Showing posts with label Vision Research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vision Research. Show all posts

Monday, December 28, 2015

National Robotics Initiative

Program: National Robotics Initiative
Program Solicitation: NSF 16-517
Deadline: March 7, 2016
Note:  Applications to this  multi-agency funding opportunity must be submitted to NSF using NSF guidelines and instructions. NSF is the lead agency overseeing the review process.

Summary:

The NIH is collaborating on a multi-agency funding opportunity, the National Robotics Initiative (NRI), whose goal is to accelerate the development and use of robots in the United States that work beside, or cooperatively with, people (http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16517/nsf16517.htm), or carry out work for people in dangerous environments.  Innovative robotics research and applications emphasizing the realization of such co-robots working in symbiotic relationships with human partners is supported by multiple agencies of the federal government including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The purpose of this program is the development of this next generation of robotics, to advance the capability and usability of such systems and artifacts, and to encourage existing and new communities to focus on innovative application areas. It will address the entire life cycle from fundamental research and development to manufacturing and deployment. Collaboration between academic, industry, non-profit and other organizations is strongly encouraged to establish better linkages between fundamental science and technology development, deployment and use.

The NIH encourages robotics research and technology development to enhance health, lengthen life and reduce illness and disability. The NIH also supports non-hypothesis driven applications, which includes technology-driven and problem-driven applications. Specifically, the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) on this solicitation are interested in targeting this solicitation to support the development of assistive robotic technology to achieve functional independence in humans; improve quality of life; assist with behavioral therapy and personalized care; and promote wellness/health. The most significant challenges will be in addressing safety issues, especially for applications to be used in home-based and long-term care settings where integration of complex systems will be required. Additionally, these assistive robots need to quickly adapt to changes of the user and the environment. Human assistive devices should be designed to assist healthcare providers and as well as the individuals needing care. Development of robotic applications is important to NIH because of their potential significant impact on healthcare in the future. Human assistive devices will revolutionize healthcare in the next 20 years as much as personal electronics have changed our daily lives in the past two decades. Affordable and accessible robotic technology can facilitate wellness and personalized healthcare. Continual health assessment and personalized intervention have the potential to offset the shrinking size of the healthcare workforce and the growing elderly and disabled population. In the future, assistive robotics will enable people to engage in all aspects of human life with endurance and dignity.

Examples of assistive robotic technology development include but are not limited to:
- Homecare and long-term personalized care robots
- Robotic wellness/health promotion and maintenance
- Robotic behavioral therapy
- Robotic aids for mobility, manipulation, human communication and cognition, vision for non-sighted persons
- Assistive robotics to eliminate health disparities across populations

Further Information:
NIH Guide Notice
National Robotics Initiative Website
Program Solicitation

Friday, November 20, 2015

NEI Clinical Study Planning Grant (R34)

Agency: National Eye Institute
Program: NEI Clinical Study Planning Grant (R34)
Funding Opportunity Number: PA-16-038
Deadline: February 16, June 16 and October 16 for new applications
Award Budget: Direct Costs of $150,000 per year
Award Project Period: The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum period is two years.

Summary:
The NEI Clinical Study Planning Grant provides support for the development of a comprehensive research protocol for a large-scale clinical trial or epidemiologic study. This grant provides early peer review of the proposed clinical study in terms of its rationale, design, organizational structure and implementation plan. The Planning Grant is used to support the development of a detailed MOP.  While the grant may be used to support preliminary studies which refine study procedures or document recruitment potential, the grant must not be used to generate preliminary data in support of the rationale for the trial.

Prospective applicants should note that funding of a Clinical Study Planning Grant does not guarantee nor imply funding for any subsequent competitive application for the support of a full-scale study.

Applicants are encouraged to consider the relevance of their proposed research to NEI programs and priorities as described in the NEI Vision Research, Needs, Gaps, and Opportunities.

Scope:
This FOA is designed to: (1) permit early peer review of the rationale for the proposed clinical trial or epidemiology study; (2) provide support for the development of a detailed MOP; and (3) support the development of other essential elements of the clinical study.

Activities supported by this FOA may include, but are not limited to, the following examples:

- Developing/finalizing the MOP. Basic elements in the MOP should include identification of the patient population; inclusion and exclusion criteria; adequate plans for recruitment and retention of participants; experimental   design and protocols; clear definition of the research hypothesis and outcome measures; quality control/assurance procedures; data management and analytical techniques; sample size estimates with justification; administrative procedures, including regulatory approvals if necessary; collaborative arrangements; duties and responsibilities of the study chairperson, clinical sites, coordinating center, and other central resources such as a reading center; monitoring plans to assure patient protection and data integrity; and plans for addressing Federal gender/minority inclusion and human subjects protection requirements.
- Establishing and documenting collaborative arrangements.
- Instituting means to assure standardization of procedures across sites and among staff.
- Developing tools needed for data collection and data management.
- Developing/finalizing data and safety monitoring plans in the application.  Do not name individuals for the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) or Data Monitoring and Oversight Committee (DMOC), but include areas of expertise that will be pertinent in forming these groups.
- Developing plans for any training that is required to carry out the proposed study. This may include, for example, training of data collectors and individuals who will carry out the planned intervention.

See the full announcement for more information.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

U.S. - India Collaborative Vision Research Program (R01)


Agency: NEI
Program: U.S. - India Collaborative Vision Research Program (R01)
Deadline: November 9, 2015; November 9, 2016; November 9, 2017

Summary:

This funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications from United States (U.S.)-based institutions with an Indian institution partner to establish bilateral collaborations that will advance science and technology important to understanding, preventing, and treating blinding eye diseases, visual disorders, and their complications.  The U.S.-India Collaborative Vision Research Program is designed to develop collaborations between scientists and institutions in the United States and India to conduct high quality vision research of mutual interest and benefit to both countries while developing the basis for future institutional and individual scientific collaborations.

This FOA is intended to support collaborations between the U.S. and India that focus on the basic biology and/or genetics of ophthalmic diseases including diabetic retinopathy and ocular inflammation, using the unique resources that exist in India, such as large families with extensive pedigrees.  Research examples include, but are not limited to:

- Family based genome wide association studies (GWAS) on cohorts of consanguineous families from India to identify genetic factors that predispose to both Mendelian and complex forms of eye diseases.
- Deep sequencing to examine existing genetic variants identified in other populations;
- Validation of novel GWAS findings in appropriate animal models;
- Identification of biomarkers that predict and/or assess risk and response to interventions;
- Define the contributions of specific genetic risk factors and environmental exposures that underlie eye diseases;
- Studies on birth cohorts in India to determine the effects of the environment on the development of factors that predict risk influencing eye diseases such as imprinting and other epigenetic effects.

Full Announcement