SEPTEMBER 2022

NEWSLETTER

The Center for Advanced Research Training & Innovation (CARTI) newsletter lists upcoming events, resources, services and grant deadlines for UMB research faculty and fellows.  To register for CARTI's upcoming events, click HERE.

UMSOM CARTI 2022 Scholars for the

“Clinical/Translational Research Training Track Pilot Program”

Announced!

The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Center for Advanced Research Training & Innovation (CARTI) is pleased to announce the 2022 Scholars for the Clinical/Translational Research Training Track Pilot Program!

• Alexis Salerno, MD, Assistant Professor Department of Emergency Medicine
• Elizabeth Powell, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
• Nicole Putnam, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology
• Nikhil Pandey, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Neurosurgery
• Yohance Allette, MD, PhD, Fellow, Department of Neurology
• Zaker Rana, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology

These 6 scholars were selected to participate in a 6-month training program that will consist of didactic instruction, scientific writing instruction, experiential learning, and completion of a capstone project. See the full announcement HERE

Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF)

Funding Information Session

Wednesday, September 14

9:00 – 10:30am

Zoom

 Guest Speaker: Amritha Jaishankar, PhD, Executive Director, Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF)

This information session will provide an overview of the grant programs offered by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund (MSCRF) for human stem cell research in the state of Maryland. Participants will also hear from a panel of recent awardees who will share their personal experience/advice with submitting a MSCRF grant. For more information on MSCRF funding opportunities, visit: https://www.mscrf.org/funding-opportunities.

Target Audience: Faculty and Postdocs

Getting to Know the New NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy

Thursday, September 15

1:00 – 2:00pm

Zoom

This seminar is an overview of the new NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy (NIH DMSP), coming into effect January 2023. All grant applications submitted under the policy will require a data management and sharing plan. The goal of this seminar is to prepare participants to meet these new requirements. Participants will learn what the NIH DMSP entails and how it differs from the existing policy, as well as tips and resources for preparing data management plans.

Speakers: Amy Yarnell, Data Services Librarian and Jean-Paul Courneya, Bioinformationist; Health Sciences and Human Services Library, Center for Data and Bioinformation Services (CDABS), UMB

SAVE THE DATE!

Engaging Your Research Team During Grant Writing

Thursday, October 13^th

1:00 – 2:00pm

Zoom

Speaker: Owen R. White, PhD, Director of Bioinformatics, UM School of Medicine; Professor, Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, UMSOM

More details and registration will be available in October's newsletter.

Tips for Increasing Your Scientific Writing Productivity

Thursday, September 22

9:00 – 10:00am

Zoom

 Writing is a fundamental part of a scientist’s “job”, but strategies for writing efficiently are rarely taught. As a result, scientists often struggle with writing, especially with the practical steps of the writing process, such as how to get started. This session begins with tips for increasing writing productivity, with a focus on making writing part of your workday. These tips are designed to make writing easier and to help participants write more quickly and efficiently.

One of the most successful strategies for increasing writing productivity is to join a writing accountability group. Participants will learn about different writing accountability group opportunities available to UMB faculty, fellows and postdocs.

Speakers: Marey Shriver, PhD, Executive Director for Faculty Development, CARTI and Stacie Mendoza, Program Director, CARTI

Scholarly Writing Accountability Group (SWAG) Program

Virtual Program to Help Faculty Increase Their Scholarly Writing Productivity

The Center for Advanced Research Training & Innovation (CARTI) provides a virtual peer accountability/support program designed to increase writing productivity among UMB early stage faculty called Scholarly Writing Accountability Group (SWAG). A description of our virtual SWAG program follows, including details on how to participate.

What is a VIRTUAL SWAG?

A virtual SWAG is an active peer-led writing group for UMB junior faculty that meets for 1-hour, once a week over a 10-week period using Microsoft Teams. Groups follow a structured agenda including 15 minutes of updates and goal-setting followed by 30 minutes of individual writing and then 15 minutes of reporting and wrap-up. Each group is limited to 4-8 members who must commit to attending at least 8 out of the 10 weekly sessions. In a SWAG, there is no peer review of writing; SWAGs focus on the process of writing, not the content. The purpose of SWAG is to help junior faculty get in the habit of 1) writing in short blocks of time daily or almost every day and 2) identifying and prioritizing feasible writing goals.

Writing accountability groups are being used at multiple major medical schools. The data which have been reported on the results of this program are very favorable, reflecting marked increases in the quantity and quality of writing by junior faculty participants.

What are the Benefits of Joining a SWAG?

Faculty who join SWAG will:

• Develop new writing habits to achieve writing goals
• Improved time management skills
• Gain a greater sense of control over the writing process
•  Build a small community of support/social network

Fall SWAG Opportunities

• Tuesdays 8-9am  (Sept 30 - Dec 9)
• Wednesdays 2-3pm  (Oct 12 - Dec 14)
• Fridays 9-10am  (Oct 4 - Dec 6) 

Registration

New SWAGs at UMB are being formed on a rolling basis. If you’re interested in participating, please submit the following REQUEST FORM.

Questions? Email Stacie Mendoza

Professional Development Resources

Recommended by CARTI

Office of Research on Women’s Health

“Integrating Sex and Gender to Improve Health”

(Free online course)

The following 4 courses discuss sex, gender, and consideration of sex as a biological variable: 

1.     Bench to Beside: Integrating Sex and Gender to Improve Human Health REGISTER  

2.     Sex as a Biological Variable: Primer & Supplement REGISTER  

3.     Sex as a Biological Variable Primer: Train the Trainer REGISTER  

4.     Introduction: Sex- and Gender-Related Differences in Health REGISTER  

National Institutes of Health (NIH) 

Virtual Conference:

Navigating Early Career Funding Opportunities

Thursday, September 15

1:00 - 3:30 PM ET

The NIH is committed to investing in early-stage investigators who are focused on establishing themselves as experts in their chosen research areas.

With numerous Fellowships and Career Development Award types, how do you know which is the right one for your research and career goals? Our experts will provide an overview of opportunities, discuss how networking and mentoring can strengthen your chances for success, and show you where to find resources to help you along the way.

During this session, participants will learn about:

• Fellowships (F) and Career Development (K) Awards;
• Navigating NIH Diversity Programs;
• Advancing Your Career Through Networking and Mentoring; and
• Resources that will help you choose the right program.

CARTI'S Seminar Slides & Recordings

CARTI'S Individual Consultations

CARTI'S Mini LIbrary

University of Maryland School of Nursing

Research Seminar Series

What’s the Story of Your Research

Thursday, September 15

12:00 - 1:00pm

Speaker: David O. Fakunle, PhD

NIH COVID-19 Related Updates & Funding

Funding Opportunities

NEXUS AWARD FOR JHU-UMB COLLABORATIONS IN DRUG DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT

Sponsored by the ICTR Drugs/Biologics/Vaccines/Devices Translational Research Community

The ICTR is has established three Translational Research Communities at JHU:

1.   Drugs/Biologics/Vaccines/Devices

2.   Biomarkers and Diagnostic Testing

3.   Behavioral, Social and Systems Science

All three communities are supporting pilot Nexus grants which are designed to

accelerate research by providing rapid, targeted funding to address critical gaps in clinical and translational research, be it taking a clinical observation into the lab, testing a technology or intervention in the clinical setting, or using funding to obtain data required to apply for a translationally focused R01.

Given the current partnerships between the respective Institutes for Clinical and Translational Research at Johns Hopkins and UMB, this specific Nexus award will be used to fund drug discoveries and development activities on projects that represent a collaboration between UMB and JHU translational scientists.

DEADLINE: September 19, 2022 at 5:00 PM

For more information, click HERE.

WHITEHALL FOUNDATION

Research Grant

Research Grants are available for basic science research in neurobiology, with an overall goal to better understand behavioral output or brain mechanisms of behavior. The Whitehall Foundation does not support research focused primarily on disease(s) unless it will also provide insights into normal functioning.

LOI DEADLINE: October 1, 2022

APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 15, 2023

Visit Website for more information.

PASSANO FOUNDATION

Clinician-Investigator Awards for Career Development

The purpose of these Passano Clinician-Investigator Awards is to help protect the research time, and thereby further the acquisition of experience and preliminary results for qualified young UMSOM faculty clinician-investigators during the time that they are applying for external career development grant support.

DEADLINE: Proposals must be submitted by October 3, 2022.

Guidelines regarding this opportunity can be found HERE.

Questions? Contact Marey Shriver, PhD at mshriver@som.umaryland.edu

BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND

Career Awards for Medical Scientists

The Career Awards for Medical Scientists is a highly competitive program that supports physician-scientists, who are committed to an academic career, bridge advanced postdoctoral/fellowship training and the early years of faculty service.

DEADLINE: October 4, 2022

Visit Website for more information.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CLAUDE D. PEPPER OLDER AMERICANS INDEPENDENCE CENTER (UM-OAIC)

UM-OAIC is providing the following 2 funding opportunities:

Pilot study funding opportunity (3 projects at $30,000 direct costs each):

The UM-OAIC is providing funding for two-year pilot projects. This funding is designed to provide start-up support for quality research proposals of high relevance to the Center’s mission which addresses the process by which function is lost, and the multiple factors that affect the onset and progression of disability in older adults.

Visit WEBSITE for more information.

Research Educations Core Scholar funding opportunity (1 scholar position up to $50,000 per year in salary and fringe)

The UM-OAIC provides an enriched, research training and educational environment to promote the career development of junior faculty toward independence as investigators in aging-related research. The REC Scholar position is funded for a period of up to three years contingent on adequate progress.

Visit WEBSITE for more information.

LOI DUE: October 31, 2022

Webinar

To learn more about these opportunities, please join an informational webinar on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 4pm. Anyone who is interested in applying for either funding mechanism or who might have questions is welcome to attend. See zoom link below to attend:

https://umaryland.zoom.us/j/99403376634

Questions?

Please contact Anne Sullens with any questions at asullens@som.umaryland.edu

Seeking Foundation Funding for your Research?

The SOM’s Office of Development, Corporate and Foundation Relations, provides services and resources to assist UMSOM faculty with identifying private foundation funding for research, programs, educational initiative, and community outreach at the local, regional, and national level. Visit their website for more information and to schedule an appointment. 

Additional funding opportunities can be found at:

 UMSOM Internal Funding Opportunities & External Funding Databases

UMGCCC Funding Database

(Cancer related research)

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