NEI Research Grant for Secondary Analysis (R21)

Funding Opportunity: NEI Research Grant for Secondary Analysis (R21)

Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-13-035

Application Due Date: February 16, June 16, and October 16 for New Submissions

Summary:

The NEI supports an extensive portfolio of clinical trials and large-scale epidemiologic research projects, wherein numerous data collection activities are required to meet each project's specific aims.  The resultant wealth of data generated by these studies often provides unique, cost-effective opportunities to pursue new questions.  This initiative may be used to develop new statistical methodologies or to test new hypotheses using existing data.  While this initiative actively encourages the use of existing database resources to conduct exploratory/developmental research secondary to a project's originally-intended purpose, it will not support the collection of new data.  Datasets are not limited to those collected under NEI support but these data are of the highest programmatic interest.  Applicants should consider the relevance of their proposed analyses to NEI programs and priorities as described in the National Plan for Eye and Vision Research, which is available at http://www.nei.nih.gov.

This FOA issued by the National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), encourages applications from institutions/organizations that propose to conduct secondary data analyses utilizing existing database resources.  Applications may be related to, but must be distinct from, the specific aims of the original data collection.

Award Budget Information:

The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000.  No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.  Applicants may request direct costs in $25,000 modules, up to the total direct costs limitation of $275,000 for the combined two-year award period.

Program Website

Basic Behavioral Research on Multisensory Processing

Agency: NIH

Deadline: October 31, 2012

Summary:

Scope and Specific Requirements

Applications submitted in response to this FOA are expected to propose projects that will further our understanding of how multisensory input influences basic perceptual and behavioral processes. Successful applications will examine two or more senses (visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, non-pain somatosensory, vestibular). This FOA encourages innovative studies that examine the influence of interactions among multisensory inputs on perception and behavior, or identify individual and lifespan differences in and moderators of multisensory perception and basic behavioral outcomes. The initiative encourages the use of diverse methodologies, including experimental psychophysics, “real world” settings, immersive virtual technology, and animal models.

This initiative will target projects that examine how causal interplay among the senses influences integrated perceptual behavior, rather than projects that aim to understand neural circuits and activity within the human brain itself (which are targeted in existing investments such as the Human Connectome Project within the Neuroscience Blueprint). Basic behavioral multisensory science projects will be considered if the primary questions and outcomes of the research emphasize perception or behavior. Projects will be deemed non-responsive if the primary thrusts of the questions and outcomes are limited to neural circuits or neural mechanisms that underlie behavioral responses to sensory input. Neurobiological approaches may be included if they will augment our knowledge of multisensory influences on perceptual or behavioral outcomes.

Applications for research focused on the perception of pain or applied research are outside the scope of this FOA and will be deemed non-responsive. Pain-related research is targeted in existing investments such as the NIH Pain Consortium and the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Grand Challenge on Pain. As defined by NIH, applied research in the behavioral and social sciences is designed to predict or influence health outcomes, risks, or protective factors. It is also concerned with the impact of illness or risk for illness on behavioral or social functioning. Applied research on multisensory processing as it relates to specific diseases, health conditions, intervention, or treatment outcomes will be deemed non-responsive.

Applications submitted under this mechanism should break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications. These studies may involve considerable scientific risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on basic behavioral and/or social sciences research.  By using the R21 mechanism, the NIH seeks to foster the introduction of novel scientific ideas, model systems, tools, targets, and technologies that have the potential to substantially advance bBSSR.

Specific Areas of Research Interest

Below are examples of projects that would examine how multisensory input influences perception and behavior. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but only to provide examples of appropriate topics. For feedback on specific topics, please consult the program staff listed in the program announcement.

• In what ways are perceptions affected by multisensory input? What is the role of cognitive and/or affective processing in multisensory integration (i.e., bottom-up/top-down processing)?
• How do affective experiences or other psychological and volitional states modify the ways in which multisensory input are integrated with cognitive expectations to produce perceptions?
• What is the role of multiple sensory system integration in dynamic activities such as navigation (where multi-sensory and sensorimotor processing change sensory input, and vice versa) or social interactions/communication (where sensorimotor feedback loops affect the perceptions of the sender and receiver in a communication encounter)?
• Can individual differences of normal multisensory integration be identified? Are there physical features (in sensory organs), biomarkers (genetic or non-genetic), or brain features (e.g., structural differences/ activation patterns) that underlie these variations?
• Are there developmental differences in multisensory mechanisms and influence on perception and behavior across the lifespan?

Because this FOA targets basic behavioral and social science research approaches to understanding the influence of multisensory integration on perception and behavior, examples of research projects that will NOT be considered responsive to the FOA include, but are not limited to:

• Research examining only one sensory modality
• Research on pain
• Research with the primary or singular objective of identifying neural circuits or neural mechanisms that underlie behavioral responses to sensory input.
• Studies with a primary focus on prospective or descriptive epidemiology (e.g., observational studies with no focus on understanding underlying mechanistic processes).
• Descriptive research documenting individual or group differences without investigating the mechanisms and processes explaining these differences
• Clinical interventions or treatment studies, effectiveness trial, or implementation/ dissemination of interventions
• Research designed to predict or influence health outcomes, risks, or protective factors
• Research concerned with the impact of illness or risk for illness on behavioral or social functioning

Program Website

NIH Director's Early Independence Awards

Agency: NIH
Deadline: January 30, 2013


Summary:

The NIH Director's Early Independence Awards initiative is funded through the NIH Common Fund, which supports cross-cutting programs that are expected to have exceptionally high impact. All Common Fund initiatives invite investigators to develop bold, innovative, and often risky approaches to address problems that may seem intractable or to seize new opportunities that offer the potential for rapid progress.


The NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards provide an opportunity for exceptional junior scientists to accelerate their entry into an independent research career by forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period. Though most newly graduated doctoral-level researchers would benefit by post-doctoral training, a small pool of outstanding junior investigators would benefit instead by launching directly into an independent research career. For these select investigators, who have established a record of scientific innovation and research productivity and who have demonstrated unusual leadership, drive, and maturity, post-doctoral training would unnecessarily delay their entry into performing independent research. The NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards also provide an opportunity for institutions to invigorate their research programs by bringing in the fresh perspectives of the awardee scientists that they host.


At the time of application, the Early Independence Award candidate must be within twelve months before or after the completion of their PhD (or equivalent) or for clinicians within twelve months before or after the completion of their medical residency (or equivalent) training. The medical fellowship period is NOT included as part of the medical residence or equivalent training. The date of degree receipt is that which appears on the official transcript for the degree. The time of application is the date when the application is submitted electronically to NIH through Grants.gov. In addition, at the time of application, the Early Independence investigator must not have served as a post-doctoral fellow following a previous doctoral degree for more than one year. By the end of the award period, the Early Independence investigator is expected to be competitive for continued funding of his/her research program and for a permanent research position.


Each institution (as defined by having a unique DUNS identifier) may submit only up to two applications. Prospective candidates should contact appropriate Institutional leaders to seek an appointment in an independent research position (For a listing of eligible degrees for Early Independence Investigators, please refer to Section III.1. Eligible Applicants). Alternatively, Institutions may actively recruit eligible junior scientists to apply for support through this program. In either event, the Institution will be expected to provide substantial support for the junior scientist as detailed below. To foster independence, it may behoove candidates to be hosted by institutions other than the ones at which they trained. To facilitate the “matching” of institutions and candidates, the NIH Common Fund is hosting a website (http://commonfund.nih.gov/earlyindepdence/matchingportal/) in which institutions interested in hosting candidates may choose to provide pertinent information such as particular areas of research being targeted, supporting documents to be submitted, and institution contact information.


In the application, the prospective Early Independence investigator and the prospective Grantee Institution will be required to provide:


Early Independence PD(s)/PI(s):


Statement of how an Early Independence Award would accelerate entry into an independent research position and why this would be of benefit to the PD(s)/PI(s) career;
Evidence of exceptional scientific creativity and productivity;
A research plan in a scientific area relevant to the NIH mission for which the investigator has demonstrated expertise;
Strong letters of recommendation from mentors and other scientists familiar with the investigator offering a detailed assessment of the prospects for a successful early transition to research independence; achievements as a graduate student; and the potential for future scientific contributions.


Grantee Institution:


Plans for full integration of the Early Independence investigator into the scientific community at the institution and evidence that the institution and existing faculty are committed to his/her success;
Evidence that the proposed research project will complement existing scholarly activities at the institution and will enhance the research capabilities of the institution;
Evidence that the Early Independence investigator will be appointed into an independent research position during the term of the award;
A detailed description of the laboratory space to be provided to the Early Independence investigator and the availability of research support staff;
A detailed description of the availability of the equipment, supplies and shared resources required by the Early Independence investigator, and a plan for guaranteeing access to those resources;
Description of career enhancement opportunities available to the Early Independence investigator, equivalent to those offered to assistant professors;
Evidence that the Early Independence investigator will have the necessary Institutional commitment to conduct full-time, independent research, excepting the minimal clinical commitments required for clinician researchers and minimal, optional teaching commitments;
Description of opportunities for the Early Independence investigator to apply for additional research funding without being required to do so.


The NIH recognizes a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical and social sciences research workforce. The NIH expects all of its efforts to diversify the workforce to lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups; to improve the quality of the educational and training environment; to balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities; to improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols; and to improve the Nation's capacity to address and eliminate health disparities.  Grantee institutions are always encouraged to consider talented researchers from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in biomedical research, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, persons with disabilities and women for participation in all NIH-funded research opportunities.


Program Website

2012 Prevent Blindness America Investigator Award

Agency: Prevent Blindness America
Deadline: March 30, 2012

Summary:
The 2012 Prevent Blindness America Investigator Award provides funding for research investigating public health related to eye health and safety. Applications will be accepted in the following priority areas in adult vision, children’s vision, or eye injury: (1) burden/economic aspects of eye disease/vision loss on society, (2) best practices to integrate vision screening/follow up care to system care access, and (3) vision program effectiveness/evaluation. All research grants need to promote the core mission of Prevent Blindness America – preventing blindness and preserving sight. Basic laboratory science research will not be supported under this program. The deadline for the ninth annual Prevent Blindness America Investigator Award is March 30, 2012. Grants are for a one-year period, up to $30,000, reviewed by ARVO, and commence on July 1, 2012.


Program Website

NIDRR Field Initiated Projects

Agency: NIDRR
Deadline: March 5, 2012


Summary:

The purpose of the Field Initiated (FI) Projects program is to develop methods, 

procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and 

integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and 

economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially 

individuals with the most severe disabilities. Another purpose of the FI Projects 

program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

NIDRR makes two types of awards under the FI Projects program: Research 
Grants (CFDA 84.133G-1) and Development Grants (CFDA 84.133G-2).

In carrying out a research activity under an FI Project Research Grant, a 
grantee must identify one or more hypotheses or research questions and, 
based on the hypotheses or research questions identified, perform an intensive, 
systematic study directed toward producing (1) newscientific knowledge, or 
(2) better understanding of the subject, problem studied, or body of knowledge.

In carrying out a development activity under an FI Project Development Grant, 
a grantee must use knowledge and understanding gained from research to create 
materials, devices, systems, or methods, including designing and developing 
prototypes and processes, that are beneficial to the target population. 
``Target population'' means the group of individuals, organizations, or other entities 
expected to be affected by the project. There may be more thanone target population 
because a project may affect those who receive services, provide services, or 
administer services.

Program Website