Key Dates

Related Announcements

None

Issued by

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) seeks information regarding the Mature Synchrotron Resources (MSR) Program. This RFI will assist NIGMS in the evaluation of the current MSR program, as well as provide input to inform future decisions about the structure and operations of the program. 

Background

NIGMS supports a variety of structural biology research resources, including those through the MSR. Launched in 2016, the program supports synchrotron-based user resources where the technologies are at an advanced level and require minimal development. NIGMS MSRs support Macromolecular Crystallography (MX), Small-Angle and Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS and WAXS), fiber diffraction, and other synchrotron-based techniques that generate important data, with an emphasis on structural biology. These resources provide access to state-of-the-art instrumentation along with user support and training and are available to all biomedical researchers whose projects are vetted by the synchrotron facility through a peer review process. NIGMS is currently performing an evaluation of the MSR program.

Information Requested

NIGMS seeks input from the extramural community, including principal investigators and key personnel of MSR awards, resource staff, the user community, members of relevant advisory boards, and any other interested parties regarding their experiences with and/or opinions on synchrotron resources supported by NIGMS. Input sought includes, but is not limited to the following topics:

• Perceived benefits of the MSR program;
• Perceived challenges facing the MSR program;
• Availability and quality of state-of-the-art technology at the synchrotron resources;
• Availability and quality of the training in the use of the synchrotron resource technologies; 
• Availability and quality of the training in data analysis methods and/or software use offered as a part of the MSR program;
• Suggested approaches for improving the MSR program to better serve the research community;
• Effects on access to, use of, and training for the synchrotron resources as a result of COVID-19;
• Relative use of synchrotron resources for structural biology research in comparison to non-synchrotron-based structural biology techniques and technologies;
• Expected future level of need for NIGMS-supported synchrotron resources;
• Any other relevant topics for NIGMS to consider in the evaluation of the MSR program.

How to Submit a Response

Responses to the RFI will be accepted through 6/17/2024. All comments will be anonymous and must be submitted electronically via a web form at: https://www.research.net/r/P30_RFI

Responses to this RFI are voluntary. The Government will use the information submitted in response to this RFI at its discretion. The Government reserves the right to use any submitted information internally, on public websites, in reports, in summaries of the state of the science, in any possible resultant solicitation(s), grant(s), or cooperative agreement(s), or in the development of future funding opportunity announcements. This RFI is for informational and planning purposes only and is not a solicitation for applications or an obligation on the part of the Government to provide support for any ideas identified in response to it. Please note that the Government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for use of that information.

The information submitted will be analyzed and may be shared internally, appear in reports or be reflected in future solicitations, as appropriate and at the Government's discretion. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s) or other activities. No basis for claims against the U.S. Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or from the Government's use of such information.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

NIGMS Program Evaluations Team
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: NIGMSProgramEvaluations@nih.gov