFA-DE-10-001
CFDA Number: 93.121
Link:  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DE-10-001.html

Other index terms: Immune Mechanisms, Oral & Craniofacial Health

This FOA issued by the NIDCR, NIH, solicits R01 applications that focus on harnessing oral mucosal and innate immunity to develop prophylactic HIV vaccines delivered through the oral mucosa.  Specifically, the NIDCR is seeking applications that will address studies on the: 1) mechanisms linking oral mucosal and innate immunity with systemic adaptive immunity; 2) development of HIV vaccine antigens in oral expression vectors that are stable in the oral cavity and have the ability to trigger anti-HIV protective immunity; 3) mechanisms of HIV infection of target cells in the oral cavity (e.g., epithelial cells and immune cells) and effects of oral dendritic (DC),and natural killer (NK) cell subset changes during disease progression or upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination; 4) DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral cavity and relationship to systemic adaptive immunity upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination; 5) similarities and differences between DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral mucosal site compared with other mucosal sites, and 6) characterization of soluble defense molecules produced in oral secretions upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination.  This FOA welcomes applications that further develop already characterized target vaccine antigens and formulations and relevant model antigens for oral delivery, target validation and early preclinical evaluation in relevant animal models. This FOA will not support basic vaccine antigen discovery, HIV vaccine clinical trials, projects on enteric vaccines for oral delivery, projects on nasal delivery methods for oral mucosal HIV vaccines, or therapeutic vaccine research.

• Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) award mechanism.
• Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. NIDCR intends to commit approximately $2 million in total costs (Direct costs plus Facilities and Administrative costs) in fiscal year 2010 through this announcement to support approximately 4-6 awards.  Awards issued under this FOA are contingent upon the availability of funds and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

 

Scope

The major gaps in our knowledge for the development of a prophylactic oral mucosal vaccine include an understanding of the interaction of innate and adaptive immune responses to HIV/AIDS, adjuvants, delivery systems and sustained cellular and humoral immune responses to the virus. Research that will address these areas and facilitate the development of an effective oral mucosal vaccine is encouraged. Applications for therapeutic vaccine research, clinical HIV vaccine trials, enteric vaccines for oral delivery, nasal delivery methods for oral mucosal HIV vaccines, and antigen discovery are beyond the scope of this initiative. Examples of research topics that this initiative addresses include but are not limited to the following:

• Mechanisms linking oral mucosal and innate immunity with systemic adaptive immunity;
• Development of HIV vaccine antigens in oral expression vectors that are stable in the oral cavity and have the ability to trigger anti-HIV protective immunity;
• Mechanisms of HIV infection of target cells in the oral cavity (e.g., epithelial cells and immune cells) and effects of DC and NK cell subset changes during disease progression or upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral cavity and relationship to systemic adaptive immunity upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• Similarities and differences between DC-NK cells cross-talk in the oral mucosal site compared with other mucosal sites;
• Characterization of soluble defense molecules produced in oral secretions upon oral mucosal HIV vaccination;
• Characterization of oral epithelial cells and other cell types of the oral cavity upon oral HIV vaccination, vaccine antigen exposure, and/or oral HIV infection and their interaction with oral innate and mucosal immune cells to trigger local and systemic immunity;
• Development  of oral mucosal vaccine strategies that will induce sustained high levels of broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies to primary isolates at oral as well as other mucosal sites of infection such as the rectum and vagina;
• Methodologies to increase or mobilize antigen presenting cells (e.g., immature DCs) to oral mucosal vaccination sites;
• Mechanisms involved in maintaining the balance between inductive vaccine responses and tolerance to facilitate the development of oral mucosal vaccines against HIV;
• Approaches to enhance and characterize HIV vaccine-induced immunologic memory and long term protection to oral mucosal vaccination;
• Approaches to harness innate immunity and regulatory T cell responses together for development of an oral mucosal vaccine;
• Development and validation of adjuvants (e.g. TLR ligands, fusogens, cytokines) that will improve the immunogenicity of oral mucosal vaccines;
• Comparison of HIV-specific systemic and mucosal immune responses to HIV following parenteral and oral mucosal routes of vaccine delivery in humans and/or non-human primate models for AIDS;
• Determination of immune correlates of oral transmission and protection from HIV of breast fed neonates;

Approaches to exploit innate intracellular immune factors (e.g., TRIM5-α, APOBEC3G) for development of oral mucosal vaccines.

NEUROSCIENCES

Title: About the Clinical Neuroscience Research Grant Program
Agency: Dana Foundation
Application Deadlines: Rolling deadline for 2-pg Letters of Intent
Link: http://www.dana.org/grants/clinical/

Other index term: Clinical Research

Research on brain diseases, as on any disease affecting humans, often proceeds from taking promising results produced in studying an animal model of a disease and applying these results to the first studies in human patients who have that disease. These first studies in patients usually determine whether the animal model has accurately portrayed what is actually occurring in the human disease, and whether the intervention (such as a drug, a device, or a surgical technique) works safely in patients. This first research in humans also tries to determine whether these interventions, which appeared to work in the animal model of the disease, also show promise in treating patients who have the disease.

In 2003, Dana began inviting grant proposals for these "first in man" studies of patients with devastating brain diseases for which there currently is no effective treatment. Funded researchers set up "controlled clinical studies" in patients with a specific brain disease, based on promising animal studies suggesting that a specific therapy either treated the condition or prevented it from getting worse. In these controlled clinical studies, the new therapy is tested in some of the patients while the other patients continue to receive currently available treatment. Through this process, clinical researchers determine whether the tested new therapy shows initial promise beyond currently available treatment.

Grant studies can receive up to $300,000 payable over three years.

How to Apply
Researchers interested in being considered to receive an invitation to apply to this program are welcome to send a brief (maximum two-page, 11-point font) description of the proposed research along with an NIH-style abbreviated CV to Angie Marin at amarin@dana.org. Requests will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Those investigators chosen to submit full proposals will be notified and provided with further instructions.

 

Title: The Role of Apolipoprotein E, Lipoprotein Receptors and CNS Lipid Homeostasis in Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (R01)
Agency:  National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification: PA-09-217
CFDA Number: 93.866
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-217.html 

Other index term: Aging

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. During Fiscal Year 2010, the estimated amount of funds available to support projects under this FOA is $2,500,000.  Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary.  Given the likely range of budgets, it is anticipated that 4 to 7 awards could be made during Fiscal Year 2010.  The availability of funds and the number of awards in future years will depend upon annual appropriations.

Research Scope

This FOA encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to elucidate the role of Apolipoprotein E, lipoprotein receptors and CNS lipid homeostasis on brain aging and on the transition to neurodegeneration in AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. We strongly encourage studies that aim to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of AD and other age-related neurodegenerative conditions. Research spanning multiple levels of analysis and multiple species (from mice to man) is particularly encouraged. Also of great interest are projects that aim to use lipidomics, various types of imaging and other cutting edge technologies to identify and develop early biomarkers of neurodegeneration related to lipid metabolism.

Examples of research areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:

• Understand the role that Apolipoprotein E and lipoprotein receptors play in the course of normal brain aging and how ApoE-isoform specific signaling via these receptors impacts various aspects of cognitive aging. Of particular interest are the mechanisms by which ApoE influences synaptic plasticity, innate immunity, CNS bioenergetics, age-related myelin breakdown and microvascular remodeling.
• Identify common pathogenic mechanisms mediated by Apolipoprotein E across neurodegenerative disorders.
• Understand the isoform-specific effects of Apolipoprotein E on Amyloid beta-associated and Amyloid beta-independent pathogenic mechanisms in AD and determine if and how these pathways interact.
• Identify new therapeutic targets related to the mechanisms by which Apolipoprotein E e4 confers greater risk for late onset AD.
• Understand the mechanisms by which Apolipoprotein E e2 reduces AD risk.
• Identify the underlying mechanisms of the pharmacogenetic effect of Apolipoprotein E on various AD therapeutics.
• Apply a lifecourse approach to examine how the isoform specific effects of Apolipoprotein E on brain development influence various aspects of cognitive aging.
• Apply an epigenetic approach to understand the mechanisms by which genetic and environmental factors interact in different populations to modulate the negative effects of the Apolipoprotein E e4 allele on brain aging.
• Understand how CNS lipid homeostasis changes during aging and during different stages of neurodegeneration.
• Determine the mechanisms by which lipid dysregulation in the CNS influences cognitive aging and the transition to neurodegeneration in AD.
• Understand the impact of chronic changes in circulating cholesterol on lipid homeostasis in the CNS and on other processes associated with cognitive aging and neurodegeneration.
• Determine how cholesterol transport between glial cells and neurons changes during brain aging and in response to different types of brain injury.
• Understand the mechanisms underlying myelin breakdown during aging and elucidate the role of myelin breakdown in cognitive aging and AD pathogenesis.

 

 

Title: Mechanisms Underlying the Links between Psychosocial Stress, Aging, the Brain and the Body (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification:  PA-09-216
CFDA Numbers: 93.866, 93.399, 93.242
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-216.html 

Other index terms: Aging, Behavioral Sciences & Mental Health, Cancer, Immune Mechanisms

Research Scope

This FOA encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research to elucidate the mechanistic links between psychosocial stress and health in aging, as well as how the aging process and age-related diseases affect the responses to psychosocial stressors.  Generally, research should be focused on (1) aging and how neural mechanisms respond to psychosocial stress and affect other body systems, (2) characterizing the behavioral, psychological and social mechanisms and pathways involved in transducing psychosocial stressors into health outcomes, (3) how stressors modulate physiological process underlying life-span, immune mechanisms, and metabolism, and (4) how psychosocial stress contributes to the development or progression of geriatric syndromes, chronic medical conditions, and disabilities in later life. Research is strongly encouraged that aims to identify appropriate targets for intervention, at any level of analysis, from societal to molecular.  Research spanning multiple levels of analysis is particularly encouraged. Research focused on oxidative stress or on environmental or physical stressors of a non-psychological nature is not appropriate to this FOA.     

To advance research on stress-health relationships in aging, a variety of fundamental research questions remain to be addressed, including, but not limited to the following:

• How do various neural and psychological mechanisms involved in the transduction of stressors and elicitation of the stress response interact with age-associated psychological, neurobiological and physiological changes and with specific diseases of aging? How can we distinguish normal age-related dysregulation from dysregulation due to the impact of psychosocial stressors?  What are normal parameters of the psychosocial stress response in aging organisms? 
• How do age-related changes in the psychological and neural systems for emotional and cognitive function impact stress anticipation, reactivity and recovery both within these and other systems involved in the stress response and in systems involved in downstream physiological dysregulation?  How does aging impact the transition from acute to chronic stress?
• What are the receptors and signal transduction mechanisms responsible for cytokine and neuromolecular actions in the older stressed brain?  What are the factors regulating stress-related brain cytokine and neuromolecular expression, release, inactivation and degradation under conditions of psychosocial stress?  How do these factors influence gene expression and activation of signaling molecules in the brain?
• How do psychosocial stressors exert their effects in multiple pathways, and what are the pathways of dysregulation?  Do different psychosocial stressors have more relevance or impact at different life stages?  Do these differ by gender? What neuronal pathways are differentially involved?
• What are the mechanisms underlying positive functions of stress (“eustress/hormesis”) versus the negative aspects (“distress”) in shaping stress-health relationships over the life course? How does aging diminish the immune enhancing effects of stress and eustress?
• What are the mechanisms by which psychosocial stress affects daily behaviors?  Do these vary by life stage? How do patterns of neural and behavioral responses to psychosocial stressors contribute to biological embedding of vulnerability or resilience?  
• What are the neural and behavioral mechanisms linking the social environment to stress-related health outcomes, and how do these differ across geographical regions, time and social groups?
• What are the mechanisms underlying individual differences in response to psychosocial stressors, and responsible for resilience and vulnerability over the life course? What are the linkages between psychological, neurobiological, and genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of stress vulnerability and resilience?
• To what extent do specific psychosocial stressors contribute to risk of developing age-related chronic medical conditions, acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, and/or functional impairments beyond traditionally identified risk factors? How do aging-related physiologic changes influence the degree to which specific psychosocial stressors contribute to this risk? Can interventions that prevent or mitigate specific psychosocial stressors affect the incidence or progression of age-related medical conditions or disabilities?
• How can animal and human models for life course and aging be used to study cumulative psychosocial stress exposure and its physiological and clinical consequences?  Can tracking accumulating dysregulation across systems over the life course be used to test concepts such as biological embedding and cumulative effects? Analytic approaches are needed that allow modeling of temporal sequences of dysregulation, interactions across systems, and incorporation of multiple levels of analysis.
• To what extent are the effects of chronic stress reversible, and what are the critical time points and targets for intervention?

 

 

Title: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinical Treatment Research Among Active Duty Army Soldiers
Agency: Department of the Army, USAMRAA
Application Deadline:  November 24, 2009
Identification: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX
Link: Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX

Other index terms: Behavioral Sciences & Mental Health, Clinical Research

U.S. Army Soldiers are enduring unyielding high operational tempo in garrison and the combat field of operations in order to keep pace with ongoing Wartime mission requirements. The high tempo and increasingly common multiple deployments present many human physical and psychological challenges that have a rippling effect on Soldier well-being, as well as Army retention and recruitment. The complicated presentation of PTSD may likely contribute to the finding that existing evidence-based treatments are up to 50% ineffective in treating PTSD symptoms. 

This funding opportunity seeks Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) to optimize efficacious theory driven evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments and/or pharmacotherapy for “complicated” PTSD in active duty Army service members. Proposals focused on identifying specific active components of effective/evidence-based psychosocial and/or behavioral treatments for “complicated” PTSD are encouraged. Applicants are also encouraged to submit proposals that focus on evaluating methods for optimizing delivery of treatment (e.g., number of sessions, length of sessions, spacing, in-theatre, timing of treatment, group vs. individual, face-to-face vs. telehealth, treatment titration, etc.). Expected Number of Awards: 2 /Award Ceiling: $3,500,000. To view opportunity, please go to Funding Opportunity Number: W81XWH-09-MOMRP-PTSDTX

NUTRITION & DIETARY

Title: Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment (R01)
Agency: National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development  (NICHD), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)
LOI (New Applications):  September 5, 2009; May 5, 2010; January 5, 2011; September 5, 2011; May 5, 2012
LOI (Resub & Revisions): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012
App Deadline (New): October 5, 2009; June 5, 2010; February 5, 2011; October 5, 2011; June 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
App Deadline (Renewal, Resub & Revision Apps): November 5, 2009; July 5, 2010; March 5, 2011; November 5, 2011; July 5, 2012 (alternating standard R01 receipt dates)
PAR Identification: PAR-09-224
CFDA Numbers: 93.361, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.848, 93.865, 93.866, 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-224.html  

Other index terms: Aging, Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Cancer, Cardiovascular, Exercise & Physical Activity, Health Differences & Disparities, Obesity

Specific Research Objectives

This FOA will support research pertinent to improving the measurements of diet and physical activity through the development of better instruments, innovative technologies, and/or applications of advanced statistical/analytic techniques. Research proposed in the applications should be aimed at exploring and optimizing innovative combinations of objective and self-report measures of physical activity or dietary intake in both the general population and its diverse subgroups.

Specifically, this funding opportunity is intended to support innovative research focused on assessments of dietary and physical activity patterns and the settings in which such behaviors occur, not on the determinants of these behaviors or on studies of the causal association between environment and behavior. Moreover, it is not the primary intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to make minor adjustments to existing instruments (such as simply adding specific foods or activities to the already established standardized methods and questionnaires (e.g., Nutrition Data System for Research, USDA 5 Pass Method, NCI Diet History Questionnaire, Block FFQ, Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall, International Physical Assessment Questionnaire). Rather, the purpose is to promote substantive improvements in the assessment of diet and physical activity as related to cancer or other pathologies.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Refine and test methods of diet or physical activity assessments for use in population surveillance, epidemiological studies, and/or behavioral interventions within general populations, socioculturally diverse populations, low-literacy respondents, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities, and/or children or other age groups;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve respondent self-report of diet or physical activity behavior (potential areas include nonstandardized questionnaire administration or use of life-event history calendars or other recall cues to enhance retrieval of relevant information);
• Conduct validation or testing of existing instruments to assess utility in diverse populations;
• Develop or refine innovative methods to improve underreporting of energy intake among obese and overweight individuals;
• Identify factors leading to misreporting on dietary or physical activity assessment instruments;
• Develop, refine, and test analytic or statistical methods to address measurement errors in the collection of dietary and/or supplement intake data and/or physical activity data;
• Develop, refine, and test innovative methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and/or physical activity behaviors through pattern analyses.
• Improve methods for measuring the type of physical activity (resistance vs. aerobic) and its amount (frequency, intensity, duration), the energy cost associated with physical activity, energy intake, and energy balance.
• Improve methods for assessing intake of particular types of food constituents, such as fat subtypes, phytochemicals, herbs, spices, and other bioactive food components.
• Validate methods for measuring dietary and/or supplement intake or physical activity using appropriate reference instruments, including biomarkers, objective measures, or physiologic outcomes such as strength and fitness.
• Develop or refine new technologies for the measurement of dietary intake and/or supplement intake or physical activity.
• Conduct cognitive testing of self-reported dietary or physical activity instruments to assess respondents' abilities to answer questions, particularly in population subgroups.
• Explore psychometric properties of instruments so that questionnaire items can be developed for various groups, compared using the same metric, or be administered with innovative approaches such as computer adaptive testing methodologies.
• Explore the potential of ecological momentary analysis (EMA) techniques in the assessment of the complex, periodic behaviors of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Develop and test new methods for accurate assessment in normal elderly and elderly with cognitive impairment or dementing diseases, which might result in difficulty remembering details of dietary intake and physical activity.
• Expand and integrate the use of direct observation, self-report, GPS, GIS and other instruments for the joint measurement of diet, physical activity, and the environments in which these activities occur. Such integrated measurement should improve the efficiency with which we can collect measures of energy balance related behavior.
• Explore new analytic methods or models that integrate multiple layers of diet and/or physical activity data.

PROTEOMICS

Titles: Proteomics in Auditory Developmental and Disease Processes (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm 
CFDA Number: 93.173
PA Identification: PA-09-228
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-228.html

Other index terms: Proteomics, Signal Transduction

Research Objectives
High throughput technologies with the singular goal of acquiring the most inclusive collection of representative genomic sequence, transcript, and/or protein, is one current view of biomedical research. Data sets of transcript and protein expression provide investigators a comprehensive cellular snapshot of existing proteins of a given protein complex, cell type, tissue and environmental condition. While both sequence and transcript profiling have made significant advances in their technologies and utilization, there remains a need to comprehensively catalog protein content within many important cell types and tissues of the auditory sensory system.

The molecular exploration of hearing has identified an exquisite array of developing sensory organs and tissues. The identification of genes and the regulation of their corresponding proteins are important to normal and abnormal developmental processes, genetic disorders and environmental noise trauma. Numerous cell types, and their substructures, unique to the inner ear, such as hair cells, Deiters, Hensen, Claudius', interdental, and marginal/dark cells, have been virtually unexplored from a proteomic perspective. Additionally, middle ear infections (otitis media) and other diseases of the auditory system such as otosclerosis and cholesteatoma, pose important clinical challenges involving the identification of causative extrinsic factors, infectious organisms and the complexity of host response. Microarrays and other transcript sensing technologies have been used successfully to increase the number of candidate genes, but clearly there remain interpretive limitations to the correlative protein function. These assays bypass and/or inadequately address such substantial issues of post-translational modifications, turnover, and alternately spliced transcripts.

Proteomic approaches have become increasingly successful and are gaining utility for studying complex biological problems relevant to the auditory system. Technologies using tandem coupled two-dimensional (2D-DIGE) gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MS) for protein peptide identification (PMF-peptide mass fingerprinting) combined with the differentially isotopic labeling of protein allows profile comparisons between two different cellular states (e.g. disease versus non-disease). There are numerous variations of protein separation matrices as well as dispersion and analysis, e.g. ESI/HPLC, ESI-TOF/ ESI-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF, etc., and the designation of use is often preferenced by the biological parameters of the sample. Other types of high throughput assays, such as cell biochips encompassing both antigen and antibody based arrays, yeast two-hybrid systems, co-immunoprecipitations, used in combination with 2-DE/MS/PMF (or other) followed by bioinformatical analysis allow even further specialized approaches of biopolymer identification for both proteomic and subproteomic data. The attempt to generate a comprehensive proteome atlas has limitations with regard to sensitivity and detection, as well as, sufficient material acquisition; improvements have increased measurements from picomoles, to femtomoles, with some reports of attomole measurements allowing smaller sample sizes to be accurately measured.

Proteomic roadmaps display insight into the complex interactiveness of signal transduction pathways and the interconnectedness of protein associations. They provide working protein profiles that identify numerous relationships of a given interactome, and allow comparison of protein species in a comprehensive manner. There will continue to be the need for improved technologies and novel proteomic approaches that enhance sensitivity and increase comprehensiveness. These technological developments would be of particular interest when accomplished through projects directed at understanding or solving problems related to cells, organs and/or diseases of the auditory system.

The following examples are not meant to be comprehensive or restrictive, but rather represent projects relevant to the NIDCD hearing mission. Examples of projects appropriate to this FOA include but are not limited to:

• Proteomic analysis of specific cell types of the inner ear and/or their subcellular structures
• Proteomic analysis of specific otocyst cell/tissue types through a variety of developing stages
• Comparative analysis between proteome and transcriptome of a defined auditory cell and/or tissue type; comparative determination between proteomic and transcriptome results.
• Comparative analysis of infection state in middle ear tissue, cell type, in response to invasion with otitis media pathogens; comparative proteomic analysis of infectious pathogens involved in middle ear infections upon biofilm or infection stimulus.
• Proteomic analysis of auditory genetic disorders, environmental noise or drug trauma; biological and/or clinical in design.
• Proteomic analysis of purified and/or in vitro propagated cultures of putative auditory progenitor cells.
• Use of proteomic approaches to study the signal transduction networks related to transcription factors, cell surface receptors, growth factors, and other biomarkers relevant to auditory development.
• Proteomic identification of novel signaling molecules and pathways involved in cell development, differentiation, communication, function and destruction, as applied to auditory signaling processes.
• Development of novel proteomic bioinformatics as related to annotating genomic and protein sequence information for auditory function.

RENAL & KIDNEY DISEASE

Title: Basic and Clinical Studies of Congenital Urinary Tract Obstruction (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Eunice Kennedy Schriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
CFDA Numbers: 93.847, 93.865
PA Identification: PA-09-226
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-226.html      

Other index terms: Child & Adolescent Health, Clinical & Translational Research, Renal & Kidney Diseases

This Program Announcement is sponsored by the NIDDK and the NICHD.  Congenital obstructive uropathy is one of the major causes of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease (ESRD) in infants and children. The pathogenesis of this disorder, however, remains poorly understood. Many controversies and clinical uncertainties exist in the detection, prognosis, and effective treatment strategies for this condition. The impact of early fetal detection and neonatal intervention, the long-term effects of watchful waiting and the various surgical interventions have not been well studied and documented. There is also no consensus on the indications for, or ideal timing of surgical intervention. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to address the numerous scientific and clinical uncertainties related to the development, treatment and prognosis of congenital obstructive uropathy, by encouraging and facilitating research in diverse areas. These areas include: the development of objective prognostic markers; the genetic determinants of this congenital disorder; the development of reliable animal models of the disorder; and, evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of various treatment strategies.

Objectives and Scope

This funding opportunity is intended to stimulate novel and productive research focusing on congenital urinary tract obstruction.  Examples that illustrate possible areas of research are presented below. They are intended only to provide a broad direction for research and should be considered illustrative and not restrictive. Some potential goals include but are not limited to:

• Identification of biomarkers of renal maldevelopment and significant congenital obstruction relevant to humans as well as animal models. These should include functional as well as cellular and molecular metrics. These biomarkers should have the potential to permit the development of less invasive monitoring approaches for either investigational study or clinical care, including improvement in the determination of whether, and when surgery is indicated.
• Hypothesis-driven basic science proposals that address the cellular and molecular basis of renal development and ureteral morphogenesis, specific genetic defects and the link between functional and developmental physiology. Some examples are regulation of collecting duct branching, afferent sensing mechanism in the tubule that lead to dilatation or cystic changes, biology of nephrogenic blastema, regulation of interstitial fibrosis, stimuli that initiate renal cellular response to obstruction,determinants of the number of nephrons in the obstructed kidney, and regulation of ureter migration and trigone formation.
• Investigation of the relationship of lower tract to upper tract changes, including the gender differential.
• Characterization of animal models to determine which are most similar to human disease.
• Establishment of comprehensive registries with well-characterized patients, that may include samples of urine, serum, biopsy / surgical tissue, radiographs.
• Determination of long-term bladder, sexual and reproductive function in patients diagnosed with lower tract disease in infancy and early childhood.

 

Title: Calcium Oxalate Stone Diseases (R01)
Agency: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm
PA Identification: PA-09-213
CFDA Number: 93.847
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-213.html   

Other index terms: Digestive Diseases & Gastrointestinal Systems, Genetics

Objectives and Scope

It is the intent of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to increase novel and productive research focusing on primary hyperoxaluria, Dent Disease and the recurrent idiopathic oxalate stone diseases and to encourage both new and experienced investigators from related fields of research to apply their knowledge and skills to this area. 

Research topics which are included within the scope of this FOA include, but are not limited to:

• Studies to identify, characterize and investigate the genetic defects, environmental and other risk factors causing calcium oxalate stone diseases, particularly in recurrent calcium oxalate stone formers.
• Studies on oxalate physiology and homeostasis in the liver, kidney and gut (including modulation by enteric bacteria).
• Identification and characterization of genetic modifier loci that influence the progression of primary hyperoxaluria, Dent Disease or other heritable recurrent calcium oxalate stone diseases.
• Development of novel strategies to replace, correct, prevent or ameliorate the effects of the genetic defect identified in primary hyperoxaluria or Dent Disease, including the use of hepatocyte transplantation.
• Studies of methods to correct defective processing, folding or organelle targeting of mutant enzymes.
• Elucidation of the molecular events underlying disease progression, including identification of biomarkers that signal susceptibility to development of the disease or specific complications.
• Development of new or improved animal models for the study of human hereditary and idiopathic calcium oxalate stone diseases
• Development of new diagnostics or imaging technologies to identify stone type and characteristics, and/or quantify stone burden to aid clinical studies.
• Clarification of the etiologic factors for development of oxalate stone disease in patients with bowel disease or bariatric surgery and identification of improved prevention and therapy options in this patient population.
• Development of imaging techniques or other biomarkers to predict acute and chronic renal injury resulting from hyperoxaluria alone or from the results of stone surgery or treatment.
• Research on dietary, pharmacologic or probiotic interventions to ameliorate adverse outcomes or to decrease or prevent recurrence.
• Development or improvement and evaluation of novel surgical and other minimally invasive approaches or technological devices to improve outcomes of nephrolithiasis
• Research on subgroups of recurrent stone formers and treatments to optimize outcomes.
• Development of new methods to predict and/or prevent symptomatic stone passage and recurrence.
• Epidemiology of idiopathic calcium oxalate stone disease burden, including assessment of disease and treatment costs.

SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

Titles: Proteomics in Auditory Developmental and Disease Processes (R01)
Agency: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Application Deadline: Standard dates apply, please see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm 
CFDA Number: 93.173
PA Identification: PA-09-228
Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-228.html

Other index terms: Hearing & Communication Disorders, Proteomics

Research Objectives
High throughput technologies with the singular goal of acquiring the most inclusive collection of representative genomic sequence, transcript, and/or protein, is one current view of biomedical research. Data sets of transcript and protein expression provide investigators a comprehensive cellular snapshot of existing proteins of a given protein complex, cell type, tissue and environmental condition. While both sequence and transcript profiling have made significant advances in their technologies and utilization, there remains a need to comprehensively catalog protein content within many important cell types and tissues of the auditory sensory system.

The molecular exploration of hearing has identified an exquisite array of developing sensory organs and tissues. The identification of genes and the regulation of their corresponding proteins are important to normal and abnormal developmental processes, genetic disorders and environmental noise trauma. Numerous cell types, and their substructures, unique to the inner ear, such as hair cells, Deiters, Hensen, Claudius', interdental, and marginal/dark cells, have been virtually unexplored from a proteomic perspective. Additionally, middle ear infections (otitis media) and other diseases of the auditory system such as otosclerosis and cholesteatoma, pose important clinical challenges involving the identification of causative extrinsic factors, infectious organisms and the complexity of host response. Microarrays and other transcript sensing technologies have been used successfully to increase the number of candidate genes, but clearly there remain interpretive limitations to the correlative protein function. These assays bypass and/or inadequately address such substantial issues of post-translational modifications, turnover, and alternately spliced transcripts.

Proteomic approaches have become increasingly successful and are gaining utility for studying complex biological problems relevant to the auditory system. Technologies using tandem coupled two-dimensional (2D-DIGE) gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry (MS) for protein peptide identification (PMF-peptide mass fingerprinting) combined with the differentially isotopic labeling of protein allows profile comparisons between two different cellular states (e.g. disease versus non-disease). There are numerous variations of protein separation matrices as well as dispersion and analysis, e.g. ESI/HPLC, ESI-TOF/ ESI-MS/MS, MALDI-TOF, etc., and the designation of use is often preferenced by the biological parameters of the sample. Other types of high throughput assays, such as cell biochips encompassing both antigen and antibody based arrays, yeast two-hybrid systems, co-immunoprecipitations, used in combination with 2-DE/MS/PMF (or other) followed by bioinformatical analysis allow even further specialized approaches of biopolymer identification for both proteomic and subproteomic data. The attempt to generate a comprehensive proteome atlas has limitations with regard to sensitivity and detection, as well as, sufficient material acquisition; improvements have increased measurements from picomoles, to femtomoles, with some reports of attomole measurements allowing smaller sample sizes to be accurately measured.

Proteomic roadmaps display insight into the complex interactiveness of signal transduction pathways and the interconnectedness of protein associations. They provide working protein profiles that identify numerous relationships of a given interactome, and allow comparison of protein species in a comprehensive manner. There will continue to be the need for improved technologies and novel proteomic approaches that enhance sensitivity and increase comprehensiveness. These technological developments would be of particular interest when accomplished through projects directed at understanding or solving problems related to cells, organs and/or diseases of the auditory system.

The following examples are not meant to be comprehensive or restrictive, but rather represent projects relevant to the NIDCD hearing mission. Examples of projects appropriate to this FOA include but are not limited to:

• Proteomic analysis of specific cell types of the inner ear and/or their subcellular structures
• Proteomic analysis of specific otocyst cell/tissue types through a variety of developing stages
• Comparative analysis between proteome and transcriptome of a defined auditory cell and/or tissue type; comparative determination between proteomic and transcriptome results.
• Comparative analysis of infection state in middle ear tissue, cell type, in response to invasion with otitis media pathogens; comparative proteomic analysis of infectious pathogens involved in middle ear infections upon biofilm or infection stimulus.
• Proteomic analysis of auditory genetic disorders, environmental noise or drug trauma; biological and/or clinical in design.
• Proteomic analysis of purified and/or in vitro propagated cultures of putative auditory progenitor cells.
• Use of proteomic approaches to study the signal transduction networks related to transcription factors, cell surface receptors, growth factors, and other biomarkers relevant to auditory development.
• Proteomic identification of novel signaling molecules and pathways involved in cell development, differentiation, communication, function and destruction, as applied to auditory signaling processes.
• Development of novel proteomic bioinformatics as related to annotating genomic and protein sequence information for auditory function.

TRAINING & CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB)
Agency: National Science Foundation
Application Deadline: October 14, 2009
Identification: NSF 09-573
Link: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO  

Other index terms: Bioinformatics

General Information

Synopsis of Program:
The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) awards Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology to recent recipients of the doctoral degree for research and training in selected areas of biology supported by BIO and with special goals for human resource development in biology.  The fellowships encourage independence at an early stage of the research career to permit Fellows to pursue their research and training goals in the most appropriate research locations regardless of the availability of funding for the Fellows at that site.  For FY 2010, these BIO programs are (1) Broadening Participation in Biology and (2) Biological Informatics.  In future years, these areas will change as new scientific and infrastructure opportunities present themselves; and this solicitation will be changed to reflect the areas being funded. The fellowships are also designed to provide active mentoring of the Fellows by the sponsoring scientists who will benefit from having these talented young scientists in their research groups. The research and training plan of each fellowship must address important scientific questions in contemporary biology within the scope of the BIO Directorate and the specific guidelines in this fellowship program solicitation. Because the fellowships are offered only to postdoctoral scientists early in their careers, doctoral advisors are encouraged to discuss the availability of BIO fellowships with their graduate students early in their doctoral programs. Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.