In this edition:

Feature

Funding (* New Opportunities)

*NOFO: Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities

NOFO invites eligible US small business concerns to submit SBIR grant applications that propose to develop a product, process or service for commercialization with the aim of improving minority health and/or reducing and ultimately eliminating health disparities in one or more populations that experience health disparities. Appropriate technologies should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable. Companion Funding Opportunity: Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications.

NOFO: Addressing Health Inequities in Clinical Diagnostics

Encourages applications from Small Business Concerns (SBCs) to pursue the development of improved clinical diagnostics or the development of alternative clinical diagnostics that address health disparities created by clinical laboratory assays and/or point-of-care devices that fail to incorporate diverse patient groups. Companion Funding Opportunity: PAR-24-158 , R43/ R44 Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I/ Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II.

*Warshaw Fellow and Buchter Resident Research Awards – Due April 1

Awards encourage pediatric trainees to engage in high quality research, provide a mechanism to fund trainee projects, and enhance the research environment at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Funds may be used for any type of child health-related research, including basic, clinical, translational, and outcomes research.

RNA Delivery Technologies to Allow Specific Tissue Target Homing (RNA-DASH) – Due April 5

This funding opportunity aims to support the development and/or pre-clinical studies of non-viral technologies to deliver RNA-based therapeutics into disease-relevant cells and tissues in vivo. Projects may focus on a single or multiple cells or tissues. Emphasis will be placed on organs, tissues and cell types that are clinically relevant but for which no effective in vivo delivery technologies are currently available.

Pediatric Research Alliance Pilot – LOI Due April 11

Children's and Emory offer pilot grants for faculty and centers in the Pediatric Research Alliance. These pilots are designed to stimulate new research projects, build new collaborations, and increase extramural funding for pediatric research.

Georgia CTSA Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design RFP – Due April 12

Georgia CTSA’s Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Research Design program is soliciting proposals to support novel methodological research in biostatistics, epidemiology, or health services research to advance clinical & translational research. Review criteria include quantitative methodological research to fill gaps, innovation, feasibility, and plans for dissemination & translation. New investigators are encouraged to apply.

Education and Training

Phlebotomy 101 Training – March 28 & 29

Phlebotomy 101 is a two-day introductory classroom and clinical hands-on training that teaches the techniques of venipuncture. Led by the GCRC nurses, the course is offered to Georgia-CTSA affiliated partners.

Emory T32 Post-Doctoral Training Program to End the HIV Epidemic – Interest Form Due April 12

The goal of this program is to train post-doctoral candidates from diverse backgrounds and disciplinary expertise in health services research, through utilization of a multidisciplinary approach to expose trainees to multiple methods and research areas, from epidemiology and biostatistics to behavioral and social sciences, biological sciences, and health policy and implementation. The program has a special emphasis on research addressing disparities or inequities based on factors such as race/ethnicity, sex/gender, socioeconomic status, geographical residence, healthcare access, and physical/mental disability. Proposals should thus have a component that addresses equity or disparities. Contact Tracy Obertone for questions. Full applications due May 3.

Emory Master of Science in Clinical Research – Apply by April 15

The Emory Master of Science in Clinical Research (MSCR) degree program in the Laney Graduate School provides innovative didactic and mentored research training to those interested in pursuing a career in clinical and/or translational research. The MSCR degree is designed for predoctoral (medical students or PhD students), postdoctoral trainees (resident and fellow physicians or PhD postdocs), and junior faculty (physicians, PhD-level scientists). View flyer.

Certificate Program in Translational Science (CPTS) Request for Applications - Due May 1

The Certificate Program in Translational Science (CPTS) is a formal 16-credit Emory Laney Graduate School program for trainees who seek to conduct research at interface between basic and translational science and clinical medicine. The CPTS enhances and transforms translational research training for predoctoral PhD students, postdoctoral fellows (PhD or MD) & junior faculty at Emory, MSM, Georgia Tech & UGA.

Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases - July 15-31

The Summer Institute in Statistics and Modeling in Infectious Diseases (SISMID) is designed to introduce infectious disease researchers to modern methods of statistical analysis and mathematical modeling. Scholarship Applications are now being accepted (students and post docs are eligible to apply)

Calling All Clinical Research Professionals: Discover the Power of eMPACT!

Are you looking for a free, comprehensive career navigation system that can help you achieve your professional goals in the field of Clinical Translational Science? Introducing eMPACT (Empowering Purposeful Advancement of Careers and Training in the Research Workforce), a dynamic platform designed to promote purposeful training and career advancement for professionals like you.

Free Online Trainings for Clinical Research Professionals

Georgia CTSA and SC CTSI created an Online Course Catalog with free course and program offerings available to clinical research professionals. Participants earn a certificate or badge with contact hours (continuing education – CE) from an accredited provider upon completion of a course or program (series of courses). Featured Program: The Legal Aspects of Conducting Clinical Trials Program

Research Resources

Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs) Services

Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs) offer dedicated space, experienced staff, and resources to support research at a competitive cost. We are here to support investigators of all experience levels from Emory University, Grady Memorial Hospital, Morehouse School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the University of Georgia. View Flyer.

TEAMS Mentoring Program - Call for Content Experts

Call for Mentors: Georgia CTSA TEAMS Program

Grant Wise

Would you like an experienced grant writer to help provide guidance for your grant? The Georgia CTSA Grant Wise service offers the opportunity for one-on-one feedback from experienced senior faculty on grant writing. Receive support with developing a timeline, reviewing specific aims, writing/editing the text, and responding to reviewers. Grant Wise is available to faculty of institutions within the Georgia CTSA - Emory, Georgia Tech, MSM, & UGA.

Georgia CTSA Match

Looking to connect with experts in your field? Join the new Georgia CTSA Match! The platform encourages meaningful networking and collaboration by pairing researchers based on similar interests. These matches will help you to build networking opportunities acting as a catalyst to spur your research forward. Discover more and Join Now!

Georgia CTSA Ethical Dilemma of the Week

Mentoring: The Nutty Professor (PDF)

Innovation & Translation

Bench2Market Talk: Building a Compelling Pitch – March 20

Join us from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM via ZoomFundraising is critical for the success of early-stage startups. But for many first-time entrepreneurs, the process can seem daunting. How do you concisely communicate the value of your technology and your plans to go to market? Join us on March 20th for an interactive webinar on how to effectively pitch your startup to potential investors. Our speakers, Brian Walsh and Keyton Weissinger will present example pitches and discuss how to build a milestone plan and budget to map out your path to market.

SBIR/STTR Application Tips & Resources to Support Your Small Business Research – March 21

Did you know that the NIH offers non-dilutive funding and resources to help small businesses advance and commercialize promising research technologies? If you are a researcher interested in bringing your innovation to market, you may be eligible to apply to the NIH Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs. Join speakers from NCATS, and Eva Garland Consulting in collaboration with the Georgia CTSA from 12:00-1:00 PM ET for a webinar to learn more about the SBIR/STTR programs for researchers and entrepreneurs in translational science, and current funding opportunities.

Bioentrepreneurship Networking – March 26

Join us from 4:30 – 6:00 PM in HSRB-II, 6th floor, N600, for a special Bioentrepreneurship Networking event featuring award winner Dr. Louise Hecker, who has previously won several awards for Innovator of the Year, Inventor of the Year, as well as becoming the Business Pitch competition winner at Science2Startup. Gain insights into her journey with IP development, startups, and funding. Food will be provided.

Translational Science 2024 – April 3-5

Join the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) in Las Vegas, NV for Translational Science 2024, the national meeting for trainees, junior faculty, and senior scientists in translational science and clinical research. Learn from experts in the field how to innovate translational science for research, explore research from a variety of fields of study, build your professional community, and more. 

Bio LaunchPad Seminar – April 30

Join Georgia CTSA Innovation Catalyst’s Kevin Wu, UGA, from 11AM-12PM in Petit Biotech Building, Suddath Seminar Room 1128, or via Zoom, for a lunch and learn about the different non-dilutive funding options available to university startups in Georgia, including I-Corps, Georgia Research Alliance Funding, and Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) grants, as well as tips and tricks for applying.

Events

Atlanta Science Festival – Today thru March 23

The festival is an annual celebration of the world-class learning and STEM career opportunities in metro Atlanta, featuring 100+ engaging events for kids and adults at venues all across the region. Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers Director Colleen Kraft, MD, MSc, Emory, is among the expert panelists featured in Our Disappearing Microbes on Thursday, March 21, at 6PM. The event begins with a screening of the film “The Invisible Extinction, the Race to Save Our Vanishing Microbes,” followed by a Q&A with scientists who are studying how our lifestyles may be causing the demise of microbes important to our health.

Reproducibility in Animal Research – March 21

Join us online from 2-3PM as Dr. Crystal Gergye presents, “How to ARRIVE Prepared: Guidelines for successful and reproducible animal research.”

Clinical and Molecular Nutrition Seminar – March 25

Join the Emory Center for Clinical and Molecular Nutrition Seminar via Zoom at 4PM for a presentation by Martha Tamez, ScD, on “Reducing cardiometabolic disparities through culturally-tailored diets among Hispanics/Latinos.”

Informatics Lunch and Learn: Infrastructure for Real World Data and Pragmatic Clinical Trials – March 26

Georgia CTSA’s Informatics program is pleased to offer the next webinar in the Lunch and Learn Series to provide free informatics guidance to the university research community. Join us on Tuesday, March 26, from 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM. Elizabeth Shenkman, PhD, Chair, Department of Health Outcomes and Biomedical Informatics; Co-Director UF CTSI; Director, UF Institute for Child Health Policy; will be leading this session. View flyer.

Healthcare Innovation Symposium – April 1

The Emory-Georgia Tech Healthcare Innovation Program is hosting our 41st Symposium "The Future of AI Tools in Healthcare: Assuring Safety and Efficacy". Join the Georgia CTSA, a symposium sponsor, from 12-2PM in the WHSCAB Auditorium or via Zoom. This year's event features esteemed keynote speaker, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration Robert Califf, MD and Georgia CTSA Informatics Co-Director Jon Duke, Georgia Tech. View Flyer.

Georgia CTSA Maternal Health Webinar: Engaging pregnant people in clinical and translational research – April 8

Join us via Zoom on Monday, February 5, from 12:00 - 1:00 PM for a webinar to stimulate dialogue around challenges and opportunities in engaging pregnant people in clinical and translational research. Catherine Spong, MD, Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, will be leading session on Ethics and Research in Pregnancy. View flyer.

AWSOM24 Conference – April 11–12 (Abstracts Due: March 11)

This two-day workshop highlights short talks in the areas of bioinformatics/single-cell analytics and experimental applications of single-cell technologies (e.g., scRNAseq, snATACseq, spatial transcriptomics) for biological, clinical, and translational research. Submit your abstract today, due March 11!

Donna J. Brogan Lecture in Biostatistics – April 15

Join us at 4PM in RSPH or via Zoom for “Building the Fred Hutch Data Science Lab in the Era of AI” presented by Jeff Leek, PhD.

10th Annual Health Services Research Day – May 7

Join Georgia CTSA colleagues at Emory University from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM for this symposium and networking opportunity where researchers across Georgia will learn about ongoing quality, effectiveness, and value-based research activities.

CTSA: TL1 Visiting Science Working Group Debate - May 21

Save the Date for the Spring 2024 TL1 Visiting Science Working Group Debate, "Smart Medicine or Algorithmic Dilemmas: The Pros and Cons of AI in Healthcare," virtually from 10AM–12PM CT. We encourage trainees to attend. The event is hosted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Emory School of Medicine and co-sponsored by CTSA Coordination, Communication, and Operations Support (CCOS). 

CTSA: Learning Health Systems (LHS) Collaborative Workshop – May 22

Join CTSA Program representatives, researchers, clinicians, policymakers, healthcare innovators, opinion leaders, and other health professionals at Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute in Charlotte for an in-person event. Gain a common understanding of LHS, form teams around LHS research, and help identify ways the CTSA can support LHS – including implementation science and operations research to address translational science barriers.

2024 Annual Southeastern Pediatric Research Conference – June 7 (Abstracts Due: April 1)

The 2024 conference is our thirteenth annual conference and will take place at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, bringing together clinicians, scientists, and bioengineers to showcase cutting-edge child health research. This year's conference theme is "Pediatric Research in the Digital Age: Innovation, Collaboration, and Translation." 

2024 Pediatric Early Career Researcher Conference – August 27 (Abstracts Due: April 15)

Call for abstracts is now open! Abstracts are welcome from child health researchers who are residents, medical fellows, post-doctoral fellows (PhD), and junior faculty with a rank no higher than assistant professor. All abstracts are considered for poster presentations. Select abstracts will be chosen for oral presentation. Encore abstracts are welcomed.