dkNET community events and announcements in May, 2017

Dear dkNET Community,

dkNET provides updates on activities of interest to the NIDDK-supported community. You could keep up to date on these activities through our Twitter feed @dkNET_info, through our Community Calendar, or through dkNET e-mail list. If you have an event or funding opportunities you'd like to advertise, please contact us info_at_dknet.org.

dkNET Updates:  

• New data view: Human Islet Research Network (HIRN): Antibodies https://dknet.org/Materials/Antibodies/source/SCR_014393-1/search?q=%2A&l=
  

We also created the cross-reference between Research Resource Identifier (RRIDs) and HIRN antibodies in this view.

• dkNET-NURSA Challenge Kick-Off Webinar on April, 27, 2017. Thanks to all those who attended our kick-off webinars in April. We hoped that you enjoyed it. In this 30-minute webinar, Dr. Maryann Martone and Dr. Ko-Wei Lin provided the information about the challenge task, how to use dkNET to find research resources, and top tips. If you missed it, check out our challenge page and YouTube channel. Please feel free to contact us if you have any question. It's a fun way to learn dkNET and also win big prize! Don't miss you chance to receive $50 VISA gift card and win a $500 cash prize. Join it ASAP!

• Join FREE dkNET Introductory Webinar on May, 10, 2017!  dkNET team will give an overview of the dkNET portal and show how dkNET can be used to address a variety of use cases that involve searching for research resources and connecting to the broader biomedical community. We will also provide information on how researchers can get involved with dkNET, keep up to date with the NIDDK community, and associated efforts such as using research resource identifiers (RRIDs) to promote data reuse and reproducibility. RSVP: https://goo.gl/8M8OBp

Events in May, 2017

May 3, 2017

Webinar: Large Scale Gene Function Discovery to Support Human Health: The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC)

The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) is a G7- recognised global research infrastructure that is coordinating the global production of a knockout mouse gene for every protein coding gene. The mice are characterised in a standardised, broad-based phenotyping pipeline giving insights into function for genes for which very little is known. With new phenotype data freely available for over 3000 genes, this webinar will discuss some of the exciting discoveries in genetic disease, development and sexual dimorphism that biologists and clinical researchers are making using IMPC resources. The webinar will include how to access the complex phenotype and image data at mousephenotype.org.

More information: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/training/events/2017/large-scale-gene-function-discovery-support-human-health-international-mouse-phenotyping

May 5, 2017

The BD2K Guide to the Fundamentals of Data Science Series: Reproducibility 

Speaker: John Ionnaidis,Stanford University

More information:  http://www.bigdatau.org/data-science-seminars

May 7-10, 2017

BCW-ISG 2017 Beta Cell Workshop

This conference will provide an inspiring program, covering a wide spectrum of topics in the field of islet biology, i.e. beta cell development, maturation and regeneration, beta cell function, genetics & epigenetics of beta cells, beta cell therapy and beta cell interaction with immune cells. Leaders in the field, rising stars as well as postdocs and students will come together to exchange their latest findings and ideas in order to foster progress and networking in this research area.

Location: Dresden, Germany

More information: https://www.helmholtz-muenchen.de/bcw-isg-2017/index.html

May 9-13, 2017

Keystone Symposia: Neuronal Control of Appetite, Metabolism and Weight 

Obesity, a condition that is becoming a leading cause of human morbidity and mortality, is among the global healthcare challenges of the 21st century. Obesity is primarily a result of the cumulative effect of increased food intake beyond the body’s energetic requirements over time. Emerging research reveals critical integrative neuronal systems that control both energy and glucose homeostasis, which have encouraging implications for the future treatment of obesity. This symposium will fuse existing knowledge with the latest discoveries in the neural circuits underpinning nutrient sensation, satiety, food reward, developmental programming and glucoregulatory function. Furthermore, recent findings will be presented on the peripheral regulation of these neural circuits by gut and adipocyte-derived signals. The application of cutting-edge neuroscience approaches and the clinical relevance of basic science discoveries to obesity research will also be highlighted. Recent advances in emerging treatment options will be discussed, including surgical interventions and next-generation pharmacotherapies. In combination with a joint symposium on the” Gastrointestinal Control of Metabolism,” this exciting program will bring together breaking research from both basic science and translational realms on the etiology and treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

More information: http://www.keystonesymposia.org/index.cfm?e=Web.Meeting.Program&meetingid=1458&subTab=program

May 10, 2017

dkNET Webinar: NIDDK Information Network (dkNET) - A Community Resource and Information Portal

In this one-hour webinar, dkNET team will give an overview of the dkNET portal and show how dkNET can be used to address a variety of use cases that involve searching for research resources and connecting to the broader biomedical community. We will also provide information on how researchers can get involved with dkNET, keep up to date with the NIDDK community, and associated efforts such as using research resource identifiers (RRIDs) to promote data reuse and reproducibility. 

Registration: https://goo.gl/8M8OBp

The BD2K Guide to the Fundamentals of Data Science Series: Considerations & Limitations for Clinical Data

Speaker: Zak Kohane, Harvard University

More information: http://www.bigdatau.org/data-science-seminars

May 19, 2017

The BD2K Guide to the Fundamentals of Data Science Series: BD2K Guide Summary & NIH Context

Speaker: Phil Bourne, National Institutes of Health

More information: http://www.bigdatau.org/data-science-seminars

May 21, 2017

Application Deadline: Gordon Research Conference - Exocrine and Endocrine Pancreas: Molecules to Human 

Despite the rapid advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in pancreatic development, regeneration, and malignant transformation, as well as our ability to model these processes in mice and recently also human cells, our ability to translate this knowledge into the clinical setting to benefit patients is still largely lacking. This relatively new GRC aims to link the understanding of the biology of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas to applications to human diseases. This GRC is unique in that it is the only conference that convenes experts from all aspects of pancreas biology as well as clinicians working on translational approaches for various pancreatic diseases, including pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis and diabetes. By providing a forum for the presentation and discussion of cutting edge, unpublished concepts and approaches, the goal of this GRC is to stimulate discussion across fields and disciplines. This exchange will foster interdisciplinary approaches in the field and promote exchange of ideas and experiences to lead to new collaborations, as well as empower young scientists to showcase their work to peers and leaders in the field. Workshop dates: June 18-23, 2017

Location: Waterville Valley, NH

More information: http://www.grc.org/programs.aspx?id=15836

May 25-26, 2017

NIDDK Workshop: Emerging Role of Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Human Diseases 

With the recent plethora of high impact papers getting attention from the public and private sectors, the field is ready for a major update on BCAA metabolism. A deeper understanding of the regulation of BCAA inter-organ and intracellular metabolism could reveal new therapeutic targets to promote health, treat disease and/or improve the lifespan. The conference will help identify key gaps in our current knowledge and infrastructure, from which a published report would be expected to emerge. Registration deadline: May 25, 2017 or until full; This meeting will also be available via webcast.

Location: Bethesda, MD

More information: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/news/events-calendar/Pages/emerging-role-branched-chain-amino-acids-human-diseases.aspx

May 26, 2017

Registration deadline: Workshop on Best Practices for Studies of Diet and the Intestinal Microbiome 

The purpose of this workshop is to improve rigor and reproducibility in research on the colonic microbiome, identify important dietary information that should be reported and parameters to consider in design of studies, particularly for clinical studies on diet and the intestinal microbiome. A summary for the research community will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. Workshop dates: June 13-14, 2017 or until full.

Location: Bethesda, MD

More information: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/news/events-calendar/Pages/workshop-best-practices-studies-diet-intestinal-microbiome.aspx

Funding opportunities information and deadlines in May, 2017

May 1, 2017 

Funding Opportunity Application Due Date: ISN-H4KH Fellowship in Hydration for Kidney Health

Funding Opportunity Application Due Date: Perelman School Of Medicine, University Of Pennsylvania, Center For Molecular Studies In Digestive And Liver Diseases Pilot And Feasibility Grant Program

The purpose of the Center is to unite investigators with interests in digestive and liver physiology and disease and to stimulate others in the biomedical community to enter this area of research. One of the most important aspects of this effort is the funding of Pilot/Feasibility Projects.The Pilot/Feasibility Project should be related to the focus of the Center, which encompasses molecular studies on the biology or disease of the alimentary tract, pancreas, and liver. Relevant investigations include those in developmental biology, nutrition, regulation of gene expression, growth, differentiation and carcinogensis, the biology of stem cells, molecular genetics, gene therapy, and immunology, including growth factors and cytokines.

More information: https://www.med.upenn.edu/molecular/pilotproject.shtml

Funding Opportunity Letter of Intent Due Date: NURSA Hub: Consensome Validation NDSP

The mission of the Nuclear Receptor Signaling Atlas (NURSA) Hub is to improve the accessibility and re-usability of publicly-archived datasets of relevance to the nuclear receptor (NR) signaling research community. To arrive at consensus physiological system- and organ-specific transcriptomic signatures of NR pathways, the NURSA Hub has added a new module to its Transcriptomine data analysis platform, called Consensome. In this feature, genes are ranked according to the frequency with which they are significantly differentially expressed in publicly archived datasets involving manipulation of a given NR pathway in a specific organ or physiological system. The rankings, or Consensomes, are available at https://www.nursa.org/nursa/transcriptomine/index.jsf. In addition to validating well-characterized NR target genes, many Consensomes contain highly ranked genes that represent potentially important, but currently underappreciated, transcriptional targets of NR signaling pathways. In this NDSP solicitation, we invite applications proposing bench validation of relationships between NR signaling pathways and gene(s) predicted by the Consensomes, but that are previously unpublished in the research literature. Letter of Intend: May 31, 2017. Application Deadline: June 19, 2017.

More information: https://nursa.org/nursa/funding/ndsp_rfp.jsf