http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/funding/funding_news Here are the top science research and funding opportunities from this month's Funding News, compliments of GrantsNet http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6733 The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Central Repositories house valuable samples and data from numerous major clinical studies. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) allows investigators to apply for access to nonrenewable samples from one or more of these studies. Information about the samples available can be found at https://www.niddkrepository.org. Applicants must provide information from the NIDDK Central Repositories documenting sample availability. A separate solicitation will specifically request applications for samples from the Diabetes Prevention Trial-1, Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications, and Diabetes Prevention Program; samples from these studies cannot be requested via this FOA until 1 November. This FOA will utilize the X01 grant mechanism. The applications will be coded X01s. There are no dollars associated with these requests and receipt of access does not result in funds being awarded to the applicant. The total number of projects granted access to samples is dependent on the number of meritorious applications and the availability of the requested nonrenewable samples. 2010-07-01 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6725 The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the National Institute of Mental Health invite applications from investigators willing to participate with NICHD, NIDA, and NIMH under a cooperative agreement to support the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network (ATN) for HIV/AIDS Interventions . The primary mission of the ATN will be to conduct research, both independently and in collaboration with existing research networks and individual investigators, in HIV-infected and HIV-at-risk pre-adolescents, adolescents, and young adults up to the age of 25 years. This network will have the capacity for developing and conducting selected behavioral, community-based translational, prophylactic, therapeutic, microbicide, and vaccine trials. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will utilize the National Institutes of Health Cooperative Research Project Grant (U01) grant mechanism. NICHD intends to commit an approximate minimum of $22.5 million; NIDA intends to commit $1 million, and NIMH intends to commit $1 million in total costs [direct plus facilities and administrative costs] in fiscal year 2011 to support 17 to 19 new and/or competing continuation grants in response to this FOA. 2010-03-14 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6683 The National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) Shared Instrument Grant program encourages applications from groups of National Institutes of Health (NIH)-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single item of expensive, specialized, commercially available instrumentation or an integrated system that costs at least $100,000. The maximum award is $600,000. Types of instruments supported include (1) confocal and electron microscopes, (2) biomedical imagers, (3) mass spectrometers, (4) DNA sequencers, (5) biosensors, (6) cell sorters, (7) x-ray diffraction systems, and (8) nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, among others. This funding opportunity will use the NIH S10 mechanism. NCRR intends to commit approximately $43 million in fiscal year 2011, to fund approximately 125 new awards. Because the cost of the various instruments will vary, it is anticipated that the size of awards will also vary. 2010-03-23 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6727 This funding opportunity announcement (FOA), issued by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), solicits cooperative agreement grant applications from institutions/organizations that propose to develop a redesigned and enhanced Parkinson's Disease Data Organizing Center. NINDS and NIEHS are committed to facilitating the collection and sharing of data related to clinical and translational research in Parkinson's Disease (PD). The goal of this program is to provide a resource that will serve the PD research community by developing an ongoing repository for data from clinical trials and clinical studies, including epidemiologic and genetic studies, related to PD, and sharing of these data to enhance research. These data may include clinical, as well as associated imaging, genetic, and neuropathology data elements. In addition, the center will link clinical data with associated genetic, biospecimen, imaging, and neuropathology data as available in other databases. The Parkinson's Disease Data Organizing Center also will develop a flexible, Web-based data-entry system using standardized common data elements for PD clinical research studies that can be modified by investigators for a variety of clinical research studies. The center will also maintain an up-to-date listing of resources for researchers in the scientific community. Ongoing outreach efforts should be undertaken to maximize data sharing via this resource in order to optimize research in PD. The information technology employed should serve to optimize the accessibility and usefulness of the information within the data-organizing center. This FOA will utilize the NIH U24 Cooperative Agreement award mechanism. The participating institutes expect to award approximately $6 million (total costs) for a 5-year period to support a single center. 2010-03-30 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6735 The purpose of this initiative is to provide support to nursing collaboratives for faculty development in the use of information and other technologies in order to expand the capacity of collegiate schools of nursing to educate students for 21st century health care practice. It is expected that two awards will be supported for this 5-year initiative, in the amount of $300,000 per award. 2010-02-25 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6723 The purpose of this funding opportunity is to fund extramural health services research, demonstration, dissemination, and evaluation grants that propose to prevent and more effectively manage health care associated infections (HAIs). The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) contained herein sets a multi-year research framework, based on the distillation of existing, (1) peer-reviewed research, (2) case studies, (3) the Department of Health and Human Services 2009 National Action Plan on Health care-associated Infections, and (4) qualitative information resulting from a series of listening sessions that occurred in selected cities across the United States in 2009. Research priorities for this FOA are the: (1) development, implementation and demonstration of the prevention and management of HAIs, along with the determination of the costs of such interventions; (2) determination of the efficacy, effectiveness, and costs of preventative interventions; and (3) population-level studies on the patient risk factors, clinical presentation, sources, and disease genotypes of antibiotic-resistant organisms that can result in perceived HAIs. The scientific and practical knowledge to be achieved through these research and demonstration efforts will identify the practical and cost-effective approaches to preventing and managing HAIs. The total costs for a grant awarded under this FOA will not exceed $500,000 annually for the entire project period. The project period may not exceed 3 years. An application with a budget that exceeds $500,000 total costs in any given year or a project period that exceeds 3 years will be returned without review. 2010-03-29 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6715 This notice announces the availability of funds and solicits applications from eligible entities utilizing state-of-the-art experimental techniques and numerical simulations focusing on comprehensive research to develop new, cutting-edge engine technologies. This effort is part of the Advanced Vehicle Program, to develop advanced combustion systems that not only meets today's clean air standards but also establishes a critical foundation of support to ensure U.S. leadership in developing and producing the next generation of advanced vehicle technologies. This exciting program provides support for commercially viable vehicles of the future through innovation in cleaner and more efficient technologies that will help achieve energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The total estimated funding for this competitive opportunity shall not exceed $800,000. In fiscal year 2010, total funding shall not exceed $200,000. The Environmental Protection Agency anticipates award of one cooperative agreement, whose annual value shall not exceed $200,000, resulting from this competitive opportunity. The cooperative agreement will be funded incrementally. Additional funds may be added in each subsequent year of the agreement, subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. 2010-03-05 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6738 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as part of its Science to Achieve Results program, is seeking applications proposing to use existing datasets from health studies to analyze health outcomes for which the link to air pollution is not well established, or to evaluate underlying heterogeneity in health responses among subgroups defined by susceptibility or extent and/or composition of exposure. The estimated number of awards is approximately five. The anticipated funding amount is approximately $1.4 million total for all awards. The potential funding per award is up to a total of $300,000, including direct and indirect costs, with a maximum duration of 3 years. Cost-sharing is not required. Proposals with budgets exceeding the total award limits will not be considered. 2010-04-27 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6714 These professorships, sponsored and funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), support collaborative scientific research opportunities in China for senior scientists. The professorships provide financial support for individual scientists to conduct cooperative research at one of the institutes of CAS. They also provide support for visits of 2 to 12 months and are potentially renewable. Applicants for this professorship must apply collaboratively. The research teams must include a scientist who is a citizen of a nation having formal diplomatic relations with China (Chinese citizens are not eligible). The scientist must have been educated outside of China at the elementary school level. The scientist must have a Ph.D. degree, with academic standing of at least associate professor or equivalent. Additionally, the senior scientist must have strong communication skills in English. The research teams must also include a Chinese collaborator who is a researcher at CAS institutes and is engaged in a major research program. The Chinese collaborator must have a senior research position, and preferably a Ph.D. degree. Additionally, the collaborator must have facilities and capacity to conduct cooperative research with the visiting scientist. Scientists wishing to apply should begin by exploring research opportunities with potential collaborators within the institutes of CAS. The grant will cover the recipient's (1) salary, (2) daily living allowance, (3) round-trip international airfare, and (4) health insurance, at a level determined by CAS according to the length of the visit and the academic level of the visitor. 2010-03-15 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6713 These fellowships, sponsored and funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), support collaborative scientific research opportunities in China for young scientists. The fellowships provide financial support for individual scientists to conduct cooperative research at one of the institutes of CAS. The funding period is for 12 months, and potentially renewable for up to a further 12 months. Applicants for this fellowship must apply collaboratively. The research teams must include a young scientist who is a citizen of a nation having formal diplomatic relations with China (Chinese citizens are not eligible). The young scientist must be educated outside of China at the elementary school level and have a Ph.D. degree. Additionally, the young scientist must have strong communication skills in English. The research teams must also include a Chinese collaborator who is a researcher of CAS institutes, and is engaged in a major research program. The Chinese collaborator must have a senior research position, and preferably a Ph.D. degree. Additionally, the Chinese collaborator must have facilities and capacity to conduct cooperative research with the visiting scientist. Scientists wishing to apply should begin by exploring research opportunities with collaborators within the institutes of the CAS. The grant will cover the recipient's (1) salary, (2) daily living allowance, (3) round-trip international airfare, and (4) health insurance, at a level determined by CAS according to the length of the visit and the academic level of the visitor. 2010-03-15 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6734 James S. McDonnell Foundation 21st Century Research Awards are designed to support research projects with a high probability of generating new knowledge and insights. Projects submitted for funding consideration should be at an early, even preliminary stage of development, and should be intended to break new ground or to revisit commonly-held assumptions. Projects submitted should be sufficiently cross-disciplinary or heterodox to have a strong likelihood of influencing the development of new ways of thinking about important problems. A maximum of $450,000 total costs can be requested and the funds can be expended over a minimum of 3 years to a maximum of 6 years. Smaller amounts of money expended over shorter amounts of time may be requested to help investigators pursue pilot projects or test the feasibility of an experimental approach. The applicant can apply the grant funds towards any research-based expense, including travel, equipment, and supplies. Funds can be used to support collaborative research projects. A percentage of the funds can also be used to support small workshops organized by the applicant where the goal of the workshop is to gather expertise in support of the research objective. All projects must qualify for one of the 21st Century Science Initiative's two program areas awarding 21st Century Initiative Research Awards. The two program areas are (1) Studying Complex Systems and (2) Brain Cancer Research. 2010-03-17 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6706 The Biological Sciences Directorate invites submission of proposals that advance our conceptual and theoretical understanding of living systems. The Advancing Theory in Biology announcement supports the development of new theoretical approaches that will improve our understanding of general biological principles that account for phenomena that occur independently across levels of biological organization. Proposals may vary in size and duration, in the number of investigators involved, and in the nature of collaborations. The estimated number of awards is eight to 10. The anticipated funding amount (total) for all awards in fiscal year 2010 is $5 million. Awards will not exceed a total of $750,000 over a 3-year period. This total includes all participants in collaborative projects. 2010-04-13 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6646 The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program has been developed to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers who will pursue careers in research and education, with interdisciplinary backgrounds, deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, and technical, professional, and personal skills to become leaders and creative agents for change. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education, for students, faculty members, and institutions, by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. It is also intended to facilitate diversity in student participation and preparation, and to contribute to a world-class, broadly inclusive, and globally engaged science and engineering workforce. It is expected that 18 new and renewal awards will be funded. The anticipated funding amount is $10.8 million, up to $3 million per award, over 5 years. For new awards in the first year, up to $400,000 and an additional $200,000 will be provided for start-up. In addition, for new/renewal awards, up to $200,000 total will be provided per award for approximately 10 projects with integrated international research activities in year 2 through year 5. 2010-03-29 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6707 In fiscal year (FY) 2010, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) within the Department of Homeland Security will invest, in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), in frontier research at academic institutions. This transformational research effort will be focused on detection systems, individual sensors or other research that is potentially relevant to the detection of nuclear weapons, special nuclear material, radiation-dispersal devices and related threats. The joint DNDO-NSF effort, in coordination with the efforts of other agencies, seeks to advance fundamental knowledge in new technologies for the detection of nuclear threats and to develop intellectual capacity in fields relevant to long-term advances in nuclear-detection capability. Proposals outside of the scope described in this solicitation will be returned without review. Research proposals on detection of biological, chemical, and conventional weapons are specifically excluded from the scope of this solicitation. In FY 2010, seven or eight new awards are expected, not to exceed $400,000 annually per award for a maximum duration of 5 years. The maximum total award size is $2 million, inclusive of both direct and indirect costs. 2010-04-15 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6596 Currently, single investigators or small teams of researchers are studying the evolutionary pathways of heredity usually concentrating on taxonomic groups of modest size. Assembly of a framework phylogeny, or tree of life, for all major lineages of life requires a greatly magnified effort, often involving large teams working across institutions and disciplines. This is the overall goal of the Assembling the Tree of Life activity. The National Science Foundation announces its intention to continue support of creative and innovative research that will resolve evolutionary relationships for large groups of organisms throughout the history of life. Investigators also will be supported for projects in data acquisition, analysis, algorithm development and dissemination in computational phylogenetics and phyloinformatics. In fiscal year 2010, the estimated number of awards is three to six. The anticipated budget available to the program is $12 million. Each award, whether single institution or collaborative project, may range up to $3 million total, for durations up to 5 years. 2010-03-22 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6584 The Geoscience Education (GeoEd) Program is part of a portfolio of programs within the Directorate for Geosciences that seeks to increase public understanding of Earth system science and foster recruitment, training, and retention of a diverse and skilled geoscience workforce for the future. The program achieves these goals by supporting innovative or transformative projects that (1) improve the quality and effectiveness of formal and informal geoscience education at all educational levels, (2) increase the number of students pursuing geoscience education and career paths, (3) broaden participation of traditionally underrepresented groups in the geosciences, and (4) promote public engagement in Earth system science. In fiscal year 2010 and FY 2012, the GeoEd program invites proposals in four main areas: (1) advancing public Earth system science literacy, particularly through strengthening geoscience education in grades K-14 and informal education settings; (2) fostering development and training of the diverse scientific and technical workforce required for 21st century geoscience careers; (3) utilizing modern technologies to facilitate and increase access to geoscience education and/or develop innovative approaches for using geoscience research activities and data for educational purposes; and (4) establishing regional networks and alliances that bring together scientists, formal and informal science educators, as well as other stakeholders, in support of improving Earth system science education and broadening participation in the geosciences. The estimated number of awards is 40. It is anticipated that 35 Track 1 awards and five Track 2 awards will be made. The anticipated funding amount is $5 million, with $3 million available to support Track 1 proposals and $2 million available to support Track 2 proposals. This is a biennial solicitation, with a competition being held in FY 2010 and FY 2012. 2010-03-08 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6569 The Catalysis and Biocatalysis program primarily supports fundamental and innovative applied research on the following topics: (1) kinetics and mechanisms of important catalyzed chemical reactions as they relate to the production of chemicals, fuels, and specialized materials; (2) characterization of chemical and biochemical phenomena occurring at or near solid surfaces and interfaces; (3) kinetic modeling and theory of heterogeneous, homogeneous, and biocatalysis; (4) fundamental catalytic or biocatalytic studies of the processes for conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals; (5) synthesis of novel compositions and structures for use in heterogeneous, homogeneous, or biocatalysts; (6) electrocatalytic processes having engineering significance or commercial potential, particularly for fuel-cell applications; and (7) fundamental aspects of reactive deposition and processing for thin-film materials. This program promotes multidisciplinary research in all of the above areas. Proposals should address the novelty of the concept being proposed, compared to previous work in the field. Also, it is important to address why the novelty might be important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact on society and/or industry of success in the research. The duration of unsolicited awards is generally 1 to 3 years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000. Small- equipment proposals of less than $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows. 2010-03-03 http://grantsnet.org/search/pgm_info.cfm?pgm_id=6710 The Mechanics of Materials program supports fundamental research on solid mechanics, including (1) theoretical, analytical, and computational approaches; (2) model-based simulation; and (3) the development of constitutive models. Emphasis is placed on the fundamental understanding of existing and emerging material and structural systems behavior across time and length scales, including experimental and analytical research on deformation, fatigue, and fracture. There is significant interest in techniques that address the theoretical basis of multiscale methods. 2010-10-01