NIH will not fund any new research using chimps

On December 21st the National Institutes of Health announced it will fund no new research projects using chimpanzees as test subjects while it reviews and considers the Institute of Medicine's report on chimpanzee research.

The United States and Gabon are the only countries that still test on chimpanzees.

The #SciFund Challenge on RocketHub

RocketHub is a website that provides a place for creative people with ideas, but without money, to get their projects funded. Website visitors, dubbed "fuelers", can view available projects and donate to the ones that they'd like to see completed. This is called crowdfunding.

Now RocketHub is helping to get science done too, with their #SciFund Challenge project.

NIH Extramural LRP Applications due Nov. 15

The NIH is accepting applications for its extramural Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) (up to $35,000) now through 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 15, 2011.

These programs often allow scientific investigators to remain in the research workforce, achieve research independence and focus their efforts on advancing the health of the nation. Opportunities are available in clinical research, pediatric research, health disparities research, contraception and infertility research, and clinical research for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Each year, some 1,600 research scientists benefit from the more than $70 million NIH invests in their careers through the extramural LRPs.

What happens to your NIH proposal once it goes for review?

The NIH has provided informational videos to give you a look at the review process, as well as tips for applicants. Click here to view the videos.

Image via the NIH

Senate passes new patent bill

The America Invents Act, passed by the House in June, was passed by the Senate yesterday and sent to the President. This is the first proposed change to US patent laws since 1952 and it is hoped that it will make patent rights clearer and reduce the amount of time it takes for a new invention to get legal protection. Read more about this at Bloomberg.

Effort Reporting: 10 Things Every PI Should Know

The National Council of University Research Administrators has compiled a list of ten things every PI should know about grants and effort reporting. Read it on their Facebook Page.

Hudson River Foundation lectures

The Hudson River Foundation is hosting three seminars this fall related to the environmental quality and resource management of the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 10:30am
Ecology and Management of Shore Zones in the Upper Hudson River Estuary
David Strayer, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Monday, November 14, 2011 at 10:30am
Tracking Mouse-Eating Taimen and Other Fishes in Mongolia
John Waldman, CUNY Queens College

Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 10:30am
Are Hudson River Fish Made of Trees? Understanding Terrestrial Support of the Hudson Food Web from Stable Isotopes
Jonathan Cole, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

All seminars will be held at the Foundation, 17 Battery Place, Suite 915. Please RSVP by calling 212-483-7667 or emailing info@hudsonriver.org.

National Science Board wants your input on the NSF

The National Science Board recently reviewed the NSF's "Intellectual Merits" and "Broader Impacts" merit review criteria and are asking for your input on their proposed revisions. Please see this "Dear Colleague" letter for information on how to contribute to the discussion.

NSF releases new Research Terms & Conditions document

Effective June 2011, the National Science Foundation has a new Research Terms & Conditions document, the first update since 2008. You can find it here.

NIH salary cap remains at FY2010 level

Because the National Institutes of Health remain under a continuing budget resolution, they announced on May 9th that the salary cap for NIH grants remains at the FY10 $199,700 level for the rest of 2011's fiscal year.

Revised Notice of Intent to Submit (NITS) form available

Based on a site visit with the National Science Foundation recently, we have revised the NITS form to include questions regarding 1) clinical trials and 2) whether the project could be classified as basic research, applied research or development. The new form is available on the Welcome page of our website, and also on the "Forms and Guidance" page. Please begin using the new form immediately. Thank you!

NIH releases new guidelines on how to file an appeal

If you've ever been dissatisfied with the results of your NIH preliminary review, and wanted to appeal but weren't sure how to do that, this article can help.

Appeals court overturns judge's previous ban on stem cell research

In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the U.S. court of appeals in Washington overturned U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth’s order (in August) that would have blocked federal financing of stem cell research. Full article here.

Fordham IRB's summer hiatus

In case you did not see the fliers that the IRB sent out, they'd like to remind you of their annual summer hiatus between June and August, and announce the following deadlines:

• New protocols: those for full board review must be submitted by April 12; expedited or exempt reviews must be submitted by May 9.
  
• Revised protocols: "approval pending" protocols must be returned by May 16; for full board review, return by May 27.
  

Questions? Contact David Wilbur, IRB Administrator, at 212-636-7946 or IRB@fordham.edu

NIH requests comments on an Early Independence Award Program

The National Institutes of Health has released a Request for Information (RFI) on a proposed new funding mechanism, the NIH Director's Early Independence Award Program, which would allow recent doctoral (PhD or MD) graduates the opportunity to forgo traditional postdoctoral training and move more quickly into an independent scientific career. If you'd like to learn more and respond to this RFI, please visit notice number NOT-RM-11-009.

NIH new investigator regional conference

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is hosting four Institute Directors from the National Institutes of Health (specifically, NCI, NIDDK, NHLBI and NIMH) on March 14th for a conference designed to assist new investigators with writing successful proposals. You must register by February 14th if you are interested. For more information and the registration form, click here.