Grants for Independent school districts - Federal

Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for support of investigator-initiated studies addressing mechanisms by which bariatric surgery impacts cancer risk, and seeks to draw in talented scientists who study bariatric surgery to investigate its effects on cancer, rather than shorter-term outcomes such as weight loss and diabetes.Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for support of investigator-initiated studies addressing mechanisms by which bariatric surgery impacts cancer risk, and seeks to draw in talented scientists who study bariatric surgery to investigate its effects on cancer, rather than shorter-term outcomes such as weight loss and diabetes. Background Obesity: Obesity will soon surpass smoking tobacco as the number one cause of preventable death both in the United States and worldwide. Bariatric (metabolic) surgery is the most effective strategy to achieve significant initial and sustained weight loss among individuals who are morbidly obese. Bariatric surgery provides dramatic improvement in metabolic function, associated with a reduction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular (CV) risk. Bariatric surgery also appears to reduce the risk of certain obesity-related cancers, although which cancers are favorably impacted vary by study, and the mechanism(s) driving this risk reduction is mostly speculative. Bariatric surgery is performed in over 250,000 people in the U.S. annually, and the frequency is rising. Studies evaluating which bariatric surgery procedure(s) are most effective in cancer risk reduction could help bring to light new pathways to target for cancer prevention. Bariatric Surgery: Importantly, it is not yet clear from clinical and preclinical studies if the benefit from bariatric surgery arises from weight loss alone or if there is also a surgery-specific benefit. One mechanism for a possible surgery-specific effect is elevated bile acids (BA), both intestinal and circulating, after gastric bypass surgery such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) that are proposed to be central to weight loss and other metabolic benefits. The interaction between BA and intestinal microbes is also an area of intense interest. Studies have identified important changes after bariatric surgery in the composition and function of the gut microbiome, which may mediate bariatric surgery effects. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from humans or mice that had undergone bariatric surgery to germ-free recipient mice showed decreased weight gain and decreased adiposity are both transmissible traits. In addition, FMT induced important host metabolic changes including decreased energy harvest from the diet, increased resting energy expenditure, and increased lipid utilization. The data suggest a causal link between gut microbiota and the metabolic and weight loss effects of bariatric surgery. If validated, the findings will provide insight into the mechanisms driving the benefit of bariatric surgery on cancer risk and would be useful to further scientific understanding and patient care. Animal Models: Several diets or genetically induced animal models of obesity have consistently demonstrated the benefits of weight loss on cancer risk, and these obesity-induced tumor models may be adaptable to bariatric surgery studies, such as the Kras model of pancreatic cancer. Animal models have been developed to study the effects of bariatric surgery. Rodent animal models are most often used due to feasibility (low cost, ease of housing) and have been used extensively to study the mechanism(s) of bariatric surgery responsible for the reduction or elimination of T2DM and CV risk. However, very little has been reported on bariatric surgery and cancer risk despite the fact that both rat and murine models of mammary and other cancers develop in 6 months or less, making it feasible to assess mechanistic changes that influence cancer risk. Bariatric Surgery and Cancer Risk: Obese patients undergo bariatric surgery for a variety of reasons, including weight loss and improvement in metabolic dysfunction. Physician advice regarding the potential benefit of bariatric surgery and cancer risk reduction can currently only be given in generalities based on large-scale studies and not targeted to the individual. Many but not all bariatric surgery investigations document an overall cancer risk reduction among women but not men. Some but not all bariatric surgery studies have found that both women and men undergoing bariatric surgery have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Older studies which assessed bariatric surgery and cancer risk may not be useful to guide targeted advice to patients, as one of the most common procedures performed in the past, gastric banding, is only performed in 1% of bariatric surgery procedures today. The two most common bariatric surgery procedures currently performed are sleeve gastrectomy and RYGB. As such, planned animal and/or human studies should focus on the mechanistic effects of the two procedures that are currently in common use. Human biospecimens and/or data may be available from cohorts to enhance the studies proposed including the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS), Adolescent Bariatrics: Assessing Health Benefits & Risks (Teen-LABS), and NCI Cohort Consortium Members. Applications that include collaborators from fields outside of cancer research will be given special programmatic consideration. Responsive applications may investigate animal models, human studies, or a combination of both. General Area of Research and Scope of Work for this FOA General Area of Research Examples of relevant areas of research include but are not limited to: Do alterations in cancer risk biomarkers occur before weight loss? If so, in what organ, tissue, or cell type do they originate? Is maximum weight loss or long-term weight loss more important for cancer risk reduction? If so, how do the two differ at a cellular and/or biochemical level? What mechanism(s) explain the evidence that bariatric surgery is more beneficial in cancer risk reduction in women than men? Does bariatric surgery increase or decrease the risk of CRC, and if so, what are the mechanism(s)? Which cancers are decreased in incidence by bariatric surgery, and what are the mechanism(s) that explain the effect? Are any cancers increased in incidence by bariatric surgery? If so, through what mechanism(s)? Does the specific bariatric surgery procedure have an impact on cancer risk? If so, what are the mechanism(s) driving the difference in impact? Does racial or ethnic background influence the impact of bariatric surgery on cancer risk, and if so, what are the mechanism(s) involved? How does bariatric surgery affect the penetrance of high-risk genetic predisposition to cancer? Scope of Work and Additional Guidance It is anticipated that studies will evaluate bariatric surgery animal models where a significant proportion of the animals develop cancer. Similarly, human studies involving individuals who will or have undergone bariatric surgery are also encouraged, so long as within the cohort to be studied the number of enrolled subjects who develop cancer is adequate to for a statistically powered endpoint linking cancer (and not a biomarker of cancer) to a molecular mechanism as the driver of cancer. When appropriate and feasible, the investigators may want to evaluate mechanisms influenced by bariatric surgery in animal models of cancer and evaluate potential changes that might correlate with humans due to bariatric surgery. We define mechanism as a biologic endpoint based on analyzed samples from bariatric surgery animal models or from subjects who have or are planned to undergo bariatric surgery. This FOA does not support studies where an epidemiologic endpoint is the primary aim of the project. The mechanism(s) to be studied should evaluate samples collected from animals or humans who have undergone bariatric surgery who did or did not develop cancer. If both animals and humans are studied, the mechanisms chosen should be based on a cancer endpoint. Applications Not Responsive to This FOA The following types of activities remain outside the scope of this FOA, and applications proposing them are non-responsive to this FOA and will not be reviewed. This FOA is not intended for epidemiologic studies, where the primary endpoint is the assessment of cancer in a cohort of animals or humans, which has undergone bariatric surgery and mechanistic studies evaluating bodily fluid or tissue samples are nonexistent or of secondary endpoints. Application that focuses entirely on in vitro investigations. Epidemiologic investigations as the primary focus of the application. Animal or human studies that do not evaluate tissue and/or bodily fluid samples collected from participants who have undergone bariatric surgery, some of which developed cancer after surgery. Application, which includes a clinical trial that does not have a bariatric surgeon as a key investigator on the team. NOTE: Applicants to this FOA are strongly encouraged to contact NCI staff as soon as possible in the development of the application (preferably no later than 12 weeks prior to the application due date) to discuss the details of their proposed clinical trial, so that NCI staff can help the applicant understand whether the proposed clinical trial is within the goals and mission of the NCI and is appropriate for this FOA.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for research projects that aim to improve the adoption and sustainability of effective health interventions, particularly in underrepresented communities, by addressing barriers and promoting equitable health outcomes.

This funding opportunity supports clinical trials for innovative treatments and interventions targeting Alzheimer's disease, related dementias, and age-related cognitive decline, inviting applications from a wide range of eligible organizations, including universities, nonprofits, and small businesses.

This funding opportunity supports a wide range of organizations in developing and sharing innovative neuroscience technologies to enhance research and understanding of brain function.

This grant provides funding to health organizations in Cameroon to strengthen their ability to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats and improve overall health security.

This funding opportunity supports research institutions and organizations conducting experimental studies with human participants to explore new brain stimulation techniques for treating substance use disorders.

This funding opportunity is designed to help schools collect and utilize data to improve the health and well-being of adolescents by tracking their behaviors and experiences over time.

This program provides funding to accredited universities and tribal entities to develop training centers that enhance the skills of the maternal and child health workforce through partnerships and comprehensive education initiatives.

This funding opportunity supports researchers and organizations in developing advanced tissue-engineered technologies that mimic cancer biology to improve cancer detection, treatment, and prevention.

The Maternity Group Home (MGH) program provides safe, stable, and appropriate shelter for pregnant and/or parenting youth and young adults ages 16 to under 22 who have runaway or are experiencing homelessness, and their dependent child(ren), for 18 months and, under extenuating circumstances, up to 21 months. Service providers must accommodate for the needs and safety of the dependent children to include facility safety standards for infants and children on the premises. MGH services include, but are not limited to, parenting skills, child development, family budgeting, and health and nutrition education, in addition to the required services provided under the Transitional Living Program to help MGH youth and young adults realize improvements in four core outcome areas. The MGH combination of shelter and services is designed to promote long-term, economic independence to ensure the well-being of the youth and their child(ren).

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen clinical and translational research capabilities in health organizations located in underserved states, enabling them to address local healthcare challenges through enhanced infrastructure, workforce development, and community engagement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to develop and validate digital therapeutic technologies designed to treat substance use disorders, with the goal of achieving FDA authorization.

This grant provides funding for clinical trials investigating the safety and effectiveness of amyloid-beta antibody therapies in patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia who also show signs of Lewy Body Dementia, with a focus on diverse and underrepresented populations.

This funding opportunity supports postdoctoral researchers transitioning to independent faculty positions in U.S. academic institutions, specifically those planning to lead their own clinical trials or related studies in mental health research.

The Unaccompanied Children Lived Experience and Youth Engagement Support Program is forecasted to provide funding to establish, manage, and evaluate a Lived Experience Community Council and Lived Experience Leadership Academy comprised of former unaccompanied children and individuals who sponsored children from ORR care. The recipient shall recruit, identify, orient, and train lived experience experts that reflect the demographic diversity (e.g., age, language, etc.) and varied experiences and circumstances (e.g., pregnant/parenting youth, survivors of human trafficking, etc.) of former unaccompanied children and sponsors. Therefore, prior experience developing programming centering lived experience and youth voice and/or supporting unaccompanied children, sponsors, and reunified families is highly desirable. These lived experience bodies have two objectives. The first is to collect feedback from former unaccompanied children and reunified families about their first-hand experience integrating to the United States. The second is to positively impact the lives of Community Council and Leadership Academy members by building their capacity to serve as leaders within their respective communities. The recipient shall provide the necessary resources, such as personnel, to support the implementation of the lived experience bodies. Task areas will include: a) development of the Community Council implementation plan and Leadership Academy curriculum; b) development of a web-based application; c) selection of eligible candidates to the appropriate lived experience body; d) project management; e) interpretation and translation services for, and during, community meetings; f) secure technology for members to participate in virtual meetings; g) compensate members for their time; h) as separate cohorts, coordinate and implement Washington Weeks for the Community Council and Leadership Academy to meet with government leaders and relevant stakeholders, and i) disseminate to the ORR-funded network feedback obtained through the lived experience bodies' work that centers youth voice and lived experience.

The purpose of the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) program is to increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers with a research and/or clinical doctorate degree from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. The program will provide independent NIH research support during this transition in order to help awardees to launch competitive, independent research careers.

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to stimulate translational efforts in developing and implementing accessibility devices or interventions that apply new technologies to address challenges faced by individuals living with visual impairment. Critical elements of applications include a clear set of milestones that support development and testing of the tool, device, or intervention proposed; multidisciplinary and collaborative teams that include individuals with lived experience; and a tractable dissemination plan. The overall goal of the program is to push the boundaries of innovation in technology development to address accessibility needs of individuals with visual impairment and create resources that will be made available to the community. This NOFO uses a milestone driven and phased mechanism of award. Initial technology development and feasibility activities (R61 phase) may transition to expanded research support (R33 phase) for validation, larger-scale feasibility, and effectiveness studies. All applications must address both R61 and R33 phases.

The Rural eConnectivity Program (ReConnect) Program provides loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas. In facilitating the expansion of broadband services and infrastructure, the program will fuel long-term economic development and opportunities in rural America. The ReConnect Program is authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Pub. L. 115-141), which directs the program to be conducted under the Rural Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 901 et seq ). The policies and procedures for the ReConnect Program are codified in a final rule, 7 CFR part 1740, that was published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2021 (86 FR 11603). The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to announce that it is accepting applications for the ReConnect Program. In addition, the NOFO defines requirements that are determined at the time a funding announcement is published, as outlined in the regulation. Beginning on March 22, 2024, applications can be submitted through the RUS on-line application portal until 11:59 a.m. Eastern on May 21, 2024. Applications will not be accepted after May 21, 2024 until a new application opportunity has been opened with the publication of an additional NOFO in the Federal Register . The Agency encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities: Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure. Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects. Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities. All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the ReConnect Program Application Guide and program resources. This Program Guide and program resources can be found at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/forms-and-resources. Applications must be submitted through the RUS on-line application system available on the program web site at https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/. Please submit any ReConnect questions or comments using our Contact Us Form.

This funding opportunity supports innovative research teams in developing and implementing advanced artificial intelligence models to improve HIV diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, while ensuring ethical practices and community engagement.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for research initiatives that enhance fire management practices and preparedness in response to changing wildfire conditions, targeting a diverse range of eligible applicants including nonprofits, educational institutions, and tribal organizations nationwide.