Manju Hingorani: Most of the panelists we're expecting are here,
Manju Hingorani: Olaf, are you still looking for Jin Ping?
Olaf Corning: I don't see him there.
Manju Hingorani: We'll have to keep an eye out for him, but we'll get started in a few seconds. Welcome, everybody.
Manju Hingorani: Yeah, I don't see him yet. So um, but we'll get started
Manju Hingorani: um. So on the next slide. Um! The first thing I would like to tell everybody is that this presentation is going to have a significant amount of time for a question, and answers with the working group and the leadership of this um solicitation. We're all here. Um, And so you may like to submit your question anonymously. Use the Q. And a box on your screen. Um below Um. And for specific questions it's better if you contact
Manju Hingorani: director. Also, I want to note that slides and recording will be available at the Mcb Blog Olaf.
Manju Hingorani: Click on the slide, please.
Manju Hingorani: And so if you just Google Mtv. Blog, you'll be able to get to that Mtv block at Nsf. And they'll be available via the program website as well on the next slide.
Manju Hingorani: This is the title of this Webinar, where we will describe Nsf. Solicitation, twenty, three, over five hundred and fifty four. This is a new funding call from the molecular foundation for biotechnology, partnerships to transform emerging industries program and the focuses here is on Rna tools and biotechnology. The solicitation is a partnership between the national science foundation and the National Human Genome Research Research Institute at the Nih
Manju Hingorani: next slide before we get into the solicitation details. Let's introduce the program. Directors who are managing Msp. Two thousand and twenty three on behalf of various Nsa. Programs and the Nhg. Ri Shane, Would you please start? And then we can go down the list.
P. Shing Ho: Great. Thank you, Mind you,
P. Shing Ho: i'm teaching how i'm a expert
P. Shing Ho: in the Chemistry of Life Processes program of the Chemistry Division at the Nsf. I'm. Also a Professor of Chemistry, Molecular Biology at Colorado State University.
P. Shing Ho: He's,
Christine Chow: Hi, I'm. Christine Chao I'm. Also a program director and the chemistry of life processes within chemistry. And I'm. Also a professor at Wayne State University.
Manju Hingorani: I'm. Manju Hengo Rani. I'm. A program director in the genetic mechanisms program in molecular and cellular biosciences at the Nsf:
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: Sorry.
Sorin Draghici: Hi. My name is Fernandez. I'm. A program director in the information in Asian Systems
Sorin Draghici: cluster in sizes, and i'm a professor at Wayne State University.
Zhilan Feng: Hi, I'm Joelenson I'm. A program director in the Mathematical Biology, in the division of mathematical sciences.
Manju Hingorani: Not sure. Angel is here. So Angel Garcia is a program director, a rotator in the physics program in in Mps as well,
Manju Hingorani: and Jennifer
Jennifer Strasburger: and I'm. Jennifer, Straussberger. I'm. A program director in the Video of Genomic Sciences at the National Human Gm. Research Institute.
Manju Hingorani: Olaf, you can tweak. Here are the Nsf. And Nhgri divisional leaders who are enthusiastically supporting this funding call i'm going to hand off to Dave Burkowitz, the director of Nsf's Chemistry Division for his introductory remarks.
Manju Hingorani: Thank you, Manju, hopefully. You can hear me.
Oh, that
David Berkowitz: can you hear me? Well,
Manju Hingorani: yes,
David Berkowitz: okay. Um, yes. I'd like to talk to you about the molecular foundations for biotechnology solicitation. This is a highly collaborative solicitation, as you can see that is inspired by and Nsf's new vision to not just fund fundamental science, but also
David Berkowitz: on science that is, use inspired. And we're looking to fund science here. That is high-risk high reward in frontier areas related to biotechnology. The focus is
David Berkowitz: it depends each year on the the partners on our side. And as you saw, we have a wide array of partners within Nsf. And we also are delighted to have Nh. Gr. I. As a partner this year, and you'll hear more about this specific call in a moment.
David Berkowitz: But just to say that this is the third year now of the Mfp. Solicitation, and on the next slide, please.
David Berkowitz: We will look at Ah,
David Berkowitz: what has been funded? Tier two for in fy twenty one the theme focused on small molecule protein interactions, modifying protein structure, function and fate, and looking at things like the fully expressed.
David Berkowitz: And you can see that four awards were funded. They're again highly collaborative from the scientific side, as well in the area of ultra-fast sensor development by chemically induced protein dimerization
David Berkowitz: bi-orthogonal chemistries to build diversity upon protein scaffolds
David Berkowitz: new approaches to targeted protein degradation, so-called protax and reading the expressed proteom using middledown proteomics, next slide, please.
David Berkowitz: And then last year the partnership you see all of the divisions of Nsf. That were involved in last year was the first time that the computer science director was brought in, and that was very important.
David Berkowitz: The Iis uh division within size was a partner and innovative machine. Learning methods for looking at bio macromolecular function and higher order structure was the overriding theme, and seven awards were made. You can see them summarized here,
David Berkowitz: all with a machine learning component, all with a bio macromolecular component in toto over the first two years, just under twenty million dollars of funding has been invested in these highly collaborative teams
David Berkowitz: in Ff. Mf. B. Two thousand and twenty three. Now we we partner with an Hdri at Nih with a new theme,
David Berkowitz: and i'm going to pass it back to mind you and the team to talk about this, and and actually maybe my counterpart the
Manju Hingorani: Yes, I think Chin Ping would like to say a few words.
Junping Wang: Well, I just want to. Oh,
Junping Wang: erez agmoni welcome the participants, particularly participants from the mathematical sciences community, and I see some of them are, I see, some familiar names from one
Junping Wang: mathematics, and well thank you for your interest in this. And again, this is a collaboration, and with chemistry
Junping Wang: and and the body regions and mathematicians, there are places for mathematians to make contributions, and if you look at the solicitation
Junping Wang: and computational matters, and machine learning and Ai are mentioned, and they passed the competition, and also shows that researching those are making good contributions, and to Mf. Three one.
Junping Wang: And please continue your
Manju Hingorani: involvement in this, and I look forward to seeing your proposals, and also like to thank the program officers, for
Junping Wang: if you,
Junping Wang: you know, taking the time to organize this Webinar. Thank you, Montreal.
Manju Hingorani: Thank you. Jen Ping Carolyn, would you please?
Carolyn hutter: Yes, so my name is Carolyn Hetter, and I'm, the division director. I'm sorry for the division of Genome Sciences at the National Human Genome Research Institute, Nhs Uri at the National Institutes of Health.
Carolyn hutter: Um. As a leading authority in the field of genomics, and Hdr's Mission is to accelerate scientific and medical breakthroughs that improve human health. We do this by driving cutting-edge research, developing new technologies and studying the impact of genomics on society
Carolyn hutter: we're also very committed to promoting diversity equity and inclusion we view it as imperative to include diverse perspectives in genomic research. In order to advance science and achieve the highest level of genomic innovation,
Carolyn hutter: We're very excited to be established. A partnership with Nsf. And I'm. Very flatter to be part of this office hours and getting to work with this community. As Dave's noted The molecular foundation of biotechnology has a strong history of being collaborative with Cross, and it's up directorate,
Carolyn hutter: and we appreciate that this has been extended to collaboration across agencies to include Nhs.
Carolyn hutter: The solicitation focused on Rna Tools and technology has strong alignment with our two thousand and twenty strategic vision. Um, And you can also find other information about our interest in this area from a two thousand and twenty-two workshop that we held in conjunction with the National Institute for Environmental health sciences. I'm capturing Rna sequence and transcript diversity from technology innovation to clinical applications um I do want to note that Nhs
Carolyn hutter: twenty-seven institutes and centers at Nih, each with their own mission and focus. And as we'll be discussed later in the presentation, and Hdr. Is interested in approaches that are comprehensive across the genome and generalizable across various tissues and diseases. Um, I really strongly encourage people to pay attention to the inclusion and exclusion criteria for what is in. So when you think about health related applications, and also obviously to talk to your program directors with Jennifer Strasbourg, who is already in,
Carolyn hutter: I introduced as the Nhs. I um director for the solicitation. But mostly I just wanted to note that in Iqi were just incredibly enthusiastic about this collaboration and view. This as just the start of continued interactions with Nsf in this area,
Carolyn hutter: and i'm very excited to see the science that will come out of this program.
Carolyn hutter: Thank you.
Manju Hingorani: Thank you, Carolyn engineing and Dave Um. And so, as they've indicated, we are excited to focus on Rna. Tools in biotechnology for Mfp. Twenty, twenty, three um next slide, please, Ola,
Manju Hingorani: as one of my colleagues put it, we are still living in an ah Rna world, we just don't know it. We don't know anywhere near enough to understand what? Why, the how, how Rna shapes all aspects of life, and all the ways in which we might harness its capabilities um to the fundamental discoveries and technological breakthroughs that you're all aware of in recent years. They only reinforce that there is a lot to be discovered in um in this rich and
Manju Hingorani: varied landscape of coding and non-coding Rna functions in the cell right so there are exciting opportunities for mechanistic research and really great potential for technological development centered on this versatile molecule. Um. So the solicitation aims to catalyze synergies among researchers of various disciplines, biological, chemical, computational, math and physical sciences and others to um Pursue creative technological approaches that explore
Manju Hingorani: Rn. A function in complex biological systems, and that harness army research to advance biotechnology which is the core of the Mfp program. And um, you've already heard that this funding call is supported by many nsf programs and the Nhs. So that illustrates the importance of bringing together cross-disciplinary perspective and expertise to advance these fields.
Manju Hingorani: Next slide
Manju Hingorani: to meet the mfb two thousand and twenty three goals. We require that the proposed research must aim to develop and provide proof of concept testing of tools, methodology, or theory that will accelerate fundamental discoveries about Rna. Its structure, its interactions, its functions at various scales, molecular to genomics
Manju Hingorani: or
Manju Hingorani: it create novel army based technology applications to solve challenges in various sectors of the bio economy, including but not limited to agriculture, energy, production, climate change, sustainability, and so on. Um! I'll emphasize that these are two distinct themes, and you can pursue theme one or theme two or both. In your proposal
Manju Hingorani: we require that all proposals pursue innovative and interdisciplinary approaches that have the potential to uh drive fundamentally new directions in biotechnology, and that the research be motivated by questions or hypotheses about army functions in biological systems, with an emphasis on molecular and cellular science.
Manju Hingorani: I think we've lost the slides
Manju Hingorani: sorry apologies. I apparently I disconnected briefly. Let me re-establish the slides. No worries.
Manju Hingorani: In the meantime, if people have questions, you can start plugging away in the Q. And A. Box already when we have a lot of program directors here ready to address your questions.
Manju Hingorani: So here are the requirements, as I already illustrated. So on the next slide.
Manju Hingorani: This is the list of examples. Um, that. Um Again, this is a list of examples that we wanted. We wanted to illustrate the topics that we're envisioning for this call topics that we know researchers working on um on Rna are excited about. So I want to add a disclaimer before I go through the list, that this is not a prescribed list. Right? We expect you have many creative ways to meet this farming call, so um proposals could aim for tools or methods or theory.
Manju Hingorani: Um that help identify um Ah predict, characterize, or manipulate rnas of various flavors. Um Isoforms are any modifications, particularly in sequence, context, or ah non natural Rnas um tools methods in a theory that enable prediction, analysis of our name, structure, interactions, and functions, especially to understand its workings and complex assemblies and cellular compartments. Um! To discover new tools, to modulate our
it is
Manju Hingorani: to um ah computational methods and tools that enable all of this research, and in synthetic approaches, to design Rnas with novel form and function. Ah, And so, yeah, the main message, I think of this list is be creative.
Manju Hingorani: So um! On the next slide we want to go through some of the um, some of the operational details of how you can go about applying for this uh solicitation. If you plan to apply the first step is a letter of intent. It has four required components, a title, of course which is, start with the Identifier Msp. Um. And you need to identify the senior personnel and participating organizations.
Manju Hingorani: Um, you need to present a synopsis of the project. The limit is two thousand five hundred characters, and this synopsis should include an information on the intellectual merit and broader impact. And i'm going to describe these two. Um. In in upcoming slides you should give us an idea of your goals, the hypotheses you wish to pursue, the technology, your methods that you plan to develop. And um you should highlight the innovation and significance.
Manju Hingorani: And then you should also list the research disciplines that you expect will be involved in the project. Please note, Olaf, that you're not allowed to submit more than one letter of intent as a pi kobi, or senior personnel.
Manju Hingorani: Also, we do not intend to provide any evaluation of your loi at this stage. The due date is in a month, March sixteenth, and you have to use research. Dot com for the submission i'll have you. You can give it a click.
Manju Hingorani: Very good.
Manju Hingorani: So the full proposal next must follow the guidelines and the requirements in the Nsf proposal and award policies and Procedures Guide. That's the Apache, the Mfp. Solicitation. All of you have gone too far ahead. Could you go back? One
Manju Hingorani: Thank you.
Manju Hingorani: The Nfb. Solicitation lists, program-specific elements that must also be in the proposal in addition to the requirements in the path. G. The full proposal again must start with Mf. B. In the title, the project Description. This has a fifteen page limit. It must list the Pis, the Codebi, the senior personnel, and any collaborators and their affiliations. On the first page it should provide a rationale for the work, the challenge driving the research, the tools and methods that will be developed
Manju Hingorani: to address this challenge, it should anticipate the outcomes and their potential significance. It should highlight innovative and risky aspects of the work
Manju Hingorani: we are emphasizing cross-disciplinary synergies in this program. So you should describe those, and if collaborators are involved, you should describe how the partnership is going to work,
Manju Hingorani: you should also include plans to ensure reproducibility of your work right? And this should align with the best practices in the scientific community.
Manju Hingorani: We also require a separate section on broader impacts. This is required of all Nsf proposals, and for this solicitation we would. We want the broader impacts description to ensure um how you think the project outcomes will be generalizable beyond the specific system that you're studying. Um, You should tell us about its potential uh impact on future technology and Um, the educational and training opportunities that will be provided by the project.
Manju Hingorani: Um, Again, submission you. You're not allowed to submit more than one proposal as a pi or copi or senior personnel. Um, and full proposals are due on May eleventh of this year
Manju Hingorani: next slide,
Manju Hingorani: and so I can go through a little bit about the review process at this time, because i'm sure you're curious about how this partnership with Nsf. And and Gr. I will work on our end um with your proposals. So the review of full proposals will be managed by Nsf. In consultation with the Nhs. And we do have experience with this in public programs as well. Um, The proposals will be evaluated in panel Ah, or and or by ad hole reviews using the two and
Manju Hingorani: marriage review criteria, Olaf, you've gone ahead.
Manju Hingorani: Please go back.
Manju Hingorani: Hello.
Manju Hingorani: Thank you.
Manju Hingorani: So proposals we're going to use the two um Nsf: Marriage review criteria, and and then there are additional solutions, specific criteria as well, and we'll go through these in a moment. Meritorious proposals may be recommended for funding either by Nsf. Or by energy. Ri
Manju Hingorani: and Thegri will select proposals for funding based on the additional considerations, and we'll talk about these in a minute as well. Um. And proposals selected for energy or our funding will be invited to submit reformatted applications to the Nih um. I want to highlight that the scientific content and the budget for any proposal selected by Ng ri um for an award they must remain the same as in the original proposal that was submitted to the Nsf.
Manju Hingorani: You just need to do some reformatting and some additional documentation will be needed to comply with nih policies.
Manju Hingorani: Um! Following the award and decline decisions, all pis will be provided verbatim reviews that's excluding reviewer. Information, of course, and a panel, ranking and summary will also be provided if available next slide.
Manju Hingorani: So, as I've been mentioning a few times now, all proposals submitted to Um and B twenty twenty three will be reviewed by the Standard and Nsf. Marriage review criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts and solicitation-specific criteria as well. Next slide
Manju Hingorani: the National Scientific Science Board. This is the advisory battery that body that establishes and Nsf. Policies has that two review criteria. These are intellectual merit and broader impact. These criteria should guide your proposal development, and they serve as a basis for peer Review of your proposal and for our decision making
Manju Hingorani: um. Both criteria are given full consideration during review, and this program cannot fund a proposal that doesn't address those. So the intellectual merit measures, the potential of the research to significantly advance knowledge within and across fields.
Manju Hingorani: And competitive proposals explore creative or racial potentially transformative concepts. They are well reasoned and they have well-organized ideas and experiments. They demonstrate the qualifications of the investigators to do the work as well as um resources available to for success of that of the proposed of the proposed project.
Manju Hingorani: Um for broader impacts. Click, Olaf,
Manju Hingorani: This review criteria
Manju Hingorani: um measures the potential of the project to benefit society through and beyond the outcomes of the research itself. So and Nsf Doesn't prescribe particular Bi: Ah, broader impact activities. But again, competitive projects have well reasoned. Um well organized and developed plans that pursue one or more on these goals, for example, to promote student training and education, to enhance infrastructure and resources for a target community, to engage in outreach
Manju Hingorani: activities and to help broaden participation of underrepresented groups in stem.
Manju Hingorani: And, as I noted earlier, your your research can also benefit society broadly, right beyond advancing a particular field. So, for example, if the tools of biotechnology that are developed through your Msp project could inform novel therapeutic strategies in the future, you can note that as a broader impact as well.
Manju Hingorani: Next slide,
Manju Hingorani: in addition, Mfp. Proposals will be evaluated by these solicitation-specific criteria, and that's again innovation in tools, methodology, and or theory to advance research on Rna or to
Manju Hingorani: develop rna-based applications on their interdisciplinary approach that's used to solve complex challenges.
Manju Hingorani: Ah, the potential catalytic impact on driving new directions in biotechnology and the prospect of the outcomes to be generalizable beyond the specific system that you're studying. Again, These are all in line with the main goals of this program. Um. And as I mentioned earlier, the review process will be managed by Nsf. In consultation with an Agi so energy arrival of your proposals with their considerations in mind as well. Next slide,
Manju Hingorani: Jennifer.
Jennifer Strasburger: Yes, good afternoon, everyone. Um! So to reiterate what Carolyn said previously in a sure, I supports research that enables an increasingly sophisticated understanding of genomics as applied to human health.
Jennifer Strasburger: Under this broad genomics, umbrella falls research and in particular technology development research that focuses on already sequence structure and function.
Jennifer Strasburger: We worked with Nsf staff to develop the research areas that would be within it. So within scope of the solicitation
Jennifer Strasburger: that are listed in the prior slides. And many of these areas fall under what we call a broad. Our nomics technology developed focus
Jennifer Strasburger: within this space Any sherry is most interested in those deploying, broadly generalizable approaches across the genome that are relevant to human health.
Jennifer Strasburger: So the and the Ni's Review Criteria, listed on the slide, aligned very well with the previous previously described. Nsf. Review. Criteria, or, excuse me,
Jennifer Strasburger: review criteria of intellectual merit and broad impact. And then, in considering all the review criteria described in this presentation, the review panels will rank all the proposals and assign an overall impact score
Jennifer Strasburger: next slide.
Manju Hingorani: Why would you all let you go? I can go through this. So we've been telling you what the Review criteria are, and how we will assess your proposals and what we want from your proposals. We also want to highlight what's not in scope for the solicitation
Manju Hingorani: and the the guidance for anis Nsf comes from the Apache Biological research on mechanisms of disease in humans. This is including the theology, The diagnosis or treatment of any disease or disorder is not supported
Manju Hingorani: biological research to develop animal models of such conditions or testing and other procedures for treatment are also not eligible for support. If you have a research goals that advance knowledge in engineering math, physical or computer sciences, or information sciences.
Manju Hingorani: Um, and that deals with ethiology diagnosis or treatment-related and treatment of of diseases um that could be eligible for support. Um! Ah! If you have such specific Um! Ah, ah! Project elements in your project! You're welcome to contact the program directors with questions for Lg. Ri.
Manju Hingorani: Ah, this guidance comes from the Nih or or from the energyri policies. Um. And studies relevant to only a particular disease or organ system are not in school um applications whose primary scientific objective is to understand the single biological or behavioral process of the path of physiology. The disease. Um, the mechanism of action, of an intervention or direct development of therapeutic research or not in store. So again, these
Manju Hingorani: um ah aspects of proposals that are not in scope are fairly well aligned between the Nsf. And Nhs. If you have specific questions, contact the program director
Manju Hingorani: next slide
Manju Hingorani: here are some more important. Yeah. Pretty important information to keep in mind as you prepare a proposal. The Mfre solicitation specifies a budget range of about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to a maximum of four hundred thousand dollars per year for direct costs and a maximum duration of three years. Within these bounds we recommend that you develop a budget that is appropriate for the scale and scope of your particular research project
Manju Hingorani: and based on the anticipated program budget. And you saw that the the prior awards, and what the the scale and scope of the program we expect to make about seven awards in this year.
Manju Hingorani: If you have a collaborative project the pi should submit a single proposal and research dot com with the collaborators supported by self awards from the lead institution. Um. For those in the know, Nsf. Has a couple of mechanisms for submitting collaborative research proposals. But for this solicitation we will accept. We will be using only this uh mechanism of a single proposal sufficient with collaborative several words: Um! And then, of course, here are the important dates
Manju Hingorani: March the sixteenth. The letter of intent is due. This is required for you to be able to submit a full proposal announced to you on May eleventh. In about midsummer of this year we'll review all the proposals, and we're hoping to make funding decisions sometime in fall of this year.
Manju Hingorani: Next slide.
Manju Hingorani: Um. I'll also note that, starting from January uh the end of January, two thousand and twenty-three, a new and Sfp. G is in effect, and there are some significant changes. So for example, uh the format of the current appending document, and the bio stitch is different, and these changes are summarized on the website that's linked here. Um, I want to highlight one new requirement, and this is for a for for assuring safe working environments for personnel doing off-site research,
Manju Hingorani: Nsf. Requires that the aor That's your ground's. Official at at your institution um a certified that uh, that the institution has a plan in place for safe and inclusive research for any proposal that proposes to conduct off-campus or offset like research. So do keep that in mind. They need to certify. Um that there is a plan in place
Manju Hingorani: next slide.
Manju Hingorani: Okay, i'm going to start wrapping up this presentation by reminding you that you can email the Mit working group with questions at Msv. At Nsf. Gov. The program website, where you all come here from there. So you know what it is. You don't have to memorize this link. Um, and you can find this slide. You'll be able to find the slides and recording at the Mmcb block. Um. And those should be put up very soon after this this Webinar um and all you have to do is Google Mcd Andsf
Manju Hingorani: in case you don't know how to find that place yet. And you'll get there. They'll also be put up on the Mfp. Program website soon,
Manju Hingorani: and there is one more Webinar on Friday, February the twenty fourth one to two P. M. Eastern time. Tell your friends and you can register via the program site.
Manju Hingorani: And here again Olaf is a list of managing program directors from Nsf. And in a gri.
Manju Hingorani: That's why.
Manju Hingorani: And finally, i'd like to call your attention to monthly virtual office hours, hosted by the melanic learners and revive Sciences Division on the second Wednesday of each month, at two to three Pm. On March eighth, we'll discuss the updated Mcdonald's solicitation for core programs, and on April twelve. This is an annual favorite. How to write a great nsf proposal. Um, and again you can register the Mcp. Blog um Chemistry, also Hosts monthly office hours and Fridays,
Manju Hingorani: one to two Pm. Easter, and the topic can be found at their office hours page, and is advertised in their newsletter. And with that i'll start presenting and let's start answering your questions. Thank you.
Olaf Corning: We've got a quite a few questions already, so we'll jump right into it. The first question is, are theoretical proposals geared? Towards better understanding of Rna mechanisms preferred over more application-oriented proposals.
P. ShingHo: So maybe I I can check into that one. Um.
P. ShingHo: So
P. ShingHo: this recognize that this program is for tool development that will uh
P. ShingHo: mit Ctl and really help um us understand how, on a function different modified Rnas, and to characterize different types of Rnas as well as of developing Rna tools. Now your question is, what theoretical proposals get to a better understanding, or in one hundred and fifty,
P. ShingHo: if those theoretical proposals is to develop theoretical. But those proposals are to develop theoretical methods to understand R. And and mechanisms, those would be ah
within the scope of this program.
Olaf Corning: Thank you.
Olaf Corning: We've also gotten a few questions about the definition of interdisciplinary. How broad or narrow is the definition of interdisciplinary. And could you define it in this context, for example, should there be multiple pis from different departments.
Manju Hingorani: I can start taking a step at that from what somebody else wants to. I think that I think the definition of interdisciplinary is whatever are the disciplines
Manju Hingorani: um and the expertise that are necessary to for you to accomplish the the exciting goals that you've chosen to pursue and to develop the methods and tools. Um! That that um advance the field. And and again, you know, drive future directions and biotechnology. So again, the disciplines that are necessary to achieve your goals is the correct definition of interdisciplinarity. Um, you do not need to have collaborators to achieve.
If,
Manju Hingorani: uh, across disciplinary proposal you may have the expertise in your research group yourself. Um! But ah! Often the proposals Ah! That that require such diverse expertise! Ah! Have collaborators! They can be unfunded they can be funded. You get to decide that, based on their level of contribution.
Manju Hingorani: And so I think that should be a sufficient answer. Does anybody want to add to that.
P. ShingHo: Yeah. So um interdisciplinary, as mind you basically said, is really
P. ShingHo: multiple approaches to attack the problem. But if this not necessarily mean that you have to have collaborators, and so on. And really it's just asking you to take
P. ShingHo: more than a single view of what the problem is.
Olaf Corning: So to be clear there. You do not favor collaborative proposals.
P. ShingHo: It's whatever
P. ShingHo: problem or the question that you're opposing requires.
Olaf Corning: Gosh.
Olaf Corning: Ah! Related to the collaborators. Alexa, I asked, is this call open to international collaborations? He's interested in Uk in particular? And if so, what is the mechanism?
Manju Hingorani: The Innocent
Manju Hingorani: Policy guide? Um Top G gives um specific directions on what the mechanisms are for international collaborations. But, um! But what I really want to emphasize here is that Nsf: very rarely funds um International Club. Ah, ah! International partners directly right? So funding does not go directly to the is to see the foreign institution or for Mpi's or
Manju Hingorani: smell um, and unless it's with special collaborative special programs, not this one. I think that if you can demonstrate that the expertise or resources provided by the foreign collaborator are um unique, and cannot be found in the Us. Then you might be able to make a case for funding for that international collaborator.
Manju Hingorani: You may wish to send us a little inquiry by email, and we might be able to give you a little bit more information.
Manju Hingorani: But again, you have to justify Why, um! And if funding should uh is required to fund someone outside the country, and if we decide that that is justified, we still have to go through multiple levels of approval to be able to fund such an international component.
Jennifer Strasburger: I would just add that that same that's the same consideration that the Nih and Nh. I would be taking into account, and the process would be very similar.
Olaf Corning: Thank you. Our industry and academic collaborations allowed.
Manju Hingorani: I'm. Looking for other program directors to answer before I step in. I do not think there is any provision again for specific queries you're welcome to to check with with with a program direct. Just send an email to the program. But I do not think that yeah, all collaborations with organizations are welcome.
Olaf Corning: Uh nickel asks are the Rna that uh or the Rna that are the focus of this call required to be non-coding, Or is there interest in mrna as, well, for example, how Rna sequence affects translation, et cetera.
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: I could take that one. It's open to all Ra. Of all types, including Mrna.
Manju Hingorani: Okay. And the reminder is that if you're exploring fundamental mechanisms. The key here is that you should be developing new tools or methodology or theory in order to pursue those questions,
Olaf Corning: those analyzing and developing tools for available large-scale Rna data analysis fall under this Rfp:
Sorin Draghici: I can take that one, probably so. Um I assume it's computational tools. The question, if it's the computation, of course, because the first data is so. The answer is, yes, that would be something that would fall under the scope of this solicitation.
Sorin Draghici: But There's a word of caution there if it's something that is more general, and you have to bend over backwards to make it
Sorin Draghici: focused on Rna. You can also submit that to is information
Sorin Draghici: integration uh uh cluster in uh in the Cic division of Nsf. Will be happy to look at those uh, more general things. So the answer is, Yes, if it's specific to Rna. If it's more journal, please consider submitting to ais.
Olaf Corning: Thank you. How much preliminary data is necessary or appropriate.
P. ShingHo: Let me tackle that one so. Um obviously we want to um. Be sure that any
P. ShingHo: proposal you bring forward.
P. ShingHo: Wait!
P. ShingHo: It's in two odds there
P. ShingHo: into merit criteria of the Nsf. Which really and part of that it has to do with feasibility. So how much preliminary data is required is
P. ShingHo: well enough to demonstrate that
P. ShingHo: demonstrate feasibility of the project,
P. ShingHo: and as well as indicate levels of innovation and significance of the project. We do not specify a certain amount of preliminary data just has to
P. ShingHo: address those those particular issues of intellectual.
Manju Hingorani: That said, We are calling for high-risk approaches. We are asking you to be innovative and creative. We'd like to see you go in new directions.
Manju Hingorani: But um! It would it? As as as shame said, there has to be some sense that your project will be feasible, and so take it out as far as you think, the preliminary data can support.
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: I can also add that Um, it's important to provide preliminary data to support any hypotheses you're advancing, especially if they're kind of off the wall hypotheses that are potentially leading to new areas of research or investigation.
Olaf Corning: Thank you. Is there an anticipated response? Date for our Loi is curious about timing for development of a full proposal,
Manju Hingorani: so we are not going to provide any evaluative feedback for these letters of intent.
Manju Hingorani: They are intended to allow us to see what kinds of proposals will be coming. Um! Who are the investigators who are planning to submit full proposals. Um, Perhaps if we see something that is complete, because you are providing us about a one page of ah description! If we see something that's completely not in scope, we might be able to inform you of that, although I cannot promise. But again, we will not be um providing any feedback, so you should. If you intend to submit a
Manju Hingorani: proposal, do not wait for any response from us. Please go ahead and prepare to do that by May, the eleventh
Manju Hingorani: of this year,
Olaf Corning: could you? What is the maximum size of
Olaf Corning: the Api's senior personnel team?
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: I can tackle that one I may need help. Um! So this this is I. I know what this is referring to in the solicitation, and it is a little bit confusing. Um. So the letter of intent. It states that you can have up to four Co investigators. So it's five in total, including the principal investigator.
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: In reality, that is not the maximum number of investigators who can be involved with the project. That's the maximum number that can be listed on the and Nsf. Cover sheet,
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: so you can have additional investigators. They have to be listed in the narrative of the proposal that
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: it would also be helpful if you identify all the investigators that will be involved in the body of the letter of intent.
Manju Hingorani: Thank you, Steve. No limit. It's just a system limit, and you can go beyond it in the narrative.
Manju Hingorani: In the full proposal you can add as many as you want, and in the senior personnel as well.
Olaf Corning: So our research professor may need to be funded from the research grant, if awarded, Can I be a pi Copi or a senior personnel on the proposal that we submit and still be funded from it.
Manju Hingorani: You're eligible to be a pi, or copi, or senior personnel as long as your institution allows you to to be that
Manju Hingorani: this is not a decision that Nsf. Makes,
Manju Hingorani: and yes, we do get proposals from research professors.
Manju Hingorani: It again. If the institution um allows them to to submit proposals as Ps. Or copies.
Olaf Corning: Arvin asks if collaborators are at two different institutions. Does one collaborator have to be on a subcontract? And if so, is the direct cost of the subcontract part of the four hundred thousand limit.
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: Okay, I can tackle that one, I think so.
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: They all the the collaborators at different institutions have to be funded as sub awards to the main proposal. So we don't allow collaborative proposals for the solicitation.
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: The four hundred k limit is direct costs, so. Um! I think you're referring to the indirect costs of the subcontract there. Those are not included in the four hundred K. One,
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: but the cost of the Sub Award is included in the four hundred K. On it.
Manju Hingorani: Right? So, um, Steve, I may have a recent answer from policy for another program about this, and we're going to have to go back. I would urge you to
Manju Hingorani: send this question by email, because I if if I understand the question correctly, the indirect cost of the subcontract. I will be part of the four hundred K direct cost limit. Um, But this is information that I have from for another program. So i'd like to confirm whether it applies to all programs at the Nsf: Please send you a question by email,
Olaf Corning: And the named Pis changed from the letter of intent to the full proposal,
P. ShingHo: I would say, Yes,
it's
P. ShingHo: yeah out
P. ShingHo: that the better of intent is really just to provide us with a sense for
P. ShingHo: who and uh what types of topics that we'll be coming in? Um, They're not. It's not um.
P. ShingHo: I believe the Nsf.
P. ShingHo: Requires that being
P. ShingHo: pi name remain the same for the matter of intent versus the four proposal. Is that correct, man? You?
Manju Hingorani: Yes, we have not restricted um. The The full proposal, p. I' to be the same as in the letter of intense. Um, I think it would have. We are asking you to list the Pis and Gopi, and the personnel involved on the first page. Um! If there is change, it might just help um you to give us a little heads up, but it's not necessary right up there in a sentence. But that's It's not necessary.
Olaf Corning: What percentage of submitted applications have been funded in recent years? That is the of the seven that were funded. How many were submitted?
P. ShingHo: That's a tough question. Um! So we have a um set
P. ShingHo: budget in terms of uh commitments from various partners, and
P. ShingHo: to that
P. ShingHo: you have no
P. ShingHo: restrictions in terms of the number of proposals that will be received. So there's I cannot They priority.
P. ShingHo: I anticipate what made
P. ShingHo: funding rate would be. It's just that we anticipate finding seven proposals based on the
P. ShingHo: but it's not really
P. ShingHo: currently anticipate for this program,
P. ShingHo: and it may be funded more or less, depending on what the budgets are, would propose. That. Um that are uh
P. ShingHo: selected for
what there are.
Olaf Corning: Thank you, Lois asked. Does innovation and tools require the development of a new tool? Or could it be the demonstration of a very recently developed tool?
Manju Hingorani: So I think we want our
Manju Hingorani: the proposals to go in exciting new directions. The call does include ah proof of concept testing of tools. So I think I think you'll have to make the case that that the project is compelling enough
Manju Hingorani: um in in this proof of a concept testing stage um to be competitive for for this call, Of course, if there are optimization elements or things you can do to make it more generalizable. For example, that is also an important um facet of proposals that will be competitive. You could think about it in those dimensions as well,
Steve DiFazio - NSF BIO/MCB: and I I would just add that um or reiterate that you're always welcome to contact one of us. If you have very specific questions about your project idea, and we can give you a better idea of whether it's in scope.
Olaf Corning: We are now ten minutes to three. So if you guys have any questions, be sure to add them to the Q. And A. And we'll keep going for the questions we have from Serath we have, I don't see dbi of Nsf. Involved in this call, so Rna bioinformatics, or Rna computational biology of interest.
Olaf Corning: Ah, especially where tool development is an important component of the proposal. So I guess she's asking if there is interest in the computational biology aspect of it in regards to tool development.
Sorin Draghici: Yeah, I'm not sure what the I'm going to take This i'm not sure. The question is, but if this is indeed a question. Yes, absolutely there is. There is interest in that. So again, if it's specific to Rna and by technology, this is for that that kind of work with with fall under one hundred and fifty
Sorin Draghici: solicitation; and if it's more general that would go very well in Iis informatics and
Sorin Draghici: information integration. So we are welcoming those type of proposals in ais
Olaf Corning: Awesome. Thank you. Ah! What about proposals that are highly interdisciplinary putting together experiments and computations, but do not develop new computational methods to clarify proposals that use computational methods for understanding Rna mechanisms. With these proposals be welcome.
P. ShingHo: I think this is very similar to the after the man you had given about development of tools for its application of newly developed tools.
P. ShingHo: They are,
P. ShingHo: Yeah, that answer will be appropriate as as well for computational type methods.
P. ShingHo: And certainly if you have a computational method that ties in with experiments, that's always a strength.
P. ShingHo: Validation of computation is always a
it's something that we'd love for him.
Manju Hingorani: I'm sorry. Go ahead.
Sorin Draghici: Go ahead, Margie, please.
Manju Hingorani: So I just wanted to reiterate that um. The call is specifically to develop and provide proof of concept testings of testing enough tools, and they can be experimental tools. Um new theory, Ah, computational tools and cross-disciplinary anything, tools or methodology, or a theory. But um the call is to develop that. Ah! In order to ah
Manju Hingorani: do do research on fundamental properties of Rna or develop rna-based applications. So so that's that's what you have to keep in mind. Um other proposals that are looking into
Manju Hingorani: into um rna mechanisms, and just asking fundamental questions about Rna mechanisms. Ah, they, you know again. You can ask us in genetic mechanisms. They may be appropriate there, and maybe maybe other ah programs as well. So Ah, you're welcome to send us specific queries. Um. But again, this call is is for tool tool and methods development.
Manju Hingorani: So you you were going to say something.
Sorin Draghici: Yeah, I wanted to mention that at the end what we are looking for is good science. As long as you can identify a good scientific problem, you have some one of more hypotheses, and then you design a
Sorin Draghici: an approach that would address those. Ah, those questions! Um, I think that's that should be the the bottom line. It's not so much about. Is it? Is it a tool, or is it? Is it not a tool? Right? So is there. Is it good science right? And then
Sorin Draghici: but, for instance, if we send it to to one of us, or if we, if you further um inquire with one of us, we can direct it to the appropriate place. I think I would focus on the encourage you to focus on the problems scientific problems that you are addressing and and go there one hundred and fifty.
Yeah, I will
Manju Hingorani: thank you sore. And that was a perfect
Manju Hingorani: next question on the next question is,
Olaf Corning: does the funding level listed in the Nsfmfp solicitation. Reflect the total funding from both Nsf. And Nh:
Jennifer Strasburger: Oh, let me address that man you so. Um The The level listed in the solicitation list the the amount that Nsf. Is going to be contributing to the program, and Nh: Here I will be contributing additionally. But we don't have a specific set aside,
Jennifer Strasburger: so we will. We will entertain funding uh proposals on a case by basis. Um, but it will be competitive. They'll have to be competitive with other uh applications that we're also considering we
Jennifer Strasburger: we won't have a specific set aside,
Manju Hingorani: and i'll add to that that proposals will be funded either by the Nsf. Or by the Nih. And again, as I said, the decision making will be done in partnership after the review is done in an Nsf. Managed panels,
Manju Hingorani: um and and and and I will just sort of decide which ones fit Um, whose priority is better and and competitive proposals will be funded either by the and and I said, or the and I
Olaf Corning: thank you. Is it favorable for early stage investigators to work with a senior co-investigator?
P. ShingHo: I think you should really
P. ShingHo: identify co-investigators
P. ShingHo: Sorry
P. ShingHo: will provide. The expertise
P. ShingHo: required. Two
P. ShingHo: really ensure the success of the project, whatever your project needs. Should Um
P. ShingHo: shouldn't include
P. ShingHo: collaborators of Co investigators that can address the Ah, the problems that are identified in the project itself, whether it's a senior investigator or a junior investigator, it's whatever the project requires.
Olaf Corning: Perfect. Thank you.
Olaf Corning: And yaming asks if tooled if it is a tool development proposal, what kind of preliminary data is necessary?
Sorin Draghici: Is this a computational tool that a question refers to, or a lab tool or technique.
Olaf Corning: It's, I believe, open to interpretation.
Sorin Draghici: Okay? I was asked. It was asked around the time when you were discussing computational tools.
Sorin Draghici: Okay. So on on the computation perspective. So, for instance, if you want to develop a new computational tools for data analysis. I would um As an example, I would think that one.
Sorin Draghici: You will take some dataset, and you'll take the best results that are extracted from that particular data set in the state of the app. And you have some kind of prototype code, maybe in our or maybe you know, in Matlab, or something like that. Then you show that on one or two
Sorin Draghici: erez agmoni sample data, said, You can do better than the state of the art, and That would be a reasonable preliminary data. And now you can say, i'm going to just make this into a tool. Add the user interface, make it, you know, Tasty thoroughly characterize the performances, so one hundred and one,
P. ShingHo: I see that
P. ShingHo: questioner.
P. ShingHo: I meant experimental tools,
Olaf Corning: so I can add him.
P. ShingHo: And so I again, as we had indicated before the Uh. I'm. Not. I'm out of for them, and they're getting
P. ShingHo: Want to put in
P. ShingHo: has to address the questions of uh innovation. Okay,
P. ShingHo: not preliminary data to demonstrate some level of feasibility. What are we interested in risk taking? But this?
P. ShingHo: There is some
P. ShingHo: expedition of success.
P. ShingHo: So the amount of preliminary data really is to demonstrate or address those
P. ShingHo: concepts of
P. ShingHo: innovation and feasibility under the um
P. ShingHo: intellectual parent
P. ShingHo: criteria.
Olaf Corning: And for our last question we have Rna data analysis, tool development. Can we focus on a specific disease?
Sorin Draghici: Again, I would recommend a more detailed
Sorin Draghici: inquiry into to a communism program director. It's very difficult to answer this. So in principle, Nih traditionally
Sorin Draghici: focuses on human health, and I will let them um clarify that if needed. And I said he's not generally interested in um things that are not focused on a specific disease that are more general.
Sorin Draghici: So this is the needed disciplinary program. So if it falls under Msb. It would probably work out because the right is involved. But I would just say, Um, get in touch with us with a half a page or a page. More details, and we can discuss more one hundred and fifty.
Jennifer Strasburger: Yeah, I'll just add on to that that that any sure I is interested in in proposals. Ah! On very generalizable um approaches across
Jennifer Strasburger: again. So it it can be disease-specific but it can't be just limited to that disease. It has to be a approach that can be more generalizable across the genome.
Manju Hingorani: I think. Um, I can add a little bit to that, that, you know. If you're working in a system, and you have um foundational data preliminary data that allow you to ask the kinds of exciting questions you want to have that you want to go ahead and ask um and develop the methodology to ask them. Um, certainly. You can make the argument that you are working in a particular disease um system. But uh, but as Jennifer and so on, both said that you have to go beyond that and and argue
Manju Hingorani: why the approach you're developing is going to be generalizable.
Olaf Corning: And with that we've cleared all the questions in the queue and are out of time. Thank you, Everyone, Manchu, Do you have any remarks.
Manju Hingorani: Thank you. Very. It's perfect timing. And thank you to everybody who came. Um. And if you have more questions, feel free to email the program at Mfb. At and Nsf. Gov. Or for Nhg: Ah, I questions, Please contact Jennifer and the Mfa program.
Manju Hingorani: It's it's
P. ShingHo: yes, and thank you for attending I mean, uh what? You're interesting and talk about questions.
Manju Hingorani: Hey, Olaf, We're good to go. Thank you.
Carolyn hutter: Thanks, everybody. I'll see you on the next one.
Thanks. That was great.
Jennifer Strasburger: I am
Sorin Draghici: bye, everyone.