Research Notes

Brown researchers, led by Dr. Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, a professor of behavioral and social sciences and medicine, found in the first-ever clinical trial of fourth-generation electronic cigarettes that adults who switched to e-cigarettes had lower levels of a major carcinogen compared to smokers who continued using combustible cigarettes. Read more.

 Resuming Research

Resuming research requests submitted between now and Jan. 4 will be reviewed following Winter Break. All previously approved plans may continue during the Spring semester. For future requests to change a plan, PIs must include an updated list of in-person lab personnel to include full name, position, essential designation status and degree of contact. Read more.   

OVPR Wins Brown Excellence Awards

In the annual awards for exceptional contributions to Brown University, two members of the OVPR team will receive honors in the BEAR Day program on February 23: Amy Carroll (Efficiency) for her work on Resuming Research and Brenda Figueroa (Citizenship) for her work in educating colleagues about anti-black racism and Black Lives Matter.

Brown Technology Innovations

Due Dec.17: Brown Biomedical Innovations to Impact (BBII) Applications     
Brown Biomedical Innovations to Impact (BBII) is an academic accelerator fund dedicated to supporting academic biomedical technologies--with potential for high impact--to become well-defined product opportunities that are attractive to  industry partners and investors.  Read more.

Techstyle Materials named to Cleantech Group’s “50 to Watch” for 2020
Techstyle Materials, founded and led by Professor Derek Stein (Physics), has been named to Cleantech Group's "50 to Watch" companies for 2020.

Patent Awards in November: Chromatography
The second patent issued this year to Brown for research led by Dr. Yongsong Huang (US 10,843,165), this patent covers a unique chromatographic separation system using selenium containing functional groups (the first patent was US 10,549,255). Read more.

DRIVEN Ignition Fund: Funding for commercial-focused biomedical projects  
The DRIVEN Accelerator Hub, an NIH/NIGMS-funded consortium serving biomedical entrepreneurs in Northeast IDeA states, is pleased to offer funds for innovations or discoveries that need additional experimentation before company formation. Internal application deadline January 11, 2021. Read more. 

Research Administration Information Systems

Subscribe to the RAIS Newsletter (eRAF)
This newsletter offers the opportunity to receive updates focusing on electronic research administration systems, updates from external agencies on research administration, Workday Grants & Effort, and sponsored reporting. Subscribe here.

How To Track Your Coeus Access Ticket’s Progress                                              Ensure your Coeus access ticket request is on track to completion by following these steps to check on the status of your submitted access request.

Submitting a First-Time Coeus Grant Proposal                                                        Here is important information on requests for new department/cost center setup in Coeus for proposal submissions, or a first-time submission through an existing cost center.

Office of Sponsored Projects

New web design from eRA Commons
eRA Commons, an online interface where grant applicants, recipients, reviewers and federal staff at NIH and other eRA partner agencies can access and share information related to applications and awards, will launch redesigns of two of its main screens in January 2021. Read more. 

No Use of NIH Grant Funds on Covered Telecommunication Equipment/Services
In accordance with revised 2 CFR 200.216 and 200.471 Brown is prohibited from expending grant funds to:  Procure or obtain any covered telecommunications equipment, system, or services, or enter contracts or extend contracts with entities using covered telecommunications equipment or services.

Timely reporting of research through technical reports to sponsors
One of a Principal Investigator’s most important responsibilities is to complete timely reports of research results and findings.  This encourages broad dissemination of new knowledge, in keeping with the University’s Mission.    

How to request ‘carryover’ funds from an external sponsor
Carryover is the process by which unobligated funds remaining at the end of a budget period may be carried forward to the next budget period to cover allowable costs in that budget period. The request to use ‘carryover’’ funds should be sent to OSP/BMRA using this template in advance of incurring expenses. 

US Department of Interior adopts a new financial assistance platform
GrantSolutions is a financial assistance management software platform that enables federal agencies to manage grants and cooperative agreements through the entire award life cycle, including pre-award, award, post-award, and closeout.

OSP will be closed for Winter Break
The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) will close at 5:00 pm, Friday, December 18 2020, and re-open at 8:30 am, Monday, January 4, 2021. We wish you health and abundance in 2021. 

Office of Research Integrity

Virtual Love Data Week 2021
OVPR and the Library are excited to announce that our second annual Love Data Week will be held virtually from February 8 - 12, 2021. Check out our website for the events calendar, raffle details, and more.

IACUC Policy Updates
The Policy on Preparation, Storage, Handling and Use of Tricaine Methanesulfonate and the Policy on Principal Investigator Eligibility & Responsibilities have been approved in the new University Compliance format.

New IACUC Website and Animal Research Protection Program (ARPP) Name Change
The ARPP is changing its program name to Animal Research Compliance (ARC). The IACUC Website has also undergone a major overhaul. Check it out and please email IACUC@brown.edu if you have any feedback.

HRPP Winter Break Office Closure and Submission Deadlines
HRPP will close for Winter Break on Dec. 18 and reopen Jan. 4. Submissions will continue to be accepted until Dec. 17 at 5 pm.

New HRPP NIH Data Repository Consent Addendum Guidance and FAQs
HRPP has new guidance on using the NIH Data Repository Consent Addendum Template. This guidance includes FAQs on consent applicability, modifying the template, removing data, and working with children.

Meeting Dates & Submission Deadlines

Office of Research Development

Research Development and Grant Writing Newsletter
This newsletter offers strategies on how to compete successfully for research funding and highlights new funding opportunities. Read the December newsletter here and catch up on past issues here.

Submit Brown Research Achievement Award Nominations
Brown is pleased to recognize outstanding research and scholarship through the annual Research Achievement Awards program. Distinguished & Early Career awards are given. Full guidelines available here, submit nominations via UFunds.

Federal Agency Newsletter Registration Guide
This new resource from ORD provides direct links to subscribe and manage subscriptions to many federal agency newsletter and policy updates.

Funding & Awards

Early Career Funding | Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Project
This exciting new NIH grant program supports innovative projects that represent a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist.

Mid-Career/Research Area Pivot Funding Opportunities
ORD has assembled funding opportunities for mid-career researchers and those looking to explore research areas that are new to them. 

Limited Submission Funding Opportunities
Limited Submissions require institutional nomination or endorsement from Brown. Interested? See the featured funding database of searchable limited submission opportunities here. 

NIH Federal Updates

NIH Will Continue to Accept Preliminary Data as Post-Submission Material
NIH will continue to accept a one-page update with preliminary data as post-submission materials for applications submitted for the August/October 2021 council (beginning with applications submitted for the January 25, 2021 due date for Summer 2021 review meetings)

Continued Impact of COVID-19 on Biomedical Research
Deputy Director for Extramural Research Michael Lauer says NIH as a whole will support the following three priorities: Early career scientists, including trainees, K-grant awardees, and early stage investigators; meritorious established investigators at risk for losing all funding; and certain high-priority clinical trials in which completion of enrollment and follow-up are critical for project success.