The Structural and Social Determinants of Health Project Development Team (PDT) recently funded the proposal, "Promoting Fairness in AI-Enabled Healthcare through Unsupervised Federated Learning: A Pilot Study" being led by Yiyu Shi, Professor, and Zhenge Jia, Postdoctoral Research Associate, both of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame and Jing Su, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Abstract:

The increasing use of deep learning models in healthcare applications raises concerns about fairness, given the reliance on visual data that can lead to biased outcomes. Existing data sets are biased due to factors such as a lack of representation from minority groups and socio-economic barriers to participation. This bias can lead to misdiagnosis and increasing healthcare disparities. To tackle these challenges, we aim to conduct a pilot study towards establishing an unsupervised federated learning framework that can continuously learn from new data collected from medical institutions. The proposed paradigm avoids a centralized way of collecting demographic data, which is prohibitive due to privacy concerns, and at the same time ensures a more equitable and diverse dataset for machine learning algorithms to learn from, leading to more fair and accurate diagnoses. This pilot study would help us to expand the collaboration with local health community from Indiana University School of Medicine. The study would facilitate a setting that allows for clinical and translational research into a future large collaborative grant proposal, aiming to improve health sciences and care for the people of Indiana and other areas.

The 2023 Indiana CTSI Annual Meeting was held on Friday, September 22, 2023, and featured keynote speaker was Huda Y. Zoghbi, MD, the 2023 recipient of the August M. Watanabe Prize in Translational Research. The focus of the Annual Meeting was neurological disorders.

Notre Dame's Nancy Michael, the Rev. John A. Zahm, C.S.C. Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, also spoke at the event. Her slides can be found here. A recording of the event will be shared once it is available.

October 6, 2023
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EDT
Zoom

Join the next seminar in the Access Technology Program (ATP) Seminar series, hosted by the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility.

October 24, 2023
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Fort Harrison State Park, 6002 N Post Rd., Indianapolis, Indiana

Join partners from across Indiana to network, discuss and strategize how to support and collaborate with local health departments to improve public health infrastructure and core public health services!

With the landmark passage of SB4 (Health First Indiana) and a laser focus on improving health and health equity in local communities, the Indiana CTSI’s Community Health Partnership program will convene a workshop on how we all can walk alongside and partner with local public health departments in these efforts. We will form action groups to continue the work beyond our day together with state and local health departments. We will also hear from and celebrate the work of the community-engaged research projects that have been completed through the Trailblazer Award this year.

Submission Deadline: October 26, 2023

The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CTSI) T32 Postdoctoral Training Awards, funded in part by NCATS, are designed to provide promising postdoctoral fellows with the opportunity to be mentored in research-intensive multi-disciplinary settings toward the goal of developing careers across the spectrum of translational research.

Emphasis of CTSI postdoctoral training awards in translational research are to move findings from basic laboratory and pre-clinical research (referred to as T1 research) toward the development of new treatment options or interventions or clinical trials (referred to as T2 research) to eventual dissemination or clinical implementation (referred to as T3 research) to studying population health outcomes and health metrics (referred to as T4 research). The phases of translational research may not necessarily be linear and can jump steps depending on the research project and the starting point. The goal of the CTSI is to make awards at all of these stages.

Funding for all postdoctoral training awards is for up to two years (with the 2nd year of funding contingent upon review and demonstration of satisfactory progress). Benefits include salary support as well as health insurance and research training related expenses.

Applications will be accepted for two tracks:

Submission Deadline: October 31, 2023

The overarching goal of the Neurosciences Institute (NSI) Collaborative Pilot Grant is to provide pilot funding to support new research collaborations that will produce preliminary data needed to prepare subsequent research grant applications. Applications may include basic, translational, or clinical neuroscience researchers. Project must be responsive to the scientific mission of the NSI.

This initiative will provide $25,000, per year for a period of up to two years (total funding $50,000); second year of funding will be contingent on progress (as evaluated by the Pilot Grant Committee).

Contact for Questions: Lindsay Treadway

Submission Deadline: January 11, 2024

The Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute is requesting applications for K12 Early Career Investigator clinical – translational research proposals.

These awards are designed to provide promising early career faculty investigators the opportunity to be mentored in research-intensive, multi-disciplinary settings toward the goal of developing careers in clinical - translational research. Emphasis of the Indiana CTSI K12 Early Career Investigator Awards in Clinical - Translational Research are to move findings from basic laboratory and pre-clinical research toward the development of new treatment options or interventions or clinical trials to eventual dissemination or clinical implementation to studying population health outcomes and health metrics. The phases of translational research may not necessarily be linear and can jump steps depending on the research project and the starting point. The goal of the Indiana CTSI is to make awards at all of these stages. It is important that the clinical - translational research have clear applications to human disease and health outcomes.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to send their current CV to Patricia McGuire (pcmcguire@iu.edu) for eligibility pre-screening no later than December 06, 2023.

Full Submission Deadline: October 18, 2023

Through a generous donation from James R. and Nancy E. Carpenter, as well as a matching contribution from the Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, the Indiana Alzheimer Disease Center (IADC) established the Sarah Roush Memorial Fellowship in Alzheimer’s Disease Research, an annual postdoctoral fellowship supplement that will enhance current research in the field of Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative dementing illnesses. The application can be focused on clinical, neuropsychological, basic, or other specific type of research on Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders. Open to postdoctoral fellows at any IU campus.

This fellowship will provide $22,500 for one year.

Deadline for routing to ORA: January 9, 2024
Deadline for uploading ORA-Approved Proposal: January 16, 2024

Since 1975, IUSM has received research funding through gifts made possible from the Ralph W. and Grace M. Showalter Research Trust Fund. The areas of appropriate biomedical research, eligible for funding, are broad and described by the benefactors as “the type of medical research that is most likely to permanently benefit mankind.” Donor intent prohibits the use of Showalter Trust funds for research in psychiatry, sociology, or social studies.

Only current full-time faculty (non-visiting status) having a primary appointment in IUSM and a rank of assistant professor or assistant scientist are eligible to apply for funding from the Showalter Research Trust. Note that the same proposal may not be submitted as both a Biomedical Research Grant and a Showalter Trust application. If eligible for both programs, the investigator is encouraged to submit to the Showalter Trust.

Applications for funding from the Ralph W. and Grace M. Showalter Research Trust will be reviewed in two stages. An initial review by the IUSM Biomedical Research Committee (BRC) will select the most meritorious proposals for further discussion and ranking. The BRC will then provide a recommended ranking to the Showalter Trustees who conduct a second review. Final funding decisions are made by the Showalter Trustees.

Applications should have a maximum requested amount of $75,000.

Letter OF Intent Submission Deadline: Rolling submission
Full Submission Deadline: Rolling submission

IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement is inviting collaborative proposals for implementing evidence-based cancer related programs within the community. Proposals should focus on the cancer burden in Indiana. The program should have an evaluation component and priority will be given to one of the major cancer burdens in Indiana including lung, breast, colon, pancreas, prostate and cervical. We are particularly interested in programs that can lower risk behaviors related to cancers which drive cancer incidence and morbidity. Of particular interest are community-led programs that will increase our reach or understanding of the underserved populations in Indiana. The project must be co-led by an IUSCCC faculty member and community advocate or partner.

The duration of this funding is one year, and the budget should not exceed $15,000.

Investigators wishing to apply to this funding mechanism must first submit a Letter of Intent for approval to Crystal Baker. Once approved, the link for submitting the online application will be sent.

Contact for Questions: Crystal Baker

Rolling Submission

The IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center (IUSCCC) is providing an opportunity to fund cancer focused PI-directed applications to the National Institutes of Health that have been reviewed once and missed the NIH pay line and have a high potential for obtaining external funding. The goal is to increase the cancer focused NIH funding base in the IUSCCC. Non-NCI targeted applications should have significant cancer relevance. This opportunity is limited to those who are IUSCCC members.

Investigators wishing to apply to this funding mechanism must first submit a draft cover letter (letter of intent) for approval by the IUSCCC Executive Committee before working with a Coordinator to submit a full application. Once approved, the link for submitting the online application will be sent.

Maximum allowable amount for R01, R42 and R44 grants is $50K with P01 and SPORE funding amounts evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Contact for Letter of Intent and Questions: Kaitlin Condron or Crystal Baker

Want to learn more? You can view documents featuring ND-eligible funding opportunities as well as the other opportunities from the Indiana CTSI at these links.

If you have any questions about Indiana CTSI grants, programs, or upcoming events please feel free to reach out to co-navigators Jessica Brookshire or Paul Helquist.

The Indiana CTSI includes Indiana University, Purdue University, and the University of Notre Dame as the major academic partners along with a number of other institutions and entities in the state.

It is funded by a Clinical and Translational Sciences Award from the National Institutes of Health amounting to some $38 million for the current seven-year funding period of 2023-2030. This funding is supplemented by additional support from many other institutional and corporate partners.

Funding is provided to researchers by many mechanisms to promote translational and collaborative research among the partner institutions.

For more information, please visit: indianactsi.org