McGowan Institute?
July 2003 | VOL. 7 | www.McGowan.pitt.edu
Dear Colleagues, Students and Friends:
On the occasion of the second anniversary of the McGowan Institute
for Regenerative Medicine, I would like to take this opportunity
to extend my thanks and appreciation for the sincere and substantial
contributions that has resulted in the sustained growth and maturation
of the Institute. In two short years, the McGowan Institute has
grown to include over 170 faculty and 500 students and staff.
We have been fortunate to acquire over 70,000 square feet of new
lab and office space. The visibility of Regenerative Medicine,
and the role that the McGowan Institute is playing in the advancing
the science and clinical translation of new technologies is rapidly
growing.
While we can all applaud the progress that has been made, I would like to take this opportunity to share my vision for the future and seek your participation in the realization of the goals of the Institute. Using the Institute's Mission Statement as a roadmap, the following are my insights on the status and future direction:
-
To provide a national center of expertise in regenerative medicine focused on developing and delivering therapies that reestablish tissue and organ function impaired by disease, trauma or congenital abnormalities.
Our progress to date is clearly attributable to the achievements of the individual teams lead by our distinguished faculty and by the collaborative activities amongst different faculty-lead teams. The Institute can serve to assist via joint ventures, and the support of exploratory studies. As always, I seek your suggestions on needs and means to further enhance improvements in this area. -
To foster the generation of scientific knowledge in regenerative medicine and to share that knowledge with researchers, clinicians and the public through educational activities, training and publications.
One of the important roles of the Institute is to promote and facilitate inter-group collaboration. The seminars, annual retreat, McGowan Student Network, and forthcoming changes to the Institute web site all support these initiatives; however we must be ever-vigilant for new opportunities in this area. Public education is moving forward through our collaboration with the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative, but other suggestions are welcomed and encouraged. -
To educate and train scientists and engineers to pursue technologies related to regenerative medicine, and train a generation of clinicians in the implementation of regenerative therapies.
This is the only region in the Country that has training grants for Undergraduates (PTEI), Pre-Doctoral (CATER) and Post-Doctoral (PTEI). The recently awarded T-32 CATER Training Grant (Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration) will be activated with the Fall Semester. - To support the commercialization of
technologies in regenerative medicine and thereby accelerate
the translation of research discoveries to clinical implementation
and patient benefit.
Progress to date has been slow but steady; in the past 12 months we have identified several partnerships and collaborative with industrial organizations. As our projects continue to mature, this will be an increasingly important area, and must be one of our high-priority focus areas for the coming year. Our partnership with the Limbach Entrepreneurial Center is designed to facilitate progress in this area.
I look forward to another exciting year of advances in science and progress toward the movement of our emerging technologies to clinical/commercial use. As noted above, this progress is directly attributable to all of the McGowan Team; I trust that collectively we will be able to look back on our 3rd anniversary and say that we have made more progress along the road we jointly travel.
Thanks and Best Wishes for Continued Success!
Alan J. Russell, Ph.D.
Director
The McGowan Institute is proud to have twelve papers at the 2003 American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) Conference held in Washington DC on June 19-21, 2003. The papers and authors follow. The point of contact for each paper is provided as a hyperlink.
“Short-Term Effects of Diminished Pulsatile Perfusion on Arterial Structural Protein Content,” M.S. El-Kurdi, E.L. Pekarcik, K.N. Litwak, D.A. Vorp.
“Bound Solute Dialysis with Ultrafiltration,” J.F.Patzer, II, S.E. Bane
“Human Liver Cells in a 3-D High Density Four-Compartment Coculture Bioreactor for a Modual Extracorporeal Liver Support Concept,” J.C. Gerlach, I.M. Sauer, K. Zeilinger, G. Pless, D. Borzelleca, A. Russell
“Low-Profile Inlet for Centrifugal Blood Pump,” J.F. Antaki, J.C. Ludlow, S.D. Miles, J. Wu, G.W. Burgreen, Z. Wu, P. Khanwilkar, J. Long
“Sensorless Antisuction Control and Flow Estimation in an Implantable Magnetically Levitated LVAD,” G.B. Bearnson, G.B. Jacobs, J.F. Antaki, B.E. Paden, J.W. Long
“Modification of Microporous Hollow Fibers to Support Endothelial Cell Adhesion,” A.A. Polk, W.J. Federspiel, W.R. Wagner
“Pulsatile and Continuous Flow VAD Aortic Hemodynamics: Outflow Graft Location is the Key,” K.N. Litwak, S. Kihara, Z. Wu, A. Sinha, D. Lohman, S. Koenig
“Distal Thoracic Aorta Hemodynamics During Exercise with Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist System,” S. Kihara, K. Yamazaki, K.N. Litwak, P. Litwak, M.V. Kameneva, O. Tagusari, T. akomoto, M. Umezu, J. Tomioka, B.P. Griffith, R.L. Kormos
“Control Strategy for an Artificial Vascular Unloading Device,” G.A. Giridharan, D.L. Ewert, K.J. Gillars, G.M. Pantalos, K.N. Litwak, L.A. Gray, S.C. Koenig
“Leukocyte Activation Following Bovine VAD Implantation,” T.A. Snyder, K. N. Litwak, S. Kihara, W.R. Wagner
“Computational Prediction and Fluoroscopic Imaging of Oxygenator Flow Dynamics,” K.L. Gage, P.E. Kinahan, F.E. Boada, W.R. Wagner
“Development of a Porous, Elastic, Biodegradable Patch for Reconstructive Cardiac Procedures,” K.L. Fujimoto, J. Guan, T. Sakai, H. Oshima, W.R. Wagner
"Effect of drag-reducing polymers (DRP) on blood flow in models of blood vessels," JN Marhefka, PJ Marascalco, MV Kameneva
"Increased Red Blood Cell Deformation by Minute Concentrations of Blood Soluble Drag-Reducing Polymers (DRPs)," ZJ Wu, PJ Marascalco, JN Marhefka, MV Kameneva
"Effect of drag reducing polymers (DRPs) on red blood cell (RBC) filterability," PJ Marascalco, JN Marhefka, ZJ Wu, MV Kameneva
In addition to the recognition achieved through papers, the Institute was proud to have an exhibit displayed in the exhibit hall. This was the first time at that the Institute had an exhibit at any conference. The exhibit booth had many visitors each day, many of whom requested to be added to our correspondence database. One NIH representative stated, "It is good to see academia represented here".
The goal of the CATER training program (Cellular Approaches to Tissue Engineering and Regeneration Program) is to provide a solid foundation upon which to build a productive independent career in cellular and tissue based therapy for human disease and injury. This goal will be accomplished via a highly coordinated and mentored interdisciplinary training program with a combination of required and elective courses, research activities, and specialized training opportunities. The proposed Training Program incorporates faculty from the Bioengineering department, the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the Department of Pathology to provide a unique educational and research experience at the leading edge of science with respect to cellular/tissue regeneration and engineering. This combination of training faculty research interests and coursework will provide a rich educational experience and more numerous training opportunities for the students than could be obtained within the individual university departments.
For additional details and the application form, please visit the Institute web site.
NIH-NCRR has issued an RFA for High End Instrumentation and we are exploring the acquisition of an Automatic Cell Culture Machine under this program. This project is under the leadership of Michael Lotze. Dr. Lotze is planning on having a meeting of potentially interested collaborators in July to further define needs and utilization of such a system. For the proposal, we must submit evidence of commitment to ~80% utility with testimonial letters, NIH CVs, other support pages and description of research/how it might be benefit by use of the instrument.
To further discuss the capabilities of this system, or to indicate your interest in the upcoming meeting, please contact Dr. Lotze
Bone marrow injections improve outcomes for children getting heart transplants
George Mazariegos, associate professor of surgery at the Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute and McGowan Institute faculty member and collegues report that one to five years after heart transplantation, children who had received injections of their donor's bone marrow into their thymus during the surgery had significantly fewer "late" rejection episodes than children who received heart transplants without the addition of the bone marrow containing donor immune system cells, according to a study performed by researchers from Pitt's School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. The children receiving the injections also required fewer anti-rejection drugs. Since July 2001, more than 550 transplant patients receiving kidney, liver, pancreas, small intestine or lung transplants at UPMC have been treated under the new protocol.
As part of a community outreach and awareness program, the McGowan Institute hosted 64 students from the 6th grade of Saint Aloysius
School. Dr. Thomas Starzl joined the students and the scientists
from the Institute to discuss transplant surgery and regenerative
medicine. The students had the unique opportunity to learn first-hand
from Dr. Starzl of his achievements in transplantation and his
vision for the future.
In addition to the interactive session with Dr. Starzl, the students enjoyed a preview of the program "TISSUE ENGINEERING FOR LIFE", a show about bone tissue engineering that has been developed by the Pittsburgh Tissue Engineering Initiative. The visit also included laboratory tours and some science demonstrations.
Questions – Contact Lindsay Rodzwicz, Pre-Award Grants Administrator of the McGowan Institute at rodzwiczlj@msx.upmc.edu or 412-235-5157.
Please note the NIH is in the process of revising the
PHS 398 (grant application) Lindsay will keep you apprised as to when these new forms will go into effect. |
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Title: NHLBI INNOVATIVE RESEARCH
GRANT PROGRAM
RELEASE DATE: October 28, 2002
PA NUMBER: PA-03-015
EXPIRATION DATE: October 01, 2006, unless reissued.
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-015.html
PURPOSE OF THIS PA
The overall goal of this program is to provide support
for studies designed to provide preliminary results to demonstrate
feasibility of novel approaches to heart, lung, and blood diseases
and sleep disorders. The program will provide limited support,
not to exceed $100,000 in direct costs per year for up to two
years, for such innovative research activities. Applications
are expected to focus on new research that is innovative and
potentially of high impact. Studies must include human subjects
and make use of existing data sets or biological specimen collections.
Awards made in this program may be used to support the addition
and analyses of elements of existing data sets and specimen
collections to the extent feasible within the time and dollar
limits of the program. Establishment of new collaborations is
strongly encouraged.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
National Institute of Aging (NIA)
Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH)
Title: BASIC RESEARCH IN THE BLADDER AND LOWER URINARY TRACT
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-136.html
RELEASE DATE: June 9, 2003
PA NUMBER: PA-03-136
EXPIRATION DATE: After October 1, 2005, unless
reissued.
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER(S):
93.849, 93.866
PURPOSE OF THIS PA
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute on Aging (NIA),
in cooperation with the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), invite applications
for research studies which focus on basic cellular, molecular,
genetic and developmental mechanisms of the normal and abnormal
function of the bladder and lower urinary tract. An important
goal of this initiative is to attract new and established investigators
from a variety of basic science research areas to apply their
knowledge, skills, and tools to studies of the bladder and lower
urinary tract. Areas of special interest include, but are not
restricted to, basic cellular biology of bladder epithelial
and smooth muscle cells and connective tissues; organ innervation,
vascularization and physiology; genomics and proteomics, including
studies of age-related changes in gene expression; development
of animal models; pathogen-host interactions in infectious conditions
of the bladder; and developmental biology of the lower urinary
tract including sex differences. Studies proposing the development
and application of novel tools and technologies including methods
of in vivo functional assessment and imaging are encouraged.
Also, basic science studies addressing sex/gender differences
that may predispose women to bladder and lower urinary tract
disorders are encouraged. Another important goal is to promote
productive research collaborations for study of the lower urinary
tract between clinicians and basic scientists. This Program
Announcement (PA) is presented as part of the ongoing commitment
of the NIDDK, NIA, and ORWH to biomedical research aimed at
improving bladder and lower urinary tract health.
National Center for Research Resources
(NCRR)
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Division of Chemistry, Directorate for Mathematical and Physical
Sciences,
National Science Foundation (CHEM)
Division of Biological Infrastructure, Directorate for Biological
Sciences,
National Science Foundation (DBI)
Title:TOOLS FOR COLLABORATIONS THAT INVOLVE DATA SHARING
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-134.html
RELEASE DATE: June 4, 2003
PA NUMBER: PAR-03-134
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: August 15 2003,
and June 15, 2004
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES: September 15, 2003
and July 15, 2004
EXPIRATION DATE: August 1, 2004, unless reissued.
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER(S):
93.389 (NCRR), 93.286
(NIBIB), 93.287 (NIBIB), 93.279 (NIDA), 93.113 (NIEHS), 93.114
(NIEHS),
93.115 (NIEHS), 93.242 (NIMH), 93.853 (NINDS), 93.879 (NLM),
47.049 (CHEM),
47.074 (DBI).
PURPOSE OF THIS PA
Over the past nine years the NSF, the NIH, and other
federal agencies, have supported the development of network-based
virtual laboratories, following the recommendations of the 1993
National Research Council (NRC) report National Collaboratories:
Applying Information Technology for Scientific Research. As
described in the NRC report, collaboratories are expected to
improve the speed and output of scientific research through
Internet access to instruments, data, and colleagues –
independent of time and place. Many of the early collaboratory
projects focused on remote control of distant equipment with
less emphasis on data. Changes since 1993 in both the character
of biomedical and chemical research, and in underlying computer
and network technologies suggest a re-examination of the collaboratory
concept with increased attention to data flow from acquisition
to deposition in a
data repository, data reuse after deposition, and integration
of data across various repositories and databases. The purpose
of this program announcement (PA) is to invite proposals to
develop tools and techniques to harness the unprecedented volume
of data generated by collaborations among researchers. Proposals
dealing with data from either research laboratories or from
the clinical laboratories are welcome. Using these new tools
and techniques, it is expected that two or more laboratories
will be able to productively collaborate in ways that are not
currently possible.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Title:PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE SCIENTIST DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-HD-03-015.html
RELEASE DATE: May 28, 2003
RFA: HD-03-015
CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE NUMBER(S):
93.929
LETTER OF INTENT RECEIPT DATE: September 17,
2003
APPLICATION RECEIPT DATE: October 16, 2003
PURPOSE OF THIS RFA
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
(NICHD) issues this initiative in order to support a program
of career development awards in pediatric critical care through
the Pediatric Critical Care Scientist Development Program (PCCSDP)
intended to develop resources to speed the transfer of knowledge
gained through studies in basic science to clinical applications
that improve the acute care and long-term outcomes for children
with serious illness and injury. The PCCSDP will support research
career development of pediatric intensivists who have recently
completed subspecialty training, and who are commencing basic
and/or clinical research relevant to improving outcomes, decreasing
morbidity, and minimizing disability in children who are survivors
of pediatric critical care. The goals of this initiative are
to expand the cadre of investigators trained to advance research
in pediatric critical care and to support educational institutions
in their ability to stimulate novel research. The intent of
the initiative is to stimulate pediatric critical care research
in the basic and clinical sciences that will improve long-term
outcomes in children who sustain critical illness and/or injury.
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International
Title: Program Project Grant for Diabetes Research
Program Number: 71050
Establish Date: 11/13/2002
Contact: Dr. Daniel Jang
Attention: Letter of Intent
120 Wall Street
19th Floor
New York,NY 10005-4001
Tel: 212-479-7580
Email: djang@jdrf.org
Program URL: http://www.jdrf.org/research/appprog.php
Deadline: 9/1/2003
Deadline Note: Applicants must first submit
a letter of intent. Letters of intent may be submitted at any
time. Applicants will be notified within six weeks of receipt
of letter whether to submit a full application and proposal.
The deadlines for full applications are February 3, 2003 and
September 1, 2003.
Synopsis: The sponsor awards grants intended to support collaborative
investigations that lead to or address questions of clinical
relevance that will impact the treatment or prevention of type
1 diabetes and its complications.
Objectives: Program projects must have a central
theme that is highly relevant to the sponsor’s research
emphasis areas and clearly defined goals that can be achieved
within the three-year period. Component projects should be interactive
and will generally have interdependent outcomes. An overall
Program Project principal investigator is required to coordinate
and manage the Program to achieve its objectives.
Eligibility: Applicants must hold an M.D.,
D.M.D., D.V.M., Ph.D., or equivalent and have a faculty position
or equivalent at a college, university, medical school, company,
or other research facility. Applications may be submitted by
domestic and foreign non-profit organizations, public and private,
such as colleges, universities, hospitals, laboratories, units
of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the
federal government. Ordinarily, for-profit organizations will
not be considered, except under special circumstances. There
are no citizenship requirements and racial/ethnic minority individuals,
women, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
as Principal Investigators.
National Cancer Institute/NIH/DHHS
Title: Correlative Studies
Using Specimens from Multi-Institutional Prevention and Treatment
Trials
Program Number: 72509
Establish Date: 2/4/2003
CFDA #s: 93.393, 93.394, 93.395.
Federal Contact: Dr. Roy Wu
Clinical Grants & Contracts Branch,
Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis
Executive Plaza North, Rm. 7009,
6130 Executive Boulevard Bethesda,MD 20892-7432 Tel:301-496-8866
Fax:301-480-4663
Email: wur@ctep.nci.nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-064.html
Deadline(s): 6/1/2003, 10/1/2003, 2/1/2004,
6/1/2004, 10/1/2004, and 2/1/2005
Deadline Note: This program expires on March
1, 2005, unless reissued.
PA-03-064
Objectives: The following are the program objectives:
to provide investigators with support for correlative studies
using trial related tumor specimens to compare genetic variations
and molecular changes from cell nucleus, cytosol, cell surface
and extracellular matrix to tumorigenesis and progression, drug
resistance, therapeutic effectiveness of interventions, and
various patients’ clinical outcomes; to decipher valuable
information from these tumor specimens and to discover new cancer
interventions by utilizing these tumor tissue resources and
accumulated clinical trial results/outcomes for better cancer
risk assessment, early detection and prediction for response
to various cancer therapies and prevention; and to promote translational
research and foster collaborations and interactions between
basic researchers and clinical investigators from academia,
private industry and non-profit organizations to perform correlative
studies to ensure that new findings will be rapidly translated
into clinical practice. The objectives of this program are to
foster collaborations and interactions between basic researchers,
private industry, and clinical investigators to perform clinical
translational research on promising predictive and prognostic
markers. These studies should focus on clinical correlative
or mechanistic studies that will be useful for cancer risk assessment,
early detection, prognosis, and predicting response to therapy
and to prevention interventions. These studies should focus
on correlations between biologic features of tissue specimens
collected from the NCI Cooperative Groups or other large multi-institutional
clinical trials and patient outcomes.Some examples of therapeutic
laboratory correlates may include but are not limited to: phenotypic
or genotypic alterations which appear to correlate with the
development of therapy resistance; loss or inactivation of tumor
suppressor genes related to prognosis; analysis of basal membrane
factors or genes related to tumor invasion and metastases; studies
of chromosomal rearrangements or deletions that may be used
for risk assessment, early detection, or prognosis; correlation
of tumor growth factors or oncogenes with response to therapies
during cancer progression; alterations in cell cycle control;
characterization of immune response with association to new
immunotherapies for prevention or treatment; evaluation of serum
or tumor biomarkers for risk assessment, early detection, or
prognosis; analyses of expression of cellular receptors for
growth factors or differentiating agents; defining and targeting
specific signal transduction pathways and populations of cells
for therapy; analysis of in vitro response of tumor cells to
growth factors/differentiating agents; and evaluating accessible
sites for precancerous changes occurring in less accessible
sites, for instance the oral cavity as a surrogate site for
the lung in smokers.
National Institutes of Health/DHHS
Title: Exploratory/Developmental
(R21) Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG)
Program Number: 72264
Establish Date: 1/23/2003
Federal Contact: Houston Baker, Ph.D.
6130 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20892-7412
Tel:301-594-9117
Fax:301-480-3507
Email:bakerhou@mail.nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-058.html
Deadline(s): 10/1/2003, 2/1/2004, 6/1/2004,
10/1/2004, 2/1/2005, 6/1/2005, 10/1/2005
Deadline Note: This program expires on January
1, 2006, unless reissued. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute will accept applications for the June 1, 2003 deadline
only, after which it will no longer participate in this program.
PA-03-058
Objectives: Research can
explore approaches and concepts new to a particular substantive
area; research and development of new technologies, techniques
or methods; or initial research and development of data upon
which significant future research may be built. The objective
is to invite applications in exploratory or developmental bioengineering
research (EBRG). The EBRG can support: innovative, high-risk
research, for which preliminary results have not yet been obtained;
exploration of new approaches or concepts to a particular substantive
area; research and development of new technologies, techniques
or methods; or initial research and development of data upon
which significant future research may be built. The EBRG will
support exploratory or developmental bioengineering research
that is not appropriate for the R01 grant mechanism. The EBRG
is appropriate for early stages of research or for investigating
new ideas where risk is high but potential significance is also
high and where the research needed to make a decision about
proceeding to a larger scale R01 effort is moderate. Bioengineering
is defined as follows: integrates physical, chemical, or mathematical
sciences and engineering principles for the study of biology,
medicine, behavior, or health. A few examples of bioengineering
areas of relevance are identified below. This list is illustrative
only; it is not intended to be exclusive: development of molecular
probes for imaging of structure or function; development of
new imaging modalities; development of organ culture systems;
development of biomaterials or engineered tissues; development
or evaluation of prostheses; development of medical implants,
biomembranes, or sensors; development of tools for robotic or
non-invasive surgery; development of microarrays or other tools
for genomics; development of combinatorial or other techniques
for high-throughput screening; development of techniques for
bioprocessing; research on the biomechanics of tissue injury
or repair, and standing or walking; research on the interactions
between biomaterials and living systems; research on drug, gene,
or cellular therapeutic delivery systems; and research on the
interaction of magnetic or other fields with biological systems.
CFDA #s: 93.286, 93.287, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396,
93.306, 93.867, 93.172, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.866, 93.273,
93.855, 93.856, 93.846, 93.864, 93.865, 93.929, 93.279, 93.173,
93.121, 93.847, 93.848, 93.849, 93.113, 93.821, 93.859, 93.862,
93.242, 93.853, 93.361, 93.879.
National Cancer Institute/NIH/DHHS
Title: High-Impact Pilot
Studies in Cancer Biology
Program Number: 71550
Establish Date: 12/10/2002
Federal Contact: Dr. Barbara A. Spalholz
Division of Cancer Biology
EPN 5034
Bethesda,MD 20892-7396
Tel:301-496-7028
Fax:301-402-1037
Email: bs62d@nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-041.html
Deadline(s): 10/1/2003, 2/1/2004, 6/1/2004
and 10/1/2004
Deadline Note: This program expires on December
31, 2004, unless reissued.
PA-03-041
Objectives: Appropriate projects
would be those that could lead to a breakthrough in understanding
of the cancer process, significantly challenge accepted paradigms
on cancer mechanisms, or reveal novel targets for therapeutic
exploration. Proposals must be relevant to the sponsor’s
mission with potential to have high impact on understanding
of basic cancer biology. High impact is defined as having the
potential for precedent-setting significance. Examples of appropriate
research areas include, but are not restricted to, how variations
in genes combine with the cellular environment to cause cancer;
development of new experimental models that parallel human cancer-related
pathways and processes; and exploration of new molecular pathways
important in cancer biology particularly those that could realistically
lead to novel targets for therapeutic development. An important
goal of this program is to accelerate basic cancer biology research
that could greatly benefit all aspects of cancer research.
Eligibility: Applications will be accepted from newly independent
or established investigators, however, these grants are not
intended to support or supplement ongoing funded research.
National Cancer Institute/NIH/DHHS
Title: Quick-Trials for Novel Cancer Therapies
Program Number: 53900
Establish Date: 2/1/2000
Federal Contact: Dr. Roy Wu
Clinical Grants & Contracts Branch,
Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program
Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, Executive Plaza
North, Rm. 7009
6130 Executive Boulevard
Bethesda,MD 20892-7432
Tel: 301-496-8866
Fax: 301-480-4663
Email: wur@ctep.nci.nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-005.html
Deadline(s): 8/11/2003, 12/9/2003, 4/9/2004
and 8/9/2004
Deadline Note: This program expires on August
10, 2004, unless reissued.
PAR-03-005
Objectives: The focus is
on translational research in new agent development to ensure
the timely exploitation of new cancer therapeutic approaches
including the development of new cancer prevention agents. Awards
support exploratory translational and clinical research studies
involving cancer prevention, chemotherapy and rapid development
and application of novel clinical cancer therapies including
image guided therapeutic procedures. This program will support
scientific, technological, clinical and logistical needs in
novel cancer therapy development.
Eligibility: An application may include one or more institutions
(e.g., individual institutions, consortia, cancer centers) with
established clinical, laboratory, and statistical resources.
National Insitutes of Health/DHHS
Title: Research on Ethical
Issues in Human Studies
Program Number: 48669
Establish Date: 4/7/1999
Federal Contact: Della M. Hann, Ph.D.
Office of Extramural Research
Building 1, Room 152
Bethesda,MD 20892
Tel: 301-402-2725
Fax: 301-402-3469
Email: hannd@od.nih.gov
Program URL: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-103.html
Deadline(s): 10/1/2003, 2/1/2004, 6/1/2004
and 10/1/2004
Deadline Note: This program expires in April
2005, unless reissued.
PA-99-079
Objectives: The purpose of
this program announcement is to solicit research addressing
the ethical challenges of involving human participants in research
in order to inform and optimize protections for human participation
in research. Interdisciplinary and collaborative projects are
encouraged, particularly those involving clinical researchers,
ethicists, and behavioral/social scientists. Examples of the
types of topics that would be appropriate for applications submitted
under this announcement include, but are not limited to, the
following: Minimizing Risks in Human Research; Issues in Informed
Consent; and Oversight of Research and Research Data.
Eligibility: New investigators are encouraged
to apply.
National Center for Research Resources/NIH/DHHS
Title: Integrated Biomedical
Technology Research Resources for Proteomics and Glycomics
Program Number: 68915
Establish Date: 7/29/2002
Federal Contact: Douglas M. Sheeley, Sc.D.
Division of Biomedical Technology
6705 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7965
Bethesda,MD 20892-7965
Tel: 301-435-0755
Fax: 301-480-3659
Email: sheeleyd@ncrr.nih.gov
Program URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-132.html
Deadline(s): 9/1/2003 and 10/1/2003
Deadline Note: Although not required, and not
binding, the sponsor requests a letter of intent. Letter of
intent receipt dates are September 1, January 1, and May 1.
The corresponding application receipt dates are October 1, February
1, and June 1. This program expires on November 1, 2003, unless
reissued.
PA-02-132
Objectives: The sponsor provides
support to foster the development of improved technologies and
methods for proteomics and glycomics research by sponsoring
integrated Biomedical Technology Research Resources through
the P41 mechanism. These integrated Research Resources will
develop a range of innovative analytical tools and methods,
and apply these tools to biologically significant problems.
The Research Resources will also provide broad access to these
integrated technologies through collaboration, service, training,
and dissemination activities. While some responses to this program
announcement will concentrate on core proteomics technologies,
those with special expertise in analytical glycobiology are
encouraged. Proposed integrated research resource centers should
focus on the core technological and methodological problems
of proteomics. Regardless of the specific experimental approaches
taken in proteomics experiments, a common theme in this field
is the need for synergy among three principal domains: biological
competencies; analytical chemistry; and computational tools.
These domains should each inform the development of tools and
methods in their counterpart areas. Within the broad scope of
proteomics, there are perhaps five types of questions that are
addressed in some form: identification of individual proteins,
recognition of protein interactions; relative quantitation to
distinguish differential expression of proteins; characterization
of post-translational modifications; and formulation of models
based on results from components one through four. Glycobiology-focused
proteomics, or glycomics, requires the development of novel
approaches and tools directed at the special challenges of glycobiology.
Strategies for separation, profiling, quantitation, and detailed
characterization of carbohydrate structures are central challenges.
Bioinformatics tools are needed for data handling and reduction,
correlation of carbohydrate and protein information, recognizing
shifts in glycoprotein microheterogeneity, and model building.
Synthesis, three-dimensional structural analysis, and a variety
of other carbohydrate-specific analytical tools may prove necessary
to varying degrees, depending on the global strategies adopted
and thematic focus of a center. Providing biomedical investigators
access to a Resource’s technology constitutes the service
activity. Plans for training activities must be submitted. Plans
for dissemination of the Resource’s technology, expertise
or accomplishments must be submitted.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants are domestic for-profit or
non-profit organizations, public or private institutions, such
as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories, units
of state and local governments, and eligible agencies of the
federal government. Foreign institutions may be included as
subcontracts. It is not absolutely required that all participating
investigators and laboratories be collocated either at a single
institution or in the same local geographic area. A minimum
of three technological research projects constitutes the core
section of the application. Resource Center staff should continuously
develop new, significant applications of the resource technology
in the biomedical sciences through high-quality collaborative
research projects that are closely related to core technology
development.
National Institutes of Health/DHHS
Program Number: 60507
Title: NCRR—Strategies for Germ-Line
Modification in the Rat
Establish Date: 4/10/2001
Federal Contact: John D. Harding, Ph.D.
Division of Comparative Medicine
6705 Rockledge Drive
Suite 6050, MSC 7965
Bethesda,MD 20892-7965
Tel:301-435-0776
Fax:301-480-3819
Email: hardingj@ncrr.nih.gov
URL: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-01-077.html
Deadline(s): 9/1/2003 and 10/1/2003
Deadline Note: Although not required, and not
binding, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter
of intent. Letter of intent receipt dates are September 1, 2001,
September 1, 2002, and September 1, 2003. The corresponding
application receipt dates are October 1, 2001, October 1, 2002,
and October 1, 2003.
PAR-01-077
Objectives: Development of
rat embryonic stem cell (ESC) technology by modification of
current techniques or development of new approaches will meet
the needs of researchers using the rat to study human health
and disease. This initiative is designed for rat models only
and should not include human subjects or tissues. Some illustrative
examples of research topics that could be addressed under this
program announcement are:
--strategies for culturing pluripotent rat ESCs to allow genetic
manipulation and to create rats with germ-line transmission
of genetic modifications.
--development of alternative technologies to create null mutations
or gene replacement in the rat.
--development of cost-effective NT procedures in the rat.
--studies that demonstrate mutation transfer to rat stem cells
or other cells for transfer into embryos or germ cells.
--methods for targeting engineered introns into rat chromosomal
DNA to support the study of gene function.
CFDA #s: 93.306, 93.396, 93.837, 93.865, 93.853,
93.866, 93.279.
NCRR, NHGRI, & NIBIB/NIH/DHHS
Title: NCRR—Technology
Development for Biomedical Applications:Phased Innovation Award
(R21/R33)
Program Number: 40183
Establish Date: 4/1/1998
Federal Contact: Gregory K. Farber, Ph.D.
Biomedical Technology
One Rockledge Centre, Room 6152
6705 Rockledge Drive MSC 7965
Bethesda,MD 20892-7965
Tel: 301-435-0755
Fax: 301-480-3659
Email: farberg@ncrr.nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-02-091.html
Deadline(s): 6/1/2003 and 10/1/2003
Deadline Note: This program expires on March
1, 2005, unless reissued.
Objectives: The proposed
research may involve conceptualization, design, fabrication,
and/or testing of new instruments or devices. Applications to
develop new experimental techniques and protocols using existing
instrumentation are also welcome. Applications to develop new
software are also invited, but this does not include most proposals
in the area of medical informatics. It is expected that applications
in any of these areas will have broad application to biomedical
research. The overall objective of these applications for new
instruments, techniques, or software should be the development
of more powerful and more precise technology for biomedical
research. NCRR and NIBIB are especially interested in proposals
in the areas of biomedical engineering, technologies for the
study of structure and function of biological systems at all
levels of complexity, and biomedical imaging. The NHGRI is interested
in supporting technological advances in the following areas
of research: genomic sequencing; human sequence variation (e.g.,
genotyping); functional genomics; comparative genomics; and
bioinformatics and computational biology related to the other
topic areas. The highest priority is for technologies that will
support comprehensive analyses of entire genomes or their products
in cells and tissues. The primary intent is to stimulate the
development of new techniques for biomedical research that will
allow scientists to achieve the biomedical breakthroughs of
tomorrow. High risk applications are encouraged, and the innovative
nature of the application will be part of the review criteria.
For some high risk applications, it may be appropriate to use
the R21 mechanism to generate preliminary data.
CFDA #s: 93.371, 93.286, 93.287.
National Institutes of Health/DHHS
Title: Novel Approaches to
Enhance Animal Stem Cell Research
Program Number: 69163
Establish Date: 8/12/2002
Federal Contact: John D. Harding, Ph.D.
Division of Comparative Medicine
6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6050, MSC 7965
Bethesda,MD 20892-7965
Tel: 301-435-0744
Fax: 301-480-3819
Email: hardingj@ncrr.nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-147.html
Deadline(s): 10/1/2003 and 2/1/2004
Deadline Note: This program expires on May
31, 2004 unless reissued.
PA-02-147
Objectives: Research to isolate, characterize
and identify totipotent and multipotent stem cells from nonhuman
biomedical research animal models, as well as to generate reagents
and techniques to characterize and separate those stem cells
from other cell types is encouraged. Innovative approaches to
the problems of making multipotent stem cells available from
a variety of nonhuman sources, and to creating reagents that
will identify those stem cells across species and allow for
separation of multipotent stem cells from differentiated cell
types, will be stressed. This initiative will support the isolation
and characterization of embryonic and other multipotent stem
cells in a variety of nonhuman animal species. Examples of research
areas appropriate to this announcement include, but are not
limited to: projects to expand the number of nonhuman animal
model systems in which embryonic stem cells are available; projects
to identify, isolate, culture and characterize multipotent stem
cell populations derived from nonhuman embryonic stem cells.;
projects to identify, isolate, culture and characterize multipotent
stem cells from post-fetal tissue types; projects to generate
and use panels of markers for stem cell attributes common across
species for use in characterization and isolation of stem cells
in a range of animal species or tissues; and projects to create
universal methods of culture to maintain the undifferentiated
state of embryonic or other characterized, multipotential stem
cells across nonhuman animal species. Projects supported by
the NCRR are intended to generate research tools, reagents or
multipotential stem cells of utility to research on a broad
range of tissue or cell types and of interest to more than one
categorical or disease-oriented Institute or Center of the National
Institutes of Health. Projects that will focus on research on
tissues or disease processes specific to the mission of an Institute
or Center should be directed to the respective Institute or
Center. The research should clearly expand the usefulness of
nonhuman animal model systems by generating multipotential stem
cells appropriate to those systems and tools that will allow
for further research on those stem cells.
CFDA #s: 93.306, 93.396, 93.867, 93.839, 93.287,
93.864, 93.849, 93.242, 93.853, 93.866, 93.173, 93.279.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS
Title: NHLBI Innovative Research
Grant Program
Program Number: 70903
Establish Date: 11/6/2002
Federal Contact: David A. Lathrop, Ph.D.
Division of Heart And Vascular Diseases
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 9186 (MSC 7940)
Bethesda,MD 20892-7940
Tel: 301-435-0504
Fax: 301-480-1454
Email: LathropD@nhlbi.nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-015.html
Deadline(s): 10/1/2003, 2/1/2004, 6/1/2004,
10/1/2004, 2/1/2005, 6/1/2005, 10/1/2005, 2/1/2006, 6/1/2006
and 10/1/2006
Deadline Note: This program expires on October
1, 2006, unless reissued.
PA-03-015
Objectives: Applications are expected to focus
on new research that is innovative and potentially of high impact.
Studies must include human subjects and make use of existing
data sets or biological specimen collections. Awards made in
this program may be used to support the addition and analyses
of elements of existing data sets and specimen collections.
The goal is to facilitate performance of short term projects
that explore innovative approaches not readily supported by
other funding mechanisms and that require the use of existing
data sets or existing collections of biological specimens. The
program is intended to encourage investigation of exciting new
ideas by relaxing the stringent need for preliminary data and
demonstration of concept feasibility. The program encourages
both new and experienced investigators to explore new collaborations
and approaches that address promising, yet underdeveloped, research
topics and therapeutic approaches while employing existing data
sets or existing biological specimen collections. The program
focuses on support of research activities that are not easily,
or currently, supported by other NIH funding mechanisms and
that require use of existing data sets or existing biological
specimen collections. Activities that promote the formation
of new research collaborations and explore new approaches and
test imaginative new ideas while providing preliminary data
to demonstrate concept feasibility are especially encouraged.
For the purposes of this Program Announcement, grant applications
will be allowed in either of the two areas defined below as
they relate to heart, lung, blood, and sleep research: studies
to analyze existing data sets to explore new hypotheses; and
studies employing existing biological specimens to test new
hypotheses.
Eligibility: Establishment of new collaborations is strongly
encouraged. Applications from new investigators are particularly
encouraged. An applicant may not submit more than one application
per receipt date, and a Principal Investigator cannot have more
than one concurrent grant award under the aegis of this program.
CFDA #s: 93.837, 93.838, 93.839.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS
Title: NHLBI—Animal
Models of Organ-Specific Tolerance for Heart and Lung Transplantation
Program Number: 64690
Establish Date: 1/25/2002
Federal Contact: Judith Massicot-Fisher, PhD
Division of Heart and Vascular Disease
Rockledge II, Room 9184
Bethesda,MD 20892-7940
Tel: 301-435-0528
Fax: 302-480-1454
Email: Massicoj@nih.gov
Program URL: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-02-044.html
Deadline(s): 10/1/2003, 2/1/2004, 6/1/2004,
10/1/2004 and 2/1/2005
Deadline Note: The program will expire on March
1, 2005, unless reissued.
PA-02-044
Objectives: The long-range goal is to provide
animal models that may be used for preclinical studies of immune
tolerance induction, specifically in heart or lung studies,
and improve the long-term quality of life and survival of recipients
of heart and lung transplants. This program seeks to encourage
multidisciplinary research that will focus on elucidating methods
and mechanisms of antigen-specific tolerance induction and maintenance
in clinically relevant animal transplant models. Both small
and large animal models are appropriate for studies investigating
tolerance in the lung. Heart studies should use only large animal
models. Human studies are not appropriate.
Specific examples of areas of research interest may include,
but are not restricted to, the following:
--definition and manipulation of specific immune pathways involved
in the induction and maintenance of antigen-specific tolerance,
including: co-stimulatory pathways, cytokine modulation, the
role of adhesion molecules, and leukocyte migration.
--identification of allo-reactive lymphocytes subsets and their
correlation with functions such as inflammation, homing and
migration.
--determination and validation of biomarkers of antigen-specific
immune tolerance.
--studies of the genetics of tolerance induction and long-term
maintenance of tolerance.
--elucidation of the molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms
involved in the loss of antigen-specific tolerance.
--use of very young animals to determine whether it is easier
to induce tolerance in a young animal before the immune system
is mature.
CFDA #s: 93.837, 93.838.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute/NIH/DHHS
Title: NHLBI—Pathogenesis
and Treatment of Lymphedema
Program Number: 59071
Establish Date: 12/18/2000
Federal Contact: Henry Chang, M.D.
Division of Blood Diseases and Resources
6701 Rockledge Drive
MSC 7950
Bethesda,MD 20892-7950
Tel: 301-435-0067
Fax: 301-480-1060
Email: changh@nih.gov
Program URL: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-01-035.html
Deadline: 10/1/2003
Deadline Note: Application receipt dates are
February 1, June 1, and October 1. This program expires on December
31, 2003, unless reissued.
PA-01-035
Objectives: The purpose of this program announcement
is to stimulate research on the biology of the lymphatic system,
and to characterize at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ,
and intact organism levels, the pathophysiologic mechanisms
that cause the disease, and to discover new therapeutic interventions.
The scope of this research includes developmental biology and
genetics of the lymphatic system to identify and characterize
genes important for its organization and regulation. Such knowledge
will help to improve early diagnosis of affected individuals,
the choice and timing of treatment, and genetic counseling.
Research is also needed on the pathophysiology of the disorders
of skin and subcutaneous tissue secondary to chronic lymphedema,
and lymphedema which results from cancers and cancer treatment,
with an ultimate goal to develop more targeted and effective
therapies. The NHLBI, NICHD, NIAMS, and NCI are interested in
approaches that will identify the developmental, molecular,
and cellular defects that contribute to lymphedema as well as
the development of effective therapeutic interventions to treat
both primary and secondary lymphedemas.
CFDA #s: 93.837, 93.839, 93.865, 93.846, 93.396.
National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Title: NCRR High End Instrumentation
Program
RFA Number: RR-03-009
Release Date: May 29, 2003
Federal Contact: Marjorie A. Tingle, PhD
Program Director
High End Instrumentation Grant Program
National Center for Research Resources
1 Democracy Building, Room 958
6701 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 4874
Bethesda, MD 20892-4874
Telephone: 301-435-0772
Fax: 301-480-3659
Email: HEI@mail.nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-03-009.html
Deadline: Letter of Intent Receipt Date –
August 15, 2003
Application Receipt Date – September 19, 2003
OBJECTIVES: With advances
in technological development, biomedical scientists require
ever more powerful tools for their research. As new instruments
with enhanced performance become available, their importance
for research increases along with the costs. Although the Shared
Instrumentation Grant Program (SIG) provides a cost-effective
mechanism for groups of NIH supported investigators to obtain
commercially available equipment costing between $100,000 and
$500,000, there is a continuing need for an NIH program that
provides expensive, high-end instruments to the broad community
of basic and clinical scientists. To meet the demands of the
community,the NCRR initiated this HEI program in FY 2002 to
support expensive, high-end instruments.
CFDA#: 93.389
NCRR, NIBIB, NIDA, NIEHS, NIMH, NINDS, NLM, CHEM, &
DBI
Title: Tools for Collaborations
that Involve Data Sharing
PA Number: PAR-03-134
Release Date: June 4, 2003
Federal Contact: Gregory Farber, PhD
Division of Biomedical Technology
National Center for Research Resources
6701 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 4874
Bethesda, MD 20892-4874
Telephone: 301-435-0778
Fax: 301-480-3659
Email: gf48a@nih.gov
URL: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-03-134.html
Deadline: Letter of Intent Receipt Dates –
August 15, 2003 and June 15, 2004
Application Receipt Dates – September 15, 2003 and July
15, 2004
Objectives:
Great opportunities are possible as researchers combine
rapidly improving information technology and the new availability
of data with team and collaborative approaches that enable handling
larger scale problems. Understanding these trends, the National
Center for Research Resources convened a workshop in September
2002 (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/biotech/collabmtg2002.asp).
Members of that workshop were charged to review the state and
future directions of collaboratories and associated technologies.
They were asked to focus on opportunities created by the newly
data rich environment of biomedical research.
Workshop participants concluded that collaboratories focused on data can enable cross-disciplinary work, allow scientific activities to scale to a natural level (not being limited by physical constraints), promote greater data integration and access, build stronger research communities, and broaden the engagement in science beyond the traditional community. Collectively, these advances will drive the digitally enabled translational medicine of the future. Furthermore, the tools and techniques that are developed may help in addressing some of the management issues common to many large NIH or NSF supported projects.
This PA invites proposals to develop
collaborative tools and techniques that creatively manage and
analyze large amounts of data that are generated during research
and need to be shared among several (or many) groups. Until
recently, data were generated in a single laboratory and served
as the basis for publications in the peer-reviewed literature.
While that pathway still exists, in the developing data rich
environment a second pathway is emerging that is likely to become
important. In this second pathway, the raw data generated by
the initial laboratory are used by a second laboratory to make
new discoveries that, in all likelihood, would not have otherwise
been made.