SPOTLIGHT
Letter from Dr. Stephen I. Katz: Information About NIAMS Funding Decisions
Dear Colleagues:
Each year, NIAMS awards more than 200 grants to investigators; most take the form of “R01” grants. Historically, we have provided information about NIAMS-supported grants as the percentage of reviewed applications that were funded each year (the “success rate”) and maintained an up-to-date webpage that describes our plans for funding grants in the current fiscal year. In response to community interest about our funding decisions in these austere budget times, we are posting additional data about the number of applications that NIAMS receives and awards as a function of how an application is ranked during peer review.
Image: Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.
NEWS
NIH Launches Trial To Evaluate Anti-Inflammatory Treatment for Preventing Heart Attacks, Strokes and Cardiovascular Deaths
An international multi-site trial has launched to determine whether a common anti-inflammatory drug can reduce heart attacks, strokes and deaths due to cardiovascular disease in people at high risk for them. This study is being supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
NIH Common Fund Researchers Link Genetic Variants and Gene Regulation in Many Common Diseases
Researchers supported by the NIH Common Fund have discovered that genetic differences linked to a wide variety of diseases, including many adult-onset diseases, influence how genes are turned on, or activated, during fetal development. These findings may help to explain why some environmental exposures in utero or during early childhood are known to increase risk of diseases that produce symptoms years or even decades later.
The National Football League Commits $30 Million Donation to the Foundation for the NIH To Support Medical Research
The Foundation for the NIH announced that the National Football League has agreed to donate $30 million in support of research on serious medical conditions prominent in athletes and relevant to the general population.
New Website Provides Guidance to Grant Applicants About Next Steps Upon Receiving Application Review Results
The Office of Extramural Research has created a website to provide answers to questions frequently asked by investigators when they receive the results of the review of their applications. A link to this website will appear on the face page of summary statements. The site provides guidance on what to do after an application has been reviewed.
New Mobile App From NIH Helps Women Learn About Their Health in 52 Weeks
52 Weeks for Women’s Health, a new app that offers women access to a year’s worth of practical health information, highlighted week-by-week, is now available.
NEW PUBLICATIONS
![]()
Ana’s Story: How she and her family learned about sports injuries
La historia de Ana: Cómo ella y su familia aprendieron sobre las lesiones deportivas
Ana’s Story is a bilingual fotonovela that uses a comic-book style format to teach middle school kids how to avoid sports injuries. The fotonovela features teen soccer player Ana, who sprains her knee during a pick-up game at a family picnic. Ana and her family learn the best way to treat a sports injury and how to avoid any future injuries. With fall sports in full swing, this is a must-read publication for active kids, parents and coaches! It follows the success of our first fotonovela, Isabel’s Story, which focuses on osteoporosis.
NIH Research Matters
NIH Research Matters is a review of NIH research from the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, NIH.
Bacteria on Skin Boost Immune Cell Function
The harmless bacteria that thrive on the skin can help immune cells fight disease-causing microbes, according to a new study in mice. The finding advances our understanding of skin health.
NIH Public Bulletin
Read about the latest public events, activities and health information resources from the NIH in the latest issue of the NIH Public Bulletin.
You can also subscribe to receive an email notification when new issues of the NIH Public Bulletin are available online.
NIH News in Health
Read practical health information in NIH News in Health, which is reviewed by the NIH’s medical experts and is based on research conducted either by the NIH’s own scientists or by its grantees at universities and medical schools around the country.
MEETINGS
3rd Conference on Clinical Research for Rare Diseases
October 2, 2012
Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel & Executive Meeting Center
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852
Registration
Summit on the Science of Eliminating Health Disparities
Integrating Science, Policy and Practice
Building a Healthier Society
October 31–November 3, 2012
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
National Harbor, Maryland
Registration
NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series
The NIH’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series offers weekly lectures every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH Campus. Renowned scientists from around the globe present research on a variety of topics. The lectures are Continuing Medical Education-certified lectures, open to the public and available live via webcast.
Upcoming lectures:
October 3, 2012
David Chan, California Institute of Technology
“Mitochondria: Dynamic Organelles Critical for Human Health”
October 31, 2012
Jeffrey Esko, University of California at San Diego
“Heparan Sulfate: Light at the End of the Chain”
FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENTS
NIH Common Fund Initiative Announcements
Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): Collaborative Centers (U54)
(RFA-RM-12-006)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: September 28, 2012
Application Receipt Date: October 29, 2012
Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): H3Africa Research Grants (U01)
(RFA-RM-12-007)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: September 28, 2012
Application Receipt Date: October 29, 2012
Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa): H3Africa Biorepository Grants (UH2/UH3)
(RFA-RM-12-008)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: September 28, 2012
Application Receipt Date: October 29, 2012
Request for Information (RFI): To Solicit Input on Expanding the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program
(NOT-RM-12-031)
Other Funding Announcements
Basic Behavioral Research on Multisensory Processing (R21)
(RFA-EY-13-001)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: October 1, 2012
Application Receipt Date: October 31, 2012
Successor-in-Interest (Type 6 Parent)
(PA-12-269)
Letters of Intent Receipt Dates: Not applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Change of Grantee Organization (Type 7 Parent)
(PA-12-270)
Letters of Intent Receipt Dates: Not applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Notice of Pilot Processes for Submitting of Post-Award Relinquishing Statements to NIH
(NOT-OD-12-132)
Notice of Pilot for Processing Post-Award Changes in Grantee Organizational Status: Successor-in-Interest
(NOT-OD-12-133)
Notice of Pilot Processes for Post-Award Change of Grantee Organization Applications to NIH
(NOT-OD-12-134)
Modification of PAR-11-136: Limited Competition: National Primate Research Centers (P51)
(NOT-OD-12-135)
Notice of New Process for Requesting dbGaP Access to Aggregate Genomic Data for General Research Use Purposes
(NOT-OD-12-136)
Notice of Changes to Policies and Procedures for FY2013 NIH Awards to Foreign Institutions
(NOT-OD-12-139)
Notice of NIH Special Council Review of Research Applications From PDs/PIs With More Than $1.0 Million Direct Costs in Annual NIH Support
(NOT-OD-12-140)
Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Module and Training Webinar Available to NIH Grantees
(NOT-OD-12-142)
NIH Offers Niche Assessment Program to SBIR and STTR Phase I Awardees
(NOT-OD-12-146)