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NIA - National Institute on Aging

PROJECT SUMMARY Maintaining healthy adipose tissue function is essential for metabolic homeostasis and the prevention of metabolic diseases. As potent endocrine cells, adipocytes secret various bioactive molecules and extracellular vesicles that influence the function of tissues and organs throughout the body. Besides adipocytes, multipotent stem and progenitor cells in adipose tissue are crucial for tissue maintenance and repair throughout life. With aging, adipose tissue undergoes species-conserved changes, including decreased subcutaneous adiposity, increased visceral adiposity, and a decline in the thermogenic capacity of brown and beige adipose tissue. In contrast to the detrimental effects of adipocyte hypertrophy, hyperplasia, a process known as adipogenesis, supports tissue development, repair, and metabolic health. However, adipogenesis is impaired during aging, which has been linked to adipose progenitor cell senescence, potentially contributing to the development of metabolic diseases. Recent studies indicate that extracellular vehicles (EVs), particularly adipocyte-derived EVs (Ad-EVs) play a role in intercellular communication within adipose tissue, regulating its function. Ad-EVs exhibit heterogeneity, with large and small Ad-EVs differing in protein and lipid composition, suggesting functional diversity. However, the specific subtypes of Ad-EVs secreted by adipocytes and their distinct roles in local and systemic metabolic regulation remain unexplored. Our preliminary studies indicate that Lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a novel phosphatidic acid (PA) binding protein, plays a potential role in senescence and adipogenesis of adipose stem and progenitor cells (ASPCs) through EV-mediated intercellular communication. Lcn2 deficiency impairs adipogenesis and results in hypertrophic obesity. Stromal- vascular (SV) cells from the brown and white adipose tissue of Lcn2 knockout mice exhibit increased senescence and decreased adipogenesis. Importantly, we have identified LCN2 in a distinct subpopulation of Ad-EVs that is separate from adiponectin-containing Ad-EVs. In this proposal, we aim to characterize the cargo composition and function of LCN2-containing EVs (LCN2+EVs) released from adipocytes, examining their role in ASPC senescence and adipogenesis during aging. We hypothesize that adipocyte-derived LCN2+EVs possess anti-senescence properties that maintain ASPC health and adipogenic capacity through adipocyte-to-ASPC communication within adipose tissue, and this effect is context-dependent. We propose two aims to characterize the cargo composition of LCN2+EVs released from adipocytes upon metabolic and inflammatory stress, and 2) determine the role of adipocyte-derived LCN2+EVs in ASPC senescence and adipogenesis during aging. The project outcomes are expect to provide new perspectives on the pathogenesis of aging-related metabolic disorders and pave the way for developing new therapeutic strategies targeting adipose tissue function.

NIMH - National Institute of Mental Health

PROJECT SUMMARY Somatic mosaicism, the genomic differences among the billions of cells in the human brain, may explain the incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity in highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorders. Thousands of clonal somatic mosaic variants (SMVs) in subpopulations of neurons have been discovered in brains of schizophrenia and autism patients, necessitating an urgent, unmet demand to determine if these diverse somatic mutations have a causal role in disease. Major challenges include (1) the inability of using conventional statistical methods for common variants to associate disease status with risk variant, (2) the vast space of non-coding candidates with unknown function, and (3) the unresolved relevant cell types and developmental stages linking mutations to phenotypes. Just as integrating high-throughput genomic-, CRISPR, and stem cell-based technologies resulted in significant progress in understanding germline risk variants, they represent a novel approach to uniquely address the major challenges in the field of somatic mosaicism. As a co-mentored computational and experimental biologist, I will leverage state-of-the-art functional genomic technologies and bioinformatic pipelines to systematically characterize all brain non-coding SMVs discovered to date, resolving their causal roles in neurodevelopmental disorders. From all SMVs identified in case and control brains, I will first create a functional catalog of expression-modulated SMVs in a developmental- and cell-type-specific manner by applying massively parallel reporter assays in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and post-mitotic neurons. By doing so, I will be able to interrogate whether differences in patterns of expression-modulated SMVs exist between cases and controls. Second, I will compare the somatic and germline genetic architectures across neurodevelopmental disorders, determining whether somatic mutations act via the same pathways as germline mutations, or affect genes relevant to diseases, indicating a causal role. By simultaneously uncovering the downstream transcriptomic profiles of hundreds of regulatory elements harboring SMVs with CRISPR screen, I will be able to pinpoint putative disease-causal SMVs. Finally, I will validate the phenotypic impact of putative causal SMVs in physiologically complex and relevant models including 3D brain organoids and “mosaicism-in-a-dish”, testing both cell-autonomous and non-autonomous mechanisms of SMVs. Overall, this work, representing a novel application of scalable functional genomic technologies to SMVs, provides a framework to identify SMVs with putative causal effects in neurodevelopmental diseases, advancing our understanding of a poorly understood disease mechanism. This fellowship will provide me with training encompassing computational genomics, stem cell models and broadly applicable phenotyping techniques, setting a foundation for me to launch an independent research program distinct from my mentors', querying somatic mosaicism's impact into novel cell types, contexts and diseases towards discovering novel therapeutic targets.

NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Orofacial cleft (OFC, primarily cleft lip and/or cleft palate) is a relatively common structural birth defect with environmental and genetic contributions to etiology. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) and linkage studies have identified many gene variants, most in non-coding DNA, that are associated with elevated risk for isolated OFC. However, our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying this disease remains poor because, one, only a fraction of the heritable risk lies is derived from common variants, two, we have yet to distinguish the non- coding variants that directly influence risk for OFC (i.e., causal or functional variants) from those that are merely in linkage disequilibrium with them, three, it has never been directly shown that a common variant can affect the gross phenotype of an embryo. In Aim 1 we will conduct statistical analyses to identify de novo non-coding mutations that are likely to be functional. In Aim 2 we propose to identify the OFC-associated SNPs that are functional by filtering them against enhancer marks, testing them for allele-specific effects in reporter assays in vitro, and finally by engineering them singly or in combination into induced pluriopotent stem cells, differentiating the cells in to embryonic oral epithelium, and assessing allele-specific effects on gene expression and transcription factor binding. In Aim 3, we will engineer the genome of mouse strains that are genetically predisposed to cleft lip, cleft plate, or both, to be homozygous for risk or non-risk alleles of proven functional SNPs that are conserved in mice and humans, expecting the risk allele to increase the penetrance or expressivity of the cleft phenotype. The expected outcome of the proposed experiments is identification of the mechanisms by which genetic risk variants cause a common birth defect.

NCI - National Cancer Institute

PROJECT SUMMARY Trained immunity is a process that is activated in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in response to inflammatory stimuli such as severe infection and cancer. Evidence has now shown that following the resolution of inflammation, HSPCs maintain an altered epigenetic program over time. This process, termed “trained immunity” is a type of epigenetic memory that can result in robust immune responses to subsequent inflammatory challenges. Despite growing evidence of its importance in regulating responses to inflammation, the cellular players and molecular pathways involved in controlling the epigenetic responses that lead to trained immunity are poorly understood. In preliminary studies, we performed scRNA-seq in sorted bone marrow immune cells following challenge with β-glucan, a stimulus which induces trained immunity and robust secondary protection against tumor challenge. This analysis identified a population of bone marrow ILC2s that upregulated cytokine expression following β-glucan challenge, suggesting these cells may play a key role in trained immunity. Strikingly, depletion of ILC2s abolished the protective phenotype of β-glucan in tumor challenge, confirming that ILC2s play an important role in this system. Based on this data, we propose that ILC2s play a critical role in the establishment of trained immunity. While ILC2s were not found within the tumor, they regulated neutrophil differentiation in the tumor microenvironment, blocking acquisition of a pro-tumor phenotype, and maintaining an anti-tumor phenotype. However, how neutrophils are functionally altered by ILC2s in β-glucan training and which of these functions culminates in protection from tumor challenge is not known. Further, whether ILC2s modulate responses in monocytes and macrophages or respond to additional proinflammatory microbial ligands to initiate trained immunity has not been studied. Here we interrogate these questions by (i) defining the functional alterations dependent on ILC2s in tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells in trained immunity; (ii) determining the epigenetic and transcriptomic mechanisms in bone marrow progenitors and mature neutrophils in trained immunity; and (iii) interrogation of the gene expression pathways regulated in ILC2s by inflammatory challenges. Altogether, completion of these studies will fundamentally advance our understanding of the regulation of trained immunity. Furthermore, as trained immunity is actively investigated as an intervention in the clinic, modulation of the ILC2-neutrophil pathway could be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer. Completion of these studies will establish the groundwork for future efforts to identify key cellular and molecular pathways involved in regulating trained immunity in vivo. Finally, while we considered alternatives to animal models for this work, trained immunity involves integrated multiorgan processes, such as activation of ILC2s, reprogramming of HSPCs in the bone marrow, and skewing of neutrophil responses in the tumor microenvironment, all of which depend on intact systemic physiology and cellular crosstalk that cannot be recapitulated in vitro, necessitating the use of animal models in our studies.

Economic Development Administration

Pursuant to the Supplemental Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 111-212, 124 Stat. 2302 (2010), EDA announces general policies and application procedures for the FY 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Supplemental Federal Funding Opportunity. This investment assistance will be made available to help devise and implement short or long-term economic redevelopment strategies and for technical assistance activities to address economic development challenges in regions impacted by the discharge of oil stemming from the April 20, 2010, BP Deepwater Horizon drilling rig explosion. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program can offer a wide range of technical, planning, or infrastructure assistance. See 13 C.F.R. 307.3. This program is designed to respond adaptively to pressing economic recovery issues, and is well suited to help address the challenges faced by regions affected by the April 2010 oil spill. Note however, in order to maximize available funding, EDA will consider applications for planning or technical assistance only. That is, no awards will be made under this competitive solicitation for infrastructure improvements or revolving loan fund grants. For purposes of this competition and subject to the availability of funds, EDA will make planning or technical assistance awards that, for example, demonstrate the capacity to support economic recovery by fostering the development of short or long-term economic recovery plans; conduct gap analysis that can identify opportunities for strengthening regional competitiveness; examine opportunities for expanding commercialization programs; or strengthen regional efforts to encourage business expansion and creation efforts. In addition, EDA invites applications to address problems on a larger regional, or multi-State basis, both with respect to the development of a macro-economic analysis of the Gulf Coast region, or the development of a business retention and expansion program for the Gulf region. EDA will administer the Gulf Oil Spill Assistance among its Atlanta and Austin regional offices, which together cover the areas that have felt the greatest impact of the oil spill, specifically the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Please see the FFO, linked below, for more information.

NIDDK - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

PROJECT SUMMARY Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, causing insulin deficiency and elevated blood glucose levels. Strategies that replace lost beta cells could restore autonomous glucose control in T1D and are in high demand. Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) also experience major beta cell loss due to beta cell exhaustion, glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity. Still, there are currently no therapeutic approaches to replace beta cells for people with diabetes. Our long-term goal is to identify durable targets to expand beta cell mass to treat diabetes. The rationale for this project stems from transcriptomic analysis of mouse pancreatic islets during profound beta cell mass expansion that revealed upregulated genes highly enriched with binding sites for the transcription factor GA-binding protein (GABP). Previous studies in other cell types demonstrated GABP is required for mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and cell division1-6. These cellular functions are essential to generate ATP and synthesize key molecular building blocks to support cell division7. Nutrient3 and mitogenic8 signals also converge on GABP, providing further evidence that GABP is a rate limiting transcription factor that responds to increased metabolic demand to ensure cellular energy homeostasis and promote cell division. However, the role of GABP in beta cells is unknown. The goal of this proposal is to define the role of GABP in pancreatic beta cells. To understand the role of GABP in beta cells, we targeted the DNA- binding subunit of GABP (GABPa) to generate beta cell specific Gabpa knockout mice (Ins1-Cre;Gabpa-fl/fl; Gabpabeta-KO) and littermate controls. Unexpectedly, Gabpabeta-KO mice developed polyuria and hyperglycemia, corresponding with reduced serum insulin levels, within the first 2-3 months of life. Pancreatic tissue analysis revealed a dramatic loss of beta cells in Gabpabeta-KO mice at 6 weeks of age compared to controls, likely underlying reduced serum insulin and hyperglycemia. Interestingly, at 3 weeks of age, beta cells were abundant, suggesting a sudden increase in beta cell death soon after weaning. These findings indicate that GABP may play a key role in beta cell survival and turnover in early life. Several studies suggest that beta cell death in diabetes is driven by mitochondrial oxidative stress and dysfunction through cytochrome c release and initiation of caspase-induced apoptosis9-11. GABP is required for mitochondrial function and bioenergetic homeostasis, suggesting that loss of GABP impairs mitochondrial function leading to beta cell death. My central hypothesis is that GABP regulates mitochondrial metabolism to maintain beta cell homeostasis and survival. This hypothesis will be tested using three specific aims: 1) Define the role of GABP in mouse beta cells; 2) Define the role of GABP in human beta cells; 3) Determine the molecular mechanisms of GABP to regulate beta cell mitochondria function. The proposed research is significant, as it will uncover a novel transcriptional mechanism involving GABP regulation of beta cell mitochondrial function integral to cellular energy homeostasis and survival. These findings will direct new therapies to preserve and expand beta cell mass for people with diabetes.

NICHD - Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

ABSTRACT Infertility remains a global public health challenge, with early developmental failure accounting for a significant proportion of unsuccessful pregnancies. Among the critical processes governing early developmental competence, RNA splicing plays a central role by coordinating transcriptional output, shaping chromatin architecture, and influencing protein synthesis. Yet the mechanisms by which splicing governs these multilayered regulatory systems during the earliest stages of development remain poorly defined. This research investigates the multilayered consequences of splicing dysfunction in an in vitro model of early human development, focusing on how disruptions in RNA processing alter structural genome organization and the regulation of gene expression. Through integrative transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic profiling of cells in vitro, I aim to define how splicing inhibition alters polymerase activity, chromatin architecture, and gene translation. A key objective is to identify the cascade of molecular events—across nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments—that links shifts in RNA splicing efficiency to cell potential. By examining these mechanisms, this project will reveal how splicing regulation safeguards developmental trajectories. Ultimately, this work will advance fundamental knowledge of gene regulation in early development and illuminate molecular mechanisms underlying infertility. These findings hold long-term promise for improving diagnostic strategies and public health interventions aimed at reducing the burden of reproductive failure.

General Motors Foundation

Supports STEM education, community development, and vehicle safety programs in communities where GM operates.

Georgia Department of Education

Georgia's STEM Education grants support K-12 schools and districts implementing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education initiatives, including robotics programs, computer science, and STEM-focused instructional strategies.

Georgia Department of Education

STEM education initiative grants for GA to expand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs in K-12 and postsecondary institutions.

U.S. National Science Foundation

The World is facing all minds needed problems, but due to historical systemic structures, all minds have not been fully engaged. Recent research shows that science scholars who are underrepresented in STEM produce higher rates of scientific novelty, yet they do not persist in the systems where the innovation is created (Hofstra et al. 2020). Because the geosciences continue to lag other STEM fields in creating a diverse community of researchers, scholars, and practitioners, disruptive strategies and evidence-based practices are needed to recruit and specifically retain individuals who historically have not been included in geoscience education, research and careers. The National Science Foundation s (NSF) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) seeks to support activities that will develop unique approaches or bring to scale current efforts to increase and sustain the inclusion of individuals from diverse backgrounds in the geoscience education and research community. Proposals that will address elements in the following two areas are encouraged: Professional Development. GEO encourages projects that will develop efforts and training that focus on the creation of BAJEDI (Belonging Accessibility Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion) leaders through scaling of model professional development (PD) programs, identifying barriers that exist within academia and/or the geosciences that prevent the development of diversity champions, and the employment of strategies that will create and sustain cohorts of diversity leaders to maximize collective impact in the geoscience ecosystem. Examples of focus areas for PD centered proposals could include: 1) training in BAJEDI for graduate students and postdocs who will soon be on the job market, 2) creation of curriculum and standards for safe, equitable and inclusive education and research practices, 3) development of guidance that would assist geoscience academic and research units in developing or implementing BAJEDI plans, and 4) identification and fostering of practices related to the valuation of BAJEDI leaders and their activities in institutional promotion systems. Geoscience Capacity Building at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). With the recognition that Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) operate with intentionality and holistic support of students (NASEM 2019), GEO also welcomes proposals that envision new efforts to create educational or degree granting geoscience programs at MSIs or scale existing geoscience programs into graduate programs at MSIs with the following elements in mind: Consideration of the necessary steps to create or scale an educational or degree granting geoscience program through partnerships and collaborations, with an emphasis on collaborative infrastructure as defined under the NSF INCLUDES Program. Development of pilot bridge programs (high school to undergraduate, undergraduate to graduate and graduate to workforce) to grow the pool of potential geoscience program majors at MSIs and prepare them to be geoscience professionals. Identification and reduction of barriers (e.g., grants infrastructure or institutional policies) that may hinder the creation and sustainability of educational and degree granting geoscience programs at MSIs. Creation of a coordinating unit to assist in supporting or building grants management infrastructure at MSIs. When developing proposals, the PI team should acknowledge the need for increased engagement from social and behavioral science experts to address issues related to BAJEDI in the geosciences and include these best practices and experts in proposed projects. Proposals could also focus on the dissemination of information on lessons learned from related activities (e.g., GOLD, NSF INCLUDES National Network, etc.) to the geoscience community, and encourage new opportunities for collaboration in the community and across other NSF Broadening Participation Programs. Review Information Competitive funding requests will explicitly describe and demonstrate their alignment and/or connections to the mission and goals of NSF s GOLD Program. Failure to sufficiently demonstrate relevancy to these Programs will result in the funding request being declined.

Girl Scouts of the USA

Supports local council programs including STEM, outdoor, and leadership programs for girls.

National Park Service

This program model encourages preservation of public lands through education and stewardship activities. Girl Scout engagement with educational and volunteer-service activities is important for the immediate and future preservation of public lands. The Girl Scout Ranger Program creates opportunities for Girl Scouts to become natural environmental leaders by applying their learning to national parks. This partnership between NPS and GSUSA is a vehicle that will create a pathway for Girl Scouts to experience public land management through field-based learning and exposure to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers related to natural resource management, thereby helping to create a land ethic and cultivating environmental stewardship.

NASA Langley Research Center

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center (LaRC) is releasing a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) soliciting proposals for "Global Climate Change Education (GCCE): Research Experiences, Modeling and Data". The objective of the effort is to extend the results of NASA s Earth Science Program to the education community by sponsoring unique and stimulating opportunities for global climate and Earth system science education. GCCE is designed to improve the quality of the Nation s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and enhance students and teachers literacy about global climate and Earth system change from elementary grades to life-long learners. Each funded proposal is expected to make use of NASA s unique contributions in climate science to enhance learners' academic experiences and/or to improve educators abilities to engage their students. The GCCE project will consider proposals in the following two funding categories: (1) Funding Category R: Global Climate Change Science Research Experiences for Undergraduate or Community College Students and Pre- or In-Service Teachers including those in nontraditional teacher licensure programs; (2) Funding Category D/M: Using NASA Earth system data, interactive models and/or simulations to Strengthen Teaching and Learning about Global Climate Change. The anticipated total amount of funding available for new awards under this solicitation is approximately $8 million. Projects may be proposed for durations of up to 3 years. It is anticipated that approximately 20 - 25 awards will be issued. Participation is open to the following categories of U.S organizations: higher educational institutions, state, local or federally-recognized tribal government agencies, public school districts, nonprofit institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), as well as other minority-serving education al institutions. Notices of intent (NOIs) are strongly encouraged and are to be submitted electronically through NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com . Potential offerors are responsible for downloading the CAN and amendments (if any). This solicitation leading to the award of a Cooperative Agreement is issued pursuant to title 14 CFR Part 1260 for educational and nonprofit institutions. Additional questions regarding the solicitation and programmatic information can be obtained from: Dr Lin Chambers, Global Climate Change Education Project Scientist, NASA Langley Research Center, gcce-questions@lists.nasa.gov

NASA Langley Research Center

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center Science Directorate is releasing a Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) soliciting proposals for Global Climate Change Education (GCCE): Research Experience, Teaching and Learning . The objective of the effort is to extend the results of NASA s Earth Science Program to the education community by sponsoring unique and stimulating opportunities for global climate and Earth system science education. GCCE is designed to improve the quality of the Nation s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education and enhance the students and teachers literacy about global climate and Earth system change at the elementary, secondary, and undergraduate levels. Each funded proposal is expected to make use of NASA s unique contributions in climate science to enhance students academic experiences and/or to improve educators abilities to engage their students. The GCCE project will consider proposals in the following three funding categories: (1) Funding Category R: Global Climate Change Science Research Experiences for Undergraduate or Community College Students and Pre- or In-Service Teachers including those in nontraditional teacher licensure programs; (2) Funding Category D: Using NASA Earth system data and models to Strengthen Teaching and Learning about Global Climate Change in Formal Education; (3) Funding Category P: Improve Teacher Competency for Global Climate Change Education. The anticipated total amount of funding available for new awards under this solicitation is approximately $8 million. Projects may be proposed for durations of up to 3 years. It is anticipated that approximately 25 awards will be issued. Participation is open to the following categories of U.S organizations: higher educational institutions, state, local or federally-recognized tribal government agencies, public school districts, nonprofit institutions (with proof of nonprofit 501(c)(3) status), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), as well as other minority-serving educational institutions. Notices of intent (NOIs) are strongly encouraged and are to be submitted electronically through NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com . The CAN will be available electronically the first week in June 2009 through the NSPIRES website at http: nspires.nasaprs.com. Potential offerors are responsible for downloading the CAN and amendments (if any). This solicitation leading to the award of a Cooperative Agreement is issued pursuant to title 14 CFR Part 1260 for educational and nonprofit institutions. Additional questions regarding the solicitation and programmatic information can be obtained from: Dr Lin Chambers, Global Climate Change Education Program Manager, NASA Langley Research Center, gcce-questions@lists.nasa.gov.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Inc.

To incorporate storm water management issues and practices into middle school STEM curriculum and advocate for green infrastructure on school properties.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Inc.

To incorporate storm water management issues and practices into middle school STEM curriculum and advocate for green infrastructure on school properties.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Inc.

To incorporate stormwater management design and practices into middle and high school STEM curriculum, while working toward long-term viable strategies to construct and maintain green infrastructure on school properties.

Gowanus Canal Conservancy, Inc.

To incorporate stormwater management design and practices into middle and high school STEM curriculum, while working toward long-term viable strategies to construct and maintain green infrastructure on school properties.

National Institute of Standards and Technology

NIST is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants for a Graduate Student Measurement Science and Engineering (GMSE) Fellowship Program that will provide doctoral-level graduate students with opportunities and financial assistance to obtain laboratory experiences within the NIST laboratories in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The recipient will work with NIST to foster collaborative research relationships among NIST, doctoral-level graduate students and the students academic institutions in STEM. Review, selection, and award processing is expected to be completed in March 2013. The earliest anticipated start date for awards under this FFO is expected to be May 1, 2013.

U.S. National Science Foundation

NSF GRANTED supports innovative models of research enterprise administrative development and workforce training infrastructure that promote sustainable research capacity and opportunities for economic impactin U.S. organizations. The research enterprise, broadly defined, includes research development and administration, research analytics, technology transfer and commercialization, corporate relations/public-private partnerships, research integrity, compliance and security, research policy, administration of student research training, and research leadership. Strengthening and transforming this administrative infrastructure is necessary to fully utilize the Nation's research talent and capabilities and empower America's organizations that engage in or support research and its outcomes, to participate in a globally competitive research enterprise. Program Description Maintaining U.S. global leadership demands a research enterprise that is competitive, effective, sustainable <span>a</span>nd contributes to the Nation's economic growth goals. A strong national research enterprise relies on more than funding for the research itself. It also requires robust administrative support-and-service infrastructure, which is often unseen, yet includes critical components to ensure a competitive research environment regardless of organization or location. Research enterprise infrastructure enables the development of proposals and management of awards and supports research translation through technology transfer and public-private partnerships. Research compliance enables the security and integrity of research approaches. Research analytics and communication, managing the training of the U.S. scientific workforce, and harnessing the creativity and drive of research leadership, and more, are also fundamental components of the infrastructure. The<a href="https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/broadening-participation/granted">GRANTED initiative</a>provides unique opportunities to realize a broad and collaborative vision for research enterprise infrastructure. Proposals in response to this GRANTED program description should engage the professional, administrative research support-and-service workforce in project leadership roles described within proposals.Proposed projects should look beyond individual and discipline-specific research needs and focus on activities that create organization-wide impact and potential for regional and national impact. Projects should propose scalable approaches and models to build and sustain research enterprise infrastructure.Competitive proposals will recognize structural and organizational challenges and include goals to implement interventions, solutions, and/or strategies that will mitigate the challenges. Proposals must be centered around one or more of the three main themes of GRANTED: <ul type="disc"> <li>Innovating and enhancing practices and processes within the research enterprise;</li> <li>Developing and strengthening human capital within the research enterprise; and</li> <li>Translating effective practices related to the research enterprise into a broad range of organizational contexts.</li> </ul> The GRANTED program utilizes general proposal requirements, including eligibility, as outlined in the current NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Prospective PIs are strongly encouraged to contact GRANTED initiative personnel (<a href="mailto:granted@nsf.gov">GRANTED@nsf.gov</a>) with inquiries prior to developing and submitting a proposal to this program description. The project budget and duration should be determined by the scope of the proposed activities and presented in accordance with the PAPPG.GRANTED is not intended to fund discipline-specific STEM research and training projects. Collectively, proposals funded through this Program Description will advance transformation of the national research enterprise, measured through 1) generating scalable models that improve research capacity and competitiveness, 2) creating collaborations, partnerships, and communities centered around strengthening the Nation's research enterprise, 3) increasing the range of project leadership, organizations, ideas, and approaches that NSF funds, especially related to developing areas aligned to agency priorities, and 4) strengthening engagement across the Nation&rsquo;s research enterprise.

U.S. National Science Foundation

NSF GRANTED supports innovative models of research enterprise administrative development and workforce training infrastructure that promote sustainable research capacity and opportunities for economic impactin U.S. organizations. The research enterprise, broadly defined, includes research development and administration, research analytics, technology transfer and commercialization, corporate relations/public-private partnerships, research integrity, compliance and security, research policy, administration of student research training, and research leadership. Strengthening and transforming this administrative infrastructure is necessary to fully utilize the Nation's research talent and capabilities and empower America's organizations that engage in or support research and its outcomes, to participate in a globally competitive research enterprise. Program Description Maintaining U.S. global leadership demands a research enterprise that is competitive, effective, sustainable and contributes to the Nation's economic growth goals. A strong national research enterprise relies on more than funding for the research itself. It also requires robust administrative support-and-service infrastructure, which is often unseen, yet includes critical components to ensure a competitive research environment regardless of organization or location. Research enterprise infrastructure enables the development of proposals and management of awards and supports research translation through technology transfer and public-private partnerships. Research compliance enables the security and integrity of research approaches. Research analytics and communication, managing the training of the U.S. scientific workforce, and harnessing the creativity and drive of research leadership, and more, are also fundamental components of the infrastructure. TheGRANTED initiativeprovides unique opportunities to realize a broad and collaborative vision for research enterprise infrastructure. Proposals in response to this GRANTED program description should engage the professional, administrative research support-and-service workforce in project leadership roles described within proposals.Proposed projects should look beyond individual and discipline-specific research needs and focus on activities that create organization-wide impact and potential for regional and national impact. Projects should propose scalable approaches and models to build and sustain research enterprise infrastructure.Competitive proposals will recognize structural and organizational challenges and include goals to implement interventions, solutions, and/or strategies that will mitigate the challenges. Proposals must be centered around one or more of the three main themes of GRANTED: Innovating and enhancing practices and processes within the research enterprise; Developing and strengthening human capital within the research enterprise; and Translating effective practices related to the research enterprise into a broad range of organizational contexts. The GRANTED program utilizes general proposal requirements, including eligibility, as outlined in the current NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Prospective PIs are strongly encouraged to contact GRANTED initiative personnel (GRANTED@nsf.gov) with inquiries prior to developing and submitting a proposal to this program description. The project budget and duration should be determined by the scope of the proposed activities and presented in accordance with the PAPPG.GRANTED is not intended to fund discipline-specific STEM research and training projects. Collectively, proposals funded through this Program Description will advance transformation of the national research enterprise, measured through 1) generating scalable models that improve research capacity and competitiveness, 2) creating collaborations, partnerships, and communities centered around strengthening the Nation's research enterprise, 3) increasing the range of project leadership, organizations, ideas, and approaches that NSF funds, especially related to developing areas aligned to agency priorities, and 4) strengthening engagement across the Nation s research enterprise.

National Park Service

A.Project Goals - Historically, Lake Tuendae, which hosts one of the primary populations of Mohave tui chub (fish), had to be dredged every 10 years to remove cattail and aquatic ditchgrass (Ruppia maritime) detritus. This activity leads to substantial tui chub mortality just to maintain its habitat. This requires lengthy Section 7 formal consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. After the last dredging action in 2001, members of the interagency recovery team have been able to postpone the need for dredging by over five years due through conducting annual cattail control actions. However, in the past two years several key participants have retired or been reassigned. As a result, cattail control has been minimal and growth has expanded by over 30 square meters in Lake Tuendae and MC Spring due to the inability of MOJA staff alone to keep up. Thus, to minimize the need for dredging, cattail control needs to continue and transplant of native plants completed to prevent re-establishment of cattails. B.Project Objectives - MOJA staff has identified by completing these three objectives towards the endangered Mohave Tui Chub habitat enhancement in Lake Tuendae, MC Spring, West Pond and Morning Star Mine Lake, should help with their survival rates. a. Objective one, involves obtaining water body dimensions such as depth, width and vegetation cover along with water quality measurements of temperature, dissolved oxygen and total dissolved solids (TDS). Results will be compared with previous data. b. For Objective two, the cattail will be cut with cutters with handles of varying length and a flat bottom boat to access cattail stems for cutting as close to soil level as possible. Cutting will be done monthly and continue monthly during the cooler part of the year, to control any regrowth. Some dead mats of Ruppia spp. will be raked from the water to reduce its extent across open water. c. For Objective three, dig up local stocks of bulrush and Cooper s rush from non-tui chub bearing waters and transplant immediately to cattail infested areas at the water s edge. Follow up visits to cutback cattails from around the transplants will be conducted until the transplants have established. It is anticipated 250 to 300 individuals of each species would be needed to cover the required area. This project should further minimize the need for any future dredging of the habitat that results in mortality of tui chub (fish). The Research Associate (RA) will be able to conduct about half of the tasks independently and the rest with existing MOJA staff.

NIDDK - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

This proposal seeks external funding for a recently launched internship program for undergraduate trainees who are passionate about improving metabolic health. Our program aims to help outstanding undergraduates achieve their goals of becoming the next generation of nurses, physician assistants, physicians, and scientists by providing research experience, clinical exposure, career development training, and community outreach opportunities over the course of a 10-week summer program. Our training offers exposure to the metabolic underpinnings of chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, obesity, hypertension, heart failure, cardiovascular disease and stroke. These comorbid conditions have increased in parallel with the epidemic proportions of diabetes and obesity, which are strong risk factors for these chronic health conditions. With overwhelming support from UofU administration, colleagues, and community leaders, we created and implemented the Utah Summer Undergraduate Mentored Metabolism Immersive Training (SUMMIT) Program, a 10-week summer research internship which provides: i) hands-on research experience (basic, clinical, or translational) with established scientists; ii) professional and career development; iii) clinical shadowing; iv) cultural mentoring; and v) community outreach. With NIH support, we aim to continue annual research experiences and educational training in metabolic disease (with an emphasis on diabetes, obesity, endocrinology, and metabolism) through the Utah SUMMIT Program. We will: 1) Execute a summer research internship centered on metabolic health for undergraduates that includes comprehensive and lifelong academic, career, and educational support through mentored research and the development of a strong, supportive cohort experience; 2) provide Summit Scholars outreach opportunities with Utahns at high risk for metabolic disease; and 3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the SUMMIT Program on increasing trainee trajectories toward STEM careers and the endocrine-related biomedical workforce.