Research Opportunities

February 21, 2020

resources for pursuing endocrine-related research opportunities

Endocrine researchers are at the core of solving many of the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, thyroid conditions, and hormone-related cancers. Your work has led to incredible accomplishments and remarkable progress in the biological and biomedical sciences that have benefited the lives of millions of Americans.

Highlights for Endocrine-related Research from the NIH Grants Guide

NIDDK Discontinues R21s: On April 1, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases announced that seven R21 clinical trial Funding Opportunity Announcements have been modified to expire on September 8, 2020. Investigators interested in support for pilot and feasibility trials are encouraged to instead apply to the small R01 program.

NIDDK Issues NOSI for Health Disparities Research: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases released on April 3 a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) inviting competitive revision applications to support the expansion of existing NIDDK-funded R01, U01, U24, U54, and P30 awards to address the increasing burden of chronic diseases and to reduce health disparities in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic diseases within the NIDDK mission. Applications in response to this notice must be received by May 14, 2020 at 5:00 PM.

NIDDK Grants in Chronic Disease and Health Disparities: The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases issued a Notice of Special Interest for competitive revision applications to support the expansion of existing NIDDK-funded grants to address the increasing burden of chronic diseases and to reduce health disparities in the development, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of high priority to the institute. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM, May 14, 2020.

Special Announcement: NCATS “Rare Diseases Are Not Rare!” Challenge Prize Competition
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is soliciting entries for the 2020 “Rare Diseases Are Not Rare! Challenge.” The goal of this Challenge is to reward and spur innovative approaches to effectively communicate with others and to educate people about all rare diseases in a collective manner through social media or art. The challenge announcement will be posted on www.Challenge.gov and the NCATS Rare Diseases Are Not Rare! Challenge Details websites.
Release Date: February 19, 2020. Submission Deadline: April 30, 2020

Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement: NIGMS Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (R35 - Clinical Trial Optional)
An NIGMS MIRA for ESIs is intended to provide support for the program of research in an ESI’s laboratory that falls within the mission of NIGMS. Investigators receiving a MIRA will be required to relinquish their other NIGMS research funding, including Mentored Career Development (K) awards. Investigators with K awards from another Institute/Center of the NIH may receive an NIGMS MIRA but will be required to adjust their person-months of effort on those awards to be less than the number of person-months committed to the MIRA. Release Date: October 7, 2019. Estimated Publication Date of Funding Opportunity Announcement: May 01, 2020

Funding Opportunity Announcement: Mechanistic Ancillary Studies to Ongoing Clinical Projects. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits applications that propose to conduct time-sensitive mechanistic ancillary studies related to the NIAMS mission in conjunction with privately or publicly funded, ongoing clinical projects. Release date: April 26, 2019. Application Due Dates: August 5, 2019; December 2, 2019; April 1, 2020; August 3, 2020; December 1, 2020.

Funding Opportunity Announcement: Biological Testing Facility Access For Contraceptive Development. The purpose of this FOA is to provide investigators with a mechanism to request services from NICHD’s state-of-the-art Biological Testing Facility to advance their contraceptive development program. Release Date: May 1, 2019. Due Dates: July 1, 2019, December 16, 2019, May 1, 2020

Funding Opportunity Announcement: Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs). The Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORC) program is designed to support and enhance the national research effort in nutrition and obesity. Release date: March 13, 2019. Due dates: October 23, 2019 and June 2, 2020

Funding Opportunity Announcement: Next Generation Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (NGM). This FOA will support the development of new and innovative on-demand, event -driven and long-acting systemic and non-systemic multipurpose prevention technologies (MPT that prevent HIV infection and pregnancy (hormonal and non-hormonal methods); sexually transmitted infections (STI) and pregnancy, and (HIV/STI) and non-HIV STI MPTs in cis and trans males and females of all ages. Posted March 4, 2019. Application due dates May 6, 2019, May 6, 2020, May 6, 2021.

Data Repositories

The following resources may be useful for researchers seeking data repositories, databases, or other opportunities for data deposition and/or sharing.

NIH Newsletters

NIEHS Environmental Factor: The March issue of Environmental Factor features a summary of a symposium on pre- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and highlights from discussions from recent meetings of the National Toxicology Program Board of Scientific Counselors and NIEHS Advisory Council.
CSR Peer Review Notes: The September issue of Peer Review Notes highlights updates to NIH efforts to enhance the reproducibility of supported research. The issue also includes information on new videos to help NIH grant applicants navigate peer review.
NICHDevelopments: The February issue features research showing sex differences in concussions, new data sharing resources to connect investigators to research resources for projects aimed improving the health outcomes of newborns with genetic or congenital disorders, and selected NICHD requests for applications and program announcements
NIDDK Annual Report: In January 2019, NIDDK released their annual Recent Advances & Emerging Opportunities report. The publication demonstrates the value and promise of research by sharing examples of NIDDK-funded research including “Stories of Discovery”, “Scientific Presentations” and “Patient Profiles”