Read the research blog Further Findings.
Research Prizes and Honors
[Have you or a colleague won a research-related prize or honor? Let the Research Alert know.]
PHYSICIST ELECTED TO NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Dr. Allan MacDonald, the Sid W. Richardson Foundation Regents Chair in the Department of Physics at The University of Texas at Austin, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
MacDonald was one of 72 new members chosen on April 26 at the annual meeting of the Academy in recognition of his distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.
Election to membership in the Academy is one of the highest honors that can be accorded a scientist or engineer in the United States.
News and Information
NIH PUBLISHES NEW eSNAP GUIDE
The National Institutes of Health’s electronic Streamlined Non-Competing Award Process (eSNAP) is a streamlined process for submitting information necessary to receive a non-competing award under the SNAP authorities. The eSNAP system allows extramural grantee institutions to submit an electronic version of a SNAP PHS2590 Progress Report to the NIH via a Web site interface. At this time eSNAP is an NIH-only business process. Users are to use this guide in conjunction with the PHS2590 instructions when completing an eSNAP. See the PHS2590 instructions and guide (PDF).
QuotedUT Researchers in the News
[A sampling of recent quotes by university faculty members and researchers. To be included in this section, let the Research Alert know when you or a colleague have been quoted.]
The New York Times
April 27, 2010
HEADLINE: The Search for Genes Leads to Unexpected Places
Edward M. Marcotte is looking for drugs that can kill tumors by stopping blood vessel growth, and he and his colleagues at The University of Texas at Austin recently found some good targets – five human genes that are essential for that growth. Now they’re hunting for drugs that can stop those genes from working. Strangely, though, Dr. Marcotte did not discover the new genes in the human genome, nor in lab mice or even fruit flies. He and his colleagues found the genes in yeast.
“On the face of it, it’s just crazy,” Dr. Marcotte said. After all, these single-cell fungi don’t make blood vessels. They don’t even make blood. In yeast, it turns out, these five genes work together on a completely unrelated task: fixing cell walls.
Research Opportunities
Important university research deadlines:
Awards and Grants
Limited Submissions
AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT
The University of Texas at Austin Stimulus Package Web page is online.
The University of Texas has received more than $71 million for 162 projects from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as of April 26, 2010.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Development of Quantum Computing Technology (Opens pdf)
Deadlines: White paper, May 24, 2010; Application, July 12, 2010
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Smart Grid Research and Development
Deadline: June 22, 2010
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FY 2010 Funding Opportunity Announcement to Strengthen Evidence-based Decision Making, Conduct Assessments, and Conduct Research Relevant to PRM-Funded Humanitarian Programs Worldwide
Deadline: May 28, 2010
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Contextual Approaches to Prevention of Unintended Pregnancy
Deadline: June 5, 2010
Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology
Deadline: June 5, 2010
International Extramural Associates Research Development Awards
Deadlines: Letter of Intent, July 3, 2010; Application, Aug. 3, 2010
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows in PharmD/PhD Programs
Deadline: Aug. 8, 2010
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Fostering Interdisciplinary Research on Education
Deadline: May 20, 2010
Surpassing Evolution: Transformative Approaches to Enhance the Efficiency of Photosynthesis — A joint Ideas Lab activity between NSF and BBSRC
Deadlines: Optional preliminary proposal, June 15, 2010; Proposal, Nov. 1, 2010
ARTS, HUMANITIES AND CULTURE
Franz Rosenzweig Minerva Research Center for German-Jewish Literature and Cultural History
Doctoral and Post-doctoral Research Fellowships (for study in Israel)
Deadline: June 1, 2010
Richard III Foundation
Scholarship for Medieval Studies (for graduate students doing research related to the Yorkist period)
Deadline: June 30, 2010
Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
2010-2011 William and Madeline Smith Research Travel Award (for travel to Austin for grad students and post-docs)
Deadline: July 31, 2010
Research Project
[Let the Research Alert know about your research projects.]
Novel Paradigm Attenuates Traumatic Memories and Prevents Return of Fear
RESEARCHER: Marie Monfils, assistant professor, Department of Psychology, principal investigator
AGENCY: National Institutes of Health
AMOUNT: $219,368
Exaggerated or persistent fear is a common occurrence in psychiatric disorders. Two paradigms (blockade of reconsolidation and extinction) have been used in the laboratory setting to reduce acquired fear; however, the clinical efficacy of these techniques has been limited. Here, we present a novel behavioral paradigm that attenuates and prevents the return of fear memories. Our findings indicate that subtle modifications to a commonly employed clinical treatment (exposure therapy) could greatly improve outcome, and reduce the potential for relapse in individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or specific phobias.
