OPPORTUNITY FUNDING ALERT

Breast Cancer
Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Prevention
Diet
NIH – Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment
Fulbright
Fulbright Scholar Program
Homeland Security
Homeland Security Grant Programs
Law and Social Sciences
NSF Law and Social Sciences Program
Medical and Cancer Research
Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program
Department of Defense - Medical Research Programs - Deadlines
Political Science
National Science Foundation Political Science Program
Research Associate Programs
National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council
Sociology
National Science Foundation Sociology Program
Women
National Institutes of Health - Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health
Of Interest
Update: NIH Student Supplements
National Institutes of Health – Understanding Your Peer Review Summary Statement

Breast Cancer

Komen Promise Grants—Prevention (Pre-Application Deadline Extended)
Susan G. Komen for the Cure has extended the Prevention Promise Grant pre-application deadline. Requests for Applications (RFA) are available at www.komen.org/grants or www.komengrantsaccess.org. Go to: http://ww5.komen.org/researchgrants/grantprograms.html?ecid=vanityurl:11

Breast Cancer Prevention Promise Grants provide up to $5 million over five years to support integrated programs of collaborative and cross-disciplinary research projects. These projects should lead to the aggressive translation of scientific discoveries into interventions and strategies that have the greatest potential to significantly reduce breast cancer incidence, defined here in terms of the prevention of primary breast cancers in previously asymptomatic women or prevention of second primary breast cancers in women with a previous history of cancer. Applications seeking to prevent breast cancer recurrence would not be within the scope of this RFA. These grants seek to remove current roadblocks to development and clinical translation of effective prevention interventions. Pre-applications are required prior to starting a full application. Pre-applications are now due no later than July 31, 2009 8:00pm eastern time and full applications are due December 21, 2009, 8:00pm eastern time. Go to: http://ww5.komen.org/researchgrants/grantprograms.html?ecid=vanityurl:11

Diet

National Institutes of Health - Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (PAR-09-225) issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director (OD) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), encourages innovative research to enhance the quality of measurements of dietary intake and physical activity. Applications submitted under this FOA may include development of: novel assessment approaches; better methods to evaluate instruments; assessment tools for culturally diverse populations or various age groups, including children and older adults; improved technology or applications of existing technology; statistical methods to assess or correct for measurement errors or biases, methods to investigate the multidimensionality of diet and physical activity behavior through pattern analysis; or integrated measurement of diet and physical activity along with the environmental context of such behaviors. Deadline for new proposals: Letter of Intent: Sept. 16, 2009; May 16, 2010; Proposal: Oct. 16, 2009; Jun. 16, 2010. Go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-225.html

Fulbright

Fulbright Scholar Program
The application deadline for the traditional Fulbright Scholar Program approaches! The award competition the Fulbright Scholar Program for 2010-11 will close on August 1, 2009. For more details, visit: www.cies.org or to speak with the program staff for a specific country or world region, by going to: http://www.cies.org/amstaff.htm

Homeland Security

A core mission of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is to enhance the ability of State, local, and tribal governments to prepare, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other disasters. The Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) is a primary funding mechanism for building and sustaining national preparedness capabilities. HSGP is comprised of four separate grant programs:

State Homeland Security Program
This core assistance program provides funds to build capabilities at the State and local levels and to implement the goals and objectives included in State homeland security strategies and initiatives in the State Preparedness Report. $861.1 million is available in FY 2009. Eligible Applicants: Eligible entities for SHSP are all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Urban Areas Security Initiative
The UASI program focuses on enhancing regional preparedness in major metropolitan areas. The UASI program directly supports the National Priority on expanding regional collaboration in the National Preparedness Guidelines and is intended to assist participating jurisdictions in developing integrated regional systems for prevention, protection, response, and recovery. Eligible Applicants: The 62 highest risk Urban Areas are eligible for funding under the FY 2009 UASI program. $798.6 million is available in FY 2009.

Metropolitan Medical Response System
The MMRS supports the integration of emergency management, health, and medical systems into a coordinated response to mass casualty incidents caused by any hazard. Successful MMRS grantees reduce the consequences of a mass casualty incident during the initial period of a response by having augmented existing local operational response systems before the incident occurs. Eligible Applicants: As with previous years, 124 cities are eligible for MMRS funding. $39.8 million is available in FY 2009.

Citizen Corps Program
The Citizen Corps mission is to bring community and government leaders together to coordinate community involvement in emergency preparedness, planning, mitigation, response and recovery. Eligible Applicants: CCP eligibility mirrors that of SHSP: all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands. $14.6 million is available in FY 2009.

For full details, go to: http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/hsgp/index.shtm#shsp

Law and Social Sciences

National Science Foundation - Law and Social Sciences
The Law and Social Science Program (PD 98-1372) at the National Science Foundation supports social scientific studies of law and law-like systems of rules, institutions, processes, and behaviors. These can include, but are not limited to, research designed to enhance the scientific understanding of the impact of law; human behavior and interactions as these relate to law; the dynamics of legal decision making; and the nature, sources, and consequences of variations and changes in legal institutions. The primary consideration is that the research shows promise of advancing a scientific understanding of law and legal process. Within this framework, the Program has an "open window" for diverse theoretical perspectives, methods and contexts for study. For example, research on social control, crime causation, violence, victimization, legal and social change, patterns of discretion, procedural justice, compliance and deterrence, and regulatory enforcement are among the many areas that have recently received program support. In addition to standard proposals, planning grant proposals, travel support requests to lay the foundation for research, and proposals for improving doctoral dissertation research are welcome. Deadline: Aug. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5422&govDel=USNSF_39

Medical and Cancer Research

1. Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Grants
The Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program plans to issue three Special Calls for Grant Applications on or around August 10, 2009. Grants will be awarded to Florida-based universities, established research institutions, and eligible small businesses for the study of cancer, including prevention, diagnoses, treatments, and cures. These Special Calls are being issued due to a recent decision by the Florida Legislature and Governor Crist to increase Program funding. Beginning in the 2009-2010 fiscal year (FY), the Program will receive 2.5 percent, not to exceed $25 million, of the revenue deposited into the Health Care Trust Fund from the cigarette user fee imposed by section (s.) 210.02, Florida Statutes (F.S). Go to: http://floridabiomed.com/ There will be three Special Calls as listed below.

Special Call for Applications for Florida RC1 Grants
The intent of the Florida RC1 grant mechanism is to provide support for promising cancer-related research projects that have been highly rated by national panels of peer reviewers in the 2009 NIH RC1 federal competition but were not funded due to budgetary constraints. Investigators at all experience levels may apply. Applications will likely be limited to 10 per institution, the Call for Applications will specify a minimum federal merit score, and cancer-relatedness must be clear

Special Call for Applications for Shared Instrument Grants (SIG)
The intent of the Shared Instrument Grant mechanism is to support Florida investigators who are conducting cancer research by improving access to state-of-the-art research instruments that can only be justified on a shared-use basis and for which meritorious cancer research projects are described. Applications will likely be limited to 3 per institution.

Open Call for Applications for Technology Transfer/Commercialization Partnership (TTCP) Grants
The intent of this grant mechanism is to: encourage the long-term collaboration of investigators at eligible institutions and Florida small businesses; stimulate technology transfer activities for promising research discoveries that could lead to innovations in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment or cure of cancer; and/or strengthen a project’s economic feasibility and commercialization prospects. TTCP Grants may be used to establish the technical/scientific merit and feasibility of the proposed research and development efforts so that the project may become competitive for further SBIR/STTR-type national-level development funding; it may also be used to develop training materials for the dissemination of new and novel practices or treatments. Applications will be accepted from Florida small businesses AND established Florida research institutions.

National Cancer Institute Designation - The Bankhead-Coley Cancer Research Program and The James & Esther King Biomedical Research Program have received the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a funding organization with approved peer review and funding systems. This designation means that institutions can include cancer-related Program awards (with the exception of Shared Instrument Grants) in the required research base for Cancer Center Support Grants and the NCI Cancer Center designation. It also provides external validation of our grant awards process. 2. Department of Defense - Deadlines of Current Programs

Multiple Sclerosis
- 2 opportunities - Pre-Application: Aug. 13, 2009; Proposal: Nov. 24, 2009

Peer Reviewed Cancer
- 5 opportunities - Pre-Application: Aug. 5, 2009; Proposal: Dec. 9, 2009

Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic
- 4 opportunities - Pre-Application: Aug. 13, 2009; Proposal: Nov. 17, 2009
- 1 opportunity - Pre Application: Aug. 25, 2009; Proposal: Sept. 15, 2009

Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury
- 2 opportunities: Pre-Application: Aug. 14, 2009; Proposal: Oct. 28, 2009
- 1 opportunity: Pre Application: Aug. 21, 2009; Proposal: Aug. 28, 2009

Spinal Cord Injury
- 4 opportunities: Pre-Application: Aug. 27, 2009; Proposal: Dec. 10, 2009
- 2 opportunities: Pre-Application: Oct. 30, 2009; Proposal: Nov. 20, 2009

Go to: http://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/reftable.htm

Political Science

National Science Foundation – Political Science Program
The Political Science Program (PD 98-1371) supports scientific research that advances knowledge and understanding of citizenship, government, and politics. Research proposals are expected to be theoretically motivated, conceptually precise, methodologically rigorous, and empirically oriented. Substantive areas include, but are not limited to, American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international relations, political behavior, political economy, and political institutions. Deadline; Aug. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5418&govDel=USNSF_39

Research Associate Programs

National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council
The mission of the NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) is to promote excellence in scientific and technological research conducted by the U. S. government through the administration of programs offering graduate, postdoctoral, and senior level research opportunities at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions.

In these programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among the large group of opportunities listed on this website. Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the proposed Research Adviser to assure that funding will be available if their application is recommended by NRC panels. Once mutual interest is established between a prospective applicant and a Research Adviser, an application is submitted through the NRC WebRap system. Reviews are conducted four times each year and review results are available approximately 6-8 weeks following the application deadline.

Prospective applicants should read carefully the details of the program to which they are applying. In particular, note eligibility details. Some laboratories have citizenship restrictions (open only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents) and some laboratories have research opportunities that are not open to senior applicants (more than 5 years beyond the PhD). When searching for research opportunities you may limit your search to only those laboratories which match your eligibility criteria. In addition, note the application deadlines as not all laboratories participate in all reviews. Deadline: Aug. 1, 2009. Go to: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/RAP/index.htm

Sociology

National Science Foundation – Sociology
The Sociology Program (PD 98-1331) supports basic research on all forms of human social organization -- societies, institutions, groups and demography -- and processes of individual and institutional change. The Program encourages theoretically focused empirical investigations aimed at improving the explanation of fundamental social processes. Included is research on organizations and organizational behavior, population dynamics, social movements, social groups, labor force participation, stratification and mobility, family, social networks, socialization, gender roles, and the sociology of science and technology. The Program supports both original data collections and secondary data analysis that use the full range of quantitative and qualitative methodological tools. Theoretically grounded projects that offer methodological innovations and improvements for data collection and analysis are also welcomed. Click here for information on Strengthening Qualitative Research through Methodological Innovation and Integration. The Sociology Program also funds doctoral dissertation research to defray direct costs associated with conducting research, for example, dataset acquisition, additional statistical or methodological training, meeting with scholars associated with original datasets, and fieldwork away from the student's home campus. Deadline: Aug. 15, 2009. Go to: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5369&govDel=USNSF_39

Women

National Institutes of Health - Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health
The NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) and its cosponsors invite institutional career development award applications for Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health (BIRCWH) Career Development Programs (RFA-OD-09-006). Programs will support mentored research career development of junior faculty members, known as BIRCWH Scholars, who have recently completed clinical training or postdoctoral fellowships, and who will be engaged in interdisciplinary basic, translational, behavioral, clinical, and/or health services research relevant to women's health or sex/gender factors. Deadline: Letter of Intent: Aug. 19, 2009; Proposal: Sept. 18, 2009. Go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-OD-09-006.html

Of Interest

NIH Update - Student Supplements under Stimulus funding (for 2010)
Summer research opportunities for students and science educators created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 are well underway. To date, we are in the process of making awards to support approximately 5,100 positions in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Roughly 830 high school students, 3,570 college students, and 700 science educators are now at work in NIH-funded research projects with Principal Investigators from 350 institutions (including small businesses) nationwide. Many of these awards, which supplement existing NIH grants, have been made with ARRA funds not only for this summer, but also for the summer of 2010. Visit the Summer Research Experiences website at: http://nexus.od.nih.gov/nexus/nexus.aspx?ID=270&Month=7&Year=2009

NIH - Understanding your peer review summary statement
Implementation of many of the Enhancements to Peer Review began with the May 2009 review meetings, and applicants are receiving summary statements with new features, such as scores determined under the new system. To understand your summary statement, read on…

Scores
The final overall impact/priority score appears on the first page of the summary statement, and is in a new 2-digit format. (See our June issue for tips on interpreting your score.) The final score for each application represents the overall impact of the application. It is calculated as the average (to one decimal point) of the overall impact/ priority scores (1-9 in whole numbers only) given by all eligible review panel members, multiplied by ten (so the new scores range from 10-90 in whole numbers).

In addition, the scoring of individual criteria was instated to help improve the quality and transparency of review, as well as help identify strengths and weaknesses for individual components. The summary statement shows the criterion scores given by assigned reviewers, in the critique section. Please remember that no direct correlation exists between criterion score(s) and the overall impact/priority score from each reviewer. That is, no formula is used to derive the overall impact/priority score from the individual criterion scores, and reviewers are instructed to weigh the different criteria as they see fit in deriving their overall scores.

Résumé and Summary of Discussion
As in the past, the Résumé and Summary of Discussion section is prepared by the NIH Scientific Review Officer (SRO) and summarizes the discussion of the application during the review meeting. Applications do not receive a Résumé and Summary of Discussion if they were not discussed.

Critiques
The critique format is new with this review cycle. To help improve the quality and transparency of review, NIH has developed formatted critique templates for reviewers to use to record their comments in the form of bullets, making succinct, focused points. Reviewers have been asked to focus on major strengths and weaknesses, i.e., ones that contributed directly to the overall rating of the application. In the critique section of the summary statement, you will see the individual criterion scores and comments from each reviewer. Comments should help the applicant identify strengths and weaknesses of the overall application, as well as for each criterion.

Further Questions
For more information about the guidance given to reviewers, download the Reviewer Orientation or visit the Enhancing Peer Review site.

If you have questions related to the review of your particular application, contact information for the SRO is provided at the end of your summary statement.

If you have questions related to your application and how it fits into the funding priorities of the Institute or Center, information for the Program Contact is provided at the top of the first page of the summary statement. Go to: http://nexus.od.nih.gov/nexus/nexus.aspx?ID=268&Month=7&Year=2009

Send comments to Camille Coley, Executive Assistant Vice President or Penny Ashwanden, Content Editor.

Prior Opportunity Alerts

July 2009