NIH / Skin Diseases Research Core Centers (P30) - Limited Submission Internal Due Date
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The NIAMS invites applications for research core centers (P30s) in skin biology and diseases. The Skin Diseases Research Core Centers (Core Centers) will provide shared facilities and services to groups of established, currently funded investigators addressing scientific problems in skin biology and diseases in order to improve efficiency, accelerate the pace of research, and ensure greater productivity. Core Centers also support pilot and feasibility studies and program enrichment activities.r/>
Research in skin biology and diseases is at a stage where rapid advances frequently require access to sophisticated technologies and specialized areas of expertise that can be shared by multiple laboratories and are best provided by research core centers. Areas of skin research of interest to NIAMS that could benefit from shared core facilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Regulation of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, including signal transduction pathways, micro RNAs, and epigenetics
2. Developmental biology of the epidermis and skin appendages
3. Biology of skin stem cells
4. Melanocyte biology, melanosome structure and biogenesis, inherited disorders of pigmentation
5. Regenerative medicine, including therapeutic applications of skin stem cells and the development of artificial skin
6. Structural integrity of the epidermis, barrier formation, and delivery of therapeutics through the skin barrier
7. Adaptive and innate immunity of the skin
8. The mechanisms and control of inflammation in the skin
9. Immune and inflammatory diseases of skin
10. The basis and treatment of pruritis
11. Identification of the genetic basis of both rare and common skin diseases, including followup studies on pathogenesis and the creation of animal models of disease
12. Identification and development of biomarkers for diagnosis, disease severity and progression of disease, and for monitoring the response to treatment
13. Wound healing, including the biology and the development of novel therapeutics
14. Extracellular matrix (ECM) of the skin: biology and diseases, including the structure, function, and diseases of the basement membrane
The choice of research area(s) upon which the Skin Diseases Research Core Center would focus is made by the principal investigator and collaborating currently funded investigators. However, research focused on advanced skin cancers, including metastasis and treatment, is not in the NIAMS research mission and should not be the research base for a Core Center.
An Administrative Core should be proposed to coordinate the center and administer the program enrichment activities. Core Center Directors are encouraged to propose a broad research base that includes multiple disciplines, departments, and institutions. Two or more research cores must be proposed.
A pilot and feasibility study program provides modest research support ($20,000-$50,000 direct costs yearly) for a limited time (one to three years) to enable eligible investigators to explore the feasibility of a skin biology or disease-related concept and amass sufficient data to pursue it through other funding mechanisms. The initial set of pilot and feasibility studies must be part of the application. In addition, a plan for program management of the pilot and feasibility program will also be reviewed. The plan must include review of future pilot and feasibility applications during the tenure of the Core Center.
