Adult Literacy -- The Greater Homewood Adult Literacy and ESOL Program is looking for volunteers to tutor adults in basic reading and writing. Training and materials are provided. For information, call the volunteer coordinator at 410-261-3518 or by e-mail at decafcat@hotmail.com.

Molecular Imaging Pilot Project Grants -- Pilot project grant funds are available to support innovative projects in molecular imaging. Studies may involve basic, translational or clinical approaches to development of molecular imaging capabilities broadly related to cancer detection, prevention, diagnosis or therapy. Cross-disciplinary approaches are encouraged.

Funds for pilot projects are provided through institutional and Radiology Department support to the NCI-funded program to establish a Pre-In Vivo Cellular Molecular Imaging Center (Pre-ICMIC). Guidelines for submissions are as follows.

1. Awards will be made for pilot projects or feasibility studies to develop molecular imaging research opportunities or ideas.

2. All Hopkins faculty members with a cancer-related molecular imaging project, written in collaboration with a faculty member from the Department of Radiology, may apply.

3. Grants will be awards in the range of $7,000 to $10,000 for a period of one year, with the potential for renewal for an additional year upon reapplication. Support may be requested for supplies and technical salaries.

4. Successful applicants will be required to submit progress reports every six months.

Applications must include information about specific aims; background, including preliminary studies; experimental design (refer to previous publications from Pre-ICMIC for methods where possible; relevant publications of the Pre-ICMIC (no more than 10); budget, that is, standard NIH grant page with detailed budget justification; estimated duration of project; and current and pending supports with reasons for no overlap. Applications must be written in font size 10 or greater. The total length of specific aims, background and experimental design sections combined should not exceed four pages.

An original and three copies of the application are due to Zaver Bhujwalla, Radiology Department, 208C Traylor, 720 Rutland Ave., by Aug. 15. Applicants will be notified by Sept. 30. Applications will be reviewed by members of the Pre-ICMIC program. High priority will be given to innovative molecular imaging projects that involve significant interactions between faculty members. Projects can be high-risk, but should be based on sound reasons for succeeding.

For pre-submission inquiries, such as identifying potential radiology collaborators, or other application-related information, contact the Pre-ICMIC grant administrator in 208 Traylor, or call 410-955-4247.

2002 Searle Scholars Program/Pew Scholars Program and Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards -- Applications for awards in 2002 are requested for the Searle Scholars Program of the Chicago Community Trust, the Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences, and the Burroughs Welcome Fund Career Awards in the Biomedical Sciences.

The Searle Scholars Program supports the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in the first or second year of their first tenure-track appointment at the assistant professor level. Grants are normally $80,000 a year for three years. Candidates should be pursuing research careers in pharmacology, genetics, immunology, cell biology, neuroscience, biochemistry and related areas in the fields of medicine, chemistry and the biological sciences. Applicants must have begun or will begin their first tenure-track appointment as an assistant professor in a clinical or basic science department on or after July 1, 2000.

The Pew Scholars Program supports beginning investigators of outstanding promise in basic and clinical sciences relevant to the advancement of human health by providing them with assured funds as they establish and obtain other funding for their laboratories. Awards are normally $60,000 a year for four years. Candidates must have a doctorate in medicine, other health-related professions or biomedical sciences, and hold a full-time assistant professor or independent researcher appointment as of Nov. 1, 2001.

On July 1, 2002, they shall not have been members of the full-time faculty at any institution for more than three years (excluding time spent as a clinical intern, resident or working toward board certification) regardless of tenure status. Faculty may not hold similar private foundation awards simultaneously with the first two years of the Pew Fellowship.

Both Searle and Pew encourage research clinicians and basic scientists to apply. Hopkins may nominate up to two candidates for the Searle Program and two candidates for the Pew Program, one of whose research involves them directly with patients. Awards will be activated by July 1, 2002.

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards in the Biomedical Sciences provide research training support beginning in the advanced postdoctoral years through the initial years of faculty service to assist fellows in becoming independent investigators. Awards are $500,000 over five years, providing one to two years of postdoctoral support and the remaining years of support during the initial faculty appointment. Candidates must have M.D. or Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences and be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada. All candidates must have completed at least one year and not more than four years of postdoctoral training at the time of nomination. Johns Hopkins may nominate six candidates, ideally three M.D.'s and three Ph.D.'s. However, if at least one candidate is in reproductive science or is a member of an underrepresented minority group (African-American, Hispanic or Native American) seven candidates may be nominated. Individuals who hold a faculty appointment at any level are not eligible.

Internal selection committees have been formed to choose the university's candidates. Selection of candidates will be completed by the end of August or early September to allow ample time for preparing the final applications.

The internal deadline for the Searle, Pew and Burroughs Wellcome Fund awards is Monday, July 23. Completed applications should be sent to Elaine Simonds, 708N Wyman Park Center at Homewood by this date. For application materials or information, call Elaine Simonds at 410-516-8734 or contact her by e-mail at mes@jhu.edu.

Information on these and other programs coordinated by Research Administration Services is available on the Resource home page at http://resource.ca.jhu.edu under "Funding Opportunities." To receive advance e-mail notice of such opportunities, send an e-mail message to listproc@resource.ca.jhu.edu. Leave the subject line blank. For the body of the message, type SUBSCRIBE JHU_ FUNDING_OPS YOUR NAME. You will receive confirmation of your addition to the subscriber's list.

Grants for New Cancer Research Projects -- The American Cancer Society has made available $147,500 to support the initiation of promising new cancer research projects by junior faculty. Grants of a maximum of $20,000 (direct costs only), primarily for research supplies and technical services, will be awarded on a competitive basis.

In conformance with ACS guidelines, applications will be accepted only from full-time, tenure-track JHU faculty members at the ranks of instructor and assistant professor who are within eight years of their independent research or faculty appointment.

Completed applications must be received by Research Projects Administration, 708N Wyman Park Center at Homewood, no later than Mon., Aug. 27. For further information, call 410-516-8734 or e-mail mes@jhu.edu.