2016-2017 RNA Bioscience Initiative Grant Program

Request for Applications and Program Guidelines

Purpose and Overview

The RNA Bioscience Initiative (RBI) at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical campus seeks to establish and support outstanding RNA-focused research, to include basic science, translational, and clinical studies. Towards that goal, the RBI seeks to fund exciting new research projects that push the leading edge of RNA-focused research. We anticipate that both multiple- and single-PI grants of different budget sizes will be awarded in multiple rounds over the next 4-5 years.

In this first round of grant awards, the RBI will fund a number of investigator-initiated projects. Diverse RNA-focused topics and varied approaches will be supported. In this round, the RBI is particularly interested in projects using high-throughput sequencing methods and bioinformatics tools, but proposals focused on other methods that address the topics outlined below are encouraged.

The RBI will fund two types of grants in this cycle:

1.  Research Project Grants (up to $50,000) will support RNA-centric studies of important basic or clinically-focused questions. Proposals that address the First Round Key Topics listed below are encouraged to apply. We are particularly interested in proposals that use single cell RNA sequencing methods, or new high resolution methods to study RNA transcription, processing and translation.

2.  Bioinformatics Grants (variable budgets) will provide support for analysis of high-throughput sequencing data. The RBI has begun hiring analysts at the postdoctoral level who will consult with award recipients on their projects and implement analytical approaches. These awards are intended to support both analysis of existing sequencing data, or can be awarded to supplement analysis of data generated by the Research Grants.

First Round Program Key Topics

Using cutting-edge RNA analysis tools and other methods to:

1.  Rapidly assess the efficacy of treatment for treating cancers and other major diseases.

2.  Understand the role of RNA processing abnormalities (such as aberrant splicing) in disease states.

3.  Understand the biology of RNA viruses, host sensing of viral RNAs, and role of RNAs in infectious disease..

4.  Identify RNAs of novel function whose dysregulation leads to disease.

5.  Find or understand functionally important non-coding RNAs, RNA biomarkers, and post-transcriptional modifications in RNAs.

Eligibility

•  Principal Investigators (PIs) for both awards must have faculty appointments at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and hold the rank of Assistant Professor, Research Assistant Professor, and Instructor or higher. Adjunct and Clinical faculty are eligible, but must be partnered with a PI with regular faculty rank.

•  Eligibility and funds for Bioinformatics Support will be determined by the RNA Bioscience Bioinformatics Group

•  Proposal may not describe research that is funded by other sources during the grant period.

Grant Recipient Requirements

Those receiving a grant will be expected to become active members of the University of Colorado RNA research community. Both the PIs and those working on funded projects will be required to:

• Participate in the regular “RNA Club” chalk talks on the Anschutz Medical Campus, including presentations to the group.

• Self-identify as a member of the RBI (in addition to their home department) on all publications emanating from the work resulting from this grant.

• Use awarded funds solely to support the RNA research described in their proposal.

• Provide a progress report 30 days after the end of the first and second years of funding (if a second year of funding is awarded).

• Present a presentation on research accomplishments at a future Symposium hosted by the RBI.

• For Bioinformatics Grants, include the RBI fellows that their faculty sponsor as authors on publications that result from the award.

Award Categories and Budget

1. Research Project Grants. These grants have a maximum budget of $50,000 for an initial one-year period. No indirect costs will be provided. Allowable expenses are those that directly support the research, including salaries for technicians, post-docs and graduate students, supplies, and necessary equipment. Salary support for the PI is not allowable. Grants will be made only to University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus researchers, but subcontracting to collaborators elsewhere is permitted as long as it is clearly necessary to the success of the project. Funds not spent in the twelve-month period may be used after this period with permission.

2. Bioinformatics Grants have budgets that will determined by consultation with the RBI Fellows and their faculty supervisor, Dr. Jay Hesselberth. These awards will provide 1 year of continuous support for analysis. We will also accept applications that propose to supplement a Research Project Grant with Bioinformatic support.

For both grant mechanisms, extension of the initial one-year period of support will be available, depending on success and participation during the first year. Funding beyond the first year will require:

a) Having actively participated in the “RNA Club” meetings throughout the first year

b) Participation in a future RBI Symposium

c) Re-applying in the 2017 competition

d) Demonstration of some measure of success during the first year of funding

Application Requirements and Procedures

Step 1. All applicants must submit an Email of Intent by July 15, 2016. This should include the name and contact information of the PI, should state the total budget to be requested, and must include a brief (1/2 page maximum) description of the project. Emails of Intent are to be sent to:

Step 2. Full applications must be submitted no later than September 1, 2016 as a single PDF file (file name as follows: PIname.ProposalTitle.pdf) that includes:

a)  A brief cover letter from the PI containing the title of the proposal and describing the value of the project and a statement that all collaborators listed on the application agree with the proposal.

b)  A proposal consisting of no more than 3 pages in standard NIH grant application format. Recommended, but not required, organization for proposals include: specific aims, background and broader impact, innovation, and research plan. Preliminary results are not required, but may be included. 1 additional page of figures and legends is allowed, and the bibliography/ references are not included in the 3 page limit.

c)  Budget that states the total amount of direct costs in each category:

·  Personnel and costs

·  Supplies

·  Services (e.g., sequencing, etc.)

·  Equipment

*Bioinformatics-only proposals may instead state: to be determined by consultation with RBI

d)  NIH formatted Biosketch for the PI or PI’s

e)  No appendices or materials are permitted other than a maximum of three letters from collaborating scientists. The latter are not required. If provided, letters should be specific and spell out exactly how the collaborating scientist will contribute to the project.

An electronic online submission link will be provided to all applicants that have submitted a Letter of Intent. After your submission is complete, you will receive a confirmation receipt by email.

Key Dates

Submit Email of Intent: July 15, 2016

Application Submission Due: September 1, 2016

Decisions/Results Communicated to Applicant: September 30, 2016

Funding of Successful Applicants Begins: October 10, 2016

Review Criteria

A peer review panel composed of faculty with a range of expertise will be responsible for award decisions, evaluating eligible applications competitively. The primary factors in award decisions will be the scientific merit of the proposed research, its direct relevance to furthering RNA research on campus, the likelihood to “seed” eventual R series-level or equivalent extramural funding, and the long-term promise of the proposed research. Applications should make clear how the proposed research will contribute to RNA research and the RNA community at the University of Colorado.

A one paragraph scientific critique will be provided to applicants with a review response of “Funded”, “Not funded” or “Not eligible”.

Contact

Karen Vockrodt

Business Administrative Specialist

RNA Bioscience Initiative

303-724-3200