Research NewsletterIssue: ORN-2024-19

Announcement

Center for Translational Research (CTR) Workshop on  Pathways to Translational Research and Innovation Partnerships

(Sponsored by NSF ART (Accelerating Research Translation) Program at NJIT)

Date and Venue: May 21, 2024, 9.00 AM – 3.00 PM; Atrium, Campus Center

Full Announcement and Additional Information: Click Here

This CTR workshop is designed for you to learn about the NJIT CTR resources and pathways to translational research, and an opportunity for you to share your experiences and feedback on how CTR can develop resources to help you succeed. Due to interactive nature of the workshop, registration seats are limited. Only a few seats are left.

Please Click Here to Register by May 10, 2024

Brief Description: The Center for Translational Research is committed to promoting excellence in collaborative research, innovation partnerships, entrepreneurial pathways, education, training and infrastructure development to translate technology into applications with a high societal and economic impact. To follow up on the CTR mission to enhance the research, innovation and technology entrepreneurship ecosystem at NJIT, we will host a workshop on pathways to translational research and innovation partnerships, with panel discussions and breakout sessions giving faculty, postdocs and students an opportunity to interact with experts on early and advanced translational research, tech transfer, licensing and funding strategies for entrepreneurial activities.

Breakout Sessions: The breakout sessions will engage faculty, staff, postdocs, and students in interactive discussions on challenges, perceptions, fears, concerns, expectations, and resources needed for successful translational research and innovation partnerships. The discussion should pave the way for future initiatives to help the NJIT community understand the perspectives of multiple stakeholders in validating technology solutions for market needs and societal benefits. Understanding the pathways, expectations and needs of diverse collaborators and external partners and stakeholders in an equitable and inclusive way with sustained engagement is critical. The breakout session will represent diverse perspectives of moderators and audience, addressing their questions and leading to a pre-designed case study with scenario analysis and feedback.

Who Should Attend: Faculty, research staff, undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs and external partners who are pursuing or are interested in pathways to translational research and innovation, technology development for use-inspired applications and societal benefit should attend and would be benefited from the workshop.

Why You Should Attend: You will have the opportunity to learn about translational research and innovation, tech transfer, market validation, networking and impact assessment, from faculty, industry experts and entrepreneurs with successful start-up companies. You will have opportunities to speak with them on 1-1 basis and in small groups at lunch and in breakout sessions focused on specific topics in the complete spectrum of technology translation from lab to market. You will be able to discuss your issues with experts and ask questions about how to develop your translational research and build innovation partnerships along with funding strategies for societal impact.

Distinguished Experts You will Meet and Interact with:

• Translational Research and Tech Transfer Expert: Maria Rahmany, Adjunct Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Director - Business Development and Portfolio Management, Columbia University’s Technology Transfer office - Columbia Technology Ventures (CTV)
• Collaboration, Partnership and Industry Expert: Pallavi Madakasira, Vice President at Phase Change Solutions, Mentor, Female Leaders in Energy (FLIE), Previous Managing Director - Clean Energy, New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
• Translational Research and Innovation Expert: Barry Rand, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Associate Director for External Partnerships at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University
• Innovation and iCorps: Christina Pellicane, Assistant Director of Innovation and Lead Instructor, I-Corps Northeast Hub, Princeton University.
• Technology Transfer: John Ritter, Executive Director, Office of Technology Licensing, Princeton University

NJIT and NJII Experts:

• Sanjiv M. Chokshi, Esq., Associate General Counsel - Intellectual Property
• Michael Johnson, President, New Jersey Innovation Institute - Commercialization 
•  Cesar Bandera, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, MTSM School of Management - Entrepreneurship 
•  Michael van Ter Sluis, Vice President, New Jersey Innovation Institute - Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization 
• David Jones, Chief Diversity Officer -DEIB Initiatives in Technology Translation and Partnerships

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Changes Coming to Applications and Peer Review in January 2025

(NOT-OD-24-084)

The National Institutes of Health is implementing a series of changes that will impact the preparation and peer review of most grant applications submitted on or after January 25, 2025. These initiatives, each tailored to specific goals, are meant to simplify, clarify, or ensure greater fairness. A comprehensive guide notice has been released to provide an overview of each change.

In addition, the NIH has released a video providing an overview of the changes, including streamlined review criteria for most research project grants, revisions to the fellowship application and review process, updates to reference letter guidance, revisions to NRSA training grant applications, updated application forms, and common forms for biographical sketch and current and pending support.

NSF: Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence; Molecular Foundations for Sustainability: Sustainable Polymers Enabled by Emerging Data Analytics (MFS-SPEED); National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Institutional Partnership Pilot (NRT-IPP) Program; NSF Regional Innovation Engines

NIH: Independent Scientist Award (Parent K02 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Department of Defense/US Army/DARPA/ONR: 2024 National Science Portal (NSP); Funding Opportunity Announcement ONR STEM Program; Office of Naval Research Science and Technology for Advanced Manufacturing Projects (STAMP)

Department of Energy: Photovoltaics Research and Development (PVRD) FOA 2024; Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) – Joint Office of Energy and Transportation: Communities Taking Charge Accelerator, Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunity Announcement

NSF pitches Congress on the potential of quantum technology: The National Science Foundation showcased several of its quantum information technology research projects from across the nation to Congress on Tuesday as the agency continues to work with lawmakers to secure sufficient federal funding amid recent budget cuts. Scientists and researchers met House lawmakers, notably Science and Technology Committee leaders Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Frank Lucas, R-Okla., along with Research and Technology Subcommittee Ranking Member Haley Stevens, D-Mich., who spoke alongside NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan on the importance of steady federal funding to support innovation in emerging technology amid global competition. Panchanathan told Nextgov/FCW that this is the second technological showcase the NSF has organized for Congress, with the first such event centered on AI. More information is posted on the NextGov website.

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Agencies awarded record-breaking $179B to small businesses in FY23: Small businesses received a record-breaking total of federal contracting dollars in fiscal year 2023, with more than 28% of government contract spending going to smaller companies, according to data released by the Biden administration on Monday.  The Small Business Administration’s annual procurement scorecard found that almost $179 billion in prime contracts went to smaller companies in the previous fiscal year, an increase of approximately $16 billion from FY22. The scorecard assesses how well federal agencies are meeting their small-business goals and achievements. The federal government was awarded an overall “A” rating on the scorecard, while 22 agencies received an “A” rating or higher. Only two agencies — the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services — received “B” grades, which were the lowest recorded.  The government exceeded its goals for directing federal contracting dollars to several historically underrepresented groups, including setting new highs in awards given to small disadvantaged businesses and service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses. More information is posted on the NextGov website.

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NIST delivers draft AI guidance, generative AI pilot program: The National Institute of Standards and Technology released a slew of new draft documents on artificial intelligence guidance and deployment, spanning topics from synthetic content risks to international standards development. Released on Tuesday, four new documents have been added to NIST’s growing portfolio of AI-centric guidance. They come as multiple agencies, including NIST itself, are finalizing their mandates stipulated within President Joe Biden’s 2023 executive order on AI as the 180 day mark on that order passes.  “For all its potentially transformative benefits, generative AI also brings risks that are significantly different from those we see with traditional software,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director Laurie Locascio in a press release. “These guidance documents will not only inform software creators about these unique risks, but also help them develop ways to mitigate the risks while supporting innovation.” NIST’s four new documents are: the AI RMF Generative AI Profile, Secure Software Development Practices for Generative AI and Dual-Use Foundation Models, Reducing Risks Posed by Synthetic Content, and A Plan for Global Engagement on AI Standards. More information is posted on the NextGov website.