Research Notes

APRIL 2024

Research information from the Office of the Vice President for Research for Brown faculty, grant-related staff, and students

New technique for predicting protein dynamics may prove big breakthrough for drug discovery

A novel A.I.-powered method developed by a team of Brown University researchers offers a fast, cost-effective way to understand protein structures in multiple dimensions, making it a useful tool for pharmacology.

2024 Seed Awards announced

OVPR is pleased to announce the 2024 Seed Award recipients. These 22 projects will receive $1.4 million in funding. This annual program is aimed at helping early-stage research projects grow and become competitive for subsequent external funding.

2024 Salomon Awards announced

OVPR is pleased to announce the 2024 Salomon Award recipients. Designed to recognize excellence in scholarship, the Richard B. Salomon Faculty Research Awards fund exceptional faculty research projects.

SPONSORED PROJECTS

Outgoing subaward invoice review checklist and approval form

OSP Research Subcontracting has developed a checklist tool to assist departments and PIs with the subaward invoice review process.

Outgoing subaward letter of intent template

OSP has developed a template for outgoing subaward collaborators’ letters of intent for inclusion with proposal narratives.

Sandia National Laboratory - Foreign travel prior approval

Be sure to obtain Department of Energy prior approval from your Sandia Delegated Representative before traveling abroad. Sandia approval is only the first of two steps! Step two is confirming written DOE approval.

OSP Open Hour - Save the date!

The next OSP Open Hour will be Wednesday, May 8 at 2 p.m. Look for the signup sheet in our April newsletter. 

Sponsored cost allocation methodology guidance

When costs benefit two or more projects in proportions that are not easily determined, please follow this OSP guidance and methodology examples.

Cost transfers for PCard transactions on federal awards

PCard transactions on federal awards have related PCard rebates, which post to the award the following month. When transferring a PCard charge on a federal award, don’t forget to include the related PCard rebate in the journal by debiting the current account and crediting the new account.

TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS

NSF grant to Theromics for ablation therapy technology

Theromics Inc. received a $1M STTR Phase II grant from NSF for HeatSYNC™, a nano-polymer gel that enhances the effectiveness of ablation therapy of abnormal tissue and allows controlled delivery of drugs directly into soft tissue with reduced side effects.

Shukla elected to AIMBE College of Fellows

Anita Shukla has been elected to the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows. Shukla’s research focuses on biomaterials such as microbe-responsive drug-delivery systems and targeted nanoparticle therapeutics that address global health issues in infectious diseases.

Ayanian presents swarming drones at 2024 SXSW

Nora Ayanian presented at the 2024 SXSW Conference. She shared multi-robot systems and swarms, as well as recent work on robot art. Her research focuses on solutions that allow non-experts to use teams of robots safely and effectively.

New Yosemite-American Cancer Society Award

Yosemite, an oncology-focused venture capital firm, and the American Cancer Society have launched the Yosemite-American Cancer Society Award with an initial commitment of $13.2 million. The grant program will support research on methodologies, feasibility studies, and high-risk/high-reward projects.

AtomICs wins Baylor’s 2024 New Venture Competition

AtomICs, a data storage and processing startup founded by Brown faculty and former grad students, won first prize in Baylor’s 2024 New Venture Competition. The technology uses a novel patented technique to harness small-molecule mixtures to store digital information.

Wafik El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP named to the National Academy of Inventors

Wafik El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP, director of the Legorreta Cancer Center and associate dean for oncologic sciences, has been named to the National Academy of Inventors Class of 2024 Senior Members. This distinction recognizes Dr. El-Deiry’s success in patents, licensing, and commercialization and for producing technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society.

RESEARCH INTEGRITY

International faculty and trainee guidance

Are you looking to engage in consulting activities? If you are on a non-immigrant visa, please ensure that your visa or immigration status allows you to engage in work/activities outside of Brown. Please reach out to the Office of International Students and Scholar Services, for visa related questions.

Seeking faculty for unified HRPP committee

OVPR is seeking 10 faculty for a committee to help ensure that the future unified HRPP will serve the needs of Brown, Lifespan and Care New England researchers. The committee will meet monthly via Zoom from April-September 2024. If interested, please contact Stephanie Endy.

Huron tip: Modification requests

Modification requests to populate study records must be completed before the IRB is able to review any study changes or RNI. Requests to populate a study record may be combined with changes to study team member information.

FDA and Artificial Intelligence

The FDA’s medical product centers are providing greater transparency on how they are collaborating to safeguard public health while fostering responsible use of AI for medical products. Visit the FDA’s website Artificial Intelligence and Medical Products for more information.

Travel/exports to China, Hong Kong, Burma, Cambodia, and Venezuela

If you are shipping or hand-carrying equipment to China, Hong Kong, Burma, Cambodia, or Venezuela, please contact Brown's Export Control Team in advance to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

BEARCORE RCR training - Registration open

BEARCORE will be held in person on May 29-30. Register in Workday Learning. To express interest in a different offering, including a fully virtual option, complete our interest form. BEARCORE meets NSF and NIH RCR training requirements. Email Torrey Truszkowski with questions.

Meeting dates & submission deadlines

RESEARCH STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT

It’s NSF CAREER season!

This spring, ORSD is organizing events to help faculty develop proposals for an NSF CAREER award (sponsor deadline: July 24). We held a workshop on April 4, but it is not too late for the OVPR-Run Mock Panel, during the week of June 24. Register by April 15. More info.

Join us for Brown’s Inaugural National Labs Day

On April 19, ORSD will welcome scientists, engineers, and technical experts from National Labs to learn about their research and workforce development needs. Topics include quantum materials, energy, and computational modeling. Open to all. Register by April 15.

April is action month!

Take action to advance your knowledge of prizes and honorifics in your field. Contact Susan Weiner to set up a meeting.

CONFERENCES & TRAININGS

Departmental Challenges and Successes

April 25, 2024, 2-3:30 p.m. Presented via webinar. Register here.

2024 NCURA Region I Spring Meeting

May 6-8, 2024. Westin Portland Harborside Hotel, Portland, Maine. Register here.

Level II: Sponsored Projects Administration Live Virtual Workshop Experience

May 13-16, 2024, 1-5 p.m. Presented live via Zoom. More info. Register here.

RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Impact: Research at Brown has a new home

Impact: Research at Brown magazine is online! Devoted solely to the University’s research, Impact tells the stories of Brown faculty and students making a difference in the world through their research, discovery, and scholarship.

Your insights can help shape the future of Impact magazine

Prefer print, digital, or both? Do you have favorite sections of the magazine? We invite your participation in a five-minute survey to help inform how we deliver stories of research to our many audiences.

Highlight your research achievements on @BrownUResearch social media

Promote your research or award and share your accomplishments with a broader audience. Fill out the Brown Research/Award Submission form and we'll follow up with social media posts on Instagram, Twitter/X, and Threads. 

Request photo/video coverage

To request research-related photo or video coverage (faculty or student researchers, events, field or lab work, classroom activities, presentations, etc.) please fill out the Research Related Photo/Video Coverage Request form.

Sharing stories of research and discovery at Brown University.