DNA Day 2009 April 25, 2009 National DNA Day commemorates the completion of the Human Genome Project in April 2003 and the discovery of the double helix of DNA in 1953. Each year ASHG and its partners organize a variety of events that help K-12 students, teachers, and the public learn more about how genetics and genomics affect their lives. 4th Annual National DNA Day Essay Contest Deadline: March 16, 2009 The contest aims to challenge students to examine, question, and reflect on the important concepts of genetics. Essays are expected to contain substantive, well-reasoned arguments indicative of a depth of understanding of the concepts related to the essay questions. Only 9th - 12th grade students are eligible this year. All essays must be received by March 16, 2009 by 5:00 pm EST. All submissions must be electronic. Please review the rules before submitting the essays. 2009 Essay Questions Some traits come in two varieties (for example, Mendel’s round and wrinkled peas with the green and yellow colors). Do all traits for all species come in only two varieties? Justify your answer by explaining the relationship between genes and traits. What is (are) the cause(s) of human health and disease? Explain your answer using one or more specific examples. Essays will be read and scored by at least two independent judges. A 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winner will be chosen for each question. 1st Place Winner: $400 + teacher receives a $2,000 grant for laboratory genetics equipment. 2nd Place Winner: $250 3rd Place Winner: $150 The American Society of Human Genetics 9650 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814 1-866-HUM-GENE | 301-634-7300 society@ashg.org
Institutional Program Unifying Population and Laboratory Based Sciences
Application deadlines for 2010 awards: Letter of Intent: March 2, 2009 by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time Full Application (by invitation only): May 15, 2009 by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time By electronic application only. Five-year institutional training awards provide $500,000 a year to bridge the gap between the population and computational sciences and the laboratory-based biological sciences. The award will support the training of researchers between existing concentrations of research strength in population approaches to human health and in basic biological sciences. The goal is to establish training programs by partnering researchers working in schools of medicine and schools (or academic divisions) of public health.
Eligibility Understanding human health will be a focal priority for the programs that are funded. There is ample room for building on institutional strengths to achieve this focus, for example: institutional interests in chronic diseases, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, genetic diseases, toxicology and environmental exposures, reproductive health, and other areas where questions relating to human health are ripe for exploration at both the population and molecular scales. Likewise, institutional strengths in applied mathematics and modeling, statistics, genomics, bioinformatics and other informatics and data-driven sciences including geography and demographics, and phenomic approaches could provide excellent foundations for programs which encourage such work, as would strengths in population biology; epidemiology; human or disease ecology, anthropology, econometrics, and other population-focused quantitative fields. Supported programs will train graduate students to the Ph.D. level, but programs may additionally propose giving training access to postdoctoral fellows, medical students, medical residents, masters students, undergraduates, or other kinds of trainees. Some examples of problems where such an approach would be beneficial include but are not limited to multifactorial disease processes evolution of and relationships between host, pathogen, vector, and reservoirs biomarker identification and validation effects of environmental exposure to toxins, allergens, and immunogens Proposals Degree-granting institutions in the U.S. or Canada may submit applications. Proposals must be driven by core components within medical and public health schools, but beyond those required components, departments or centers located within non-medical parts of a university, existing inter-institutional collaboratives, research museums, free-standing research institutes, and other non-profit institutions that provide advanced-level training are all acceptable as potential additional partners. Dental, osteopathic, and veterinary medical schools are appropriate applicants. Comparative medicine and animal science departments are advised to discuss their planned proposal with the program officer to ensure that their proposal will be human-focused enough to be competitive. Proposals that cross institutional boundaries are encouraged. Research groups working at national laboratories and within the federal government are allowable as partners, but funding to students doing research within these institutions must be channeled through an appropriate degree-granting institution. For-profit companies may not participate in the application, but could be valuable partners in such training programs. Proposals that may offer students access to research opportunities involving work in or data from the for-profit sector are welcome.
Burroughs Wellcome Fund Post Office Box 13901 Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3901 Telephone: (919) 991-5100 Fax: (919) 991-5160
Within Our Reach Rheumatoid Arthritis Grants
Application Deadline The application deadline is December 1, 2008. Applicants are responsible for submitting all required documents prior to this deadline. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the REF office by e-mail or by phone at (404) 633-3777. For more information about this award, please contact the REF office by e-mail or by phone at (404) 633-3777.
American College of RheumatologyResearch and Education Foundation 1800 Century Place Suite 250 Atlanta, GA 30345
Genetics "Genetics is one of the most far-reaching of the sciences with its potential to alleviate human suffering." Peter Gruber, Chairman The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation The Genetics Prize is presented to a leading scientist or group of scientists in recognition of groundbreaking contributions to any realm of genetics research. The Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation established and awarded its first Genetics Prize in 2001. This year of monumental accomplishment in genetics research, with the successful sequencing of the human genome, was a particularly auspicious time to launch the world's first major international prize devoted specifically to achievements in the realm of genetics research. Created 135 years after Gregor Mendel discovered laws of heredity that implied the existence of genetic factors, the Genetics Prize is awarded under the guidance of an international advisory board of distinguished genetics scientists. Beginning in 2001, the Prize – a gold medal and unrestricted $500,000 cash award – has been awarded for fundamental insights in the field of genetics. These may include original discoveries in genetic function, regulation, transmission, and variation, as well as in genomic organization.
OFFICIAL GRUBER GENETICS PRIZE NOMINATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please follow all instructions, otherwise the nomination will be deemed incomplete and invalid. All materials must be submitted in English. Please provide all information requested on the form. Nominations must be accompanied by a curriculum vitae. PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH A FULL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS, as on the nomination form we request a list of one to five key journal references that illustrate the nominee's contributions to the field. Nominations must be accompanied by at least 2 letters of support from individuals outside of the nominee's own institution or research group (may be sent by nominator or by author) Nominations need not be on the actual nomination form, but must be presented precisely in the order and format as prescribed on the form and be accompanied by all supporting documents. We prefer that all nominations are submitted electronically. In the event that this is impossible, please print and complete the Genetics Prize Nomination Form and fax or mail it to the address below. Viewing the form requires the free Adobe Reader - click for download page. Nomination forms, curricula vitae, letters of support or any other documents related to a nomination may be emailed to nominations@gruberprizes.org if problems are encountered with the web-based nomination system. Please address any nominations-related correspondence to: Nominations Peter and Patricia Gruber Foundation 140 W 57th St Suite 10C New York, NY 10019 USA or email to: nominations@gruberprizes.org or fax to (212) 247-8549
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