ANNOUNCEMENTS

Research Day - Student Poster Session Competition Call for Abstracts

The Center for Research and Learning invites student poster abstract submissions for the IUPUI Research Day - Student Poster Session Competition. The goal of this session is to provide a forum for students to present and discuss their research and scholarly work with Research Day participants both internal and external to the IUPUI campus and to meet some of their peers. The student poster session is scheduled to take place on April 24, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., in the University Library Skywalk.

Dr. Judith Ernst, Associate Professor of Nutrition & Dietetics in the Indiana University School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, is the Lead Principal Investigator of the project titled “Increasing Animal Source Foods in Diets of HIV-infected Kenyan Women and Their Children”. The project, now in Phase III, is a randomized nutrition feeding intervention that evaluates the effect of protein quality and micronutrients in meat on the health and nutritional well-being of drug naïve women living with HIV in rural Kenya and the health and development of their vulnerable children. Isocaloric nutrition intervention biscuits that contain meat, soy, or wheat protein were developed in Phase I and then pilot tested in rural Kenyan women and young children in Phase II.

The study population of women receives medical care at the Turbo Rural Health Center, one of the rural clinics that have been established by the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) program in Kenya. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-AMPATH Partnership operates under the joint direction of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and the Moi University and Indiana University School of Medicine and cares for over 79,000 HIV-infected adults and children at 19 clinics in rural and urban areas in western Kenya.  About 50% of AMPATH patients do not yet receive treatment with antiretroviral drugs therapy and this nutrition intervention project is focused on this drug naïve group who are not yet experiencing the nutritional and metabolic challenges associated with advanced HIV infection (full blown AIDS).

Funding from the USAID Global Livestock Collaborative Research Support Program (GL-CRSP) has sourced this important project and has allowed the development and field testing of the nutrition intervention biscuits, the establishment of an infrastructure to successfully conduct a complex, controlled and randomized field nutrition trial with a highly stigmatized and ill population, and the field implementation of the Phase III trial through June 30, 2009. NIH funding supports the laboratory analyses completed in Kenya and abroad at the USDA; ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center at the University of California at Davis; faculty oversight from Moi University, UCLA and Indiana University; data management, statistical analysis and administrative project management at Indiana University; AMPATH research office management at Moi University; consultation services related to nutrient intake, cognitive development and time allocation assessment (years 1 through 4); and feasibility assessment for local biscuit development in year 1. Sources for the additional funding for project field costs are ongoing. Included in the field costs are items for the participating families that will help to control opportunistic infections such as malaria, water-borne illnesses, and parasites. These include bio-sand water filters, mosquito nets and treatment for parasites every 3 months for all family members.

The research conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Anna Malkova, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology, is designed to unravel the mechanisms of DNA repair.  Her lab is focusing on double-strand DNA breaks, which can be very dangerous for our cells.  Abnormal repair of these breaks leads to genetic instability, which is believed to promote cancer in humans. “This is why”, states Dr. Malkova, “it is critical to determine the mechanisms that maintain genetic integrity by properly repairing DNA breaks.”  Because DNA repair pathways are similar in all organisms, Dr. Malkova’s lab is conducting research using a convenient model - baking yeast.

The research in the lab is focused on break-induced replication (BIR), an important DNA repair pathway that was discovered by Dr. Malkova during her postdoctoral training in Dr. James Haber’s lab at Brandeis University.  This mechanism was suggested to play an important role during DNA replication.  However, BIR is also dangerous because it can lead to several types of genetic instability similar to those known to promote cancer. At IUPUI, Dr. Malkova’s lab described an important role of DNA polymerases during BIR repair that was recently published in the journal Genetics.  Another important achievement of the lab includes a description of a new molecular mechanism responsible for initiation of catastrophic chromosomal events known as breakage-fusion-bridge cycles. These cycles were originally described by Nobel Prize laureate Dr. Barbara McClintock, in 1941, but lacked any molecular explanation for many years.

Dr. Malkova’s lab has undergone significant changes during the 5 years that she has spent at IUPUI.  Initially staffed entirely by undergraduate students, her lab now includes Ph.D. candidates and technicians.  However, mentoring undergraduate students remains an important goal of Dr. Malkova. ”I am convinced that doing research with students is essential because it allows students to fall in love with science and helps them to make solid career decisions,” states Dr. Malkova.  The key element to effectively mentoring undergraduate researchers is to peak their interest early. “All of my students started during their freshmen year as a part of the Department of Biology Freshman Work Program”, says Dr. Malkova.  Through this program, qualified incoming freshmen are paid to perform basic lab work, such as washing glassware, cleaning, and making simple media recipes and solutions.  “I have found”, says Dr. Malkova,” that this is an ideal opportunity to identify students with both the talent and drive necessary to be productive bench scientists”.  Thus, many freshman workers begin to work on real research projects, often shadowing a more established member of the lab at first to begin learning techniques.  Because they feel a sense of accomplishment so early in their undergraduate careers, many students are eager to continue research in the lab, and many of them make a decision to become scientists in the future. “At the beginning, all freshmen want to be doctors”, adds Dr. Malkova, “but after doing research in the lab they often apply for competitive MD/Ph.D. programs”.

Mentoring undergraduates is also beneficial for Dr. Malkova’s research program.  In fact, her first external grant was the AREA award from the National Institutes of Health to support undergraduate research, and undergraduate students are authors on all publications from the lab, as well as on abstracts for various national and international meetings. The successful work accomplished by seven students under this grant allowed the lab to obtaining new prestigious funding from NIH, including an R03 grant and a $1.3 million R01 grant.

Finally, the most important feature of Malkova’s lab is its team-work approach, where researchers of different ages and nationalities are working toward one goal and helping each other. “Whatever we are doing, we are doing it together: experiments, grant writing, preparing papers and posters – it’s all done collaboratively,” Dr. Malkova says. “Building a strong team is definitely the best way for our small, but ambitious, lab to remain competitive.”

Now in her second year of doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University, in the department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Marquicia Pierce is convinced that her involvement with the IUPUI Center for Research and Learning (CRL), more specifically her participation in the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, allowed her an opportunity to get a “running start” as an undergraduate researcher moving toward a successful career in the professoriate.  Ms. Peirce’s current research project at Vanderbilt University is guided by Dr. James May, Professor of Medicine and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and focuses on the antioxidant role of vitamin C and E in neurobehavioral changes in mice. “As a critical part of my training, I am enrolled in courses that will continue to strengthen my research presentation and grant proposal writing skills. These courses provide opportunities to practice writing research aims and developing experimental designs that clearly and effectively convey complex research ideas.”

According to Ms. Pierce, the CRL was an excellent source of encouragement and an invaluable resource, linking her to essential contacts in her field of study. She emphasizes how much she learned in the areas to grant proposal development, finding funding, and developing a strong network of faculty expertise and mentors. As an undergraduate researcher at IUPUI, Ms. Pierce was paired with Dr. Richard Gregory, Professor of Oral Biology and Preventive and Community Dentistry in the Indiana University School of Dentistry, who she describes as a great faculty mentor with a heart for teaching.

In Dr. Gregory’s lab, Ms. Pierce learned first-hand how to conduct research and became an integral part of a team working on a project that focused on a quorum-sensing signaling pathway in S. mutans. “Working closely with Dr. Zhiyun Chen, a PhD student in the lab at the time, Marquicia did a fantastic piece of work over the three years she worked with us,” says Dr. Gregory.  As a McNair Scholar, Ms. Pierce was afforded opportunities to present results of this research project at several symposia both locally and nationally. She expresses that this (research) experience proved very beneficial in her pursuit of graduate studies and is an important addition to her curriculum vitae as she moves toward a career in the professoriate.  According to Dr. Gregory, “she came to the lab with very good communication skills and worked hard to improve those with her scientific presentations and a publication that we are continuing to work on.”

On a personal level, Ms. Pierce reflects that the McNair Program was exactly what she needed to succeed. The tuition scholarship she received made it possible for her to finish the last year of her undergraduate program. And it was working for the CRL that allowed her to cut back on off-campus work, which can easily impact one’s success in the academy. Ms. Pierce explains, “The staff in the Center for Teaching and Learning often gave me academic counseling, personal encouragement, and even connected me to professional contacts. Graduate school was not originally part of my post bachelorette plans, but they pushed me to be and achieve more; for that I am truly grateful.”

RESEARCH SUPPORT FUNDS GRANT (RSFG): The IUPUI Research Support Funds Grant (RSFG) program is designed to enhance the research mission of IUPUI by supporting research projects and scholarly activities that are sustainable through external funding. The next Research Support Fund Grant (RSFG) application deadline is April 2, 2009. For grant guidelines and application forms, go to http://research.iupui.edu/funding/ and click on the appropriate side bar.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND GRANT (IDF): The IUPUI International Development Fund (IDF) grant program is designed to stimulate international activities that will lead to external funding. The next IDF grant application deadline is April 15, 2009. For grant guidelines and application forms go to http://research.iupui.edu/funding/ and click on the appropriate side bar. 

CENTER ON PHILANTHROPY RESEARCH FUND: The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University requests proposals from faculty members from all disciplines for research relating to issues facing philanthropy and nonprofit organizations.  All proposals must be postmarked by March 6, 2009. For more information, go to http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/Research/grant-programs.aspx or Reema T. Bhakta at rtbhakta@iupui.edu or 317-278-8996.

Research Compliance 101: Human Subjects

When: Thursday, February 26, 2009 | 01:00 PM-02:30 PM
Where: University Library Room 1126

This event is co-sponsored by the office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Office of Research Administration, Research Compliance Administration.

This session offers an overview of the history and regulations pertaining to the protection of human subjects from research risk. Everyone involved in the conduct of research will find this information essential.

To register for this event, go to http://crl.iupui.edu/Events/eventsRegistration.asp?id=1484

Finding Funding

When: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 | 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
Where: University Library Room 0106

This session will provide an overview of the various types of external funding sources, identify tools to locate funding opportunities, explain how to design a funding search, and demonstrate a couple of knowledge management systems that contain thousands of funding opportunities available by the university subscription.

To register for this event, go to http://crl.iupui.edu/events/eventsRegistration.asp?id=1472.

Lifecycle of a Grant Proposal

When: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 | 01:00 PM-02:30 PM
Where: University Library Room 1126

Learn the basics of sponsored programs administration and meet key Office of Research Administration – Grant Services staff. Participants will also gain insight into the pre-award and post-award processes at Indiana University.

To register for this event, go to http://crl.iupui.edu/events/eventsRegistration.asp?id=1480.

This event is co-sponsored by the office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Office of Research Administration.

Proposal Budget Preparation

When: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 | 10:00 AM-11:30 AM
Where: University Library Room 1116

Learn how to prepare a basic budget. Participants will learn what's allowable and unallowable according to federal and university guidelines. The budget justification and its importance in the overall proposal will also be discussed.

To register for this event, go to http://crl.iupui.edu/events/eventsRegistration.asp?id=1482.

This event is co-sponsored by the office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Office of Research Administration.

Scientific Grant Proposal Development

When: Thursday, March 26, 2009 | 01:00 PM-03:00 PM
Where: University Library, Room 1126

This session will focus on the essentials of building a successful scientific grant proposal. A variety of topics from key components of proposals to basic budgets, writing style to interpreting agency guidelines, will be covered.

To register for this event, go to http://crl.iupui.edu/events/eventsRegistration.asp?id=1500.

Proposal Writing Workshop for NSF/DUE Programs

When: Friday, March 06, 2009 | 02:00 PM-05:00 PM
Where: University Library, Room 1125

This workshop is sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning at IUPUI and is for anyone who has written a proposal, is thinking about writing a proposal or is currently preparing one to submit to the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Undergraduate education is central to the National Science Foundation's mission in human resource development. The Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) serves as the focal point for agency-wide support for undergraduate education. Within DUE programs, particular emphasis is placed on improving access to STEM education for all segments of U.S. Society, including persons with disabilities, populations underrepresented in STEM fields or in technical or teaching careers. This presentation includes a brief description of the DUE programs such CCLI, UBM, Math Science Partnerships, S-STEM, Noyce Scholarships and STEP.  More information about each of the programs mentioned can be found at the NSF web site at http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DUE.

To register for this event, go to http://ctl.iupui.edu/events/eventsRegistration.asp?id=1506.

This event is sponsored by the Center for Teaching and Learning

SCHOLARSHIP AT LUNCH TIME (SALT) SERIES

The SALT event series is aimed at showcasing interdisciplinary research efforts, promoting IUPUI research center activities, and encouraging new collaborative partnerships. This highly interactive event provides an opportunity to meet fellow researches in an informal setting on a monthly basis at the Faculty Club. Presentations are limited to 20-25 minutes to allow ample time for discussion.
Presentation Title: A Spatial Approach to Understanding Health: New Directions in Research

When: Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 12:00 PM-01:00 PM
Where: University Faculty Club

Presenters:David Bodenhamer and Jeff Wilson, School of Liberal Arts, Co-directors of the Center for Health Geographics

The Center uses high-resolution social, environmental and health data to understand the role of the environment in human health. Research undertaken by experts in medicine and geography is designed to assist clinicians investigating the environmental causes of geographic variations in human health. For more information and the complete SALT schedule for 2008/09, go to http://faa.iupui.edu/newFaa/SALT.asp.

This event is sponsored by The University Faculty Club of Indianapolis

National Facts

On average, in fiscal year 2007, each dollar of NIH funding generated more than twice as much in state economic output. That is, an overall investment of $22.846 billion from NIH generated a total of $50.537 billion in new state business activity in the form of increased output of goods and services. In Indiana, the multiplier was 2.13. http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/global-health/in-your-own-backyard.pdf

Local Facts

The dollar value of research awards to IUPUI for December was up 43% compared to the previous December. However, the dollar value of research awards to date for this fiscal year is down 8.1% compared to the previous fiscal year.

Funding opportunities in this section include selected current grant announcements from federal agencies for new initiatives and changes to existing programs. Announcements with limited scope are not listed here but are, instead, sent directly to IUPUI School Deans.  For comprehensive coverage of funding opportunities please use the on-line search tools listed below.

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

MECHANISM OF ALCOHOL-INDUCED ORGAN DAMAGE (R01): The focus is on molecular and cellular mechanisms of alcohol-induced organ damage. Excessive alcohol consumption can damage all organ systems including the liver, heart, pancreas, lung, endocrine and immune systems, as well as bone and skeletal muscles. The mechanisms for these alcohol-induced tissue injuries are currently not fully understood. NIAAA is especially interested in integrative research that elucidates complex mechanisms of injury either common or unique to each organ system. This FOA also encourages the study of alcohol’s effect on stem cell, embryonic development, and regeneration. Application deadline is April 2, 2009. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AA-09-006.html

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE HUMANITIES

DIGITAL HUMANITIES START-UP GRANTS: Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities and may involve research that brings new approaches or documents best practices in the study of the digital humanities; planning and prototyping new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries’ and museums’ digital assets; scholarship that examines the philosophical implications and impact of the use of emerging technologies; innovative uses of technology for public programming and education utilizing both traditional and new media; and new digital modes of publication facilitating the dissemination of humanities scholarship in advanced academic as well as informal or formal educational settings at all academic levels. Deadline is April 8, 2009.  http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/digitalhumanitiesstartup.html

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge: The National Science Foundation (NSF) and Science created the International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge to celebrate that grand tradition--and to encourage its continued growth. The spirit of the competition is for communicating science, engineering and technology for education and journalistic purposes. View last year’s winners. Judges appointed by the National Science Foundation and the journal Science will select winners in each of five categories: photographs, illustrations, informational graphics, interactive media and non-interactive media. The winners will be published in a special section of the journal Science and Science Online and on the NSF Web site. One of the winning entries will be on the front cover of Science. Submission deadline is September 15, 2009. http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/scivis/challenge.jsp

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED MEDICAL RESEARCH:
The Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) Defense Appropriation Act (Public Law 110-329) provides research funding for the following programs managed by the Department of Defense office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP):

Additional programs managed by CDMR include: Peer Reviewed Orthopedic Research Program $61M; Peer Reviewed Spinal Cord Research Program $35M; Peer Reviewed Lung Cancer Research Program $20M; Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program $16M; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research Program $5M; Bone Marrow Failure Research Program $5M; Multiple Sclerosis Research Program $5M.

MARCH OF DIMES FOUNDATION

2010 RESEARCH PROGRAM: Research areas appropriate for support by the March of Dimes include basic biological processes governing development, genetics, clinical studies, studies of reproductive health, environmental toxicology, and social and behavioral studies. In Social and Behavioral Sciences, we are interested in applications proposing research that advances our understanding of –and therefore our ability to prevent – the cognitive and behavioral risks that affect outcomes of pregnancy, the perinatal period, and subsequent child development. Because change in behavior is an important component of several of our campaigns, we are interested in studies that address this method of prevention. Required letter of intent deadline is April 30, 2009. http://researchgrants.marchofdimes.com/MODGrants/LOI/LOI_Submit.asp

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION

On-line search tools are available to IUPUI investigators who are interested in identifying funding opportunities in their areas of interest.

Community of Science (COS): COS is a primary on-line search tool for identifying funding opportunities. To take advantage of this tool, register at http://www.cos.com/login/join.shtml. Once you have completed the short registration process, you can personalize your search by selecting the option entitled "launch your workbench". You can access federal, local, corporate, foundation, nonprofit and other funding opportunities using key terms and save the results of up to 20 searches and have them delivered to you weekly via email.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) "NIH Guide": To take advantage of this search tool, register at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/listserv.htm. It allows you to receive discipline specific funding opportunities that are delivered to you weekly via email.

National Science Foundation (NSF) "MyNSF": To take advantage of this search tool, register at http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/. It allows you to receive discipline specific funding opportunities that are delivered to you weekly via email.

Federal Business Opportunities "FedBizOpps": FedBizOpps is the single government point-of-entry for Federal government procurement opportunities over $25,000. To take advantage of this search tool, visit http://vsearch1.fbo.gov/servlet/SearchServlet. Opportunities found at this site include, but are not limited to, presolicitations and special notices for research and service contracts for specific projects and some national centers and surveys that would not be found in Grants.gov and may not be found in the Community of Science.

Limited Submission Funding Opportunities: Occasionally a funding agency places a limitation on the number of proposals that can be submitted from a campus or university system. For a description of the upcoming "limited submission" funding opportunities, as well as guidelines and application forms, go to: http://ovpr.indiana.edu/limsub/limsub.asp or contact Etta Ward in the IUPUI Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research: emward@iupui.edu or 317.278.8427.

Special Handling: The Special Handling list was created in order to communicate donor restrictions and/or preferences for managing solicitation requests from Indiana University. The list reflects special relationships that exist between donors and the university and includes corporations and foundations that the President’s office wishes to review prior to submission in order to coordinate Indiana University’s requests to these donors. The Special Handling List was compiled and is maintained by the Indiana University Foundation office of Corporate and Foundation Relations and is provided to OVPR for distribution. Questions regarding this list can be directed  Bobbi Bosch at 317-278-5648 or bsbosch@indiana.edu.
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