Please follow the Guidelines for applicants. Research plan must not exceed5 pages and must be written in English. Please use font size 10 points, line spacing 14 points.To safe space, this and all other remarks in brackets [ ] may be deleted. Every item mentioned in the bracketed text must be addressed (state if not applicable). You may introduce subtitles, however, the overall structure of the document must not be changed! Documents not followingthese specifications will be returned!

Longitudinal Studies Call 2013: Pre-Proposal

  1. Title

[Title of the project, max. 255 characters]

  1. Team

[Briefly describe the specific competences of all applicants, in particular, their experience with the design and execution of longitudinal studies and as leaders of multicenter projects; for each member of the team specify her/his role in the project and upload a CV and list of publication]

  1. Project
  2. Scientific background of study, expected outcome, and relevance

[Based on existing knowledge, place the planned study in a scientific context and in relation to other studies in the field;specify questions to be addressed by the present study, indicate scientific potential and impact of expected outcome; where appropriate, comment on the transferability of results into clinical practice and the relevance for public health;discuss national coverage and representability of data set; in which ways could your data (in raw or aggregated form) be used by other research groups; if the present study is the follow-up of a running cohort please provide data on loss to follow-up from the start of your ongoing study]

3.2Methods

[Give enough details on the methodological approach to allow assessment of the adequacy of chosen methods to the research question and of the overall feasibility;presenting a summary of preliminary results obtained might help to demonstrate feasibility; data acquisition and data management must follow international biobanking standards; provide concept on use of existing clinical research infrastructures, e.g. Clinical Trial Units]

3.3Time plan

[Please note: the present Call covers the period 2013-2016. Please design the projectfor an initial period of 2+2 years but add a mid-longterm perspective for the further development of your study; funding for the 2nd 2-year period will depend on the outcome of an intermediary evaluation]

[Provide a (schematic)overview of your studydefining distinct phases (minimal 2 phases “setup” and “maintenance”, each phase must be entered as a separate sub-project under “Sub-project”)withat least one corresponding (verifiable) milestone per phase; specify expected outcome at the end of each phase; since the funding for the 2nd 2-year period will depend on the performance of your study during the first 2-year period, make sure you define several milestones in this first period which can demonstrate the progress your study is making]

  1. Contributions from home institutions and othersources

[Provide a unifiing concept for the common financing of your study by contributions from SNF, home institutions and third parties; this includes infrastructure, equipment, salaries, and research costs; corresponding letters of intent by home institutions and by different financial partners areto be uploaded under “Letters of intent”; in these letters, home institutions confirm that the planned longitudinal study fits the longterm institutional research strategy and will be supported by the institution over an extended period of time]

Swiss National Science Foundation | 1