NIAMS Archive - March 22, 2011

Introduction

The NIAMS Update is a monthly digest published for those interested in the latest scientific news and resources on diseases of the bones, joints, muscles, and skin. We encourage further dissemination of this resource.

In This Issue

Spotlight
NIAMS ARRA Chronicles
News
Meetings
Publications
Funding Announcements

Contact Information

Office of Communications and Public Liaison
niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov

Janet S. Austin, Ph.D.
Director

Melanie M. Martinez, M.P.A.
Public Liaison Officer

Trish Reynolds, R.N., M.S.
Media Liaison

Spotlight

New Collaboration Opportunities for Translational Research
Drawing from the experience of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Roadmap for Medical Research and extensive community input, the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) program creates a definable academic home for clinical and translational research. CTSA institutions work to transform the local, regional and national environment to increase the efficiency and speed of clinical and translational research across the country.

This consortium includes 55 medical research institutions located throughout the nation. When fully implemented by 2011, approximately 60 institutions will be linked together to energize the discipline of clinical and translational science.

Dr. Eric Orwoll

ARRA Supports Development of Genetic Database for Musculoskeletal Disorders
Two major long-term studies of osteoporosis, funded by the NIAMS, will be the source of a new genetic database for musculoskeletal disorders, thanks to additional support from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Scientists from the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland and colleagues at the California Pacific Medical Center are developing a linked phenotype/genotype database from information obtained from the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures and the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study. The resource will be made available to researchers studying the genetics of major musculoskeletal disorders.

Maureen Devlin, Ph.D. (second from left) and Mary Bouxsein, Ph.D. (second from right) along with two research assistants

ARRA-Funded Scientists Link Perinatal Diet, Skeletal Health
With the help of ARRA funds, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston have found a connection between calorie restriction in perinatal mice and impaired bone health. The discovery, made by Mary Bouxsein, Ph.D., Maureen Devlin, Ph.D., and their team, results from their ARRA grant to explore how maternal diet and the perinatal environment influence the course of skeletal growth and development. The grant is administered through the NIAMS.

News

Childhood Exercise Leads to Sustained Improvements in Bone Mass
Researchers supported by the NIAMS have found evidence that high-impact physical activity during childhood and early adolescence can lead to long-term improvements in bone mass, even after the cessation of exercise. Their study was published in a recent issue of Osteoporosis International.

Large-Scale Study Identifies Factors for Sleep Disturbance in Arthritis
A restful night’s sleep may seem like a dream for 10.2 million adults with arthritis, according to a new study conducted by researchers in the NIAMS Intramural Research Program. Because pain affects sleep, and insufficient sleep can have many negative effects on health and quality of life, researchers wanted to better understand the prevalence of sleep disturbance in people with arthritis, a collection of conditions characterized by joint pain, swelling and stiffness. They turned to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey—a national population-based survey of the health of civilian non-institutionalized U.S. residents—for answers. Using data on American adults participating in the survey, the researchers computed the prevalence of three types of sleep disturbance—insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep duration of less than six hours a night—among people with arthritis.

Meetings

The NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series
The NIH’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS) offers weekly lectures every Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Masur Auditorium, Building 10, NIH Campus. Renowned scientists from around the globe present research on a variety of topics. The lectures are Continuing Medical Education-certified presentations, open to the public and available live via Webcast.

Upcoming lectures:

April 6, 2011
Jürg Tschopp, Ph.D.
“The NLRP3 inflammasome: A Sensor for Metabolic Danger?”

April 20, 2011
Johann Deisenhofer, Ph.D. and Nobel Laureate
“Structural Biology: Achievements and Challenges”

April 27, 2011
Venki Ramakrishnan, Ph.D. and Nobel Laureate
“What We Have Learned from Structures of the Ribosome”

Publications

The 2012 NIAMS Congressional Justification
When the President submits his budget to Congress each year, the Executive Branch agencies provide a document called the Congressional Justification. The Congressional Justification submitted by the NIAMS complements the President’s budget request by explaining the mission of the Institute, highlighting recent research accomplishments and future initiatives, and providing comparative budget data for the previous, current and upcoming fiscal years. Brief descriptions of the Institute’s Extramural and Intramural Research Programs are also included, along with overviews of key research support activities. Additionally, a series of Program Portraits are included that highlight accomplishments and future directions of selected activities funded by the Institute. To view the Fiscal Year 2012 NIAMS Congressional Justification, or to access archived documents from previous years, please visit the NIAMS website.

NIH Research Matters
NIH Research Matters is a review of NIH research from the Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, NIH.

NIH Public Bulletin
Read about the latest public events, activities and health information resources from the NIH in the latest issue of the NIH Public Bulletin.

NIH News in Health
Read practical health information in NIH News in Health, which is reviewed by the NIH’s medical experts and is based on research conducted either by the NIH’s own scientists or by our grantees at universities and medical schools around the country.

How UV Radiation Triggers Melanoma
A protein that immune cells use to communicate with each other is involved in the development of melanoma, a new study shows. The findings offer fresh insight into how melanoma may develop in some patients and suggest a new potential target for treatment.

Funding Announcements

NIH Common Fund Initiative Announcements

NIH-HMO Collaboratory Coordinating Center Limited Competition (U54)
(RFA-RM-11-003) Letters of Intent Receipt Date: April 27, 2011 Application Receipt Date: May 27, 2011

Request for Information (RFI): Input on Strategies for Leveraging Existing Health Data Linked to New or Existing Bio-specimen Repositories for Large-Scale Epidemiology Research
(NOT-RM-11-008)

Other Research Announcements

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31Diversity)
(PA-11-112)
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: Not applicable
Application Receipt Dates: Multiple dates, see announcement
Standard dates apply

Notice of Change in Policy on the Submission of Plans for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research for Institutional Training Grant (T and D) Applications
(NOT-OD-11-039)

IACUC 101 Workshop and PRIM&R; 2011 IACUC Conference: March 30 to April 1, 2011, in Chicago, IL
(NOT-OD-11-041)

Modification of the Biographical Sketch in NIH Grant Application Forms (PHS 398, PHS 2590 and the SF 424 R&R) to Permit a Description of Factors that May Have Reduced Productivity
(NOT-OD-11-045)

Public Comment Period Open on Proposed Adoption and Implementation of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: Eighth Edition
(NOT-OD-11-042)

Reminder of Requirement for Certification Letter for Applications in Response to Kirschstein-NRSA for Individual Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (PA-11-112) and Deadline for Their Receipt
(NOT-OD-11-046)

Notice of Change in Policy on the Submission of Reference Forms (Letters of Reference) for Kirschstein-NRSA Fellowship (F) Applications
(NOT-OD-11-047)

Announcing the Transition of Single Research Project Cooperative Agreements (Single Project U01s) to Electronic Submission for Due Dates on or After May 25, 2011
(NOT-OD-11-048)

If you would like to review information about funding opportunities more frequently than our monthly updates allow, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, the primary source for information about NIH funding opportunities. You can also request a weekly Table of Contentsfrom the NIH Guide.