[RASMB] Request for proposals BITC general interests

[Tom Laue]

*Request for Proposals*

**

The Biomolecular Interaction Technologies Center (BITC) is soliciting 
research proposals for funding. BITC is a National Science Foundation 
Industry/University Cooperative Research Center established to carry out 
research in coordination with pharmaceutical and biotechnology 
companies. The NSF IUCRC program provides support for BITC 
administrative expenses. The BITC grants program is funded by industrial 
membership fees. For information about BITC, its member companies, and a 
list of funded projects, go to the Web site: www.bitc.unh.edu.

Research proposals should deal with methods based preferably on first 
principles that can be used to quantify the binding interaction between 
molecular species, specifically protein-protein interactions (including 
monoclonal antibodies), small molecule drug-protein interactions and 
drug-lipid interactions. The development of new instruments and methods, 
novel molecular tools such as new fluorescent probes and their 
applications, or the refinement of existing equipment or techniques will 
be considered. The objective should be the use of the instrument or 
method on a routine basis for either molecular screening or as an 
analytical technique in research relevant to drug discovery or development.

Areas of interest: 1) high-throughput binding assays; 2) more robust 
software for data acquisition analysis; and 3) improved methods for 
characterizing binding of membrane proteins. Technologies of particular 
interest include but are not restricted to: total internal reflection 
fluorescence spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and Raman 
spectroscopy, high-throughput calorimetry, surface plasmon 
spectroscopies, atomic force microscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, 
analytical electrophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, light 
scattering, circular dichroism, mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic 
resonance spectroscopy.

Researchers at academic institutions are eligible to apply. The research 
must be conducted within the U.S. Awards typically range from $15,000 to 
$50,000 per year; project duration is typically two years. Researchers 
are encouraged to cite BITC support in proposals for funding from other 
sources, to use BITC funds to leverage grants and other funding 
opportunities, to support a portion of an instrument development 
project, or to support a graduate student or postdoctoral 
appointment.Institution overhead fees are held at 10% at the request of 
the NSF IUCRC program.

Submit a proposal via email as either an RTF or Word document, or as a 
PDF (deadline below). Proposals must be received by June 1^st , 2011 and 
include a description of the project, estimated cost, duration, and 
credentials of the principal investigator. Email to: Dr. Thomas M. Laue, 
bitc.unh at unh.edu.

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Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824-3544
Phone: 603-862-2459
FAX:   603-862-0031
E-mail: Tom.Laue at unh.edu
www.bitc.unh.edu
www.camis.unh.edu