RESEARCH

A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA), entitled, "Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions" (NRA NNJ08ZSA002N), has been released and is available through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ and then linking through the menu listings "Solicitations" to "Open Solicitations."

This NRA jointly solicits ground-based, bed rest definition and flight definition proposals for the NASA Human Research Program (HRP) and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). Proposals are solicited by the HRP in the areas of Behavioral Health & Performance, Muscle, Sensorimotor, and Space Human Factors & Habitability. Proposals are solicited by the NSBRI in the areas of Cardiovascular Alterations, Human Factors and Performance, Musculoskeletal Alterations, Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors, Sensorimotor Adaptation, and Smart Medical Systems and Technology. Proposals responding to the HRP emphases and NSBRI emphases must be submitted separately, and will result in separate evaluations and awards.

Step-1 proposals are due on September 5, 2008, and invited Step-2 proposals are due on December 5, 2008.

The American Cancer Society is announcing a Request for Application for its Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN2) Thyroid Cancer Consortium. A commitment has been made to fund Research Scholars, Mentored Research Scholars, and Postdoctoral Fellows for the October 15, 2008 deadline.

Link: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp.

We are pleased to welcome Michael T. Edwards as the Associate Vice President for Research. Mike joins Case from the University of Notre Dame, where he was an Assistant Vice President and Director of the Office of Research. For more information, see the press announcement at http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2008/07/29/mikeedwards.

The Office of Sponsored Projects has developed a training program that will focus on federal requirements and University policy and procedures for Effort Reporting. The upcoming Certification of Effort will include all individuals involved with Sponsored Projects. The training sessions will include information and instructions for completing effort reports and guidelines on how to report certified effort accurately and in a timely fashion.

The compensation and effort reporting practices of recipients of federal awards are receiving increased national attention. This is a result of several high-profile, multi-million dollar settlements between major research universities and the NIH for alleged effort reporting problems. In light of this trend, Sponsored Projects staff will present an overview of effort reporting requirements as they pertain to federally sponsored research.

The following sessions will be held in Crawford Hall, Room 9A:

• Thursday, August 28, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
• Thursday, September 11, 12:00 - 1:00 pm
• Tuesday, September 23, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

• Wednesday, September 3, 9:00 - 10:00 am
• Monday, September 15, 9:30 - 10:30 am
• Tuesday, September 30, 9:30 - 10:30 am

With the departure of Christian LaMantia from the University, please consult the list below to determine the appropriate individual to contact with questions:

• Maureen Dore-Arshenovitz (368-6925)
  General inquiries and questions regarding the CREC Program.
  
  
• Michael Edwards (368-4515)
  Managing the Office of Research Compliance until Christian's replacement is named.
  
  
• Kimberly Volarcik (368-0134)
  Questions regarding the IRB Advisory Committee (IAC), FWA revisions and OHRP.
  
  
• Isabel Sanchez (368-6993)
  Questions regarding the Case IRB.
  
  
• Tracy Wilson-Holden (368-6131)
  Questions regarding research misconduct and research educational programs.
  
  
• Maureen Landies (368-0838)
  Questions regarding conflict of interest.