NIGMS Issues Request for Applications for Systems Biology Research

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 (GenomeWeb News) - The US National Institutes of Health issued an RFA last week requesting systems biology research proposals.

According to the NIH, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences is accepting applications for a program involving the development of "research, training, and outreach programs focused on quantitative, systems level analysis of biological phenomena of biomedical importance within the [institute's] mission."

Under the program, called NIGMS National Centers for Systems Biology, the NIGMS said it plans to support systems biology research in areas that are central to its mission of supporting basic biomedical research and include a focus on developing new computational approaches to biomedical complexity.

Under the program, the NIGMS is committing up to $7 million to fund up to three new grants in response to the RFA. Grant projects may include, but are not limited to, areas such as signaling networks and the regulatory dynamics of cellular processes; supramolecular machines; pattern formation and developmental processes in model systems; and genetic architecture of biological complexity related to inherited variation and environmental fluctuations, said the NIH.

Letters of intent from those seeking grants are due by Jan. 25, 2005. Applications are due by Feb. 25, 2005.