REQUEST FOR METRC RESEARCH PROJECT APPLICATIONS
Meharry Translational and Clinical Research Center (MeTRC)
Request for Applications: Research Projects, Round 6
Issue Date: May 2, 2016
Technical Assistance Workshops (Mandatory for eligibility): May 10th at 10am and 18th at 2pm
Letter Of Intent Due: May 23, 2016
Invitation to Submit Application: June 6, 2016
Application Deadline: August 15, 2016
Announcement of Selected Applications: October 3, 2016
Letter of Intent Submission
The Meharry Translational and Clinical Research Center (MeTRC) pilot projects program is pleased to invite applications for its 6th funding opportunity. Based on the availability of funds for this RFA, we anticipate awarding 2 projects for up to $110,000 for one year, with the possibility of an additional year’s funding up to $110,000. We also anticipate funding 2 projects up to $50,000 for one year with a possible second year of funding up to $50,000. The second year of funding will be contingent upon satisfactory progress in year one and the availability of funds.
Any potential applicant must attend one of two 2-hour workshops May 10th at 10am and May 18th at 2pm in order to submit an eligible LOI.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) is an online form at the following link, and must include an NIH-compliant Specific Aims document (1 page):
LOIs will be evaluated by the MeTRC Steering Committee, and selected proposals will be invited to submit full applications for review by the MeTRC scientific review committee using NIH review criteria.
Applicants must complete a VICTR or DBRE design studio review prior to submission.
Applications will be evaluated on scientific quality, translational stage 2 and higher (see “Other Pertinent Information” below), demonstrated relevance to health disparities, and evidence of interdisciplinary, collaborative research.
For this announcement, Principal Investigators (PIs) are required to submit a letter of intent by Monday, May 23rd, 5PM CDT. The LOI is an online form at this link: The full application is due by Monday, August 15, 2016, 5PM CDT.
Who Can Apply
These projects must demonstrate interdisciplinary collaborative team research and address a health disparity. The clinical and/ or translational collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the proposed research must be evident and at the T2 level of translation, minimum. This includes evidence for interaction of at least two areas of expertise, for example a clinician and a basic scientist, or a clinical researcher and a public health professional (please see definitions of translational research at the end of this RFA).
- Community based research projects are highly encouraged to apply.
- Regular faculty members at the Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Full Professor level at Meharry Medical College are encouraged to apply.
- The proposed project cannot duplicate any currently or previously funded award. If another similar or same award is pending, it must be stated clearly in the Letter of Intent.
- Basic science (T0 or T1) research and currently funded projects are not eligible for this funding opportunity.
- Two-time recipients of previous MeTRC pilot funds are ineligible.
Submission Format
Invited investigators will be required to submit a SF-424 (R&R) PDF application following the NIH R03 format for the $50,000 projects and the NIH R21 format for the $110,000 projects. The online NIH instruction for R03 grants are at this link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-16-162.html. The online NIH instruction for R21 grants are at this link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-16-161.html. Also see the NIH link for SF-424 (R&R) instructions, especially starting at section G.100: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-d/general-forms-d.pdf. More detailed instructions will be provided with the invitation for a full submission.
Planning for Full Applications:
- Instructors, Assistant Professors, and those who have never received extramural funding will be expected to submit a career development plan that describes how this project will contribute to the success of your research career.
- It is expected that these pilot proposals will be equivalent in quality to R03 and/or R21 grants. Preliminary data is preferred but not essential.
- Applications will be evaluated on the scientific quality of the proposal, focus of the proposal on health disparities research, translational stage 2 minimum, and evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration. The proposals will be reviewed by the MeTRC scientific review committee using current NIH review criteria.
The following types of expenditures are allowable:
- Research supplies and animal maintenance
- Technical assistance
- Domestic travel when necessary to carry out the proposed research
- Publication costs, including reprints
- Cost of computer time
- Special fees (pathology, photography, etc.)
- Support for graduate students and postdoctoral assistants if their role is to promote and sustain the project presented by the junior faculty member
- Total equipment costing less than $5,000/Y. The equipment must be critical to the proposed work and not available in any existing Meharry core.
- Registration fees for scientific meetings
- Total consulting fees less than $3000/Y
- Investigator salary
- Subcontracts, sub-awards for $110,000 projects only. No subcontracts/sub-awards for $50,000 projects allowed.
The following types of expenditures are NOT allowed
- Secretarial/administrative personnel
- Tuition and stipends
- Foreign travel
- Honoraria and travel expenses for visiting lecturers
- Per diem charges for hospital beds
- Non-medical services to patients
- Construction or building maintenance
- Major alterations
- Purchasing and binding of periodicals and books
- Office and laboratory furniture
- Office equipment and supplies
- Rental of office or laboratory space
- Recruiting and relocation expenses
- Dues and membership fees in scientific societies
Other Pertinent Information
Definition of Translational Research
T0: the identification of opportunities and approaches to health problem; does not include interventions with human subjects.
T1: the process of applying discoveries generated during research in the laboratory, and in preclinical studies, to the development of trials and studies in humans. The research must use human cells, human tissues, human data or human subjects.
T2: applying information from limited clinical trials to the community, practice based research, guideline development, meta-analysis, clinical epidemiology and studies to enhance community health.
T3: health outcome measurement, health delivery evaluation, public health studies, dissemination research and implementation research.
T4: translation to population health.
Definition of Clinical Research
NIH defines clinical research as research with human subjects; that is:
(1) Patient-oriented research. Research conducted with human subjects (or on material of human origin such as tissues, specimens and cognitive phenomena) for which an investigator directly interacts with human subjects. Excluded from this definition are in vitro studies that utilize human tissues that cannot be linked to a living individual. Patient-oriented research includes: (a) mechanisms of human disease, (b) therapeutic interventions, (c) clinical trials, or (d) development of new technologies.
(2) Epidemiologic and behavioral studies.
(3) Outcomes research and health services research.