News
NIH introduces OPPNET
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins, M.D., Ph.D., announced the launch of the Basic Behavioral and Social Science Opportunity Network (OppNet) on November 18, 2009. OppNet is a trans-NIH initiative to expand the agency’s funding of basic behavioral and social sciences research (b-BSSR). Basic-BSSR studies mechanisms and processes that influence behavior at the individual, group, community and population level. Research results lead to new approaches for reducing risky behaviors and improving the adoption of healthy practices. Dr. Collins noted that ”synergy across a variety of research disciplines will fuel high-quality basic behavioral and social science research, a vital component of the NIH research portfolio." In addition, "basic behavioral and social science research contributes to our understanding of the complex factors that affect individuals, our communities and our environments.” For further information please visit the OPPNET site by clicking here.
Conversations in the Disciplines Opportunity Announced
The Conversations in the Disciplines Program is acclaimed for its success in fostering scholarly discourse in and outside of SUNY and has brought visibility and recognition for the System from the public and the educational community.
Funded by the State University of New York, the program supports intercampus conferences which bring together State University faculty and visiting scholars to examine new trends, review promising findings and better acquaint them with professional developments in their fields. The emphasis of the program is upon scholarly development rather than administrative, curricular, or instructional matters. Approved conferences will normally occur between September 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. A maximum award of $5,000 will be made available to help support each approved conference. Any academic department or equivalent organizational unit, such as a center or a library, may develop a proposal for planning and hosting a conference. Multidisciplinary and collaborative efforts are actively encouraged.
As each department may submit only one application, chairs that receive more than one proposal for signature will be responsible for screening them to determine which will be forwarded to their dean for concurrence. The deadline for receipt of proposals to the State University Faculty Senate is Friday March 12, 2010. Guidelines and application forms are available at www.suny.edu/provost/facultyawards.cfm and http://www.brockport.edu/cid
Responsible Conduct of Research
The Federal America Competes Act requires that institutions receiving funds
from the National Science Foundation provide training in responsible conduct of research to all students and
postdoctoral associates employed on grants. NSF funds physical and natural sciences, math, social sciences and
engineering. NIH has
announced that it will require 8 hours of live sessions beyond online modules. It is expected that other federal funding agencies will adopt this requirement as well. The institutional response to these requirements will be posted in the near future.
Restructured Application Forms and Instructions for Submissions for FY2011 Funding
To align the structure and content of applications with the current review criteria NIH will soon implement a shortened and restructured application format for FY2011 funding submissions (beginning with due dates on or after January 25, 2010).
This new format (including shortened page limits) will apply to nearly all types of applications submitted to the NIH and will utilize new instructions and application forms.
NIH will issue a Guide Notice when the new forms and instructions are available. New parent announcements will be issued at the same time that the new application packages become available. Additionally, all active FOAs will be updated. The FOA changes will be completed at the same time that the new application packages and instructions are posted.
For more details, visit Details of Application Changes.
Detail on changes to page limits for specific sections of the application, time line of mechanism change over and updated requirements can be found by clicking here. Should you have further questions regarding these new guidelines please contact your assigned Grant and Contract Administrator.
