---

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

No new program announcements this week.

Top of page

---

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Top of page

---

US Dep. of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Assay Development for High Throughput Molecular Screening (R21)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

High throughput molecular screening (HTS) is the automated, simultaneous testing of thousands of distinct chemical compounds in models of biological mechanisms. Active compounds identified through HTS can provide the starting point in the design of powerful research tools that allow pharmacological probing of basic biological mechanisms, and which can be used to establish the role of a molecular target in a disease process, or, its ability to alter the metabolism or toxicity of a therapeutic agent. The immense potential of HTS to impact our understanding of biological mechanisms is largely untapped because access to automated screening facilities and large compound libraries is limited in academic, government and non-profit research sectors. The NIH Molecular Libraries Roadmap Initiative now provides unprecedented access to these resources and will allow the broad application of HTS in NIH-supported research.

The goal of this FOA is to initiate a continuously evolving stream of scientifically and technologically outstanding assays that can be miniaturized, automated and further used for screening small molecules within the Molecular Libraries Screening Centers Network. It is open to all areas of biological and biomedical research, with the goals of disseminating information about small molecule-target interactions via PubChem, and of catalyzing the development of pharmacological tools that can be used to probe biological processes. Funding will be provided to allow investigators to develop promising assay protocols for novel molecular targets or phenotypes and transform them into automated screening projects by demonstrating the responsiveness and robustness required for their use in HTS. An emphasis will be placed on the screening of targets for which an inadequate array of selective and potent small molecule modulators are available to the public.

Screening projects prepared under this FOA are aimed at enabling the design of pharmacological tools to explore cellular and physiological function. Investigators are asked to state a question from their ongoing research that would be appropriately addressed through the use of a pharmacological probe. Further, to identify the requisite attributes of this probe, and propose a screening plan of assays that would help them to find chemical small molecule structures possessing these attributes in a HTS of chemical small molecule libraries.  More information  http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-07-008.html

Deadline:  May 16, 2007

---

AHRQ Health Services Research (R01)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

This program announcement expresses Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) priority interests for ongoing extramural grants for research, demonstration, dissemination, and evaluation projects to:

1. Support improvements in health outcomes. Drawing from literature on variations in clinical practice and associated outcomes, the documented increase in the prevalence of chronic disease, and growing interest in the impact of different delivery modalities and financing arrangements on the outcomes of care, AHRQ seeks to support research to understand and improve decision-making at all levels of the health care system, the outcomes of health care, and, in particular, what works, for whom, when, and at what cost.

2. Strengthen quality measurement and improvement. AHRQ is interested in a broad array of research topics, including studies to develop valid and reliable measures of the process and outcomes of care, causation and prevention of errors in health care, strategies for incorporating quality measures into programs of quality improvement, and dissemination and implementation of validated quality improvement mechanisms.

3. Identify strategies to improve access, foster appropriate use, and reduce unnecessary expenditures. This area focuses on issues pertaining to the types of health care services Americans use, the cost of these services and sources of payment, determinants of access to care, and whether particular approaches to health care delivery and financing, or characteristics of the health care market, alter behaviors in ways that improve access and promote cost-effective use of health care resources.

More information  http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-243.html

Deadline: June 5, 2007, October 5, 2007, and February 5, 2008

---

Development of Assays for High-Throughput Drug Screening (R01)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The overall goal of the Molecular Libraries Initiative, part of the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, is to offer public sector researchers opportunities to screen small molecules with the high-throughput chemical screening (HTS) methods commonly used by the private sector to develop therapeutic agents. The purpose of this FOA is to support the development of innovative assays that may ultimately be adapted for automated screening. The assay should aim to identify new tools for basic research or promising new avenues for therapeutics development, especially in areas related to the missions of the participating institutes.  More information  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-320.html

Deadline:  June 5, 2007

Top of page

---

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

No new program announcements this week.

Top of page

---

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Healthy Homes Technical Studies
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

This program supports technical studies to improve methods for detecting and controlling lead-based paint and other residential health and safety hazards. The purpose of the Healthy Homes Initiative is to develop, demonstrate and promote cost effective, preventive measures to correct multiple safety and health hazards in the home environment that are associated with serious diseases and injuries in children. The purpose of the lead technical studies program is to improve methods for detecting and controlling residential lead-based paint hazards.  More information  http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa07/grplead.cfm

Deadline:  May 18, 2007

---

Lead Technical Studies
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

The overall goal of the Lead Technical Studies grant program is to gain knowledge to improve the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of methods for evaluation and control of residential lead-based paint hazards.  More information  http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/nofa07/grplead.cfm

Deadline:  May 18, 2007

Top of page

---

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) - External Research Program
United States Department of the Interior (DOI)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Applications are invited for research projects under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). The purpose of this program is to support the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program by providing products for earthquake loss reduction to the public and private sectors and by carrying out research on earthquake occurrence and effects.  More information  http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/nehrp/

Deadline:  May 16, 2007

Top of page

---

---

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

No new program announcements this week.

Top of page

---

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

No new program announcements this week.

Top of page

---

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Nutrients Benefits Valuation
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting proposals from eligible applicants to conduct projects that will improve the application of empirical methodologies to the economic valuation of the benefits from reducing nutrient levels in the nation's waterbodies. The goal of this solicitation is to aid states in their attempts to estimate monetary benefits associated with nutrient reductions as they strive to adopt numeric nutrient criteria into their state water quality standards.  More information  http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/nutrient/grants/nutrients-rfp.pdf\

Deadline:  May 1, 2007

Top of page

---

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Astrophysics Theory and Fundamental Physics
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The new Astrophysics Theory and Fundamental Physics (ATFP) program represents a merger between the previous Astrophysics Theory Program (ATP) and the Beyond Einstein Foundation Science (BEFS) program. It supports efforts to develop the basic theory for NASA's space astrophysics programs, including its Beyond Einstein program (see http://universe.nasa.gov/). It also supports limited laboratory work related to NASA strategic goals in gravitation and fundamental physics. Theoretical work pertaining to atomic and molecular astrophysics and other topics directly related to Laboratory Astrophysics should be proposed to the Astronomy and Physics Research and Analysis (APRA) program element.  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B4018D2DA-49CF-0A86-5C35-64C25C88A46A%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 1, 2007

---

Carbon Cycle Science
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

This announcement offers opportunities for new and successor Carbon Cycle Science investigations within the NASA Earth Science Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services (CSREES) National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program (NRI). NASA and USDA-CSREES seek proposals to improve understanding of changes in the distribution and cycling of carbon among the active land, ocean, and atmospheric reservoirs. Of special interest are the factors that affect changes in the sources and sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) and carbon management to slow increases of these greenhouse gases.

NASA Earth Science Research Program goals in carbon cycle science are to improve understanding of the global carbon cycle and to quantify changes in atmospheric CO2 and CH4 concentrations as well as terrestrial and aquatic carbon storage in response to fossil fuel combustion, land use and land cover change, and other human activities and natural events. NASA carbon cycle research encompasses multiple temporal and spatial scales and addresses atmospheric, terrestrial, and aquatic carbon reservoirs, their coupling within the global carbon cycle, and interactions with climate and other aspects of the Earth system.

A focus on observations from space pervades carbon cycle research by NASA and is a basis for partnerships with other U.S. Government agencies and institutions. NASA carbon cycle research contributes toward the goals of major U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) activities, including the U.S. North American Carbon Program (NACP) and the Ocean Carbon and Climate Change Program (OCCC).  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B968D6A15-5392-0610-805F-CEF833111BBF%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 6, 2007

---

Planetary Atmospheres
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The Planetary Atmospheres program supports scientific investigations that contribute to the understanding of the origins and evolution of the atmospheres of planets and their satellites, and of comets. Its broad objectives include the determination of compositions, dynamics, and chemical behaviors of planetary atmospheres.

Investigations that may be submitted to this program are those that seek to study the sources and mechanisms for deposition of energy; the characterization and understanding of dynamical processes and relationships between currently observed properties and/or states of matter; and the chemical abundance, physical conditions, and processes that may have prevailed at the time the planets were formed.

The scope of the Planetary Atmospheres activity also includes laboratory investigations that supply basic physical measurements that are currently needed to interpret planetary data, including measurements and calculations of spectroscopic, optical, and thermodynamic properties of materials found in planetary atmospheres.  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BF7D44684-E7DB-3C71-28B5-E430E0ED4B40%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 15, 2007

---

Cryospheric Science
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

NASA seeks proposals that will improve our understanding of the properties of land and sea ice and that will stimulate investigations of the land and sea ice cover and their interaction with the ocean and atmosphere. NASA's Cryospheric Science program focuses on understanding changes in the Earth's land and sea ice cover and determining the effects of these changes on the Earth system. Model simulations and recent observations suggest that the ice-covered regions of the Earth are among the most sensitive to climate change. In view of the potential importance of the recent changes in the Arctic sea ice cover to global climate, and in the mass balance changes of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to climate and sea level, NASA seeks to understand the mechanisms that control these changes, and their associated implications for the Earth system.  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BA6459D3B-21DD-9F42-A8FE-1E6FF2B975FD%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 15, 2007

---

NASA Energy and Water Cycle Study
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The overarching long-term NASA Energy and Water Cycle Study (NEWS) grand challenge can be summarized as documenting and enabling improved, observationally-based, predictions of water and energy cycle consequences of Earth system variability and change. This challenge requires documenting and predicting trends in the rate of the Earth's water and energy cycling that corresponds to climate change and changes in the frequency and intensity of naturally occurring related meteorological and hydrologic events, which may vary as climate may vary in the future. The cycling of water and energy has obvious and significant implications for the health and prosperity of society. The importance of documenting and predicting water and energy cycle variations and extremes is necessary to accomplish this benefit to society.  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B42106360-95B9-D32A-4BD4-420DAE69FAB9%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 18, 2007

---

Physical Oceanography
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The Physical Oceanography Program supports basic research and analysis activities that enable development of NASA's current and future physical oceanography satellite missions and the scientific interpretation of data from them. The primary centers of support within the Physical Oceanography Program are at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Laboratory for Hydrospheric Processes, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Earth Science Directorate, and the academic community through grants to universities.

The primary scientific thrust for physical oceanography at NASA is toward understanding the ocean’s role in climate variability and its prediction. Since the general ocean circulation plays a critical role in the global heat balance and materially changes atmospheric properties through air-sea exchange, fundamental understanding and modeling the state of the coupled ocean-atmosphere system is fundamental to climate studies.

NASA utilizes the unique vantage point of space to enable rapid collection of global ocean data sets and intends to contribute significantly to the World Climate Research Program's Climate Variability and Predictability (CLIVAR) Program.  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B1CECF993-0357-77E0-B827-B2C7AA85422C%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 28, 2007

---

Sample Return Laboratory Instruments and Data Analysis
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The ultimate goals of the Sample Return Laboratory Instrument and Data Analysis program (SRLIDAP) will be to maximize the scientific return from the samples provided by the Discovery missions, Genesis and STARDUST, through development of laboratory instrumentation and advanced analytical techniques required for the full analyses of the samples they returned.

Proposals solicited under this program are expected to include those that seek to develop new analytical instrumentation or combinations of analytical instruments or where significant improvements in the precision, resolution, or sensitivity of measurements will be made possible compared to the existing state-of-the-art.

Also of interest is the development of new analytical techniques for existing instrumentation that will push the limits of current technology by elimination of analytical interferences or contamination problems. In some instances, it will make sense to develop instrumentation and techniques that will be used by only a small number of investigators at a single institution.

In other instances, the high cost of the instrument and its associated support structure may allow the development of only a limited number of such facilities that must be shared by the entire community; therefore, cost sharing arrangements in the development of new instrumentation or techniques and evidence of a long-term institutional commitment to the analysis of returned samples will be viewed favorably in the selection process.  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BA48D2634-1A39-E0BC-2800-6DC9E2614B5A%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 29, 2007

---

Heliophysics Theory
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

Heliophysics Theory Program investigations are carried out in support of the NASA strategic goal to understand the Sun and its effects on Earth and the Solar System and the NASA research objective--to understand the fundamental physical processes of the space environment from the Sun to Earth, to other planets, and beyond to the interstellar medium. Proposals to the HTP are expected to present clear descriptions of 1) a specific scientific problem, 2) a method of attack on this problem, 3) the importance of the problem, and 4) the relevance of the problem to NASA's strategic objectives.  More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BCC0029C8-09E6-F298-253D-9B235EBB3CF9%7D&path=open

Deadline:  June 29, 2007

Top of page

---

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF)

Disclaimer - we only list the more recently announced NSF opportunities in the Update. We urge you to explore the many NSF opportunities available at the NSF website. For a complete listing of deadlines and target dates from the previous month and for the next 4 months check the NSF deadline website

---

The NSF E-Bulletin provides key dates on which grant proposals are due at NSF for the current 4 months.

---

Broadening Participation in Computing   (BPC) - NSF 07-548
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering
     Division of Computer and Network Systems
     Division of Computing and Communication Foundations
     Division of Information & Intelligent Systems

The Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) program aims to significantly increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents receiving post secondary degrees in the computing disciplines, with an emphasis on students from communities with longstanding under representation in computing: women, persons with disabilities, and minorities. Included minorities are African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The BPC program seeks to engage the computing community in developing and implementing innovative methods to improve recruitment and retention of these students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Because the lack of role models in the professoriate can be a barrier to participation, the BPC program also aims to develop effective strategies for encouraging individuals to pursue academic careers in computing and become these role models.

There are three components to the BPC program:

Alliances. Broad Alliances of institutions and organizations will design and carry out comprehensive programs that address under representation in the computing disciplines. Alliances will join academic institutions of higher learning with secondary (and possibly middle) schools, government, industry, professional societies, and other not-for-profit organizations. In most cases, Alliances will involve multiple academic institutions of higher learning. Together, the participants will (1) develop and implement interventions that support students, (2) create sustainable changes in culture and practices at the institutional, departmental, and organizational levels, and (3) serve as models and repositories for effective practices to broaden participation. The emphasis will be on activities that have significant impact both in the quality of opportunities afforded to students and in the number of students potentially served. While the focus is on implementations, an Alliance may include complementary research that informs the design of its activities. The leveraging of existing efforts both across and within the underrepresented communities is strongly encouraged.

Alliance Extensions. Successful BPC Alliances can propose additional funding to significantly expand the impact of their work. The new funding can overlap with the final year of the Alliance project and can extend it for up to two years. Extensions must increase not just the duration of the Alliance award but also its scope, introducing additional targeted student groups, partners, and/or projects.

Demonstration Projects. Demonstration Projects (DPs) are smaller in scope and narrower in focus than Alliance projects. Typically DPs will be pilots of innovative programs that, once fully developed, could be incorporated into the activities of an Alliance . Projects might, for example, be proposed by a single institution or might focus on a specific underrepresented community, a specific point in the academic pipeline, or on a specific impediment to full participation in computing. As in the case of Alliances, complementary, well-defined research aimed at informing the development of the project can be included. 

A person can be a PI or CoPI on at most one Alliance or Alliance Extension proposal (although he or she may serve in other capacities on additional proposals.) The PI on an Extension proposal must be a PI or CoPI on the original BPC Alliance award.  More information  http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07548/nsf07548.htm

Deadline:  June 04, 2007 and May 21, 2008

---

Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I Solicitation FY-2008 (SBIR/STTR) - NSF 07-551
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Engineering
     Industrial Innovation and Partnerships

The SBIR/STTR Programs stimulate technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal research and development needs, increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, and fostering and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.

The significant difference between the SBIR and STTR programs is that STTR requires researchers at universities and other research institutions to play a significant intellectual role in the conduct of each STTR project. These university-based researchers, by joining forces with a small company, can spin-off their commercially promising ideas while they remain primarily employed at the research institution.

Topics: Advanced Materials, Chemical Technology, and Manufacturing Innovation (AM), Biotechnology (BT), Electronics (EL), Information Technology (IT), Emerging Opportunities (EO), Do not submit proposals prior to May 13, 2007.  More information  http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07551/nsf07551.htm

Deadline:  June 13, 2007

---

Earth Sciences: Instrumentation and Facilities (EAR/IF) - NSF 07-553
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Geosciences
     Division of Earth Sciences

The Instrumentation and Facilities Program in the Division of Earth Sciences (EAR/IF) supports meritorious requests within and across Earth science disciplines. EAR/IF will consider proposals for:

1. Acquisition or Upgrade of Research Equipment that will advance laboratory and field investigations, and student research training opportunities in the Earth sciences;
2. Development of New Instrumentation, Analytical Techniques or Software that will extend current research and research training capabilities in the Earth sciences;
3. Support of National or Regional Multi-User Facilities that will make complex and expensive instruments or systems of instruments broadly available to the Earth sciences research and student communities;
4. Support of Research Technicians who will provide for optimal and efficient operation of advanced instrumentation, analytical protocol development, and user training for Earth science research instrumentation;
5. Development of Cyberinfrastructure for the Earth Sciences (Geoinformatics) that will enable transformative advances in Earth science research and education through novel application, development or adaptation of information technologies.

Planned research uses of requested instruments must include basic research on solid-Earth and surface-Earth processes.

Support is available through grants or cooperative agreements awarded in response to investigator-initiated proposals. Human resource development and education are expected to be an integral part of all proposals submitted to EAR/IF. Proposals requesting equipment, infrastructure or personnel that will serve disciplines outside the Earth sciences may be jointly reviewed with other programs within the Foundation. EAR/IF will consider co-funding of projects with other NSF programs.  More information  http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07553/nsf07553.htm

Deadline:  July 11, 2007 and February 13, 2008

Geoinformatics Proposals will only be accepted at the July Target Date in odd years

Top of page

---

OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

---

Clinical Investigations Research Grants
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF)

Clinical investigations research grants are intended to support clinical research programs that exceed the fiscal limitation of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) regular grant mechanism or do not fit the structure of the center or program project grant mechanisms. JDRF places special value in translational research proposals that lead to and develop unique and innovative solutions to the clinical problems of people with diabetes. This funding mechanism is intended to support early-stage clinical trials to test novel therapeutic approaches as well as non-interventional patient oriented studies that are intended to lead to the development of clinical interventions and monitoring tools (such as surrogate markers) for diabetes and its complications.  More information  http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103207

Deadline:  June 30, 2007

---

Program Project Grants
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF)

Program projects provide a mechanism to stimulate new collaborations between clinical and basic scientists or between scientists from diverse backgrounds as a means to conceive and develop new approaches to persistent obstacles to progress along the various paths to a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. Program projects must have a central theme highly relevant to the priority areas of research for the foundation. Program projects should have a set of clearly defined goals that can be met within a three-year period. In most cases, program projects will focus on basic or pre-clinical research that seeks to impact the treatment or prevention of type 1 diabetes and its complications. However, clinical studies meeting the other criteria for program projects will be considered.  More information  http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103207

Deadline:  June 30, 2007

Top of page

---

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

No new program announcements this week.

Top of page

---

GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

No new program announcements this week.

Top of page

---

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

No new program announcements this week.

Top of page

---