CTSI Update
Thursday, November 5th, 2020; 12:30-1:30 pm
Introductory notes: Dr. Katya Ravid, Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry, Founding Director, Evans Center for IBR, BU-Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Office (IBRO), and Team Science Leader, CTSI.
 
Innovative Approaches to Covid-19 Pre-Clinical Research and Relevance
to Equitable Care: 

Dr. Markus Bosmann, Associate Professor of Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, ARC Director, Investigator, NEIDL. “Our First 300 Days in COVID-19 Research”

Dr. Mohsan Saeed, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, ARC co-Director, Investigator, NEIDL. “Evasion of Innate Immunity by SARS-CoV-2”
 
Dr. Darrell Kotton, Professor of Medicine, co-director and founder, CReM.
“Understanding the Inception of COVID-19 Pneumonia Using In Vitro Stem
Cell Models”

Drs. Karen Jacobson and Benjamin Linas, Associate Professors of Medicine, ID section. “COVID-19 Clinical Research at BUMC: Building the Future of Inclusive Research”  
 
Respiratory Viruses as an Epidemic Now, and Beyond:

Dr. Jay Mizgerd, Professor of Medicine, Director, Pulmonary Center.
 
Open Discussion/Q&A will follow the presentations
 
The ARC is funded by the Department of Medicine and BU CTSI
Thursday, November 12, 2020; 1-4pm
Featured Speakers: "Challenges in Developing Online Learning Algorithms to Dynamically Personalize Mobile Health Interventions" Susan Murphy, PhD, Professor of Statistics, Radcliffe Alumnae Professor, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University Professor of Computer Science, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
“Making Digital Mental Health Work in the Real World” David C. Mohr, PhD, Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, Director, Center for Behavioral Intervention Technologies (CBITs), Northwestern University
Following the keynote talks will be an Industry Panel discussion and Q&A
For continued news and participation in the newly established 
Respiratory Viruses: Focus on COVID-19 ARC, please contact ARC Director,
Dr. Markus Bosmann (mbosmann@bu.edu) for details.
Strategic Communications: Engaging with Science Media
October 20, 2020 | 3 – 4:15 pm
Join this interactive workshop facilitated by Meredith Drosback at SciLine, an American Association for the Advancement of Science program that connects US journalists with scientific experts for print, broadcast, and digital stories on science-related issues. Read Full Details
Integrated Pilot Grant Program -
Application due date: November 1, 2020, at 5 p.m. ET
The BU CTSI Pilot Grant Program helps investigators explore and solve challenges in translational science, particularly the special health problems of urban communities, by developing and deploying new tools, methods and processes to expedite research and discovery. Review the Full RFA Here.
Voucher Program -
Applications to be accepted on a rolling basis until December 31, 2020

The BU CTSI Voucher Program supports the short-term needs of investigators whose time to conduct research has been negatively impacted by pandemic-related family care or other home responsibilities. Read Full Details.
New Funding Opportunities

Utilizing In Vitro Functional Genomics Advances for Gene-Environment (G x E) Discovery and Validation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

MD-PhD Training Program in Alzheimer's Disease and Its Related Dementias and the Behavioral and Social Sciences (T32)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Health Services Research on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01- Clinical Trial Optional)


Tobacco Control Policies to Promote Health Equity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (GTN) (U19 Clinical Trial Required)

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Study Vaccine-elicited Immunity and Efficacy against Malaria (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
PAR-20-243: Digital Healthcare Interventions to Address the Secondary Health Effects Related to Social, Behavioral, and Economic Impact of COVID-19
ORWH is seeking to support studies on SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19
in alignment with efforts across NIH to develop and implement effective therapeutics and vaccines and to accelerate research on technologies to validate and improve programs that will overcome barriers and increase uptake of therapeutics and vaccines at the point of care.
News Highlights
COVID-19 Vaccine Appears Well-Tolerated and Effective in Developing Antibodies in Small Study of Older Adults

It’s been truly breathtaking to watch the progress being made on a daily basis to develop safe and effective vaccines for SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Read More


NIH Clinical Trial Testing Hyperimmune Intravenous Immunoglobulin Plus Remdesivir to Treat COVID-19 Begins

 The study is taking place in hospitalized adults with COVID-19 in the United States, Mexico and 16 other countries on five continents.

NIH to Launch the Serological Sciences Network for COVID-19

an initiative aimed at quickly increasing the nation’s antibody testing capacity and engaging the U.S. research community to understand the immune response to
COVID-19. Read More

NIH RADx Initiative Advances Six New COVID-19 Testing Technologies

 Innovations in these new technologies include integration with smart devices, mobile-lab processing that can be deployed to COVID-19 hot spots, and test results available within minutes. Read More



Dying in a Leadership Vacuum

Covid-19 is an overwhelming challenge, and many factors contribute to its severity. But the one we can control is how we behave.


NIH to Support 85 New Grants Featuring High-Risk, High-Reward Research

The High-Risk, High-Reward Research program catalyzes scientific discovery by supporting research proposals that, due to their inherent risk, may struggle in the traditional peer-review process despite their transformative potential. Read More
Association of Measurable Residual Disease With Survival Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

 In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 81 publications reporting on 11 151 patients with acute myeloid leukemia, the estimated
5-year disease-free survival was 64% for patients without MRD and 25% for those with MRD. Read More

2020 NCATS ASPIRE Reduction-
to-Practice Challenge

The ASPIRE platform will utilize currently available knowledge to develop innovative algorithms and predict and synthesize novel structures capable of interacting with specific targets; enable small-scale synthesis of the predicted molecules; and incorporate in-line, rapid biological testing of the molecules.

Upcoming Event
This workshop is designed to disseminate critical information about the implementation of robust assay methods and is particularly relevant for researchers developing molecular probes or clinical candidatesRead More
Accelerating Discoveries Towards Better Health 
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