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• Active Internal Calls for Limited Submission Nominations 
• Active Calls for NON-Limited External Opportunities

Contact us...

• Email LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you are interested in an opportunity not listed below or have questions regarding the LSO submission process.

 

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Active Internal Calls for Limited Submission Nominations 

Internal review process required to choose institutional nominees

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Limited Submission Eligibility Guidelines

The following tags serve as a guide for submission instructions.

 Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC):  

• VU and VUMC submit collaboratively to this LSO. ALL investigators should follow the guidelines posted on this site.

 VUMC :

• VU and VUMC submit separately to this LSO. VUMC investigators should follow the guidelines posted on this site. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

FEATURED OPPORTUNITY

• High-profile or prestigious awards of particular interest to Vanderbilt investigators

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Mary Kay Foundation Translational Cancer Research Grant

Applications due December 5

VUMC:  These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) has been invited to nominate one candidate for the Mary Kay Foundation Translational Cancer Research Grant program for 2020. These awards provide $100,000 over two years to support translational research in ovarian, uterine, breast, or cervical cancer.

The Mary Kay Foundation seeks to fund innovative research that will provide a scientific link between laboratory research and the clinic. Ultimately, such research would lead to improvement in the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, or treatment of cancer. 

You can find a list of the previous award recipients here.

Considerations:

• Principal Investigator must be Full-time Assistant Professor or higher (Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor)
• Staff scientists, postdoctoral trainees and instructors are NOT eligible
• Maximum $100,000 award includes direct and indirect costs over a two-year period. (Indirects may not exceed 15%).
• U.S. citizenship is not required.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as VUMC’s nominee must submit the following to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on December 5, 2019. Please combine your materials into a single PDF and reference the program name in the subject line of the email. 

1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page max including budget);
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director;
3. NIH Biosketch

The chosen nominee will submit a full proposal to the Foundation by the deadline of February 7, 2020.

Direct all questions about the application process to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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2020 Macy Faculty Scholars Program

Applications due December 5

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Vanderbilt has the opportunity to nominate one candidate each from the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing for the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation’s Faculty Scholars Program. The goal is to develop the next generation of national leaders in medical and nursing education. The program will support the Macy Faculty Scholars in leading new educational innovations at their home institutions and will provide opportunities for further career development through national meetings and participation in other Macy activities. This award typically provides up to $200,000 over two years.

The foundation will offer an Informational Webinar on December 11, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Anyone interested is invited to register here. 

Eligibility:

The eligible candidate must:

• Have served for five or more years as a full-time faculty member, ideally at the sponsoring school.
• Have an identified senior faculty member who will provide advice on the candidate’s project and career development.
• Have an educational innovation project with the appropriate institutional support.
• Have an institutional commitment for the protection of at least 50% of the candidate’s time.
• Be a US citizen or permanent resident

The Foundation has particular interest in innovations that take place in learning environments where clinical care is delivered. Within these clinical learning environments, the Foundation is interested in projects which:

• Advance equity, diversity, and belonging.
• Enhance collaboration among health professionals, educators, and learners.
• Successfully navigate and address ethical dilemmas that arise when the principles of the health professions are in conflict with barriers imposed by the health delivery system.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as one of Vanderbilt’s nominees must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on December 5,2019: 

1. Brief (2 page maximum) description of the educational innovation project;
2. Statement of support from candidate’s mentor indicating a commitment to advise the candidate on project work and career development;
   1. Brief statement from the candidate’s department chair that the candidate will have “at least 50% protected time to pursue a mentored educational project.” Letter must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs.** This statement can be used/modified: “The Department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional policy.”
3. Brief CV (5 page max) or NIH Biosketch

**Process for cost-sharing typically coordinated at the departmental level and approved by department chair and/or dean. Please consult LSO@vanderbilt.edu for further guidance.

Submissions should reference the program name and applicant’s School (Medicine or Nursing) in the subject line of the email. 

Please contact us at LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you have any questions about the program, foundation, or internal review process.

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2020 Clinical Investigator Award- Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

Applications due December 9

VUMC:  These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

VUMC may nominate five candidates for the 2020 Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award. The award supports independent young physician-scientists conducting disease-oriented research that demonstrates a high level of innovation and creativity. The goal is to support the best young physician-scientists doing work aimed at improving the practice of cancer medicine.  The

Clinical Investigator Award program is specifically intended to provide outstanding young physicians with the resources and training structure essential to becoming successful clinical investigators, capable of moving seamlessly between the laboratory and the patient’s bedside in search of breakthrough treatments. The award provides $450,000 over three years, and the foundation will retire up to $100,000 of medical school debt owed by the awardee. Please note that indirect costs are not allowed.

Eligibility

• Must have received an MD or MD/PhD degree(s) from an accredited institution, completed his/her subspecialty training and be U.S. board-eligible.
• Must hold a valid, active U.S. medical license at the time of application.
• Must hold an independent assistant professor position or equivalent. Must apply within the first 5 years of initial full faculty appointment (cut-off July 1, 2015). 
• Candidates holding or awarded R01s at the time of application are not eligible. There are several other awards (e.g. AACR, HHMI) that cannot be held concurrently. See Foundation Website.
• Must be affiliated with VUMC and/or VICC.
• Must commit a minimum of 80% effort to research/ research career development.
• There are additional key requirements that you must review on the Foundation Website

Internal Application Process

Anyone interested in being considered as one of VUMC’s nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on December 9, 2019.

1. Brief (2 page maximum) research plan. Please include name of proposed mentor. No budget required.
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director.
   1. Letter must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs.** This statement can be used/modified: “The Department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional policy.”
3. NIH Biosketch.

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email. Please include a statement within the email that the candidate has reviewed the eligibility requirements on the Foundation website.

After review by the internal selection committee, the chosen nominee(s) will submit a full proposal to the Foundation by the February 3, 2020 deadline.

Please contact us at LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you have any questions about the program, foundation, or internal review process.

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St. Baldrick’s Foundation Research Grants

Applications due December 12

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Vanderbilt may submit Research Grant and Supportive Care Research Grant proposals for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation spring grant cycle. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a nonprofit organization raising funds for childhood cancer research. All projects must have direct applicability and relevance to pediatric cancer.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Adolescents & young adults
• Survivorship, outcomes, and quality of life
• Supportive care
• Epidemiology and pediatric cancer predispositions
• Precision medicine
• Alternative & complementary therapies

There is particularly high interest in the following:

• Brain tumors – all types, including rare forms 
• Burkitt lymphoma
• Complementary and alternative therapies
• Hepatoblastoma
• Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
• Rhabdoid tumors

Grant Types:  Download full guidelines for each grant type here.

Research Grants: The average grant will be 1 year and $100,000 for a specific hypothesis-driven research project. Projects may be laboratory, clinical, or epidemiological in nature.

Supportive Care Research Grants: These grants focus on areas related to the supportive care of children and adolescents with cancer. Examples include but are not limited to: studies related to symptom clusters, patient-reported outcomes or quality of life, health communication, health promotion, and psychosocial support across the trajectory from diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care. The average grant will be 1 year and $50,000 for a specific hypothesis-driven research project.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants should review full eligibility and budget requirements in the appropriate grant guidelines document.
• Research Grant applicants should hold at least an M.D./D.O. or Ph.D. degree by the date the award becomes effective.
• Supportive Care Research Grant applicants should hold at least a Ph.D., D.N.P., M.D./D.O. degree, and Ph.D. nurses are encouraged to apply, by the date the award becomes effective.
• St. Baldrick’s funds may not be used for human embryonic stem cell research.
• No institutional overhead or indirect funding is allowed.

Internal Selection Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as one of Vanderbilt’s nominees must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on December 12,2019.

1. Lay abstract (200 words)
2. Scientific abstract (200 words)
3. Letter of Intent (1 page)
   1. Name of the institution(s) involved in the proposal
   2. Title of the proposed research project
   3. Area of focus of the research project (childhood cancer type or other research focus) 
   4. Relevance of the proposed research project to the mission of St. Baldrick’s, to cure childhood cancers
   5. Brief rationale for the proposed research project
   6. Brief timeline of the progression of research
4. Summary budget, Max $100,000 for Research Grant; $50,000 for Supportive Care Grant (1/2 page)
5. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
   1. Letter must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs.** This statement can be used/modified: “The Department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional policy.”
6. NIH Biosketch or brief CV (5 page max)

Please reference the Grant Type in the subject line of the email. You may apply to internal competitions for one or more grant types- please submit a separate application for each grant type. Following internal selection, Vanderbilt’s nominee(s) will submit a Letter of Intent to St. Baldrick’s by January 31, 2020.

**Process for cost-sharing typically coordinated at the departmental level and approved by department chair and/or dean. Please consult LSO@vanderbilt.edu for further guidance.

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CDC Modeling Infectious Diseases in Healthcare Research Projects

Applications due December 16

 VUMC:  These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

VUMC may submit only 1 application to the Modeling Infectious Diseases in Healthcare Research Projects to Improve Prevention Research and Healthcare Delivery (MInD Healthcare) opportunity, which is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services. This program supports innovative research to develop and apply computational tools and mathematical methods for:

1. modeling the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and related antimicrobial resistant (AR) infections;
2. predicting HAI outbreaks and trends in the burden of antimicrobial resistant and susceptible HAIs; and
3. investigating the potential effectiveness of a wide variety of intervention strategies.

The models should be useful to researchers, policymakers, and public health workers who want to better understand and respond to HAIs and AR infections in the United States, allowing them to:

• Gain a significantly better understanding of the burden of HAI pathogens;
• Identify new risk factors and mechanisms for the spread of HAI pathogens;
• Rank and prioritize the delivery of specific interventions that are most effective in combating HAIs and/or antimicrobial resistant HAIs;
• Identify high priority research questions relevant to estimating the burden of disease, identifying key risk factors for transmission, determining if there are groups of people that have a disproportionate role in transmission, and/or intervening effectively to eliminate HAIs; and
• Build HAI and antimicrobial resistant HAI modeling capacity for responding to emerging public health threats

This program will also create a network of leaders in the fields of HAI and AR modeling that will be a resource for informing the development of relevant evidence-based policy. Additionally, MInD-Healthcare will provide a network of experienced modelers to respond to evolving public health needs and emergencies. This network will be called the Modeling Infectious Diseases in Healthcare Network (MInD-Healthcare Network).

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards: The estimated total funding available for the entire five-year project period is $11,000,000 to $13,000,000. It is anticipated that up to four awards will be made. The estimated funding (direct + indirect) for the first year of each individual award is estimated to range from $550,000 to $650,000.

See the full announcement for more information.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as VUMC’s sole applicant must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on December 16, 2019:

1. Brief (2 page maximum) project description including summary budget
2. Brief statement of support from department chair/center director
3. NIH Biosketch

Please review the RFA for more information regarding the program. Following the internal process, the full proposal is due to CDC by February 18, 2020. Any questions about this opportunity may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu

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NIEHS Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES)

Applications due December 19

 VUMC:  These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

VUMC may submit one application to the NIH National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Outstanding New Environmental Scientist (ONES) Program. The program seeks to identify the most talented Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) who intend to make a long-term commitment to research in the Environmental Health Sciences and assist them in launching an innovative research program focused on the understanding of environmental exposure effects on people's health.

Program goals include career promotion as well as the scientific project proposed. Applicants must provide information about their career goals in the environmental health sciences, their previous research experience and achievements, plans for the active participation of an external advisory committee to provide consultation and feedback, the commitment by the institution to actively support the research program development of the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI), and a plan for career enhancement which will provide a strong foundation for future research endeavors.

Research projects proposed in response to this FOA will be expected to have a defined impact on the environmental health sciences and be responsive to both the mission of the NIH and, specifically, to the mission of the NIEHS and the NIEHS 2012-2017 Strategic plan. Applicants should consult the strategic plan to ensure that the research proposed in their application addresses the goals and priority areas of the NIEHS. See the solicitation for more details.

Eligibility:

• PD(s)/PI(s) must be NIH defined Early Stage Investigators. See https://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm  
• Applications must have a research focus on exposure -health related responses from environmental agents within the mission interest of the NIEHS, and may focus on:  industrial chemicals or manufacturing byproducts, metals, pesticides, herbicides, air pollutants and other inhaled toxicants, particulates or fibers, fungal, and bacterial or biologically derived toxins
• Applications may not focus exclusively/primarily on: alcohol, chemotherapeutic agents, radiation that is not a result of an ambient environmental exposure, smoking, except when considered as a secondary smoke exposure as a component in the indoor environment (particularly in children), drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals, dietary nutrients, and infectious or parasitic agents.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered to submit VUMC’s proposal must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on December 19, 2019:

1. Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget;
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director;
3. NIH Biosketch

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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2020 Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Events Sponsorship Program

Applications due January 3

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Vanderbilt may submit 1 application to the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Events Sponsorship Program. Applicants may request up to $4,000 to support events which involve participants from more than one ORAU institution. Such events may include visits to an ORAU institution by a renowned speaker, conferences or workshops with a focused theme, or a technology transfer/business plan competition.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Event must occur between April 1 and September 30.
• Funding must be awarded prior to the event.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Potential impact of the event, including the number of institutions or participants
• Student participation is considered a positive factor.
• New events have preference over events that are on-going with an established financial model.
• Preference will be given to events in STEM disciplines.

Internal Application Process:

Interested faculty should must submit the below items in a single file (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on January 3, 2020.  Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email.

1. Brief (2 page maximum) event description including
   1. the date and location of the event
   2. other participating ORAU Member Institutions
   3. history of the event (if it is part of a series)
   4. purpose and scope of the event
   5. anticipated outcomes
   6. summary budget
2. NIH Biosketch or brief CV (5 pages max)
3. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
   1. Letter must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs.** This statement can be used/modified: “The department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional policy.”

**Process for cost-sharing typically coordinated at the departmental level and approved by department chair and/or dean. Please consult LSO@vanderbilt.edu for further guidance.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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2020 Ono Pharma Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards

Applications due January 7

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Overview:

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) may nominate 2 candidates to submit an LOI to the Ono Pharma Foundation’s Breakthrough Science Initiative Awards Program.

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a leading global healthcare company committed to delivering new, innovative pharmaceutical products to patients and championing the fight against disease and pain. The Ono Pharma Foundation was established to support academic research in relevant scientific fields, which have the potential of making significant impact on therapeutic approaches to disease and pain management.

The “Ono Initiative” is the embodiment of the Foundation’s commitment to focus on and accelerate researcher-driven open innovation by supporting high-risk and high-reward science research projects which have potential to lead to science discoveries/solutions and, possibly, based on further research, to breakthrough treatments for patients. The program seeks proposals for research that could ultimately transform human health.

Applications comprising laboratory investigation will be considered. Although additional areas of research may be added in future years, in 2020 the Ono Pharma Foundation will only consider proposals for scientific research projects addressing the following field of science:

Chemical Biology Research

• Target research of Chemical Biology is not specified. Chemical Biology is defined as research that deals with the interface between chemistry and biology. The criteria for this field are deliberately broad so as not to disqualify potentially innovative and groundbreaking projects.

Award Details:

Project duration may last up to three years with annual funding of up to $300,000/year. The Foundation will provide up to a maximum of an additional 15% ($45,000) per year to be used for institutional indirect costs. The total amount of the three-year grant is up to $1,035,000.

For more information on the program, please refer to the following Program Information Overview pdf.

Eligibility Requirements

• The PI must have a MD and/or a PhD degree.
• The PI must be a young and/or mid-career scientist (15 years or less from starting independent academic position).
• The PI may not already be engaged in other sponsored research with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and/or grant program with Ono Pharma Foundation. (Contact LSO@vanderbilt.edu with questions.)
• The PI may not apply for funding to amplify current work. However, PIs may research a new idea based on a prior finding of the PI.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s potential nominee must submit the following as a single file (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5:00 p.m. on January 7, 2020. 

1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 pages max);
2. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
3. NIH Biosketch or Brief CV (5 page max)

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email. All applicants should verify their eligibility in advance.

If nominated by Vanderbilt, the PI must submit an LOI to the sponsor by February 20, 2020.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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Active Calls for NON-Limited External Opportunities 

Internal review process NOT required- Submit directly to Sponsor​

The VUMC Corporate & Foundation Relations team provides hands-on proposal development assistance for non-federal awards. Contact cfr@vumc.org for more information.