Research Revealed: Phased Return to Labs + New Funding Opportunities

Insider Insights

Restarting operations for 4,000+ researchers and 1,681 labs will require a massive, coordinated effort as research groups adapt their work to allow for reduced density, physical distancing, and rapidly implementable contingency plans. Read more
A comprehensive database of COVID-19 publications (National Institutes of Health)
A platform offering shared COVID-19 protocols to help support collaborative, multi-site studies (Johns Hopkins University)
Tips for mentoring and advising remotely (BU Professional Development & Postdoctoral Affairs and Graduate Affairs)

Our scientists and scholars are working around the clock to address the global pandemic. Last month, we asked faculty conducting research related to COVID-19 to fill out this form so we could begin to facilitate collaborations and support. We continue to invite new submissions as projects and ideas emerge.
Since we first sent out this call, over 50 research teams across 30 departments have mobilized with COVID-19 as their singular focus. Members of the BU community are invited to browse these projects-in-progress in our COVID-19 Research Tracker (Kerberos log-in and Google Apps account required).
Breakthroughs from this critical work are highlighted in The Brink.

Our listing of COVID-19 research funding opportunities now includes over 100 funding calls from federal agencies, foundations, and industry—with new opportunities added daily. Another helpful resource is this library of COVID-19 opportunities from InfoEd Global.
The Digital Health Initiative, a collaborative effort between the Institute for Health System Innovation & Policy and the Hariri Institute for Computing, is accepting proposals through Monday, June 1 to support trans-disciplinary research that seeks novel digital solutions to modern healthcare’s greatest challenges.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is accepting applications for its Young Investigator Program for early-career faculty through Tuesday, July 14.

Research administration guidance related to COVID-19 varies by funder. We have compiled an extensive list of sponsor guidance from federal and non-federal agencies, including a new matrix for navigating foundation guidance, plus frequently asked questions. For project-specific questions, please contact your Sponsored Programs Research Administrator or reach out to ospera@bu.edu.
New National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal and award requirements go into effect Monday, June 1. The NSF recently recorded a webinar about the requirement to use an NSF-approved format for both the biographical sketch and support documents.

Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) compiled a set of resources on research safety and occupational health during the pandemic.
A new feature in the BioRAFT system now allows lab personnel to view lab safety contact(s) from their lab profile page. If you have any safety-related questions, you can now quickly send an email to the appropriate EHS contact directly through BioRAFT.
The Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center is providing its state-of-the-art infrastructure for computationally intensive research at no cost for use in projects that could accelerate resolution of the COVID-19 crisis.
Ginkgo Bioworks has committed $25M of free access to foundry work towards projects that promise to accelerate development of point of care diagnostics, vaccines, or therapeutics for COVID-19.

Looking for opportunities to bring ideas and research to market? A growing bank of tools and tutorials from Rana K. Gupta, Director, Faculty Entrepreneurship, offers practical materials to advance your research while working from home, including resources to determine your objective, develop a financial plan, find seed funding, and more.
Technology Development and the Center for Information and Systems Engineering invite faculty, PhDs, and postdocs to apply for Spark, a three-week entrepreneurship program from the New England Innovation Corps, by Saturday, June 13. The NSF-inspired program aims to broaden the impact of academic research through virtual discussions and an immersive customer discovery experience.

Provost Jean Morrison submitted recommendations to the US House of Representatives’ Science, Space, and Technology Committee for addressing the impact of COVID-19 on the federal research enterprise.
Professors Linda Heywood and John Thornton, both History and African American Studies (CAS), have been elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.
Assistant Professors Jennifer Balakrishnan, Mathematics (CAS), Samuel Bazzi, Economics (CAS), Wanzheng Hu, Physics (CAS), and Gianluca Stringhini, Electrical & Computer Engineering (ENG), were honored with NSF CAREER awards.
Professor Ann McKee, Neurology and Pathology (MED), received a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study how traumatic brain injuries contribute to different types of dementias.
Professor Muhammad Zaman, Biomedical Engineering (ENG), and Lecturer Sigrid Nunez, Creative Writing (CAS), were awarded fellowships from the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
The Global Development Policy Center received a $500k grant from the Hewlett Foundation to fund its Human Capital Initiative’s Program on Women’s Empowerment Research, as well as a $400k grant from the Carnegie Corporation to expand its Global China Initiative.