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December 13, 2024

Announcements, events, funding opportunities and more news for the Mass General Research Institute community.

In this edition:


Funding Opportunities

  • Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award
  • Open PCORI Funding Opportunity: Managing Pain
  • Open PCORI Funding Opportunity:Improving Mental and Behavioral Health
  • Increasing the Impact of Clinical Research on Human Health
  • Tommy Fuss Scholars Program in Precision Psychiatry
  • The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) Scholars Program
  • The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) Pilot Grant Program
  • The MGH Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards for Junior Faculty Women Investigators
  • Mass General Brigham Precision & Genomic Medicine T32
  • MGH Physician and/or Scientist Development Award
  • Massachusetts Center for Alzheimer and Dementia Behavioral Research in Minority Aging Pilot Funding and Training Opportunity
  • Limited Submission Funding
  • Foundation Funding Opportunities


Announcements:

  • MESH Core 2025 & Submit Abstracts for the Startup Sessions
  • World Medical Innovation Forum 2025: Innovation at Scale


Events:

  • TODAY! Parenting Series 2024-2025: “What Parents Should Know about Gender Diversity in Kids and Teens”
  • TODAY! Funding opportunities/mechanisms and grant-writing strategies for ECIs
  • BWH Cancer Research Symposium
  • Course: Biobank Portal
  • Course: MGB Research Compliance Quarterly Discussion Group
  • Course: Introduction to RPDR
  • Course: REDCap CDIS/CDP (Clinical Data Pull) Functionality
  • Fun Fridays- Winter Hiking in New England
  • NEW! Course: Basic Biostatistics for Clinical Research
  • NEW! Course: Obtaining Philanthropic Funding for Your Research
  • MGH Clinical Research Council
  • NEW! QMMR: Designing Qualitative Research: Selecting the Approach and Method for Your Study
  • NEW! Hands-on Training in Basic Bioinformatics Analyses of Single-Cell Sequencing Data
  • NEW! Fun Fridays- Fun with Reiki! Experience Reiki Online in Community
  • 10-week Money Bootcamp
  • Celebration of Mentoring at MGH
  • NEW! Plan and Develop Your own Clinical Trial Proposal
  • Two Meditation Sessions available every week

Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award

A program of the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation


What are they?

The Smith Family Foundation Odyssey Award was created in 2017 to fuel creativity and innovation in junior investigators in the basic sciences. The Award supports the pursuit of high impact ideas to generate breakthroughs and drive new directions in biomedical research. The awards will fund high-risk, high-reward pilot projects. Projects should be conceptualized as a novel research line and a distinct and novel off-shoot from the applicant’s current research.


Eligible applicants must be junior investigators who received their first independent faculty appointment on or between November 1, 2016 and November 1, 2021.


There is no longer a limit on the number of applications from a given institution. Applicants no longer need to be internally selected and nominated by their institutions. Please apply directly to the sponsor.


How much is the award?

The award is $400,000 over two years ($200,000 per year) inclusive of 5% IDC


When is the deadline?  

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 12:00 Noon


How do I learn more about the opportunity?

Smith Family Foundation: Odyssey Award – Click here


Learn More

Open PCORI Funding Opportunity:

Managing Pain


Highlights

  • Up to $100 million in total available funding
  • Up to $12 million direct costs available per application
  • Maximum project period: 5 years
  • October 30, 2024 - Town Hall (watch recording)
  • December 3, 2024 - Application opens
  • January 14, 2025 - Letters of Intent due


Studies should

  • Focus on interventions that improve patient-centered outcomes in patients with acute or chronic pain
  • Include evidence-based, impactful, patient-centered outcomes as indicated by patients, families, and caregivers (particularly those with lived experience) from the population of interest, as well as relevant members of the broader health and healthcare community
  • Examine diverse populations with an overall sample size that will allow precision in the estimation of hypothesized effect sizes and, as appropriate, analysis of heterogeneity of treatment effect


Special Areas of Emphasis (SAEs)

PCORI is particularly interested in submissions that address the following, although applicants are not limited to these areas:

  • Urogynecological and pelvic pain
  • Pain in individuals living with limitations in cognitive functioning
  • Pain in individuals living with sickle cell disease
  • Neuropathic pain


For this funding announcement, applicants may request coverage of patient care costs (including medical products, procedures, and care services) for potential funding.


Applications may propose patient, healthcare provider, and/or systems-level CER studies addressing acute or chronic pain across the care continuum in any clinical context.


How to Apply

To apply for this funding opportunity, there are four steps you must follow. 

  1. Read the full funding announcement.
  2. Follow the process outlined in the submission instructions.
  3. Submit a Letter of Intent using the template on the application page.
  4. Submit an application (if invited).


Potential applicants can also request a 1:1 session with PCORI staff to get their questions answered. View available date/time options and register to set up an appointment.


Also available are limited consultation services by Leslie MacGregor, PhD, VMD, JD, our PCORI funding specialist here at Harvard Catalyst. Leslie can help interested researchers think through their proposals, craft letters of intent, and navigate the PCORI application and funding process.


Our website has a section to support researchers with resources, how-to guides, as well as sample documents (requires HarvardKey login).


Visit our Website

Open PCORI Funding Opportunity:

Improving Mental and Behavioral Health


Highlights

  • Up to $100 million in total available funding
  • Up to $12 million direct costs available per application
  • Maximum project period: 5 years
  • Application opens: December 3, 2024
  • Town Hall: December 11, 2024
  • Letters of Intent due: January 14, 2025


Studies should

  • Compare two or more approaches for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or care delivery related to mental and behavioral health conditions
  • Address a critical clinical or care delivery problem
  • Include evidence-based, impactful, patient-centered outcomes as indicated by patients, families, and caregivers (particularly those with lived experience) from the population of interest, as well as relevant members of the broader health and healthcare community
  • Examine diverse populations with an overall sample size that will allow precision in the estimation of hypothesized effect sizes and, as appropriate, analysis of heterogeneity of treatment effect


Special Areas of Emphasis (SAEs)

PCORI is particularly interested in submissions that address the following, although applicants are not limited to these areas:

  • Mental and behavioral health of children and youth
  • Suicide prevention and crisis response
  • Strategies to improve mental healthcare access and delivery


For this funding announcement, applicants may request coverage of patient care costs (including medical products, procedures, and care services) for potential funding.


Proposed comparators must have well-documented evidence of efficacy and/or widespread use, as demonstrated by prior research, systematic reviews, and/or clinical guidelines.


How to Apply

To apply for this funding opportunity, there are four steps you must follow. 

  1. Read the full funding announcement.
  2. Follow the process outlined in the submission instructions.
  3. Submit a Letter of Intent using the template on the application page.
  4. Submit an application (if invited).


Potential applicants can also request a 1:1 session with PCORI staff to get their questions answered. View available date/time options and register to set up an appointment.


Also available are limited consultation services by Leslie MacGregor, PhD, VMD, JD, our PCORI funding specialist here at Harvard Catalyst. Leslie can help interested researchers think through their proposals, craft letters of intent, and navigate the PCORI application and funding process.


Our website has a section to support researchers with resources, how-to guides, as well as sample documents (requires HarvardKey login).

Visit our Website

Increasing the Impact of Clinical Research on Human Health

 

Request for Applications (RFA)

Applications due: January 15, 2025

Highlights:

  • Funding: $25,000 - $50,000 per award, up to eight awards available
  • Applications due: January 15, 2025

This pilot funding opportunity focuses on potential solutions to common roadblocks that impact faculty, research staff, and other communities in the conduct of research on human health.


Background: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) requires all clinical and translational science centers, including Harvard Catalyst, to use translational science methodologies to identify and mitigate roadblocks impeding health-related research at their local institutions. Through multiple outreach formats across Harvard University schools and affiliated hospitals, Harvard Catalyst identified translational roadblocks that faculty and other employees felt limited the breadth and impact of research on human health. These formed the basis for initiatives proposed in Harvard Catalyst’s current NCATS award and several are addressed by this pilot opportunity.


This request for applications (RFA) invites proposals for innovative pilot projects that address some aspect of any one of the following three translational roadblocks:

  1. Research and clinical data need to be connected and their access democratized.
  2. The clinical translational research (CTR) workforce is not sufficiently diverse and must be grown in all domains.
  3. Insufficient mechanisms exist to support implementation of CTR evidence into practice. 


Examples illustrating the broad range of responsive proposals can be found in the full program announcement posted on the website. 


It is important that clinical research moves toward a greater emphasis on translational science research, the outcomes of which will increase the impact of clinical research on human health. Your participation can drive meaningful change.


In accord with the above mandate, this RFA seeks studies that explore or demonstrate how a range of processes, assessments, models, or modifications can inform clinical translational research more generally, rather than asking for proposals focused on a specific aspect of a highly-defined clinical question or setting. 


Applications are due January 15, 2025


Visit our website for more information, including application details, examples of projects that might be proposed, the NCATS definition of translational science, and key dates. Please do not hesitate to email us at grants@catalyst.harvard.edu if you have any questions or require further information.

Visit our Website

Tommy Fuss Scholars Program in Precision Psychiatry!


What is the Tommy Fuss Scholars Program?

The Center for Precision Psychiatry (CPP) is committed to fostering the careers of early career investigators in the emerging area of precision psychiatry. Precision psychiatry aims to identify and leverage individual differences in biology, lifestyle, environment, and the social determinants of health, to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions. Integrating research, clinical implementation, education and training, the Center is committed to driving innovation to implementation and making discoveries that can be translated to clinical care. The Tommy Fuss Scholars Program in Precision Psychiatry was established to support innovative research efforts by early career investigators.

 

Scholars will work with CPP faculty on projects aligned with the CPP mission and goals including therapeutics, big data analytics, precision treatment matching, mobile health technologies, genomics, neuroscience, and clinical trials. 

 

Who is eligible?

  • Postdoctoral fellows (incoming or current) or faculty at the level of Instructor or Assistant Professors are eligible to apply. 
  • Applicants should identify a mentor (for postdoc fellows) or collaborator (for junior faculty) within CPP for the proposed research. 
  • Applicants are required to have Massachusetts General Brigham affiliation. 
  • Applicants who have received NIH R01 funding as PI are not eligible to apply. 
  • U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible. 
  • Women and URiM candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 

 

How much is the award?

Recipients will be selected by a CPP faculty review panel and will receive $50,000 inclusive of indirect costs to advance their research project. Funds can be used flexibly to support salary or research costs.

 

What is the deadline?

Monday, January 20th, 2025 - 5:00pm EST


Please direct any questions to mghctrprecisionpsych@mgh.harvard.edu

Learn More and Apply

The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention

(CSRP) Scholars Program

Applications due January 24, 2025 @5:00 PM ET

 

The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) is a multidisciplinary, practice-based center aimed at advancing and implementing innovative new suicide prevention research. It will support the development, deployment, and evaluation of practice-ready and clinically focused interventions aimed at improving the identification and effective treatment of patients at risk of suicide. The CSRP is now accepting applications for the Collaborating Scholars Program in order to support innovative early career and advanced investigators with an interest in suicide research.  


To expand the suicide prevention workforce and train the next generation of clinically-informed suicide prevention researchers, we will provide training, collaboration, and networking opportunities for young investigators (Emerging Scholars) and established (Advanced Collaborating Scholars). Emerging Scholars may be postdocs, residents, or graduate students. The rich and diverse training environment at Mass General Brigham and Harvard and the breadth and depth of expertise of our Center Faculty provide a unique and exceptional opportunity for fulfilling these goals.

 

Award Amount:

The Scholars Program provides up to $50,000 in salary support for one (1) year.

 

Funding Period:

June 1st, 2025 – May 31st, 2026.

 

Have other questions? Contact MGHCSRP@MGB.ORG

Learn More and Apply

The Center for Suicide Research and Prevention

(CSRP) Pilot Grant Program

Applications due January 24, 2025 @5:00 PM ET

 

The NIMH-funded practice-based Center for Suicide Research and Prevention (CSRP) at Mass General Brigham and Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences, is a multidisciplinary center aimed at advancing and implementing innovative research. In alignment with the NIMH and CSRP’s mission to support burgeoning research in suicide prediction and prevention, the CSRP is now accepting applications for pilot grant funding. 


Pilot grants provide a mechanism to catalyze promising and innovative ideas and new collaborations. Trainees, emerging scholars, and established investigators are eligible, regardless of their prior involvement with the Center. To advance the Center’s goals of building new collaborations and diversifying the suicide prevention workforce, applicants from minoritized communities are encouraged, as are applications that represent new interdisciplinary collaborations involving investigators from different research domains (e.g., data science and implementation science). 

 

Award Amount:

Selected projects will receive up to $50,000 in direct costs to advance their research for one (1) year. Funds can be used flexibly to support salary or research costs.

 

Funding Period:

June 1st, 2025 – May 31st, 2026

 

Have other questions? Contact MGHCSRP@MGB.ORG

Learn More and Apply

The MGH Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards

for Junior Faculty Women Investigators

 

Applications are now being accepted by the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) for the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards!

 

What are the Claflin Awards?

Although women scientists are recruited to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) programs, their advancement to senior faculty positions is still far less frequent than that of their male counterparts. In 1993, The Women in Academic Medicine Committee, originally chaired by Mrs. Jane D. Claflin, Honorary Trustee, was established to facilitate the academic careers of women in science at MGH. Recognizing that a significant obstacle to career advancement is the difficulty of maintaining research productivity alongside the responsibilities of parenting, this Committee, with the sponsorship of the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR), established the Claflin Distinguished Scholar Awards. It is intended that this funding will increase opportunities for women to advance to senior positions in academic medicine.

 

How much is each award?

These are two-year awards for $60,000 per year in direct costs, plus 20% for indirect costs.

 

When is the deadline?

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - 5:00 PM

Learn More

Mass General Brigham Precision & Genomic Medicine T32


We are pleased to announce that the Mass General Brigham Training Program in Precision & Genomic Medicine, supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), is now accepting applications for the 2025-2027 academic cycle. 

 

The MGB Training Program in Precision & Genomic Medicine, co-led by Jordan W. Smoller, MD, ScD, and Heidi Rehm, PhD, brings together three outstanding components to build a world-class training program in precision and genomic medicine: 1) an internationally-recognized faculty with expertise in precision and genomic medicine across a broad range of disciplines, 2) outstanding institutional resources bridging clinical, genomic, and data sciences, and 3) deep engagement with cutting edge, collaborative initiatives at the regional, national, and international levels to provide rich training experiences.

 

Funding is for 2-years and awards cover salary, travel to professional meetings, and other training-related expenses. Trainees will perform research in their respective Mentor’s lab but will participate in all T32 training related requirements (meetings, presentations, etc.) throughout the Mass General Brigham Healthcare System.

 

For more eligibility and program information, as well as for a link to application materials, please visit our website at https://cgm.massgeneral.org/training-program/.  Application materials are due February 3, 2025 at 5:00 PM, and the fellowship term begins May 2025. Please direct any inquiries to the T32 email (MGHpgmt32@mgb.org).

Visit our Website

MGH Physician and/or Scientist Development Award 2025

Three- or Four-Year Award for Investigators

who are Underrepresented in Academic Medicine*

*Fundamental, Clinical, Translational, and Health Services investigators are all eligible


Applications for grants are invited by the MGH Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), and the Executive Committee on Research (ECOR). 

 

What is the Award?

The MGH Physician and/or Scientist Development Award (PSDA) is designed for MD and/or PhD investigators at MGH who are considered underrepresented in academic medicine (UiM). This Award is intended to provide transitional funding for support in the development of physicians and scientists underrepresented in academic medicine, and thereby increase opportunities for UiM researchers to advance to senior positions in academic medicine at MGH. This award is a key faculty initiative of the CDI. We encourage applicants to engage with the center and learn more about our programs and other initiatives: www.massgeneral.org/cdi. The CDI will evaluate the need for this Award on a regular basis.


Note: CDI also invites applicants to apply for the MGH Clinician-Teacher Development Award (CTDA). The CTDA provides funding support for a clinical, educational or community project to a faculty member (junior and mid-career), fellow, or graduating resident pursuing an academic career as a clinician, teacher, administrative or community leader at Mass General. This award offers a total of $120,000 in grant and loan repayment support plus 20% indirect costs to be spent over a four-year period. For details and to apply for the 2025 CTDA, please click here.


Am I UIM (Underrepresented in Medicine)?

For the purposes of the PSDA, MGH follows the definition of underrepresented in medicine and biomedical research (UiM) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). UiM groups may include Latino/ Hispanic (including Brazilian), African-American/Black, American Indian, Native American, Native Hawaiian and Alaskan Natives, among others.


How much is the award?

$180,000 plus 20% indirect costs will be awarded to be spent over a three or four-year period, with a maximum of $60,000 plus indirect costs per year for 3-year awards and a maximum of $45,000 plus indirect costs per year for 4-year awards.


Consultation Service

This service is designed to help 2025 applicants develop a strong application for the Clinician-Teacher and the Physician and/or Scientist Development Awards. Through this service, you can speak with an Award alumni for advice on your application including your research plan, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Please complete this online survey form to help us provide you with the best consultation possible:

 

Interested in Learning More about the PSDA?

A panel discussion featuring past PSDA and CTDA award recipients and will cover eligibility, requirements, resources to improve your application, advice from recent PSDA and CTDA recipients and how the award can advance your career. Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 9am – 10am. Please click here to register.   

 

When is the deadline?

Wednesday, February 5, 2025– 5:00 PM

Click here to read more and apply online

Massachusetts Center for Alzheimer and Dementia Behavioral Research in Minority Aging Pilot Funding

and Training Opportunity



Funding and Training Opportunity: MASS-ENVISION is seeking to fund 3 pilot studies of behavioral interventions, $40,000 each, for one year. The awardees will be provided resources, rigorous training, and sustained mentorship in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)- related behavioral interventions following the NIH Stage Model, the Science of Behavior Change (SOBC), and the NIA Health Disparities Research Framework.

 

Eligibility

  • Early career investigators or mid-career investigators who are transitioning to ADRD research.
  • Underrepresented in medicine (UiM) backgrounds (e.g., racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, first generation college students, individuals from rural areas, those with disabilities and women) as defined by the NIH.
  • Must reside in the Boston area or be willing to relocate.


Application

  • Propose a pilot project of a behavioral intervention within ADRD.
  • Use one or more of the following models: NIH stage model, NIA Health Disparities model, and the Science of Behavior Change.
  • Identify at least one mentor from our website.
  • Project must be feasible to conduct within a 12-month period.

 

Applications are due by February 13, 2025.

 

Learn more and apply at https://mass-envision.org/

For questions, email massenvisionrec@mgb.org

Learn More and Apply

Limited Submission Funding Opportunities


We ask that all MGH Investigators interested in applying for any limited submission award submit a Letter of Intent (see detailed instructions below) to the MGH Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) by the deadline indicated for each award to be considered to receive an institutional nomination. 


CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See full details for all awards on our website.

Environment Health Sciences Core Centers Program (P30 Clinical Trials Optional)

MGH LOI Deadline: 1/07/25

Learn more

Foundation Funding Opportunities

Please contact Corporate & Foundation Relations in the Office of Development at devcfr@mgh.harvard.edu if you wish to submit a proposal in response to any of these opportunities. Note that proposals are still routed through the standard InfoEd/Research Management process.


For all open foundation funding announcements, see the MGB Innovation External Funding Database



CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

See this week’s full foundation funding announcements (including eligibility, RM deadlines, and IDC) on our website.

 

  1. Ralph L. Sacco Scholars Program in Brain Health (postdoctoral fellowship), American Heart Association. $150,000 (IDC Exempt). Application Deadline: January 30
  2. Investigator-Initiated Research Grant Program, American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). $225,000 (10% IDC). LOI Deadline: January 17
  3. Research Training Award for Fellows (RTAF), American Society of Hematology (ASH). $71,000 (IDC Exempt). Application Deadline: January 27 (deadline extended from January 17)
  4. Research Innovation Award, Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN). $300,000 (10% IDC). LOI Deadline: January 13
  5. Addressing Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction, Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). $49,000 (10% IDC). Application Deadline: February 13
  6. Community Grants, Parkinson's Foundation. $25,000 (No IDC). Application Deadline: January 31
  7. Early Career Research Grants (multiple opps), Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). $70,000 (20% IDC). Application Deadline: January 21
  8. Seed Amplification Assay Innovation Program, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). $1 million (15% IDC). Application Deadline: January 30
  9. Passion to Find a Cure Grants: Type 1 Diabetes, Thomas J. Beaston Jr. Foundation. $262,500 (10% IDC). Application Deadline: February 21

Do you want to learn more about identifying external funding opportunities? Please click here to request a research consultation with Amy Robb or see ECOR’s website for information on the Pivot database.

MESH Core 2025 & Submit Abstracts for the Startup Sessions

 

Don’t miss your chance to join the Mass General Brigham MESH Core 2025 Conference on May 12–13, 2025, at the MGB headquarters in Assembly Row, Somerville. This two-day event features hands-on workshops, interactive sessions, and keynotes from leading innovators, all designed to equip you with the tools to drive healthcare innovation forward. Early bird registration, including discounted rates for Mass General Brigham employees, ends December 15, 2024. Learn more about the conference here.

 

We’re also excited to announce that submissions are open for the Startup Sessions, the capstone event where innovators can showcase their ideas and compete for the $5,000 MGB MESH Disruptive Innovation Prize. This is your opportunity to present your work to industry leaders, investors, and peers. Apply by December 15, 2024 (11:59 PM EST) to take your innovation to the next level. Submit your application here.

Visit our Website

World Medical Innovation Forum 2025: Innovation at Scale


Join us in 2025 at the 11ᵗʰ Annual World Medical Innovation Forum September 15-17, at the stunning Encore Boston Harbor.

Visit our Website

These events and more on the calendar of events

TODAY! Parenting Series 2024-2025: “What Parents Should Know about Gender Diversity in Kids and Teens”


Friday, December 13, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Women’s Careers

 

The Parenting Series is an Office for Women’s Careers initiative focused on well-being and work-life balance for MGH faculty and trainee parents. 

 

There has been increasing awareness and recognition of transgender and gender-diverse identities in children, adolescents, and adults.  This talk will provide parents and caregivers with information about diverse gender identities and best practices for supporting gender-expansive youth.  It will dispel misconceptions about gender-affirming care and offer an opportunity for parents to ask relevant questions about their children and families.

 

Speaker: 

Aude Henin, PhD, is Founding Co-Director of the Child Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Program, Clinical Director of the Child Resiliency Program, and Director of Psychological Services in the Gender Identity Program at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Henin has served on the Massachusetts Commission for LGBTQ Youth for the past 5 years. She specializes in the assessment and cognitive-behavioral treatment of children with mood, developmental, and anxiety disorders. She also specializes in working with transgender and gender-diverse youth and their families.

Click to Register

Funding opportunities/mechanisms and

 grant-writing strategies for ECIs


Friday, December 13, 2024, 10:00 am, Zoom

 

Dr. Tish Weigand, Director of Training and Development at NINDS from NIH, will speak on grant opportunities and grant strategies, with an emphasis on Early Career Investigators. 

Join Zoom Meeting

BWH Cancer Research Symposium


Tuesday, December 17 | 11:00 AM - 4:15 PM 

Marshall A. Wolf Conference Center and Satter Atrium

 

The Brigham Research Institute (BRI) cordially invites members of the MGB community to participate in the upcoming BWH Cancer Research Symposium. The event will feature cutting-edge research presentations and an interactive poster session with Brigham and MGB-affiliated researchers. The goal of the symposium is to bring together the community, highlight the breadth and depth of cancer research at BWH and MGB, and foster interdisciplinary research collaborations. 

Learn More and Register

Course: Biobank Portal


Biobank Portal

Speaker: Stacey Duey, Senior Project Specialist

When: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | 10:00 – 11:00 am

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Description: 

This course will introduce the use of the Biobank Portal application for clinical research, including reviewing healthcare data, types of samples available, genomic information, and requesting data. The course is geared toward investigators and staff at all levels interested in the utility and information of the Biobank Portal for research.

Click to Register

Course: MGB Research Compliance Quarterly Discussion Group


MGB Research Compliance Quarterly Discussion Group

Speaker: Kelé Piper, Director, Research Compliance, MGH

When: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 | 1:00 – 2:00 pm

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Description:

Join us for our live discussion group! Topics range from what to do when the DEA visits, FAQ’s regarding the Accountability Logbook, and other regulatory changes surrounding the use of controlled substances for non-human subject research. Feel free to send your questions in advance to kkpiper@mgh.harvard.edu, and we will address them during the sessions.

Click to Register

Course: Introduction to RPDR


Introduction to RPDR

Speaker: Stacey Duey, Senior Project Specialist

When: Thursday, 12/19/24 | 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Description: 

The Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR)* brings clinical information to the researcher's fingertips and ensures the security of patient information by controlling and auditing patient data distribution within the guidelines of the IRB.

This course will introduce the use of the RPDR (Research Patient Data Registry) application for clinical research, including reviewing healthcare data, creating a query, and requesting data. The course is geared toward investigators and staff at all levels interested in the utility and information of the RPDR for research.

*Link requires you to be on an MGB workstation or VPN.

Click to Register

Course: REDCap CDIS/CDP (Clinical Data Pull) Functionality


REDCap CDIS/ CDP (Clinical Data Pull) Functionality

Speakers: Daniel Foley, Applications Analyst II, and Jeremy Alphonse, Project Analyst II, Research Information Science and Computing (RISC) Applications and Services

When: Friday, December 20, 2024 | 10:00 – 11:00 am

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Description: 

REDCap can communicate with any EHR (electronic health record system) that has implemented 'SMART on FHIR' web services that allow for interoperability and limited data extraction from the EHR. In this way, REDCap can be embedded inside and launched within EPIC. This allows REDCap users to add patients to their projects easily and/or to access patient data inside a REDCap project. This functionality can also allow REDCap to extract limited clinical data from EPIC and import clinical data into a REDCap project using a feature called 'Clinical Data Pull' (CDP). CDP provides an adjudication process whereby REDCap users can approve all incoming EHR data before it is officially saved in their REDCap project. 

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain the difference between CDP and Clinical Data Mart.
  • Understanding how to use CDP in REDCap and what data can be extracted from EPIC.

-What is CDP?

-How does it work?

-Feature needs to be enabled in your project by an administrator.

-Field mapping process.

-Current data types available for export: demographics, medications, problems,

allergies, vital signs, social history, and some laboratory tests.

-Adjudication.

 

More information about Clinical Data Pull from MGB eCare can be found at: https://redcap.partners.org/redcap/redcap_v13.7.19/DynamicDataPull/info.php?type=fhir

REDCap link: https://rc.partners.org/research-apps-and-services/collect-data#redcap

Click to Register

Fun Fridays- Winter Hiking in New England


Friday, December 20, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being 

 

Fun Fridays offer a refreshing mid-day break from work to indulge in physical, mental, or creative activity.

 

Join Dr. Arul Mahadevan as he discusses the importance of getting outdoors. He’ll describe hiking and trekking opportunities in New England and beyond, winter hiking gear essentials, and even starting a group for those interested in getting out there!

 

Facilitator: Arul Mahadevan, MBBS, FRCS, DipABLM, is the Medical Director of the Mass General Cancer Center at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover, NH. Exploring the wilderness started as a resilience building strategy during COVID which quickly evolved into a passion for hiking and trekking for nourishing the body, mind and soul for him. He brings his experience in hiking and trekking in all seasons in New England, across the United States and worldwide to offer guidance to explore the mountains in the winter in New England.

Click to Register

Course: Basic Biostatistics for Clinical Research


Course Director: Brian Healy, PhD,  MGH Biostatistics Center

When: Fridays, January 3 - January 31, 2025 | 10:00-11:30 am ​

Location: Virtual via Zoom​

Description: 

This course will provide clinical researchers with a solid foundation in biostatistical concepts. Intended for those with minimal statistical experience, these five lectures will serve as an introduction to biostatistical issues in clinical investigation and will prepare students for more advanced courses on clinical trial design and biostatistics offered through the DCR’s Education Unit. ​

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Course: Obtaining Philanthropic Funding for Your Research


Speakers: Dr. Lee Cohen, MD, and Dr. Britain W. Nicholson, MD, Senior Vice President for Development

When: Thursday, January 9, 2025 | 10:00-11:00 am

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Description:

Did you know philanthropic support from patients, families, and organizations is used to support clinical research at MGH? Do you need funding to support your research? 

If you are planning a study or are conducting one but need more funding, consider joining us for this session on philanthropy. Dr. Lee Cohen and Dr. Britain W. Nicholson will discuss strategies for fundraising, such as:

  • Who to ask for philanthropic support?
  • When to ask for support?
  • How to ask?
  • How much to ask for?
  • Importance of cultivation and stewardship when fundraising.

This course is sponsored by the Division of Clinical Research 

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MGH Clinical Research Council


When: Monday, January 13, 2025 | 2:00-3:00 pm

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Description:

2:00-2:30 pm:

Mass General Brigham T32 Training Program in Precision and Genomic Medicine

Jordan Smoller, MD, ScD, Director, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit


2:30-3:00 pm

Overview of the Global Non-Communicable Diseases T32 Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Jessica Haberer, MD, MGH, Center for Global Health and Disaster Response

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Course: Qualitative and Mixed Methods: Designing Qualitative Research: Selecting the Approach and Method for Your Study


Speaker: Lara Traeger, PhD

When: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | 12:00-1:00 pm

Location: Virtual via Zoom​

Description: 

Qualitative research is the systematic inquiry into how and why events occur and what these events mean to the individuals or groups being studied. If you are designing a qualitative research study, you must select an approach from the beginning that will shape your research question, your method of data collection, and your method for analyzing the data. During this session, participants will learn about the range of qualitative research approaches (e.g., grounded theory, phenomenology, case studies) and how they apply to health research. At the end of the session, participants will be able to select a qualitative research approach that fits their research topic and a data analysis method or technique that matches their approach.

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Course: Hands-on Training in Basic Bioinformatics Analyses of Single-Cell Sequencing Data


Course Director: Ruslan Sadreyev, PhD, Director of Bioinformatics

When: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 | 2:00-5:00 pm

Location: Simches Room 3-120


Description:

In this workshop, you will be introduced to the single-cell gene expression analysis journey. The analysis begins with experimental design. Together, we will explore a set of neutrophil data demonstrations, starting with the 10x Cloud Analysis platform for raw data processing. From there, we will assess the data quality using the Cell Ranger web summary and then move into the Loupe Browser for our initial analysis. 

 

10x Team Contact:

  • Anne Monahan - Account Executive - anne.monahan@10xgenomics.com
  • General 10x and experiment planning questions - help with budgeting.
  • Hannah Drescher - Field Applications Scientist - hannah.drescher@10xgenomics.com
  • Specific detailed technical questions about the protocols, tips, tricks, and best practices for success.
  • Lauren Bourke-Layne - Science and Technology Advisor lauren.bourkelayne@10xgenomics.com
  • Experiment planning and other technical details - which assay will work best for my project?
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Fun Fridays- Fun with Reiki! Experience Reiki Online in Community


Friday, January 17, 2025, 12:00 – 1:00 pm, Zoom

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being 

 

Fun Fridays offer a refreshing mid-day break from work to indulge in physical, mental, or creative activity.

 

Discover the gentle power of Reiki, a safe and effective energy healing technique designed to cleanse, balance, and restore your energy field. Experience the benefits of increased relaxation, emotional clarity, and reduced physical discomfort and pain.

 

During this session, you will be guided through a short meditation, and experience Reiki for yourselves. We will explore how this modality can be used for self-healing and relaxation. A wonderful way to close out the week!

 

Presenter: Carmen Alvarez, MHA, is a well-being teacher and coach. As a certified workforce mindfulness facilitator, she is also a Certified Reiki Master. She has been a Reiki Therapist at Mass General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston since 2018. 

 

Click to register

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10-week Money Bootcamp


Tuesdays, January 21-April 1, 20254:00 – 5:00 pm, Zoom

 

The Center for Faculty Development is excited to partner with Her Personal Finance to offer a 10-week online financial planning class for all faculty at MGH (not only women)! The course is targeted to early career faculty but is open to faculty at all career stages.

 

This class will require a $750 upfront investment, but eligible MGPO benefits-eligible physicians can seek reimbursement once the course is complete from the MGPO Benefits Office as part of the $1,500 financial planning benefit. A benefit is once in 5 years. If a faculty member has used the full benefit in the last 5 years, then they will not be eligible to request reimbursement for this course. For questions about reimbursement eligibility, please contact MGH MGPO Financial Planning. All course participants will receive instructions on how to request reimbursement from the MGPO.

 

Have questions about how much to save for retirement or how much you should invest in a single asset like a house? Unsure if you should pay off your student loans first or save more for retirement?

 

This class is designed to answer those questions while helping you navigate common pitfalls which trip up professional faculty in academic medicine. This is a unique opportunity and space is limited.

 

Classes will take place every Tuesday from 4-5 pm beginning January 21 and ending April 1, 2025 (skipping Feb 18).

 

Facilitated by Eryn Schultz, MBA, Founder of Her Personal Finance.

 

If you have any questions, please email Lauren Olson.


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Celebration of Mentoring at MGH


Thursday, January 23, 2025, 12:00 – 1:30 pm, Hybrid

Sponsored by Mass General Brigham and MGH Center for Faculty Development

 

Join the Center for Faculty Development in celebrating the vibrant mentoring culture at MGH! This event will recognize recipients of 2024 MGH departmental and HMS mentoring awards. In particular, the winners of the 2024 CFD Excellence in Mentoring Awards will be announced.

 

The celebration includes an Introduction and Welcome by David F. M. Brown, MD, President, Academic Medical Centers, Mass General Brigham, and a keynote presentation by Bruce Birren, PhD, Director of the Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

 

12:00-12:30 pm - Mentoring Awards

12:30-1:30 pm - Keynote Lecture

 

Keynote speaker: Bruce Birren, PhD, Director of the Genomic Center for Infectious Diseases at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

 

Register to attend in person   ---    Register to attend via Zoom

Register to attend in person
Register to attend on Zoom

Plan and Develop Your own Clinical Trial Proposal


Our popular hybrid (live & virtual) nine-week course, How to Design a Clinical Study: Principles and Protocol Development, is back for its tenth iteration. 


Course content includes guidance on planning and developing a clinical trial proposal with the support of a dedicated biostatistician in a small group setting that encourages peer learning. 


Geared towards: Graduate students, fellows, and junior faculty who have an existing clinical research question in the early development stages and need biostatistical guidance. 


Additional course content: Fundamentals of clinical trial design, including instructions on how to design a protocol, information on IRB and regulatory topics, and trial implementation. Also: statistical analysis, budgeting, and data management. 


Participants will also attend an IRB and ethics workshop, and attend a presentation on "How to Give a Talk" by course director Naomi Fisher, MD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital.


In a peer-to-peer learning environment, your biostatistician will provide personalized guidance on creating a complete protocol that will be suitable for submission to an IRB. 


Format: In addition to online sessions, all six virtual live sessions will take place in small groups, together with a statistician, to discuss your research, and share feedback and guidance. At the conclusion of the course, each participant will deliver an oral presentation about their prepared protocol. 


Applications are due February 9, 2025


Questions: email us at ctd@catalyst.harvard.edu and learn more on our website.

Learn more on our website

Two Meditation Sessions available every week 


SESSION 1: Meditation Monday with Dr. Darshan Mehta 

Every Monday, 8:00 – 8:30 am, Zoom -> next session, Monday, December 9

Co-sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being and the MGPO Frigoletto Committee

Join Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH, Director, Office for Well-Being, for a guided meditation session on Monday morning. 

Register and add to calendar

 

SESSION 2: Midweek Meditation with Guest Leader 

Every Wednesday, 8:00 – 8:30 am, Zoom -> next session, Wednesday, December 11

Sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development’s Office for Well-Being

Join guest leader, Maria Shea, Cardiology Division, for next Wednesday’s guided meditation session.

Register and add to calendar

See these events and more on the calendar of events

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