In this edition:

Feature

Special Recognition

Former GCRCs Director and MSCR Graduate Named Division Director for Pulmonary Medicine at Emory

Congratulations to Greg S. Martin, MD, MSc, named Division Director for the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at Emory. He also serves as Co-Principal Investigator of the NIBIB-funded Atlanta Center Microsystems Engineered Point of Care Technologies (ACME POCT) to test and validate some of the most promising technologies for COVID-19 diagnostic tests as part of the RADx Tech Test Verification Core with Georgia CTSA Innovation Catalyst Director Wilbur Lam, MD, PhD. Dr. Martin is a Georgia CTSA MSCR graduate and previous Georgia CTSA Clinical Research Centers (GCRCs) Director from 2015-2020.

Funding (* New Opportunities)

SOM I3 (Imagine, Innovate, and Impact) Wow! Research Awards – Due March 9

The Dean of the Emory School of Medicine (SOM) is soliciting proposals to promote innovative research. In the current round, grants will be considered for proposals with the potential to make a transformational impact in either fundamental biomedical knowledge or translational impact are being solicited. If successful, the project will provide new ways of thinking about a problem. Particularly creative ideas, even without preliminary data, will be considered provided feasibility is demonstrated. Collaborations are strongly encouraged but not required. Preference given to outside-the-box ideas.

Emory SOM Image, Innovate, and Impact (I3) Med Tech Awards RFP – Due March 30

In partnership with Georgia CTSA, Emory SOM is soliciting proposals to catalyze promising early-stage concepts with commercial potential that do not yet qualify for external funding. Proposals with the potential to shape, de-risk, or scale up a potential new medical technology - diagnostics, devices, or digital technology in less than one year. Collaborations are strongly encouraged and can include collaborators from non-SOM entities.

Investigator-Initiated Project Grants in Healthcare Innovation - LOI Due April 1

The Emory-Georgia Tech Healthcare Innovation Program, with partners including Georgia CTSA, announce seed grants to fund multi-investigator & multi-disciplinary teams examining healthcare services and clinical effectiveness involving adult and/or pediatric patients. The funding priority for this round will be for proposals that address issues in dealing with pandemics. LOI Due April 1.

Georgia CTSA Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design RFP - Due April 7

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 and translation. New investigators are encouraged to apply. Meritorious applications from new investigators will be prioritized for funding.

Atlanta Pediatric Research Alliance Pilots – Due April 14

Pediatric research is thriving and expanding in Atlanta through a unique, multi-institutional initiative. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, and Georgia Institute of Technology have formed a close partnership that combines the clinical strengths of the institutions and offers pilot grants for faculty and centers in the Pediatric Research Alliance. Proposals should be aimed towards generating preliminary data for subsequent extramural grant applications and involve at least one investigator from Emory DOP or Children’s.

Emory SOM I3 (Imagine, Innovate, and Impact) Nexus Research Awards – Due April 25

The I3 Nexus Research Awards will provide seed money to fundamental biological and translational investigators for obtaining sufficient data to ultimately develop external collaborative funding applications, and to investigators who may not otherwise engage in multi- and interdisciplinary research. These awards require interdisciplinary team collaboration, with at least one collaborator outside of the home department/division (within the SOM) who brings a different discipline, expertise, or methodology to the project.

Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities – Due September 6

Two Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) (Technologies and Innovations for Healthy Living) invites eligible United States small business concerns (SBCs) to submit Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 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 NIH-defined populations that experience health disparities. Appropriate technologies should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable.

Education

Georgia CTSA TL1 (T32-like) Training Grant Clinical and Translational Research Training - Postdoc Due March 15

The TL1 program is focused on providing innovative didactic and mentored research training to individuals interested in careers that encompass clinical and/or translational research. The TL1 program supports predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees (medical and PhD students, resident and fellow physicians, PhD postdocs, and PharmD residents).

Certificate Program in Translational Science (CPTS) Request for Applications - Due April 3

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.

Frontiers in Environmental Science and Health (FrESH) Training Program – Due May 5

This innovative advanced program will train and mentor promising graduates, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty from predominantly underrepresented communities in sophisticated technologies in Environmental Health Science Research. FrESH offers dynamic training courses that consist of daily lectures from leading experts, active learning sessions, and extended discussions on important and emerging topics followed by hands-on laboratory sessions for a week-long summer course.

Research Resources

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

Innovation & Translation

Bench2Market Talk: Building a Compelling Pitch - March 22

Join us from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM for an interactive webinar on how to effectively pitch your startup to potential investors. Fundraising 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? 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.

Translational Science 2023 – April 18-20

Join ACTS in person in Washington, DC for Translational Science 2023, the leading 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 explore the Nation’s Capital.

Community

PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease

PD GENEration is a Parkinson’s Foundation initiative that offers genetic testing and genetic counseling at no cost for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). When you participate, you will have the opportunity to improve Parkinson’s research and better manage your Parkinson’s in the future. Sign up today or email for more information.

SPARX3: Study in Parkinson Disease of Exercise Phase 3 Clinical Trial

We are seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical research trial to learn more about the effects of aerobic exercise on people with Parkinson’s disease. Sign up today or email for more information.

Events

K-Club – March 13

Join us from 12:00 – 1:00 PM via Zoom for a panel discussion titled, “Take Two: Strategies for Resubmission of Grant Proposals” where leaders share their ideas on how to find great mentors and cultivate those relationships through various career development stages.

Bionano Genomics Seminar – March 14

Join us 2:00 – 3:00 PM in-person or via Zoom for a seminar on Bionano Genomics’ platform for Optical Genome Mapping (OGM), which offers an extremely long-read technology, providing unmatched sensitivity and specificity to detect structural variation, genome-wide, at low cost. Examples will be presented of how Bionano’s platform is being used by groups all over the world for rare and undiagnosed genetic disease and translational cancer research.

Health Disparities Un-Meeting: Sparking Conversation to Enhance Health Equity Research – March 16

Please join the Case Western Reserve University Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative for our virtual Health Disparities Un-Meeting from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. This un-meeting will bring together researchers, clinicians, policymakers, public health professionals, healthcare innovators, influencers, and other interested groups to discuss and develop innovative and effective ideas to support and further develop health disparities research through clinical and translational science and beyond.

Healthcare Innovation Symposium – March 20

Join us 12:00 – 1:30 PM via Zoom for a webinar on Precision Education: A Look to The Future. Precision Education for health professionals reflects the use of data and technology to personalize education, increase efficiency, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.  This symposium will review the major initiative in Precision Education launched by the AMA, specific programs developed in medicine and nursing, and a look to the future. Learn More.

World TB Day Events – March 20-24

The Emory/Georgia TRAC is pleased to host several events for World TB Day 2023, as well as promote events at our fellow centers and institutions.  Events and calendars will be updated as we get closer to the week. Contact us if you are interested in having your event promoted.

Blue Sky Group: Climate Change and Health – March 28

Join researchers and clinicians from across the Georgia CTSA via Zoom from 3:30-5:00 PM for a session on Climate Change and Health. The discussion will be opened by leading researchers in this field. Blue Sky Groups provide a unique opportunity for attendees to drive the agenda and catalyze future collaborations and research opportunities. Share your experience, learn from others, network, and find potential collaborators! Learn more.

Team Science Skill Series: Multiteam Systems – April 14

Join us via Zoom from 12:00-1:00 PM as Marissa Shuffler, PhD, Clemson, leads an interactive workshop on multiteam systems (MTS). This workshop’s goal is to help interdisciplinary researchers understand coordination and teaming dynamics from an MTS perspective, as well as to provide practical guidance and recommendations for interventions that may help to facilitate cross-team functioning and combat common barriers to success. Learn more.

Donna J. Brogan Lecture in Biostatistics – April 20

Join us at 4:00 PM in-person or via Zoom for a lecture on “Personalized Treatment: Sounds heavenly, but where on Earth did they find the right guinea pig for me?” with featured guest speaker Xiao-Li Meng, PhD, professor of statistics at Harvard University. Reception immediately following the lecture.

Atlanta Workshop for Single-cell Omics (AWSOM) 2023 – April 27-28

Please join us for the 2nd annual Atlanta Workshop for Single-cell Omics (AWSOM) 2023 hosted by Atlanta Single-cell Omics and Analytics Initiative (ASCOmAI). Two-day workshop will highlight talks in areas of bioinformatics/single-cell analytics and experimental applications of single-cell technologies for biological, clinical, and translational research from Emory, Georgia Tech, and MSM.

9th Annual Health Services Research Day – May 3 (Abstracts Due: March 6)

Join Georgia CTSA colleagues at Emory University School of Medicine on May 3 for the 9th Annual Health Services Research Day symposium and networking opportunity where researchers across Georgia will learn about ongoing quality, effectiveness, and value-based research activities. Oral and poster presentations will be selected from submitted abstracts. View Call for Abstracts. Submit Abstracts by March 6.

12th Annual Southeastern Pediatric Research Conference - June 9

The 2023 conference will take place at the Georgia Aquarium and will highlight the scope of pediatric research conducted across the southeastern US, with emphasis on research from Emory, Children’s, Georgia Tech, and MSM. This conference brings together basic and clinical researchers with pediatricians and healthcare providers to promote the integration of cutting-edge research into clinical practice. This year’s conference theme is Optimizing Health across the Lifespan through Innovation, Discovery, and Equity. Submit abstracts by April 1.