Grants & Funding
Pitt-CMCR Education and Development Core Opportunities
The University of Pittsburgh Center for Countermeasures Against Radiation CMCR Program is seeking applications from new and established basic scientists seeking retraining in the fields of radiation biology and radiation chemistry for the purpose of developing a body of data suitable for application for an independent research grant (K-Award, R21, RO1). The Education and Development Core Program is primarily focused on recruiting chemists into the field of radiation biology. Therefore, ideal candidates would be recent Ph.D. students initiating or seeking a postdoctoral fellowship in the fields of radiation chemistry or radiation biology. The overall Pitt-CMCR Program is focused on discovery of new radiation protectors (delivered prior to radiation) and radiation mitigators (delivered after radiation) for in vitro and in vivo testing leading to FDA approval and addition to the National stockpile for treating large numbers of exposed military or civilian populations exposed to ionizing irradiation and to use in conditions of radiation accidents or willful acts of radiation terrorism. Therefore, applicants will be screened for not only background training and expertise in chemistry, but also for their reasons for wishing retraining in the fields of radiation biology and radiation chemistry.
The Program:
Applicants will be assigned to one of the three basic project laboratories associated with the CMCR grant. These are laboratories of Drs. Joel S. Greenberger and Michael Epperly (Small Molecule Superoxide Dismutase Mimetic Molecules Designed for Radiation Protection/Mitigation), Valerian Kagan and Andrew Amoscato (Mitochondrial Cardiolipin as a Target for Radiation Protection), and James Peterson (Mitochondrial Complexes I - IV as Targets for Radiation Protection).
Awardees will be assigned to work in one of the three laboratories, but with time spent in each of the other two laboratories and with interaction with the core facilities in the Pitt-CMCR. These core facilities include: Animal model for mitochondrial-based radiation protection (Richard Chaillet, Ph.D.), Innovative medicinal chemistry (Peter Wipf, Ph.D., John Lazo, Ph.D.), (chemical synthesis of new radioprotectors (James Yeske, Ph.D.), Biostatistics (Jim Schlesselman, Ph.D.), and Radiobiological standardization facility with in vitro and in vivo models of radiation damage (Michael Epperly, Ph.D.).
It is the goal of the Education and Development Core that Ph.D. chemists will be experienced and published radiation biologists by the completion of their 1 - 2 year support. Such that they can competitively apply for independent grant funding as listed above.
Application:
Applicants should send a four page application describing their previous and present work, and why they are seeking retraining in radiation biology and related fields. Include a C.V. and a list of all other current funding.
Application Deadlines:
Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received, with funding decisions made on January 1 and July 1 of each year. Applicants are encouraged to get their applications in prior to each of these deadlines.
Funding decisions will be based on the likelihood of candidates securing adequate training (and published evidence of expertise) during the funding period to become eligible for independent funding for radiation biology and related areas, with a clear focus and ability to develop, screen, and optimize small molecular drugs which can target mitochondrial sites of ionizing irradiation damage in a safe, effective, and non-toxic fashion and with high specific activity.