Category Archives: Engineering & Technology

Department of Energy Research to Enable Fuels from Sunlight

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Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: DE-FOA-0002254

Submission Deadline for Pre-Applications (required): March 24, 2020

FOA Summary:

The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) hereby solicits new applications for multi-investigator cross-disciplinary fundamental research to address emerging new directions as well as long-standing challenges in liquid solar fuels generation via artificial photosynthesis approaches. Artificial photosynthesis is typically viewed as the generation of fuels using only sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water as inputs. However, for the purpose of this FOA the concept of artificial photosynthesis approaches will be expanded to include other abundant feedstocks beyond carbon dioxide, such as nitrogen. Regardless of feedstock, the focus must remain on fundamental scientific concepts for solar-driven liquid fuel production.

Applications should focus on the highest scientific priorities in solar fuels production as identified by the 2019 Liquid Solar Fuels Roundtable and will be required to address priority research opportunities (PROs) denoted by the 2019 Liquid Solar Fuels Roundtable at https://science.osti.gov/bes/Community-Resources/Reports. The research should capitalize on unique capabilities and accomplishments developed to date, including those from BES-funded efforts in the Fuels from Sunlight Hub, Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs), and BES core programs. Projects should also integrate experiment and theory to elucidate scientific principles for light energy capture and conversion into chemical bonds.

Applications submitted to this FOA may request support in the range from $10M to $20M per year for up to five (5) years.

The project must address at least two (2) of the PROs denoted by the 2019 Liquid Solar Fuels Roundtable (see here: https://science.osti.gov/bes/Community-Resources/Reports)

For more information, including the FOA, please see grants.gov.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to Highlight Research Priorities for Risk Algorithms Applications in Healthcare Settings to Improve Suicide Prevention

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Notice Number: NOT-MH-20-031

Key Dates
Release Date: February 14, 2020
First Available Due Date: June 05, 2020
Expiration Date: January 08, 2022 Related Announcements
PAR-19-189, Pilot Services Research Grants Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-17-264, Innovative Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R01)

PA-19-056, NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-19-055, Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-18-350, NIMH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-19-052, NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-MH-18-700, Clinical Trials to Test the Effectiveness of Treatment, Preventive, and Services Interventions (Collaborative R01 – Clinical Trial Required)

RFA-MH-18-701, Clinical Trials to Test the Effectiveness of Treatment, Preventive, and Services Interventions (R01 Clinical Trial Required)

RFA-MH-18-706, Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Treatment, Preventive and Services Interventions (R34- Clinical Trial Required)

PAR-18-929, High-Priority Areas for Research Leveraging EHR and Large-Scale Data (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-18-566 Complex Technologies and Therapeutics Development for Mental Health Research and Practice (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional)

Issued by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Purpose

Risk identification is a key component of suicide prevention. In healthcare settings, current risk identification is typically obtained through patients’ endorsement of items on screeners, either administered by a clinician or completed by patients through a tablet or via paper/pencil. Another way to identify people with suicide risk is via risk algorithms based on medical record data, which can be considered complementary to the traditional screening associated with clinical encounters in several ways: 1) it does not rely on people to answer questions, it looks at what they have done as opposed to what they say; 2) you can look across a panel of people – not just those seen in face-to-face healthcare contacts.

Risk algorithms have been shown in multiple settings to be a validated way to identify individuals with high suicide risk who warrant additional clinical attention. To date, risk algorithm approaches have not been designed to predict outcomes for individual patients, but rather to assign people into differential tiers of risk. The use of these tools presents some special challenges, including issues around logistics, ethics, and acceptability, and each of these areas present research gaps.

NIMH held a meeting in June 2019 to identify and prioritize research needs in the application of predictive analytics in suicide prevention among healthcare providers. The meeting summary details research topics and gaps that included: biostatistical challenges, provider and patient understanding of risk algorithms, ethical considerations, needs for clinical decision tools to guide risk algorithm application, and policy-relevant research. NIMH is encouraging practice and deployment relevant applications proposed by multidisciplinary teams addressing the following topics:

Biostatistical Challenges:

  • Test approaches that could lead to:
    • Identifying best practices in the design of the cohorts used to develop risk algorithms, to ensure that the design is suitable for the purpose(s) for which the algorithm is being utilized.
    • Identifying best practices in assessing the performance of suicide risk algorithms – including possible effects on equity in treatment and outcomes.
  • Examine the benefits and limitations of risk algorithms that consider multiple or composite outcomes, such as risk for non-fatal as well as fatal suicide events, fatal and non-fatal accidents, and others.
  • Examine the benefits and limitations of developing and operating multiple risk algorithms for specific subgroups within a larger population/cohort (e.g., those with certain characteristics or experiences, or in certain geographic or care settings), versus one algorithm that is used with the entire population/cohort.
  • Develop and test criteria to determine when it might be appropriate to use an algorithm developed in one setting or population/cohort and apply it in a different setting or population/cohort (e.g. if health system B uses an algorithm developed and validated by health system A); versus developing and validating algorithms for each specific setting or population/cohort that seeks to use this approach.
  • Compare risk modeling benefits and challenges over alternative time periods, e.g., outcomes within 1 vs. 3 vs. 12 months. For example, if long time periods take place between algorithm calculations, at what point are the outcomes ‘stale’ and less clinically useful?
  • Explore whether risk algorithms preserve or – worse – potentially expand disparities in treatment and outcomes; and, if so, develop possible methods to mitigate this.
  • What are special considerations for developing risk algorithms for smaller subgroups (e.g., historically disadvantaged groups, sexual minorities, age groups, etc.), such as longer time frames needed and prediction utility?
  • Examine the relationships between absolute (predicted) risk, on the one hand, and how identified patients may respond to intervention, on the other. Assess the potential added value of drawing on various types of data in developing risk algorithms, e.g., structured measures from health care claims/encounters and electronic health records, patient-reported measures, measures derived via abstraction or natural language processing from patient care records, measures derived from passive sensor monitoring (e.g., via smartphone); as well as the value of data derived from outside healthcare (e.g., social media, public records, and commercially available data such as credit information, among others).

Provider Understanding, Acceptance and Use of Results from Suicide Risk Algorithms:

  • What clinical decision-making data and practical approaches facilitate deciding which risk model to use; what risk strata to intervene on, and how to intervene?
  • How could information on potential patient responses to targeted clinical interventions affect how risk algorithm models are developed, and how they are used (e.g., will patients engage in the interventions offered; what are rates of response to the intervention)?
  • What are useful approaches to determining when a risk indicator be ‘turned off’ (e.g., indicators of ‘recovery’)

Patient Understanding and Acceptance of Results from Suicide Risk Algorithms, and Ethical Concerns (see also NOT-OD-20-038)

Research is needed that tests approaches to educating patients about risk categories and how clinical care and personal actions may change risk status, with implications for developing healthcare setting best practices in applying risk algorithms to care. When and how are informed consent processes needed when using suicide risk algorithms in practice? Should risk algorithm outcomes be considered PHI for purposed of HIPAA? Practically, how would risk algorithm outcomes be provided in patient portal access (e.g., as a test result with interpretation)? How can patients’ family members/designated significant others, be informed of a patients’ increased risk? Under what circumstances do patients see algorithm use as ‘intrusive,’ or inaccurate (where they may be perpetuating disparities in healthcare services), and what are potential remedies to address these problems?

All requirements of the relevant FOA would need to be followed in any application (and award) that proposes to develop and conduct a study on one of these high priority areas. Possible funding opportunities that can be used to pursue these and other research activities include the following FOAs and any re-issuances of these FOAs through the expiration date of this notice. Please note that investigators interested in pursuing clinical trial research should review the NIMH Clinical Trials Funding Opportunity Announcements Website.

Investigators seeking National Death Index Linkage should review NOT-OD-20-057, National Death Index Linkage Access for NIH-Supported Investigators.

Applicants considering such an application are strongly encouraged to consult with NIMH Program Officials prior to submission.

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after June 5, 2020 and subsequent receipt dates through September 8, 2022.

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

R34 – PAR-19-189, Pilot Services Research Grants Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34-Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – First Available Due Date 06/16/2020

R01 – PAR-17-264, Innovative Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R01) – First Available Due Date 06/05/2020

R01 – PAR-18-929, High-Priority Areas for Research Leveraging EHR and Large-Scale Data (R01-Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – First Available Due Date 06/05/2020

R01 – PA-19-056, NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01-Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – First Available Due Date 06/05/2020

R01 – PA-19-055, Research Project Grant (Parent R01-Clinical Trial Required) – First Available Due Date 06/05/2020

R21 – PA-18-350, NIMH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21-Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – First Available Due Date 06/16/2020

R03 – PA-19-052, NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) – First Available Due Date 06/16/2020

R34 – RFA-MH-18-706, Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Treatment, Preventive and Services Interventions (R34-Clinical Trial Required) – First Available Due Date 06/15/2020

R01 – RFA-MH-18-701, Clinical Trials to Test the Effectiveness of Treatment, Preventive, & Services Interventions (R01-Clinical Trial Required) – First Available Due Date 06/15/2020

R01 – RFA-MH-18-700, Clinical Trials to Test the Effectiveness of Treatment, Preventive, & Services Interventions (Collaborative R01-Clinical Trial Required) – First Available Due Date 06/15/2020

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

  • For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-MH-20-031” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications non-responsive to terms of this NOSI will be not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Curriculum or Training Modules to Promote Safe and Inclusive Biomedical Research Training Environments

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Notice Number: NOT-GM-20-018

Key Dates
Release Date: February 13, 2020
First Available Due Date: April 15, 2020
Expiration Date: June 01, 2020

Related Announcements: PA-18-591 “Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)”

Issued by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) announces the availability of funds for Administrative Supplements to institutions with NIGMS training (T32, T34), certain research education (R25, see below), or institutional career development (K12) awards. The funds will support the development and implementation of curriculum or training modules to promote safe and inclusive biomedical research training environments. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss potential requests with their NIGMS Program Officer before submitting the supplement request.

Supplement awardees are expected to present an overview of the funded activities, the outcomes, and the progress in incorporating the activities into the ongoing program(s) at the meeting organized for Program Directors/Principal Investigators of NIGMS Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity programs.

Eligibility

Applicants must have an NIGMS-funded training (T32, T34), certain research education (R25, see below), or institutional career development (K12) program award with a project end date of May 31, 2021 or later. Awards in No-Cost Extension (NCE) are not eligible. Only R25 awards in the following programs (and associated funding opportunity announcements) are eligible for these supplements:

  • Bridges to Baccalaureate (PAR-13-333; PAR-16-110; PAR-17-210)
  • Bridges to the Doctorate (PAR-17-209; PAR-16-109)
  • Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (PAR-17-053; PAR-14-121)
  • Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (PAR-14-076; PAR-17-051)
  • Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (PAR-13-196; PAR-16-118; PAR-16-361)

An applicant institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH Institutional Profile File – IPF) may submit only one application in this topic area. For institutions with two or more NIGMS grants, it is expected that the Program Directors/Principal Investigators will cooperate to develop curricula and/or activities that are broadly applicable to individuals at their institution and that a single supplement request will be submitted through one of the eligible NIGMS awards.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following funding opportunity announcement or its subsequent reissued equivalent.

  • PA-18-591 – Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-18-591 must be followed, with the following additions:

  • Application Due Date(s) – April 15, 2020 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
  • For funding consideration, applicants must include the term “NOT-GM-20-018” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4b) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4b will not be considered for this initiative.
  • NIGMS requires applicants to submit electronically through Grants.gov. The process for Streamlined Submissions using the eRA Commons cannot be used for this initiative.

Budget

  • Application budgets are limited to $80,000 direct costs and must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
  • Funds from this supplement may be used for salary support of individuals designing, directing, and implementing the proposed training activity. Funds may also be used for administrative staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, faculty/staff travel, and other expenses directly related to the proposed curricular or training activity.
  • Funds from this supplement must be expended within 12 months of the supplement award issue date.
  • Applicants should note that the funds from this supplement cannot be used to support trainee stipends or tuition (T32 or T34), participant costs (R25), or scholar costs (K12).

Research Training Program Plan (limited to 3 pages). In the Program Plan attachment, include the summary or abstract of the funded parent award(s), and describe the following:

  • The need for the proposed curricular or training activities. Describe how the activities will synergize with, but not duplicate, ongoing efforts in this area.
  • A description of the curricular or training activities and their potential impact on the biomedical training at the institution.
  • How the effectiveness of the curricular or training activities will be assessed.
  • If proven to be effective, how the curricular or training activities will be incorporated into the existing biomedical training program(s).
  • Plans for disseminating the activities and outcomes.
  • Institutional commitment for sustainability of the proposed activities

Application Review Information

NIGMS staff will consider whether the budget is fully justified and will evaluate applications using the following criteria:

  • Will the administrative supplement increase or preserve the likelihood for the program to exert a sustained, powerful influence on research training at the institution?
  • Is there a clearly identified need for the proposed curricular or training activities?
  • Are the plans to assess the outcomes likely to provide evidence of the effectiveness of the training or curricular activity?
  • Is there a plan to incorporate the activities into the ongoing conduct of the training programs?
  • Are the plans to disseminate the activities and outcomes feasible and likely to reach the intended audience?
  • Is there appropriate institutional commitment for sustaining the proposed activities?

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Enhance Laboratory Safety Curriculum and a Culture of Safety in Biomedical Research Training Environments

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Notice Number: NOT-GM-20-016

Key Dates
Release Date: February 13, 2020
First Available Due Date: April 15, 2020
Expiration Date: June 01, 2020 Related Announcements
 PA-18-591 “Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)”

Issued by National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) announces the availability of funds for Administrative Supplements to institutions with NIGMS training (T32, T34), certain research education (R25, see below), or institutional career development (K12) awards. The funds will support the development and implementation of curricular or training activities to provide trainees and participating faculty with the knowledge and skills to enhance laboratory safety and to promote a culture of safety in the training environment. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss potential requests with their NIGMS Program Director before submitting the supplement request.

Supplement awardees are expected to present an overview of the funded activities, the outcomes, and the progress in incorporating the activities into the ongoing program(s) at the meeting organized for Program Directors/Principal Investigators of NIGMS Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity programs.

Eligibility

Applicants must have an NIGMS-funded training (T32, T34), certain research education (R25, see below), or institutional career development (K12) program award with a project end date of May 31, 2021 or later. Awards in No-Cost Extension (NCE) are not eligible. Only R25 awards in the following programs (and associated funding opportunity announcements) are eligible for these supplements:

  • Bridges to Baccalaureate (PAR-13-333; PAR-16-110; PAR-17-210)
  • Bridges to the Doctorate (PAR-17-209; PAR-16-109)
  • Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (PAR-17-053; PAR-14-121)
  • Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (PAR-14-076; PAR-17-051)
  • Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (PAR-13-196; PAR-16-118; PAR-16-361)

An applicant institution (normally identified by having a unique DUNS number or NIH Institutional Profile File – IPF) may submit only one application in this topic area. For institutions with two or more NIGMS grants, it is expected that the Program Directors/Principal Investigators will cooperate to develop curricula and/or activities that are broadly applicable to individuals at their institution and that a single supplement request will be submitted through one of the eligible NIGMS awards. Institutions that received a previous award for the development and implementation of curricular or training activities to enhance laboratory safety through PA-18-758 are not eligible.

Application and Submission Information

Applications for this initiative must be submitted using the following funding opportunity announcement or its subsequent reissued equivalent.

  • PA-18-591 – Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and PA-18-591 must be followed, with the following additions:

  • Application Due Date(s) – April 15, 2020 by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.
  • For funding consideration, applicants must include the term “NOT-GM-20-016” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4b) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4b will not be considered for this initiative.
  • NIGMS requires applicants to submit electronically through Grants.gov. The process for Streamlined Submissions using the eRA Commons cannot be used for this initiative.

Budget

  • Application budgets are limited to $80,000 direct costs and must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
  • Funds from this supplement may be used for salary support of individuals designing, directing, and implementing the proposed training activity. Funds may also be used for administrative staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, faculty/staff travel, and other expenses directly related to the proposed curricular or training activity.
  • Funds from this supplement must be expended within12 months of the supplement award issue date. Applicants should note that the funds from this supplement cannot be used to support trainee stipends or tuition (T34 or T32) or participant costs (R25) or scholar costs (K12).

Research Training Program Plan (limited to 3 pages). In the Program Plan attachment, include the summary or abstract of the funded parent award(s), and describe the following:

  • The need for the proposed curricular or training activities. Describe how the activities will synergize with, but not duplicate, ongoing efforts in this area.
  • A description of the curricular or training activities and their potential impact on the biomedical training at the institution.
  • How the effectiveness of the curricular or training activities will be assessed.
  • If proven to be effective, how the curricular or training activities will be incorporated into the existing biomedical training program(s).
  • Plans for disseminating the activities and outcomes.
  • Institutional commitment for sustainability of the proposed activities.

NIGMS staff will consider whether the budget is fully justified and will evaluate applications using the following criteria:

  • Will the administrative supplement increase or preserve the likelihood for the program to exert a sustained, powerful influence on research training at the institution?
  • Is there a clearly identified need for the proposed curricular or training activities?
  • Are the plans to assess the outcomes likely to provide evidence of the effectiveness of the training or curricular activity?
  • Is there a plan to incorporate the activities into the ongoing conduct of the training programs?
  • Are the plans to disseminate the activities and outcomes feasible and likely to reach the intended audience?
  • Is there appropriate institutional commitment for sustaining the proposed activities?

Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Programs

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The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting applications for financial assistance for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) within the Office of the Associate Director for Innovation and Industry Services (ADIIS).

Program Description: The ADIIS Grant Program supports activities that develop, expand, strengthen, or sustain NIST partnership programs within the ADIIS Directorate through measurements, standards, data, industry and technology studies, and technology research and development (R&D). Specifically, the ADIIS Grant Program seeks to support technology innovation and service to American industry in the following fields: bioscience, chemistry, dimensional metrology, electronics, engineering, infrastructure, information technology, manufacturing, manufacturing metrology, materials science and engineering, nanotechnology, neutron research, optics, and physics.

The ADIIS Directorate’s current partnership programs include the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), programs within the NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing, and programs within the NIST Technology Partnerships Office. Financial assistance may be provided to bolster measurements, standards, data and technology R&D within these partnership programs, or through new partnerships, to:

  • Advance early-stage research and development for industry
  • Enhance opportunities in manufacturing through innovation
  • Strengthen supplier programs for small and medium manufacturers
  • Encourage the transfer and commercialization of research and technology from institutions of higher education, federal laboratories, other federally funded research programs, and nonprofit research institutes
  • Create jobs or promote workforce development
  • Realize or sustain metrology needs in American industry, including through technical metrology training programs for manufacturers

Eligibility for all programs listed in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes all non-Federal entities, including institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, state and local governments, Indian tribes, hospitals, foreign public entities, and foreign governments. Please note that individuals and unincorporated sole proprietors are not considered “non-Federal entities” and are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. The NOFO’s full text can be found here and downloaded as a PDF or a zip file.