Initiatives

1000 Chicago Cancer Genome Project

Cancer is, at it heart, a genetic disease, driven by the acquisition of mutations in important genes.  Although these mutations produce cancer, recent results in several tumors suggest that these mutations may also represent cancer’s Achilles heel. Over the last several years, several new successful chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed that directly target specific cancer mutations.  Thus, the identification of mutations that drive carcinogenesis will allow the development of new, more effective therapies for cancer. However, these drugs only work in a small percentage of cancers.  Cancer is extremely complex and heterogeneous, and the identification of which mutations are present in a tumor and should be targeted by chemotherapeutic therapy is not obvious.

The recent development of novel “next-generation” sequencing technologies now make it possible to identify every mutation in a cancer cell.  Over the last 18 months, the Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology at the University of Chicago has developed significant experience in this emerging technology.  Thus, the IGSB, in conjunction with the University of Chicago Medical Center, is proud to announce the launch of the 1000 Cancer Transcriptomes Project.  Over the next 2 years, the IGSB and UCMC will sequence the transcriptomes of 1000 tumors at the UCMC.  We combine this data with a series of sophisticated analyses and high throughput experiments to identify new targets for therapy, in some of the most common and deadly cancers.

Metabolic Diseases and Diabetes

In partnership with the IGSB, Mark Ratain, MD (Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology / Oncology) and colleagues are analyzing genome wide variation in DNA sequence and gene expression in a large collection of human livers to discover patterns of genomic variation and expression. This comprehensive study, never before conducted, will provide the basis for evaluating potential outcomes of drug therapy in individual cancer patients.

About 75% of the top 200 drugs prescribed are eliminated from the body through the metabolic enzymes in the liver. In addition to receiving seed funding as part of the IGSB Metabolic Diseases and Diabetes Initiative, Ratain and colleagues are using the resources of the High Throughput Genome Analysis Core (HGAC) to perform their study.

As part of the same Initiative, Chris Rhodes, PhD (Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism) is performing drug and genome screening of insulin-secreting cells in the Celluar Screening Center (CSC) to identify therapies which promote insulin production in diabetes patients.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Eugene Chang, MD (Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology) has partnered with IGSB Core Member Dion Antonopoulos, PhD (IGSB, Argonne) to sequence patient gut contents, containing thousands of different bacterial species, to determine the relationship between specific bacteria and inflammatory bowel disease.

This metagenomics project has been supported by seed funding from the Institute’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Initiative and takes advantage of the next generation sequencing technology within the High-Throughput Genome Analysis Core (HGAC), as well as the computational expertise at Argonne.

Funding Opportunities

The primary sources of grant funding for nonprofit organizations (such as the University of Chicago) include the government and private foundations. These grantors will vary greatly in terms of the specificity, subject matter, amount of funding provided, and the desired scope of submitted proposals.  To locate sources of funding, some good starting points are the many funding portals for federal government agencies and non-federal foundations.  These searchable databases will provide you with the opportunity/announcement, required materials, important deadlines and, in many cases, the forms necessary for submission.  Again, it is imperative to contact both IGSB and the University Research Administration (URA) offices to help guide you through the submission process.

Throughout the year, there may be several major grant announcements that could potentially impact the goals for the IGSB and its members.  We will list any such announcements on this webpage when they become available.  We will also be listing specific opportunities for IGSB members on the tabbed pages for faculty, postdocs and student.  However, for the most current announcement information, a portal query may provide information sooner.

To inquire about participating in or submitting for any of the announcements or opportunities listed to the right, please contact the IGSB Research Director, Aharon Solomon at 4-3882 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Major Announcements

Throughout the year, there may be several major grant announcements that could potentially impact the goals for the IGSB and its members.  We will list any such announcements on this webpage when they become available.  We will also be listing specific opportunities for IGSB members on the tabbed pages for faculty, postdocs and student.  However, for the most current announcement information, a portal query may provide information sooner. 

To inquire about participating in or submitting for any of the announcements or opportunities listed to the right, please contact the IGSB Research Director, Aharon Solomon at 4-3882 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Faculty

There are many avenues for faculty members to procure research support:

U of C Internal
There are many pilot and feasibility programs on campus for a preliminary investigation to determine the feasibility of a study. The Institute for Translational Medicine Pilot Program is a good example.

The Foundation Relations office can aid faculty in identifying and soliciting donation funding for research goals.

Federal Agencies
If you know of a particular NIH grant mechanism (R01, U54, P50, etc.) for which you would like to apply, the NIH has provided a table to guide you as to the probable deadlines for such mechanisms.

Grant opportunities offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies can be found on Grants.gov.

The National Science Foundation has additional opportunities.

Foundations
This is a searchable portal for foundation support.  Funding from a foundation could either be in the form of a non-federal grant or discretionary support.

Other Resources
The Arete Initiative exists to catalyze large-scale projects that cross departmental, divisional, and even institutional lines.

The University of Chicago’s University Research Administration (URA) website also has a list of various websites that may help potential grant applicants.

University of Chicago research funding opportunities and resources.

Postdocs

There are many options for postdocs to procure research support and locate research opportunities.

U of C Internal

• Human Genetics Department 
• BSD Postdoctoral Association

Federal Agencies

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA)
• Grant opportunities offered by the 26 federal grant-making agencies
• National Science Foundation Postdoctotal Fellowships
• National Science Foundation Honor Awards

Other Resources

• National website
• American Society of Clinical Oncology Foundation Merit Awards
• American Association for Cancer Research Awards
• http://www.the-aps.org/awards/society.htm
• American Society for Nutrition opportunities

Students

There are many opportunities for students to gain invaluable laboratory experience on campus.

UofC Internal

The BSD’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs is a great resource:

• Summer Research
• Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP)
• Research by Department

Federal Agencies

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) page for Fellowships and Training Grant Opportunities
• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Eugene Chang, MD (Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology) has partnered with IGSB Core Member Dion Antonopoulos, PhD (IGSB, Argonne) to sequence patient gut contents, containing thousands of different bacterial species, to determine the relationship between specific bacteria and inflammatory bowel disease.

This metagenomics project has been supported by seed funding from the Institute’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease Initiative and takes advantage of the next generation sequencing technology within the High-Throughput Genome Analysis Core (HGAC), as well as the computational expertise at Argonne.

Metabolic Diseases and Diabetes

In partnership with the IGSB, Mark Ratain, MD (Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology / Oncology) and colleagues are analyzing genome wide variation in DNA sequence and gene expression in a large collection of human livers to discover patterns of genomic variation and expression. This comprehensive study, never before conducted, will provide the basis for evaluating potential outcomes of drug therapy in individual cancer patients.

About 75% of the top 200 drugs prescribed are eliminated from the body through the metabolic enzymes in the liver. In addition to receiving seed funding as part of the IGSB Metabolic Diseases and Diabetes Initiative, Ratain and colleagues are using the resources of the High Throughput Genome Analysis Core (HGAC) to perform their study.

As part of the same Initiative, Chris Rhodes, PhD (Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism) is performing drug and genome screening of insulin-secreting cells in the Celluar Screening Center (CSC) to identify therapies which promote insulin production in diabetes patients.

1000 Chicago Cancer Genome Project

Cancer is, at it heart, a genetic disease, driven by the acquisition of mutations in important genes.  Although these mutations produce cancer, recent results in several tumors suggest that these mutations may also represent cancer’s Achilles heel. Over the last several years, several new successful chemotherapeutic drugs have been developed that directly target specific cancer mutations.  Thus, the identification of mutations that drive carcinogenesis will allow the development of new, more effective therapies for cancer. However, these drugs only work in a small percentage of cancers.  Cancer is extremely complex and heterogeneous, and the identification of which mutations are present in a tumor and should be targeted by chemotherapeutic therapy is not obvious.

The recent development of novel “next-generation” sequencing technologies now make it possible to identify every mutation in a cancer cell.  Over the last 18 months, the Institute for Genomics and Systems Biology at the University of Chicago has developed significant experience in this emerging technology.  Thus, the IGSB, in conjunction with the University of Chicago Medical Center, is proud to announce the launch of the 1000 Cancer Transcriptomes Project.  Over the next 2 years, the IGSB and UCMC will sequence the transcriptomes of 1000 tumors at the UCMC.  We combine this data with a series of sophisticated analyses and high throughput experiments to identify new targets for therapy, in some of the most common and deadly cancers.

Research

IGSB research at the University of Chicago is focused on genomics and systems biology approaches to discover new diagnostic and therapeutic targets, strategies for complex human diseases and basic discoveries of genome function evolution. Our resources are focused on the promotion of research in multiple key areas, and investigators are invited to participate in one or more of these areas as they deem relevant to their own research programs:

• Cancer
• Cellular and Genomic Networks
• Computational Biology and Informatics
• Microbial Systems Biology
• Evolutionary Genomics and Systems
• Population Genomics and Complex Diseases
• Chemical Genomics
• Clinical Genomics
• Proteomics and Structural Genomics
• Biological Engineering and Technology Development