Kind reminder! Deadline to submit the Profi6 Fibrobesity New Research Initiative proposals is on Thursday this week (August 31). Fibrobesity NRI call 2023https://patio.oulu.fi/en/news/fibrobesity-nri-call-2023

The total budget of the call is 120 000 euros. One project proposal can be awarded up to 40 000 euros to be spent on 2024. Apply by August 31, 2023!

About Fibrobesity

Fibrobesity - Preventing Fibrosis Related to Obesity - is one of the three multidisciplinary research themes supported by the Academy of Finland PROFI6 funding during 2021-2026. Fibrobesity links strongly with the strategy of the University of Oulu under a wider umbrella of FibroHealth - Combatting Fibrosis in Chronic Diseases. While FibroHealth at large addresses fibrosis, which is a risk factor in the etiology of complex chronic diseases and unhealthy ageing, Fibrobesity focuses on medical and societal challenges of obesity-related fibrotic pathologies. FibroHealth - Combatting Fibrosis in Chronic Diseases | University of Ouluhttps://www.oulu.fi/en/research/combatting-fibrosis-chronic-diseases

Our research draws on strong multidisciplinary expertise integrating biomedical sciences, ICT technologies and human sciences. Fibrobesity represents mainly the UO research focus area "Lifelong Health" and links with "Understanding humans in change" and "Digitalization and smart society", thus building bridges between researchers in several faculties.

The pressing issues addressed by Fibrobesity relate to its three sub-themes. Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Significance of Fibrosis (Fibro1) strives to identify currently poorly known molecular pathways causative for obesity and fibrosis; Disease Modelling for Future Therapies (Fibro2) facilitates translational studies through development of novel in vitro and in vivo disease models; and Societal and Behavioral Perspectives (Fibro3) combines approaches at a broader range of disciplines to reveal lifelong behavioral determinants of obesity.

Scope of the call and requirements

In the New Research Initiative (NRI) call, we welcome innovative proposals that fulfill the following criteria: 1. Novelty: The proposal should be based on future visions and new ideas related to Fibrobesity. 2. Scientific relevance: The proposal should have high scientific potential and integrate to at least one of the Fibrobesity sub-themes Fibro1-3. 3. Collaboration: We expect multidisciplinary or cross-disciplinary proposals to advance co-operations across disciplines within the University of Oulu and/or with external partners and stakeholders.

In addition, while the proposal must be feasible, we appreciate high-risk initiatives which may result in high-gain results in terms of ground-breaking innovations, high-ranking publications and/or potential to attract future funding from international sources e.g. Horizon Europe.

The funding can be used for researchers' or assisting personnel's short-time salary costs and/or other research costs and actions (such as reagents and services) that promote Fibrobesity research. Length of the funding period is one year during 2024.

A primary responsible Principal Investigator level researcher (PI) must be named whose Research Unit will receive the funding. One or more co-PIs can be included from UO, if funding is to be shared. The number of submitted proposals is restricted to one application per one PI. Collaborative role is accepted in several proposals.

Who can apply?

To be eligible in this call, the responsible PI and potential co-PIs who share the funding must hold a doctoral degree and be registered FibroHealth members at the time of submitting the proposal. If you are not yet a member, please fill in this simple FibroHealth registration formhttps://link.webropolsurveys.com/Participation/Public/4c6c14b3-af6e-4352-a59c-bc317f201fcd?displayId=Fin2470923. In case you are not sure if you are a member, please check it with the Fibrobesity coordinator.

How to apply?

Application will include a project proposal of max 3 pages. It is to be submitted using this Fibrobesity NRI call formhttps://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/FC2429BCCD088FE5. Please attach your 3-page project proposal using this TEMPLATEhttps://unioulu-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/rhh_univ_yo_oulu_fi/EUb5ABEBaJZPn9ExvmFKLCoBSzaO5oCnohCCTWpCEh_66g?e=bbFqUs (download and save the template file into your folder).

Deadline of the call is on Thursday, August 31, 2023 (by midnight).

Evaluation and schedule

The Fibrobesity Management Group will organize independent evaluation of the proposals.

We aim at completing the selections by Mid-November, and the funding period will start on January 2024.

More information

Fibrobesity Coordinator Ritva Saastamoinen, ritva.saastamoinen@oulu.fimailto:ritva.saastamoinen@oulu.fi, tel. 0294 48 5226, 050 592 3333

Best wishes, Ritva ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ritva Saastamoinen PhD, Adjunct Professor (Docent) Coordinator, Profi6 Fibrobesity Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine (Room S5 230 at University Hospital) Faculty of Medicine University of Oulu tel. +358 294 48 5226, +358 50 592 3333 X (Twitter): FibroHealthOulu @FibroOuluhttps://twitter.com/FibroOulu FibroHealth - Combatting Fibrosis in Chronic Diseases | University of Ouluhttps://www.oulu.fi/en/fibrohealth-combatting-fibrosis-chronic-diseases [cid:image001.png@01D9D9C2.A42792C0]