Research on the Mechanisms and/or Behavioral Outcome Measures of Multisensory Processing (R01)

Agency: NIH
Program: Research on the Mechanisms and/or Behavioral Outcomes of Multisensory Processing (R01)
Funding Opportunity Number: PA-15-347
Deadline: Standard NIH due dates for new grants – February 5th, June 5th and October 5th

Summary:
This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications focusing on the mechanisms and/or behavioral outcomes of multisensory processing, the integration or processing of at least two distinct types of sensory input as defined by distinct receptor-type transduction, neural pathways and cognate perceptual quality.   Specifically, multiple sensory inputs may include the major traditional modalities of hearing, vision, taste, smell, balance, and touch.  Additional submodalities of body senses include but are not restricted to thermosensation, body position and proprioception, pain, itch, and general visceral sensation.   This FOA encourages research grant applications investigating multisensory processing in perception or other behavioral and social outcomes and/or the mechanisms underlying multisensory processing in the context of the described specific areas of research interests from the participating ICOs. The FOA is intended to encourage basic, behavioral, and/or clinical research projects focused on two or more sensory modalities or research projects examining the interactions between other neural systems, such as cognitive, affective, or motor processes, and multiple sensory modalities.  Multisensory research applications that do not align with the specific areas of research interests described below by the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) should be submitted in response to the parent R01 FOA, PA-13-302.

Background:
We perceive the world through a variety of senses, including vision, audition, olfaction, gustation, somatosensation (cutaneous and subcutaneous tactile sense, thermosensation, proprioception, nociception, and visceral sensation), and vestibular sensation. In general, the senses are studied separately.  However, our experience of the world is mostly unitary; we do not perceive a barking dog as a visual stimulus, a sound, and perhaps a smell, but as a single multisensory object. Accordingly, mounting evidence indicates that the senses cannot be treated as independent channels. That is, perceptions in one modality can be enhanced, attenuated, or completely changed by sensory input from another modality. For example, touch can improve judgments of visual colors, even though touch itself cannot convey color, and vision can alter taste. Furthermore, multisensory processing can influence subsequent unimodal sensory processing (e.g., exposure to simultaneous auditory and visual stimuli can recalibrate the way that each of these stimuli is processed in the future, even in isolation), and can have synergistic effects on neural processing in cognitive, affective, motivational, or motor systems. In addition, there are enormous individual and lifespan differences in sensory processes across different senses, as well as other factors that could contribute to systematically differing perceptions of cross-modal stimuli. For example, research has uncovered a remarkable span of individual differences in gustation (e.g., supertasters), which may make the multisensory perception of flavor vastly different across individuals.

Sensory processes are relevant to a wide variety of health impacts, including neurological, mental and emotional health; consumption (e.g., food and alcohol intake, smoking); basic daily functions (e.g., walking, reaching/grasping); lifestyle activities (e.g., exercise, navigation, dancing, art activities, driving); communication and interpersonal transactions; medical diagnosis, and healthcare utilization. Understanding the scope and the limits of multisensory perception also informs the therapeutic space for sensory substitution in primary sense deficits (e.g. Braille reading for the blind) and temporary sensory alterations caused by disease or treatments for disease.  Thus, the interplay among multiple sensory modalities also has important implications for neural, cognitive, behavioral and social science research and for subsequent health outcomes.

Despite growing interest in how individuals integrate these ubiquitous signals, the mechanisms by which different sensory systems are integrated, interact with each other, or influence the processing of the connected neural systems in the brain remain largely unknown.  The roles of biochemical and physiological changes, genetics and epigenetics, psychological experiences, or physical environments in regulating multisensory processing are mostly unexplored.  Furthermore, the impact of multisensory processing on behavior continues to be understudied.

In 2012, the NIH Basic Behavioral & Social Sciences Research Opportunity Network (OppNet, http://oppnet.nih.gov) sponsored an FOA on Basic Behavioral Research on Multisensory Processing (R21; RFA-EY-13-001), which supported 10 exploratory grants.  The current FOA intends to expand on this previous initiative by encouraging studies of the neural circuitry and mechanisms of multisensory processing, in the context of relevant diseases and disorders of the nervous system, or in relevance to social behaviors, clinical diagnostics, or therapies.

Applications to this FOA will be assigned to an appropriate NIH IC according to research priorities of the participating ICs.  Relevant assignment factors include primary sense(s) under study, and research impacts within IC funding priorities (see participating IC "Specific Areas of Research Interest" below).

Scope:
This FOA supports innovative studies using animal or human subjects to examine two or more senses (visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, somatosensory including pain or other submodalities of body senses, and vestibular) for the elucidation of mechanisms and behavioral outcomes of multisensory processing.  Therefore, applications submitted to this FOA should focus on mechanisms, or the behavioral impact, or both.   The initiative encourages the use of diverse methodologies, including basic biochemical, molecular, cellular, genetic approaches, neuroimaging and neurophysiological analyses, experimental psychophysics, “real world” settings, immersive virtual technology, and animal models.

For this FOA, applicants should address multisensory integration across at least two of the broadly different senses (smell, sight, taste, touch, hearing, balance) or the submodalities of body senses including but not restricted to thermosensation, body position and proprioception, pain, itch, and general visceral sensation.   Audio-visual, visual-vestibular and chemo-tactile integration already have been noted as examples.  However, the perception of form by integrating color contrast with shape-from-shading would be considered visual, and integration of linear with angular acceleration would be considered vestibular, and not appropriate here.  This FOA also supports research on the interaction of pain (as part of the somatosensation) with other sensory systems.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Scientific/Research Contacts from various NIH ICs listed in Section VII prior to submission to discuss IC program relevance.

See the full announcement for specific IC interests.

RPB/RDPSF Innovations in Technology Low Vision Research Awards

Agency: Research to Prevent Blindness/Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation
Program: Innovations in Technology Low Vision Research Awards
Deadline: Preliminary applications are due October 19, 2015; Final applications from Invitees are due March 1, 2016

Summary:
The RPB/Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation (RDPFS) Innovations in Technology Low Vision Research Award: up to $100,000 over one year. One award will be given in each of three years.

Low vision refers to chronic vision impairment that is not correctable by eyeglasses, contact lenses, medicines or surgery. Many eye disorders can lead to low vision, including age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Injury to the eye or to a portion of the brain involved in sight can also produce low vision. Low vision significantly and negatively impacts a person’s visual activities of daily living and quality of life.

The National Eye Institute estimated that nearly 3 million people in the U.S. suffered low vision in 2010 with projections that this number would increase to nearly 5 million in 2030 and 9 million in 2050. Low vision is among the 10 most common causes of disability in the U.S. Low vision can cause difficulty in common visual tasks such as reading, mobility (both walking and driving), and recognizing people and objects.

The RPB/RDPFS Award promotes the development of assistive devices for persons with low vision and we encourage submissions as follows:

--Those with a focus on mobile and/or wearable innovations;
-- Solutions that can be implemented on multiple platforms, such as electronic tablets or phones;
-- Solutions for persons with remaining functional vision rather than those who are totally blind;
-- Environmental adaptations which can improve a visually impaired individual’s ability to perform a daily living activity;
-- Interdisciplinary collaborations that bring together technical expertise coupled with real-life experience with persons with low vision;
-- Applications from early-career investigators.

Agency website

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

New Instructions for NIH Biosketch

The instructions for the NIH Biosketch have changed and take effect with deadlines on May 25, 2015.  Originally, the NIH bio was similar to a CV with a listing of the investigator's education, professional experience and publications. Over time the biosketch has taken on a more narrative format with the Research Support Section and Personal Statement.  The new instructions replace the Publications section with a new section entitled, "Contributions to Science".  Here an investigator can describe up to 5 of their most significant contributions to science. Each contribution needs to be referenced by up to 4 peer-reviewed publications or other research products, such as a video, patent or software.  The page limit for the Biographical Sketch has been increased from four to five pages.

A.    Personal Statement
Briefly describe why you are well-suited for your role in the project described in this application. The relevant factors may include aspects of your training; your previous experimental work on this specific topic or related topics; your technical expertise; your collaborators or scientific environment; and your past performance in this or related fields (you may mention specific contributions to science that are not included in Section C).   Also, you may identify up to four peer reviewed publications that specifically highlight your experience and qualifications for this project.   If you wish to explain impediments to your past productivity, you may include a description of factors such as family care responsibilities, illness, disability, and active duty military service.

B.    Positions and Honors
List in chronological order previous positions, concluding with the present position. List any honors. Include present membership on any Federal Government public advisory committee.

C.    Contribution to Science
Briefly describe up to five of your most significant contributions to science. For each contribution, indicate the historical background that frames the scientific problem; the central finding(s); the influence of the finding(s) on the progress of science or the application of those finding(s) to health or technology; and your specific role in the described work. For each of these contributions, reference up to four peer-reviewed publications or other non-publication research products (can include audio or video products; patents; data and research materials; databases; educational aids or curricula; instruments or equipment; models; protocols; and software or netware) that are relevant to the described contribution. The description of each contribution should be no longer than one half page including figures and citations. Also provide a URL to a full list of your published work as found in a publicly available digital database such as SciENcv or My Bibliography, which are maintained by the US National Library of Medicine.

D.    Research Support
List both selected ongoing and completed research projects for the past three years (Federal or non-Federally-supported). Begin with the projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in the application. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and responsibilities of the key person identified on the Biographical Sketch. Do not include number of person months or direct costs.

Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS)

Agency: NSF/NIH/FMER/FNRA/BSF
Program: Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) Innovative Approaches to Science and Engineering Research on Brain Function
Deadline: October 29, 2015

Summary:
Computational neuroscience provides a theoretical foundation and a rich set of technical approaches for understanding complex neurobiological systems, building on the theory, methods, and findings of computer science, neuroscience, and numerous other disciplines.

Through the CRCNS program, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF), the French National Research Agency (Agence Nationale de la Recherche, ANR), and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) support collaborative activities that will advance the understanding of nervous system structure and function, mechanisms underlying nervous system disorders, and computational strategies used by the nervous system.

Two classes of proposals will be considered in response to this solicitation: Research Proposals describing collaborative research projects, and Data Sharing Proposals to enable sharing of data and other resources.

Domestic and international projects will be considered. As detailed in the solicitation, international components of collaborative projects may be funded in parallel by the participating agencies. Opportunities for parallel funding are available for bilateral US-German Research Proposals, US-German Data Sharing Proposals, US-French Research Proposals, US-French Data Sharing Proposals, US-Israel Research Proposals, and multilateral proposals involving the United States and 2 or more additional countries.

Appropriate scientific areas of investigations may be related to any of the participating funding organizations. Questions concerning a particular project's focus, direction and relevance to a participating funding organization should be addressed to the appropriate person in the list of agency contacts found in Section VIII of the solicitation.

NSF will coordinate and manage the review of proposals jointly with participating domestic and foreign funding organizations, through a joint panel review process used by all participating funders. Additional information is available in Section VI of the solicitation.

Full Announcement

2015 Joanne Angle Investigator Award

Agency: Prevent Blindness
Program: 2015 Joanne Angle Investigator Award
Deadline: March 6, 2015

Summary:
The program is part of the non-profit group’s more than 100-year-old mission to prevent unnecessary vision loss.  The award is named for Ms. Joanne Angle who served on the National Board of Directors for Prevent Blindness, and both its Government Affairs and Audit committees, in addition to her work with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

The deadline for the twelfth annual Joanne Angle Investigator Award is March 6, 2015. Grants are for a one-year period, up to $30,000, reviewed by a panel of scientists, and commence on July 1, 2015.

The 2015 Joanne Angle Investigator Award provides funding for research investigating public health related to eye health and safety. All research grants must promote the core mission of Prevent Blindness: preventing blindness and preserving sight. Basic laboratory science research will not be supported under this program.

Applications will be accepted in the following priority areas in adult vision, children’s vision, or eye injury:

Burden/economic aspects of eye disease/vision loss on society
Best practices to integrate vision screening/follow up care to system care access
Vision program effectiveness/evaluation

More informtion can be found on the organization's website

Request for Blepharospasm/Meige Research Proposals

Agency: Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation
Program: Request for Blepharospasm/Meige Research Proposals
Deadline: August 31, 2015

Summary:
A major part of the charter of the  Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation is to support research into causes and cures of blepharospasm. The BEBRF provides seed funding, or partial funding for research projects through an annual call for proposals for research.

To advance this goal, the foundation is inviting applications for research projects directly related to blepharospasm or Meige's Syndrome, both forms of cranial dystonia. Projects should focus on new treatments, pathophysiology and genetics, photophobia, and dry eye. Grants of up to $150,000 will be awarded.

To be eligible, principal investigators must possess an M.D. or Ph.D. degree. Non-U.S. citizens working at institutions abroad are also eligible to apply.

See the BEBRF website for complete program guidelines and application instructions.