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Announcements

Nutritional Approaches for Musculoskeletal Pain and Inflammation February 2022 Clinical Digest Many nutritional approaches such as dietary supplements have purported anti-inflammatory properties, and some have a long history of use for treating inflammation and the pain that is associated with musculoskeletal inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tendinitis. Although there is some limited evidence that a few natural products may provide modest benefits, in general, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of many of these approaches for inflammatory conditions. This issue of the digest provides a current summary of the evidence of several natural products marketed for improving these conditions.

New Research Shows Changes in Brain Connectivity in Youth With Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders Youth with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) have distinctive patterns of brain connectivity that could support the development of biomarkers and inform new treatment approaches, according to a study by researchers from Michigan State University and Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center. The study, which was partially funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, was published in the journalPain.

Acute Pain Tolerance Is More Consistent Over Time in Women Than Men, According to New Research Many researchers exclude women from pain studies because they assume that hormonal changes in women lead to more variability over time and less reliability in ratings of pain. New research, however, shows that women have higher test-retest reliability (a measure of consistency across measurements) on thermal pain measures than men, disproving the assumption used to justify including only men in pain research. The new study, published in theJournal of Pain,was partially funded by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and led by NCCIH researchers.

Job Opening: Health Scientist Administrator (Program Director), NCCIH Basic and Mechanistic Research Branch

The NCCIH Division ofExtramural Research announces the opening for a health scientist administrator (programdirector) position to direct and manage NCCIHs basic and mechanistic research portfoliorelated to natural products. The position is recruited at the GS12 or GS13 level with fullpromotion potential to GS14.

Resources for Researchers

New Funding Opportunities

• Notice of Participation of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) in PAR-21-173, "Support for Research Excellence First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award (R16 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• NIH Request for Information (RFI) on Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities that Bridge Neuroscience and Environmental Health Science
• Coordinating Center to Support Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• Notice of Pre-application Webinar for Phase III of the RADx-UP Initiative
• BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs - eTeamBCP (U01 Clinical Trials Optional)
• Notice of Change to Award Budget for RFA-NS-22-021, "HEAL Initiative: Human Pain-associated Genes & Cells Data Coordination and Integration Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)"
• Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplements for Complementary Health Practitioner Research Experience (Admin Supplements)

Highlighted Funding Opportunities

Please note that the deadline for applications for the following opportunities is April 23, 2022. Other important dates include:Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): March 22, 2022 Letter of Intent Due Date(s): March 22, 2022 Expiration Date: April 23, 2022

• Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-22-115
  This initiative will support a network of research projects to develop and test interventions at the community or community organization level that aim to prevent firearm and related violence, injury and mortality. NIH is committed to supporting research that identifies innovative prevention approaches to reduce firearm and related violence, injury and mortality. Within the legislative mandates and limitations of NIH funding (NOT-OD-21-058, NOT-OD-21-056), this FOA solicits bi-phasic research projects proposed in UG3/UH3 Phased Innovation Awards Cooperative Agreement applications.
  
  
• Coordinating Center to Support Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-22-120
  The purpose of this FOA is to seek applications for a Coordinating Center (CC) for Community-Level Interventions for Firearm Violence Prevention (CLIF-VP) Research Network. Members of the CLIF-VP Research Network, including the CC, will work collaboratively with the NIH to develop and test interventions at the community or community organization level that aim to prevent firearm and related violence, injury, and mortality.

Diversity Resources

• Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  Principal Investigators of specific mechanisms: Funds are available for administrative supplements to enhance the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting students, postdoctorates, and eligible investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research. NCCIH accepts applications four times a year, due on January 2, April 1, July 1, or October 1. Read the NCCIH-specific information for details.

Upcoming Events

Technical Assistance Webinar: NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory Webinar (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trials Optional) RFA-AT-22-001

April 5, 2022, 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. ET; Virtual

Learn more about NIH's Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory funding opportunities and review requirements during this webinar. NCCIH program and review staff will discuss the NIH Health Care Systems Research Collaboratory - Pragmatic and Implementation Trials of Embedded Interventions (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trials Optional) funding opportunity. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions during the latter portion of the webinar. Registration is required.

Related Information:

RFA-AT-22-001: NIH Health Care Systems Research CollaboratoryPragmatic and Implementation Trials of Embedded Interventions (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trials Optional)

Frequently Asked Questions: NIH Health Care Systems Research CollaboratoryPragmatic and Implementation Trials of Embedded Interventions (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trials Optional)

2022 International Workshop on the Neural and Social Bases of Creative Movement

April 7-10, 2022; Wolf TrapNational Park for the Performing Arts (Vienna, VA)

This international interdisciplinary workshop is focused on the theme of creative movements and the brain. The in-person workshop will take place at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. The planning committee invites an exceptionally wide range of scientists, engineers, and clinicians to exchange ideas with and to integrate knowledge and experience among creative movement professionals and other performing artists. The primary goals of the event are to encourage all participants to reach beyond the confines of their expertise to explore the science of learning to move, how the creative process is manifested in the brain, and how it can be harnessed to enhance health and the quality of life.

The workshop will include 3 days of scientific presentations and 1 final day of educational outreach and performances. Presentations will include demonstrations within sessions.

Can a Controversial Tree Help End the Opioid Crisis? April 25, 2022, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. ET; Videocast Speaker:Christopher McCurdy,Ph.D., F.A.A.P.S., Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair in Drug Research and Development Professor, Medicinal Chemistry Director, University of Florida Translational Drug Development Core College of Pharmacy Kratom(botanical nameMitragyna speciosa) is a tree in the coffee family (Rubiaceae) indigenous to Southeast Asia. Its leaves are the source of a Thai traditional drug, kratom, that possesses unique pharmacologic actionse.g., stimulant actions like those of the coca plant plus depressant ones like those of opium. Traditionally, in its countries of origin, kratom extract has been used as an opium substitute; in Thailand, it has been used as a treatment for addiction.Dr. McCurdy will discuss the traditional medicinal use of kratom, the chemistry of the current pharmacologic studies, and the results of his teams behavioral studies in rodent models. Kratoms differing uses, availability, and preparation around the world will also be explored.

Precision Probiotic Therapies: Challenges and Opportunities April 26-27, 2022, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. ET; Virtual Probiotic interventions may potentially offer beneficial effects, such as alleviation of gastrointestinal symptoms; strengthening of the immune system; protection against infectious diseases; prevention of metabolic disorders; improved mental health; promotion of early development; and general well-being. However, one major challenge in assessing the effects of probiotic interventions has been the inconsistent results of clinical trials. We now have a better understanding of some of the biological and behavioral factors that might contribute to inconsistent outcomes from probiotic interventions (e.g., differences in gut microbiota, diet, age, and lifestyle). Registration is required.