January 19, 2012

SPOTLIGHT

Centers of Excellence in Pain Education logoProposals Sought To Support Pain Management Education in Health Professional Schools

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pain Consortium is encouraging medical, dental, nursing and pharmacy schools to respond to a new funding opportunity to develop Centers of Excellence in Pain Education. On December 30, 2011, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was released by Altarum Institute and Palladian Partners, on behalf of the NIH Pain Consortium, to develop and disseminate pain management curriculum resources for health care professionals and provide leadership for change in pain management education.

The purpose of the RFP is to fund the creation of Centers of Excellence in Pain Education (CoEPEs). The CoEPEs will act as hubs for the creation, development, evaluation, integration, promotion and distribution of pain management curriculum resources, as well as be leaders for change in the pain management education of health professionals nationwide. Each CoEPE will develop and promote high-quality, scientifically reviewed and evaluated educational resources for the teaching of pain management. Each CoEPE will be expected to market its own resources as well as other resources developed through this initiative.

Awards: Three years of funding at the following maximum levels (subject to further evaluation during the negotiation process):

  • Year 1: $95,000
  • Year 2: $90,000
  • Year 3: $90,000

Letters of Intent Receipt Date: January 24, 2012
Application Deadline: March 5, 2012

Send letters of intent and funding applications to PainEducation@palladianpartners.com.

NEWS

Protein Signaling Ties Muscle Development to Bone

Researchers at the University of Colorado in Boulder have found that, in embryonic mice, a protein secreted by developing bone signals muscle precursor cells to help bring about a crucial stage of muscle development. During the process, called secondary myogenesis, embryonic precursor cells differentiate and fuse to form muscle mass in the animals’ limbs. The scientists’ discovery, which involves a protein known as Indian hedgehog, also supports the idea that tissues previously thought not to interact through protein signaling do, in fact, communicate with each other. The study was supported, in part, by the NIAMS, and appeared in the journal Developmental Biology.


Bone Drug Holds Promise as Therapy for People With OA

Researchers supported by the NIAMS have shown that a medication that triggers new bone formation in people with osteoporosis can restore cartilage in a mouse model of injury-induced osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Their findings were reported in Science Translational Medicine.


NIH Researchers Uncover Clues Related to Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants: Lubricant in Devices Found To Be Graphite, Not Proteins

A new study, bringing together an interdisciplinary team of physicians and engineers from the United States and Germany, made a surprising finding about implants used in hip replacement surgery: Graphite carbon is a key element in the lubricating layer that forms on metal-on-metal hip implants. The lubricant has more in common with the lubrication of a combustion engine than that of a natural joint. The study was funded by the NIAMS.


NIAMS Scientists Find Potential New Target for Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

A new study supported by the NIAMS has identified a potential way to halt the cartilage destruction that occurs with rheumatoid arthritis without suppressing the immune system, as current therapies do. The work was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA.


People With a Form of Muscular Dystrophy May Have Elevated Cancer Risk: NIH Study Shows Increased Risk for Two Types of Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy

Scientists suggest that some of the genetic changes that lead to myotonic muscular dystrophy may also be responsible for the observed increase in cancer risk, but more research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. The study appeared December 14, 2011, in the Journal of the American Medical Association.


NIH-Supported Study Finds No Benefit for a Liberal Transfusion Strategy After Hip-Fracture Surgery

A liberal strategy for providing red blood cell transfusions following hip-fracture surgery to patients at risk for cardiovascular disease neither lowered their post-surgical risk of death nor improved their recovery rates when compared to a restrictive transfusion strategy, according to new research supported by the NIH.


NHGRI Broadens Sequencing Program Focus on Inherited Diseases, Medical Applications

A new funding plan by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) sharpens the focus of its flagship Genome Sequencing Program on medical applications. In addition to continuing ongoing studies, the four-year, $416 million plan launches new efforts to find causes of rare inherited diseases and accelerate the use of genome sequence information in the medical care of patients.


NIH Establishes National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences: New Center To Speed Movement of Discoveries From Lab to Patients

In a move to re-engineer the process of translating scientific discoveries into new drugs, diagnostics and devices, the NIH has established the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The action was made possible by Congress’ approval of a fiscal year 2012 spending bill and the President’s signing of the bill, which includes the establishment of NCATS with a budget of $575 million.


New NIH Council of Councils Members Named

The NIH announced the appointments of seven individuals to the NIH Council of Councils. The council was established to advise the NIH Director on policies and activities of the Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, including making recommendations on research that represents important areas of emerging scientific opportunities, rising public health challenges or knowledge gaps that deserve special emphasis or would otherwise benefit from strategic planning and coordination.


US Tox21 To Begin Screening 10,000 Chemicals: NIH, Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration Collaborate To Move Science Forward

A high-speed robotic screening system, aimed at protecting human health by improving how chemicals are tested in the United States, recently began to test 10,000 compounds for potential toxicity. The compounds cover a wide variety of classifications, and include consumer products, food additives, chemicals found in industrial processes, and human and veterinary drugs. See a complete list of the compounds.


NIH Eases Tech Transfer With Online Material Transfer Agreements

The NIH has launched the Transfer Agreement Dashboard to streamline the transfer of NIH-developed research materials to the biomedical research community. The system reduces dramatically the transaction time for transferring NIH-developed materials, addressing a presidential directive to better facilitate technology transfer and commercialization activities. The more than 6,000 researchers who conduct research in NIH laboratories help to drive the nation’s research and discovery process partly through the generation of these valuable research materials, such as cell lines or specially bred research animals.


Statement by NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., on the Institute of Medicine Report Addressing the Scientific Need for the Use of Chimpanzees in Research

The use of animals in research has enabled scientists to identify new ways to treat illness, extend life and improve health and well-being. Chimpanzees are our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, providing exceptional insights into human biology and the need for special consideration and respect. While used very selectively and in limited numbers for medical research, chimpanzees have served an important role in advancing human health in the past. However, new methods and technologies developed by the biomedical community have provided alternatives to the use of chimpanzees in several areas of research.

OTHER FEDERAL NEWS

Baby Boomers Trigger Major Increase in Knee Replacement Surgeries: By Carolyn M. Clancy, M.D., Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Whether it’s music, lifestyles or a refuse-to-age outlook, baby boomers think of themselves as trailblazers. Now, that generation born between 1946 and 1964 can claim credit for another “first”—a dramatic increase in knee replacement surgeries.

NEW PUBLICATIONS 

NIH Research Matters

NIH Research Matters is a review of NIH research from the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, NIH.


NIH Public Bulletin

Read about the latest public events, activities and health information resources from the NIH in the latest issue of the NIH Public Bulletin.


NIH News in Health

Read practical health information in NIH News in Health, which is reviewed by the NIH’s medical experts and is based on research conducted either by the NIH’s own scientists or by our grantees at universities and medical schools around the country.

MEETINGS

NIAMS Coalition 2011 Outreach and Education Meeting: Creating Connections for Science

The NIAMS Coalition 2011 Outreach and Education Meeting: Creating Connections for Science, was held on October 11, 2011, in Bethesda, Maryland. The NIAMS Coalition is an independent group of more than 70 professional and voluntary organizations concerned with NIAMS programs. More than 50 individuals representing 40 different Coalition organizations attended the meeting, which was organized by the NIAMS. Attendees were able to expand their knowledge of the inner workings of the NIH and the NIAMS, participate in networking opportunities and share best practices in collaborating with the Institute.


Save the Date: NIAMS Advisory Council Meeting

The NIAMS Advisory Council Meeting will be held January 31, 2012, in Building 31, 6th floor, C Wing, Conference Room 6, NIH Campus.


5th Annual NIH Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation: Research at the Crossroads

March 19–20, 2012
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road
Bethesda, MD 20852

There is no fee to register for this conference.


NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series

The NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series offers weekly lectures every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH Campus. Renowned scientists from around the globe present research on a variety of topics. The lectures are Continuing Medical Education-certified lectures, open to the public and available live via webcast.

Upcoming lectures:

February 1, 2012
Dr. Bonnie Berger
“Computational Biology In the 21st Century: Making Sense Out of Massive Data”

February 8, 2012
Dr. Karen Guillemin 
“Molecular Dialogues With the Microbiota: Insights From the Zebrafish Intestine”

FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS

NIAMS Announcements

Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Centers (P60)
(RFA-AR-13-001)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: April 18, 2012
Application Receipt Date: May 18, 2012

NIH Common Fund Initiative Announcements

Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): H3Africa Biorepository Grants (UH2/UH3)
(RFA-RM-12-003)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: Not applicable
Application Receipt Date: February 21, 2012

Notice of Availability of Administrative Supplements for Collaborative Activities To Promote Metabolomics Research
(NOT-RM-11-024)

Other Funding Announcements

Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) To Discover Chemical Probes (R01)
(PAR-12-058)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: 30 days prior to the anticipated application due date
Application Receipt Dates: Standard dates apply

Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) To Discover Chemical Probes (R21)
(PAR-12-059)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: 30 days prior to the anticipated application due date
Application Receipt Dates: Standard dates apply

Solicitation of Validated Hits for the Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes (R01)
(PAR-12-060)
Letter of Intent Receipt Date: 30 days prior to the anticipated application due date
Application Receipt Dates: Standard dates apply

Adoption and Implementation of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition
(NOT-OD-12-020)

Recovery Act: Notice of Revised Term of Award for All Recovery Act Awards To Ensure Project Completion by September 30, 2013
(NOT-OD-12-014)

Request for Information (RFI): Input into the Deliberations of the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director Working Group on Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce
(NOT-OD-12-031)
Response Receipt Date: February 24, 2012

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) and Other Fellowship Applications: New Policy on Post-Submission Information on Sponsor’s Research Funding
(NOT-OD-12-022)

Annual Reports to OLAW Due January 31, 2012
(NOT-OD-12-023)

Notice of Two Pilot Processes for Submitting Administrative Supplement Requests Electronically to the NIH
(NOT-OD-12-024)

NIH Research Involving Chimpanzees
(NOT-OD-12-025)

If you would like to review information about funding opportunities more frequently than our monthly updates allow, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the primary source for information about NIH funding opportunities. You can also request a weekly Table of Contents from the NIH Guide.
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