Center

Institutionally Coordinated - Competitive Resubmission //  Limit: 1 // T. Prudhomme (Convergence Center)

The IC CAE Program began as a three-year pilot project directed by congressional authorization and appropriation for FY 2004 and was initiated by the Director of Central Intelligence to meet the nation’s demand for “a diverse cadre of professionals to carry out national security priorities and obligations”. In 2005, following the establishment of ODNI, the program moved under ODNI management with the intent to increase the pool of applicants by expanding awareness of the IC mission and culture throughout ethnically and geographically diverse communities. From October 2011 through December 2019, the IC CAE Program was managed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), with oversight from ODNI, and expanded in scope and number of grant recipients. In December 2019, congress returned management of the IC CAE Program to the ODNI.

No Applicants  // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1 

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications from institutions proposing to establish, or renew, an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC).

NIA-designated ADRCs serve as a national resource for research on the nature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and AD-related dementias (ADRD) and the development of more effective approaches to prevention, diagnosis, care, and therapy. They create shared resources that support dementia-relevant research, and they collaborate and coordinate their research efforts with other NIH-funded programs and investigators.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1 

 Multiple applications from an organization are not allowed. 

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Maternal Health Training and Resource Center (MHTRC) program. The purpose of this program is to support MCHB’s maternal health recipients, with a primary focus on the State Maternal Health Innovation (State MHI) program, to improve maternal health and to respond to the needs of populations impacted by maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity (SMM). The MHTRC will also provide limited support to MCHB’s maternal health recipients with the implementation of maternal health projects, innovations, and initiatives in their respective states, where funds are available.

The goals of the MHTRC are to improve maternal health by:

• Providing tailored technical assistance (TA), capacity-building assistance (CBA), and evaluation support services to recipients of MCHB’s maternal health programs to aid awardees in addressing the needs of maternal health for populations disproportionately impacted by maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity (SMM).

• Establishing a national resource center that provides evidence-based strategies and guidance to improve maternal health, reduce maternal mortality and SMM, and advance health equity at the individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels.

We estimate approximately $3,000,000 to be available annually to fund one recipient. You may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $3,000,000 annually (reflecting direct and indirect costs). The period of performance is September 30, 2024, through September 29, 2029 (5 years).

Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 1 // L. Folks (Semiconductor Strategy)

Applicant institutions are limited to no more than two pre-applications or applications as the lead institution.

The DOE SC program in Basic Energy Sciences (BES) announces a re-competition of the Energy Frontier Research Center (EFRC) program and encourages both new and renewal applications. Applications from multi-disciplinary teams will be required to propose discovery science and use-inspired basic research that addresses priority research directions and opportunities identified by a series of BES workshop and roundtable reports. The focus of the EFRC program is on fundamental scientific research, therefore applications to this FOA must not propose applied research and technology development activities.

BES is soliciting renewal applications for basic science in three topical areas: 1) Transformative manufacturing, 2) Quantum information science (QIS), and 3) Environmental management. BES is soliciting new applications for basic science in two topical areas: 1) Co-design of materials and processes to revolutionize microelectronics and/or QIS fabrication, and 2) Environmental management.

Limit: 2* // Tickets Available: 1

A. Gerlak (School of Geography, Development & Environment) - Project Area 1: Establish and maintain a regional Center of Excellence.

N. Gupta (Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences) - Sub to  Desert Research Institute (DRI) - Nevada.

*Under this competition, only one application can be submitted per applicant under a Project Area.

The EPA is soliciting applications from eligible entities to establish and maintain regional Centers of Excellence for new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies, with the goal of improving the effectiveness, cost efficiency, and protection of public safety and water quality. The EPA is also soliciting applications from eligible entities to create and maintain a national electronic clearinghouse to centrally collect and distribute the work of the Centers of Excellence. For the purposes of this announcement, “regional” or “geographical region” means consisting of two or more states.

The EPA is soliciting applications from eligible applicants in two Project Areas, as described below. Under this competition, only one application can be submitted per applicant under a Project Area. If an applicant submits an application under Project Area 1, they may then submit a separate application under Project Area 2. That is, an applicant cannot submit an application for Project Area 2 without submitting an application for Project Area 1. Each application submitted under this announcement must address one, and only one, of the Project Areas described below. The cover page of each application package must clearly indicate the Project Area addressed in the application. While the EPA intends to make awards in all Project Areas, the EPA reserves the right to make more than one award in a Project Area and/or make no awards in a Project Area.

Project Areas:

Project Area 1: Establish and maintain a regional Center of Excellence.
The EPA is soliciting applications to establish regional Centers of Excellence that will: i) conduct research on new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies, including stormwater and sewer overflow reduction, other approaches to water resource enhancement, alternative funding approaches, and other environmental, economic, and social benefits; ii) provide technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local governments to assist with the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of stormwater control infrastructure projects that use innovative technologies; and iii) collaborate with regional institutions of higher education and private and public organizations, including community-based public-private partnerships and other stakeholders.

Project Area 2: Create and maintain a national electronic clearinghouse.
If an applicant submits an application under Project Area 1, they may then submit a separate application under Project Area 2. Under Project Area 2, the EPA is soliciting applications to create and maintain a national electronic clearinghouse. Applications should describe how they will develop, operate, and maintain a national electronic clearinghouse that contains information relating to new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies and posts information from the other Centers of Excellence. The national electronic clearinghouse should be populated with research, findings, technical assistance, recommendations, best practices, and outreach (e.g., trainings, webinars, fact sheets) from each Center of Excellence and promoted to other organizations to expand the availability of water technical assistance, including to disadvantaged and underserved communities.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1 

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites applications for Silvio O. Conte Digestive Diseases Research Core Centers (DDRCCs). The DDRCCs are part of an integrated program of digestive and liver diseases research support provided by the NIDDK.  The purpose of this Centers program is to bring together basic and clinical investigators as a means to enhance communication, collaboration, and effectiveness of ongoing research related to digestive and/or liver diseases within the NIDDK's mission.  DDRCCs are based on the core concept, whereby shared resources aimed at fostering productivity, synergy, and new research ideas among the funded investigators are supported in a cost-effective manner.  Each proposed DDRCC must be organized around a central theme that reflects the focus of the digestive or liver diseases research of the Center members. The central theme must be within the primary mission of the NIDDK, and not thematic areas for which other NIH Institutes or Centers are considered the primary source of NIH funding. 

This NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP), which will be assessed as part of the scientific and technical peer review evaluation. Applications that fail to include a PEDP will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the NOFO instructions carefully and view the available PEDP guidance material.

No Applicants // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Only one application per institution is allowed. Applicants can only apply for funding under one funding opportunity number, either HRSA-24-042 (DPs) or HRSA-24-041 (NCCT). Applicants applying for the HRSA-24-042 (DPs) may only apply for one focus area, autism or epilepsy, and must clearly state the focus area for which they are applying. HRSA will not consider funding applicants who apply to more than one funding opportunity number or focus area.

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Transition3 for Youth with Autism and/or Epilepsy program, which includes the Transition for Youth with Autism and/or Epilepsy Demonstration Projects (DPs) (HRSA-24-042) and the National Coordinating Center on Transition (NCCT) (HRSA-24-041). The purpose of this program is to develop and advance national, state, and local/community-level frameworks that support successful transition from child to adult serving systems4 for youth with autism and/or epilepsy who have complex health and social needs and require a higher level of family support and coordination (YAES).5 This announcement includes instructions for applying to two separate awards. You may only apply for HRSA-24-042 (DPs) or HRSA-24-041 (NCCT), but not both projects. HRSA will not consider funding applicants who apply to more than one funding opportunity number or focus areas.

The goal of this program is to improve outcomes including quality of life and well-being for YAES and their families/caregivers transitioning from child to adult systems. These systems include but are not limited to post-secondary education, inclusive post-secondary education, employment, community, independent/daily living, and healthcare.6 The target population for this program is characterized as YAES between the ages of 13 and 26 who have co-occurring conditions, intellectual disabilities, experience challenges in social cognition, communication, interpersonal skills, and/or behaviors7 8 9 and require a higher level of family support and coordination.

HRSA-24-041 (NCCT): One NCCT will be funded to support the HRSA-24-042 (DP) recipients in meeting their program objectives, and to provide national leadership to improve transition outcomes for YAES and their families/caregivers through training, technical assistance, evaluation, and the development and dissemination of resources to transition stakeholders,11 including Title V programs.

Applicants can only apply for funding under one funding opportunity number, either HRSA-24-042 (DPs) or HRSA-24-041 (NCCT). Applicants applying for the HRSA-24-042 (DPs) may only apply for one focus area, autism or epilepsy, and must clearly state the focus area for which they are applying.7 HRSA will not consider funding applicants who apply to more than one funding opportunity number or focus area.

No applicants// Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

UArizona may submit one pre-application.

AHA Membership Requirement: Any individual applying as a Center Director or a Project Principal Investigator (PI) must be an AHA Professional Member before submitting a full proposal. (Membership is not required to submit a pre-proposal.) Join or renew when preparing an application in ProposalCentral, online, or by phone at 301-223-2307 or 800-787-8984. Membership processing may take 3-5 days; do not wait until the application deadline to renew or join.

Required Pre-Proposal 

Each Center Director is required to send a pre-proposal USE THIS LINK to provide the following:

• Name and institution of the Center Director and each Project PI
• Center title, and title and performance site of each proposed project

If required, the mechanism through which partnering requirements are being met. See “Additional Expectations and Opportunities” and “Institutional Eligibility/Location of Work” sections.

As part of the required Pre-Proposal, if the submitting institution or a partnering institution is not a research-intensive institution of higher learning, the lead for that institution must upload a letter from a Senior Institutional Official (e.g., president, provost, dean, etc.) indicating they meet the definition of a non-research-intensive institution as stated in the “Additional Expectations and Opportunities” section. 

AHA staff will review for compliance. A non-complying institution will not be permitted to submit a full proposal. This administrative review is part of the Pre-Proposal process, which is required and, though rare, may prevent an applicant from moving forward. Even though the Pre-Proposal is required, each Center and Project applicants should begin planning and designing their applications before the Pre-Proposal deadline to maximize the amount of time available to develop their full proposal.

Purpose
The American Heart Association (AHA) announces this Request for Proposals for the Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on Inflammation in Cardiac and Neurovascular Disease.

THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION IN CARDIAC AND NEUROVASCULAR DISEASE

Throughout the body, inflammation plays a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and initiating appropriate immune responses against pathogens or injury. However, dysregulation of inflammatory processes can lead to detrimental effects, contributing to the development and progression of many disease states, such as autoimmune conditions, cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and liver disease.1

The heart and nervous system are also subject to disease with dysregulation of the inflammatory system. Inflammatory myocarditis, characterized by inflammation of the myocardium, is more likely to occur in males compared to females.2 It is most commonly triggered by viral infection; triggering viruses include adenoviruses, enteroviruses, parvoviruses and coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), among others.3  Less commonly, myocarditis is caused by bacterial or fungal infection or autoimmune diseases.  Of more recent note, it was discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic that vaccines developed against SARS-CoV-2, particularly those using mRNA technology, elicited myocarditis in a subset of vaccine recipients.4 The highest incidence (approximately 50 / 100,000) was found in men under 40. 

Myocarditis can be subclassified based on a number of characteristics. The most prominent symptoms are chest pain and dyspnea,5 and in many cases, myocarditis may resolve on its own. One notable exception is fulminant myocarditis, a rare and severe form of myocarditis that is responsible for a high proportion of cardiac-related deaths in young individuals.6 Acute myocarditis is defined as that for which symptoms are of recent onset, generally within a month or so. Inflammatory processes associated with myocarditis, such as infiltration of immune cells, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress, can lead to myocyte damage, fibrosis, and impaired contractility.3,7-8 Myocarditis that is associated with cardiac dysfunction and remodeling of the ventricle is referred to as inflammatory cardiomyopathy, a condition that is typically irreversible. It may result in arrhythmias, ventricular dysfunction or heart failure and requires lifelong therapy and/or heart transplant.

Within the nervous system, inflammation has been implicated in an array of pathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.9-10 Inflammation also plays a prominent role in stroke.11-13  A robust neuroinflammatory response is initiated following an ischemic event. Sex differences are also observed with stroke, with the risk being higher for females than males.14 The primary cause of this neuroinflammation is the activation of immune cells in the brain, including microglia and astrocytes. These cells are responsible for defending the brain against pathogens and injuries. However, under certain conditions, they can become overactivated and release inflammatory molecules. Neuroinflammation can have both beneficial and detrimental effects. In acute situations, neuroinflammation helps clear pathogens, promote tissue repair, and support the restoration of normal brain function. However, chronic or excessive neuroinflammation can damage neurons, impair synaptic communication, break down the blood-brain barrier, and disrupt the delicate balance of the brain's environment.11

CARDIOTOXICITY 
Cardiotoxicity describes a condition wherein a decrease in cardiac function results from administration of drugs or other agents. Currently, the term is largely identified with changes in cardiovascular function resulting from treatment with a number of cancer therapies. Whereas a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction is the cardiac parameter most closely aligned with cardiotoxicity, additional cardiac effects (e.g., left ventricular systolic dysfunction, angina, and acute coronary syndrome) may also be characterized as cardiotoxicity.15 

There are several potential mechanisms underlying cardiotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, including inflammation. For example, use of chemotherapeutics of the anthracycline class, widely prescribed because of their efficacy against both solid and hematologic tumors, is associated with a high incidence of cardiotoxicity.16 Despite this effect of anthracyclines being described decades ago, the mechanism(s) underlying cardiotoxicity are not fully elucidated. Studies in more recent years do suggest, however, that at least part of the cardiotoxic actions of anthracyclines are related to inflammation.17 In addition, pre-clinical studies assessing effects of anti-inflammatory agents against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity have shown favorable results.18-19  Targeting inflammation thus holds promise for preventing or mitigating cardiotoxic effects of this class of chemotherapeutic. 

More contemporary cancer treatments also elicit adverse cardiac effects. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a new and promising class of anti-cancer drugs, may elicit a severe form of myocarditis.20 Whereas the incidence is relatively low, the mortality rate is high, due in part to the fact that many individuals present with a fulminant-like form of myocarditis. The mechanism underlying ICI-induced myocarditis remains unclear. The promise of this new class of cancer treatment will not be fully realized unless the mechanism is identified, which will facilitate therapeutic strategies to prevent or mitigate this severe adverse effect.   

While our understanding of the role inflammation plays in cardiac and brain dysfunction has grown considerably in recent years, several hindrances remain that preclude improved recognition and treatment of these conditions. For instance, significant gaps remain in understanding of the downstream signaling events and potential crosstalk; development of new animal and in vitro models would support these needs. In addition, notable opportunities for optimization of diagnostic capabilities exist, such as identification and assessment of biomarkers with improved specificity and development of improved imaging techniques. Clinical trials designed to assess outcomes more specifically for distinct types and/or stages of inflammatory conditions are also needed. 

Limit: 1 // PI: C. Laskowski (College of Law)
 

The Humanities Research Centers on Artificial Intelligence program aims to support a more holistic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) in the modern world through the creation of new humanities research centers on artificial intelligence at eligible institutions. Centers must focus their scholarly activities on exploring the ethical, legal, or societal implications of AI.  

A Center is a sustained collaboration among scholars focused on exploring a specific topic. Successful applicants will examine the humanities implications of AI through two or more related scholarly activities. Centers must be led by scholars in the humanities or humanistic social sciences, but should include scholars from multiple disciplines. Scholars may come from one or more institutions. NEH welcomes international collaboration, but scholars at U.S. institutions must contribute significantly to the project. This program is for establishing new Centers; existing Centers and Institutes are not eligible in this competition.

In addition to the establishment of a sustainable Center, your project should engage in at least two activities that support research into the ethical, legal, or societal implications of AI. Appropriate activities may include but are not limited to: collaborative research and writing efforts; workshops or lecture series; education and mentoring; and the creation of digital tools to increase or advance scholarly discourse about AI.  

Institutionally coordinated // Limit 1 // PI: J. M. Wang-Roveda (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
 

Institutionally coordinated submission. Contact RDS for more information.
Number of pre-proporsals allowed as lead institution: two

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced tremendously and today promises personalized healthcare; enhanced national security; improved transportation; and more effective education, to name just a few benefits. Increased computing power, the availability of large datasets and streaming data, and algorithmic advances in machine learning (ML) have made it possible for AI research and development to create new sectors of the economy and revitalize industries. Continued advancement, enabled by sustained federal investment and channeled toward issues of national importance, holds the potential for further economic impact and quality-of-life improvements.

The 2023 update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan, informed by visioning activities in the scientific community as well as interaction with the public, identifies as its first strategic objective the need to make long-term investments in AI research in areas with the potential for long-term payoffs in AI. AI Institutes represent a cornerstone Federal Government commitment to fostering long-term, fundamental research in AI while also delivering significantly on each of the other eight objectives in that strategy. The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) identifies AI Institutes as a key component of a bold, sustained federal push to scale and coordinate federal AI R&D funding and to reinforce the foundation of technical leadership in AI.

This program is a multisector effort led by the National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with the Simons Foundation (SF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Defense (DOD) Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)), Capital One Financial Corporation (Capital One), and Intel Corporation (Intel).

This program solicitation expands the nationwide network of AI Research Institutes with new funding opportunities over the next two years. In this round, the program invites proposals for institutes that have a principal focus in one of the following themes aimed at transformational advances in a range of economic sectors, and science and engineering fields:

• Group 1 - Awards anticipated in FY 2024:
  • Theme 1: AI for Astronomical Sciences
     
• Group 2 - Awards anticipated in FY 2025:
  • Theme 2: AI for Discovery in Materials Research
  • Theme 3: Strengthening AI