Research Bulletin
News from the Child Health Research Institute
September 2022
Take Advantage of Early Bird Registration Prices for the CHR Conference, Nov. 3-4!
Block Your Calendar for November 18 for the University of Nebraska Collaborative Retreat
Pediatric Cancer Research Group Funding Leads to R01 Grant for Dr. Gargi Ghosal
Gargi Ghosal, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy (GCBA), leads a lab within her Department that researches the replication stress response pathway that serves as a barrier to cancer development due to high burden of genome instability resulting from malfunctions in the DNA replication process. In various cancers and age-related disorders, cells acquire ways of bypassing the replication stress response pathways. Recently, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) awarded Dr. Ghosal an R01 grant for a proposal to study how this plays out in the context of Ewing Sarcoma, one of the most frequent and aggressive bone cancers of children. Dr. Ghosal credits Halle Mallard, a graduate student in her lab, for doing much of the research for this project.
 
This study was initiated with pilot grant funding received from the Pediatric Cancer Research Group (PCRG) in 2016-2018. All the preliminary data used in the R01 application was generated using the PCRG pilot funds and UNMC-GCBA startup funds for Dr. Ghosal's lab.
 
Dr. Ghosal’s studies show that USP1 deubiquitinase, a regulator of replication stress response pathway, is overexpressed in Ewing sarcoma cell lines and tumor tissues. High expression of USP1 is driven by the EWS-FLI1 oncogene that drives majority of Ewing sarcoma cases. Her lab found that depletion or inhibition of USP1 activity using small molecule USP1 inhibitors resulted in a dramatic decrease in Ewing sarcoma cell proliferation. Dr. Ghosal’s lab identified novel substrates of USP1 in Ewing sarcoma that regulate multiple cellular processes such as DNA replication, DNA methylation and apoptosis. The R01 grant funding from NCI will be used to investigate the function of USP1 and its substrates in promoting Ewing sarcoma tumor growth and pathogenesis and to evaluate USP1 targeted treatment strategies for Ewing sarcoma.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH UPDATES
Monthly Note on Upcoming National Institutes of Health Data Management and Sharing Policy
The Research Bulletin continues spotlighting facets of the new NIH policy on Data Management and Sharing (DMS), which goes into effect for grant submissions due on or after Jan. 25, 2023.
 
What is the motivation for this new policy?
 
At the core of the policy is promoting the public’s trust in biomedical research and maximizing the impact of taxpayer investment in that research. Good stewardship of taxpayer dollars means elevating the rigor and integrity of funded research and ensuring that data become accessible to other researchers who can leverage it to make more discoveries. As pointed out on the agency’s website, “Keeping good track of data and associated documentation lets researchers and collaborators use data consistently and accurately. Carefully storing and documenting data also allows more people to use the data in the future, potentially leading to more discoveries beyond the initial research.”
 
Under current NIH policy, applications for larger NIH grants already require Research Sharing Plans, where the principal investigator describes how they will share data. Often this has been expressed something like, “After peer-reviewed publication the investigators will share original data with any qualified investigator upon reasonable request.” Similar data availability statements appear in many published articles. However, a large recent study found that 93% of data requests submitted to authors of such papers came up empty. This clearly points out the need for more detailed and standardized data sharing practices.
 
The new DMS policy from NIH is guided by the four FAIR principles, meaning that archived data should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. Learn more about what those mean in practice at the GO FAIR Initiative.
 
Finally, this policy change is a reminder that valuable data sets are becoming increasingly accessible to researchers for reuse – in other words, advancing pediatric research by extracting knowledge from data that other investigators already collected is becoming more common and encouraged. For a thorough overview of the concept, check out a 2020 article, “The reuse of public datasets in the life sciences: potential risks and rewards.”  
CHRI Priorities & Activities:
Update from Executive Director Ann Anderson Berry, MD, PhD
Celebrating our Scientific Achievements

I hope many of you were able to attend the Pediatric Cancer Research Group (PCRG) Symposium this week. Don Coulter, MD, director of the PCRG, and the CHRI team hosted an impressive day with a display of the groundbreaking science and our talented investigators. Outside of the importance of the work in pediatric cancer, what really struck me was the impressive team science that was on display throughout the day. Each of the projects presented was the result of talented multi-disciplinary teams collaborating and pushing each other forward for impactful results.

This team model on display from the PCRG is what we hope to achieve in each of the CHRI Areas of Emphasis. The use of seed funds including the CHRI internal grants; the PCRG internal grants; UNMC, University of Nebraska Collaboration grants; and funding opportunities from the IDEA-CTR are all mechanisms to help develop strong teams and move your science forward. To that end, please mark your calendars for the NU Collaboration Initiative Retreat on Nov. 18, in Lincoln on the Innovation Campus. The formal announcement is forthcoming, but with busy schedules, it’s never too early to get an important event like this on your calendar.

Another important series of events in the life of CHRI are the two visits that are upcoming from our newly formed National Scientific Advisory Board (NSAB). We will meet with the NSAB members virtually on Sept. 16 to orient them to CHRI and get them ready for their on campus visit in early November. We are lucky to have such talented individuals to advise CHRI on our growth and development. (Yes, that’s the pediatrician in me coming out!)

We were fortunate to have one member of the NSAB join us as the keynote speaker for the PCRG symposium. Dr. Joseph Neglia, the Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, gave an excellent presentation on pediatric cancer survivorship work and the opportunities and hurdles in research in this area.

Please register for the CHRI first annual Conference November 3-4. We will hear from some of our NSAB members and even more importantly, we will have the opportunity to present some of our best science in morning and afternoon sessions. Submit your abstracts here. There will be oral and poster presentations options available. Faculty, post-docs and graduate students are encouraged to present their work. We will continue to hold the CHRI Pediatric Research Forum highlighting all trainee research in May.

Enjoy the start of our fall season, and please reach out with any questions, opportunities or suggestions.

Kind regards,

Ann
CHRI Global Health PI Seminar Series
"Improving Interprofessional Community Engagement in Sudan using Project ECHO: a Virtual Global Health Approach”

Featured Speaker:
Nada Fadul, MD, FIDSA
Professor, Division of Infectious Disease
Medical Direct, Specialty Care Center
Assistant Dean, Diversity Equity and Inclusion Education Programs

Friday, September 16
9-10:00 a.m. CDT; 2-3:00 p.m. GMT

Sponsored by the CHRI Global Health Area of Emphasis.
Meet a Fellow CHRI Member
Kenneth A. Zoucha, MD, in an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and a
courtesy assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics.
 
What is your primary area of research?
 
My primary area of research is substance use disorders in adolescents, pregnant mothers and young emerging adults. I am also looking at educational impact of addiction education on graduate medical education. The focus is to see if residents who are involved with our division through clinical rotations and didactics perceive that they are better prepared to evaluate and manage patients with substance use disorders and are comfortable with referrals for treatment.
 
Please share information on a current research project.
 
Currently, I am working with Dr. Ann Anderson Berry on the prevalence of opioid use in child bearing age women and women who are pregnant. We will be assessing whether an educational intervention for the practitioners caring for these women will lead to changes with comfort level and ability to care for these women and their opioid use or opioid use disorders. This would also involve ability to care for newborns who may be impacted by maternal use of opioids.
 
What has your experience been as a CHRI Member?
 
I have recently joined CHRI and am just learning of the impact the program can have for providers pursuing research for the benefit of children and adolescents. I believe that the camaraderie of the group is inspirational, pushing me to prioritize this part of my work at UNMC. Being new to the academic world, assistance with organizing and writing has been the other benefit that I have gained through the Pediatric Writing Group. Continued support in these areas is very helpful. I am excited to be among so many brilliant folks who are passionate about this work.
Dr. Adetayo to Present and Moderate at ASPS Meeting in October
Oluwaseun Adetayo MD, FAAP, FACS has been selected to serve as a panelist speaker, moderator, and presenter at the annual American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS) National Meeting in Boston October 26-31st. The mission of the ASPS is to advance quality care to plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. Registration is open.
Team Research Pilot Grant
Letter of Intent Announcement
Deadline: September 16, 2022, by 5 p.m.
The Great Plains IDeA-CTR Network is pleased to announce an opportunity for team research pilot funding. Successful applicants will receive up to $75,000 in direct costs for a one-year project, as well as access to resources of the Great Plains IDeA-CTR to support their research efforts. Earliest starting date will be July 1, 2023.
 
We are requesting a Letter of Intent (LOI) (maximum of two pages) using the template provided on page 5 at the end of the attached document, accessible here. Those invited to submit full applications will be notified by Sept. 21, 2022 and, at that time, will be provided with the instructions for the full application. Solicited applications will be due Nov. 18, 2022.
 
Please email your LOI document and PI NIH biosketches as a single PDF document to the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Office at gpctr@unmc.edu.
 
If you have any questions, contact Heather Braddock or call 402.559.9870. To learn more about the GP IDeA-CTR please visit our website.
 
For additional information on this opportunity, click here.
Tech Transfer Pilot Grant
Letter of Intent Announcement
Deadline: September 16, 2022, by 5 p.m.
The Great Plains IDeA-CTR Network is pleased to announce an opportunity for Tech Transfer pilot funding. Successful applicants will receive up to $50,000 in direct costs for a one-year project, as well as access to resources of the Great Plains IDeA-CTR to support their research efforts. Earliest starting date will be July 1, 2023.
 
We are requesting a Letter of Intent (LOI) (maximum of two pages) using the template provided on page 5 of the document accessible here. Those invited to submit full applications will be notified by Sept. 21, 2022, and at that time will be provided with the instructions for the full application. Solicited applications will be due Nov. 18, 2022.
 
*Please email your LOI document and NIH biosketch as a single PDF document to the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Office at gpctr@unmc.edu.
 
For any questions, contact Heather Braddock or call 402.559.9870
 
To learn more about the GP IDeA-CTR visit our website.
 
For additional information on this opportunity, click here.
2022 Community Engaged Research Institute
September 14; 9am - 4pm
Click to register! Free to attend! Clear here for full agenda.

Wurdeman Learning Center
Omaha Home for Boys
5190 Sprague Plaza
Suite 113A
Omaha, NE 68104

Benefits for the Community:
  • Identify grant opportunities to support your work
  • Create your own biosketch
  • Network with local investigators
  • Food provided
Request for Applications
Great Plains IDeA-CTR
CTR Superstar Competition
 
Application Deadline: Sept. 19, 2022 (5 p.m.)

Information is also available online (https://gpctr.unmc.edu/)
 
The Great Plains IDeA-CTR network is excited to announce the 2022 CTR Superstar award competition, to take place at the GP IDeA-CTR Annual Scientific Meeting on Oct. 17. The winner of this pilot award will be announced by a panel of expert judges at the competition.
 
The goal is to raise awareness of clinical and translational research conducted by promising scholars who are developing innovative tools and methods for medical research. The winning investigator/team will receive a $20,000 pilot grant award to catalyze cutting-edge research that may translate to a sustainable product or a larger federal grant. Earliest funding start date is July 1, 2023.
 
We are requesting a brief research pitch (2 pages maximum) to include: project title, principal investigator(s), participating institution(s), study aims, hypotheses, methods (brief overview of design, study sample, measures, and statistical analysis plan), one-year deliverables, budget and justification, a statement addressing how the project advances CTR, and a lay summary. In addition, we ask that applicants provide a biosketch for PI and all key personnel.
 
Finalists will present projects at the annual meeting in October 2022. The winner will receive up to $20,000 (direct costs) for one year, and access to resources of the GP IDeA-CTR to support these research efforts. 

Click here for the this RFA pdf document.
Health Services Research Academy Offers Opportunity to Expand Research Skills
Children’s Hospitals Association’s Health Service Research Academy is a 12 to 18 month virtual training program that consists of on-demand learning modules coupled with an option for a mentored Capstone research project. The goal of the Academy is to help healthcare professionals develop skills to conduct health services research, including research using large administrative databases like PHIS. 
 
Activities 
Twenty on-demand learning modules that teach the fundamentals of health services research in a step-by-step manner. Examples of topics include a) Developing research aims, b) Writing a manuscript, c) Understanding statistics, and d) Responding effectively to reviewers. 
Participants in the Capstone option will have: 
  • A minimum of two mentors: one clinical, one analytical 
  • Virtual meetings with their mentorship team every 2 weeks to complete a research project in < 12 months 

Results 
  • At the end of the program, all participants will improve their understanding of health services research, including how to design and conduct a research project as well as disseminate the findings through peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
  • Each capstone participant will have completed a mentored research project. 
  • 11.5 credit hours of CME. 
  • All participants will receive a Certificate of Excellence in Research Scholarship. 
 
Examples of Research Conducted by Prior Participants 
  • Hoffman J, Hall M, Lorenz D, Berry J. (2021). Emergency department visits for suicidal ideation and self-harm in rural and urban youth. Journal of Pediatrics.
  • Bayer N, Hall M, Li Y, Feinstein J, Thomson J, Berry J. (2022). Trends in healthcare utilization and spending for young children with neurologic impairment. Pediatrics.
 
Who can apply? 
Any healthcare professionals (fellows, junior faculty, analysts, nurses, etc.)  
 
Connect with us!  
 
Applications are due Oct. 1 with a start date of Nov. 1.  
2022 Phase I Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Pre-Proposal Call
Purpose: COBREs support the establishment and development of biomedical and behavioral research centers at institutions in IDeA-eligible states by accelerating the pathway to independent funding for new investigators, generating a critical mass of multi-disciplinary funded investigators within a research theme and enabling the institution to be competitive for future large grant programs. COBREs also support the development, expansion or improvement of sustainable institutional research infrastructure. The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (VCR) is accepting pre-proposals to select UNMC’s institutional nominee for the next Phase I COBRE, with an updated FOA likely released late September 2022 with a presumed NIH submission date of January 2023.
 
Eligibility: UNMC faculty. Limit one application per faculty as the Principal Investigator (PI) or the Associate Director. Faculty can support multiple applications as a mentor or other role.
 
Submission Instructions: Submit to Deb Hawkins (Deb.Hawkins@unmc.edu) by Sept. 15, 2022.
 
For more information, click here
BHECN Opens Applications for ARPA Awards
The Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) is accepting proposals — the first in a series of funding cycles — to develop the behavioral health workforce in Nebraska.
Earlier this year, the Nebraska Legislature allocated $25.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to BHECN. In turn, BHECN will award that funding through a competitive process to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of behavioral health professionals.
 
Funding will be distributed through a competitive request for proposal process based on four major areas:
  • Behavioral health training opportunities: Projects should focus on providing training and clinical experience opportunities for behavioral health students, trainees and professionals.
  • Telebehavioral health support in rural areas: Projects should focus on increasing access to behavioral health care through telebehavioral services.
  • Behavioral health workforce projects for students and behavioral health professionals: Projects should be related to behavioral health issues caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Projects in this award category should focus on providing educational programs, recruitment and retention projects and research related to the behavioral health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Funding for licensed behavioral health supervisors currently employed in Nebraska: Projects should be focused on supporting supervision costs as organizations/providers supervise provisionally licensed, behavioral health professionals.
 
All Nebraska organization/providers are eligible to apply for the awards. Applicants can request funding for up to three years (funding expires Dec. 31, 2025).
 
Applications for the initial funding cycle are open now (Aug. 17) through Oct. 14. To learn more about the award categories, the funding cycle or to submit an application, visit the BHECN website. Applications may be accessed directly online.
Nominations Now Open
for UNMC Research Awards
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is seeking nominations for UNMC's annual research faculty awards: New Investigator Award, Distinguished Scientist Award, Research Leadership Award and Scientist Laureate Award. These awards recognize UNMC faculty for their outstanding research achievements and sustained contributions to UNMC's research mission. For complete information on eligibility requirements click here.
 
Anyone is eligible to submit a nomination, and self-nominations are accepted. Please submit your nominations with a copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae through the NU Ramp internal competitions application on or before Oct. 28. Select "UNMC Distinguished Scientist and Other Research Awards Nomination 2022" in the available drop-down menu.
 
Nominators can direct any questions about the process to James Geiger in the UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research.
Nominations Now Open
for Community Service to Research Award
The UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research is seeking nominations for the Community Service to Research Award.
 
The community is critical to UNMC’s research enterprise. Community members serve in many roles to develop, advise, review, support, disseminate or implement next steps in research. This award will honor a community member or group serving in any role that the nominator believes is worthy of recognition for how they contribute to UNMC research.
 
What are some examples or accomplishments for nominated individuals?
  • Collaborator or volunteer to support UNMC research projects.
  • Advisor to a research program.
  • Community member serving on a UNMC research oversight committee.
  • Activist who speaks up for research and its value in the community.
 
What are the guidelines for nomination?
  • Nominees cannot be employed by UNMC or the University of Nebraska.
  • The nominator must be a UNMC faculty member.
  • Letters of support may come from UNMC faculty, alumni or students.
 
Please submit nominations for consideration on or before Nov. 18 by completing the official nomination form. Nominations and questions should be emailed to James Geiger in the UNMC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. The award will be presented at the annual Distinguished Scientist Award Ceremony.
FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Diversity and Inclusion in Clinical Trials
Click here for the full article in The National Law Review.
Disseminating Discoveries:
July Publications
Take a minute to check out the wide range of research published by CHRI members in July.
Funding Opportunities:
Opportunity Type: The proposed research should focus on one of these priority areas:
  • Late, spontaneous pre-term birth
  • Racial inequities as they relate to morbidity and mortality outcomes for mothers and babies.
  • Cardiovascular health conditions developed during pregnancy or exacerbated during pregnancy.
  • Maternal stress, its impact on pregnancy outcomes and how to mitigate the effects.
Funder: March of Dimes
Amount: $200k over 2 years
Deadline: Oct, 11, 2022
More information: Click here
 
Opportunity Type: Innovation Grant
Funder: Alex's Lemonade Stand
Deadline: Oct. 11, 2022
Amount: $250k over 2 years
More information: Click here
 
Opportunity Type: Young Investigator Grant
Funder: Alex's Lemonade Stand
Deadline: Dec. 12, 2022
Amount: $50k over 3 years
More information: Click here
Child Health Research Institute
986847 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-6847
402-559-4032 or 402-955-7907