Pilot Project Award

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

Issue Date: December 11, 2012

Introduction

The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (UNM HSC), Kansas University (KU), University of Utah, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)are soliciting applications from all faculty members—senior as well as junior investigators—for pilot projects that will exemplify the CTSA mission of developing clinical and translational research, to promote and support the “bench to bedside to community and practice and back” goal of the National Institutes of Health. The purpose of this RFA is to promote inter-institutional collaboration across the CTSA consortium by funding innovative, translational research projects that involve two or more CTSA institutions.

Clinical research is defined in accordance with the NIH definition, as research conducted with human subjects or on material collected from humans for which an investigator directly interacts with a human subject to broaden knowledge about mechanisms of disease, therapeutic interventions, or clinical trials, or to develop new technology. Epidemiological population-based, behavioral studies and community interventions, as well as outcomes and health services research, are considered clinical research. Translational research is defined to include four emphases –1. Phase 1 translational research (T1) includes the process of applying basic research discoveries to develop trials and other studies in humans (i.e., case series, phase I and II clinical trials). 2. Phase 2 translational research (T2) is directed at better patient outcomes and the development of evidence-based guidelines. 3. Phase 3 translational research (T3) implements evidence-based guidelines into health practice through community practice (delivery, dissemination, and diffusion research). 4. Phase 4 translational research (T4) evaluates the health outcomes of applications of translational research in the community.

The research activities at each participating research site will be funded by that institution’s CTSA. Because each institution participating in this program decides how much funding will be devoted to the program, the amount of funding available will vary depending on the institutions of the investigators involved in a proposal. It is anticipated that funds in the range from $10,000 to $25,000 direct costs per project per participating institution may be available for these collaborative projects. The total funding available for a particular collaborative project will depend on the number of participating institutions and the level of funding that each of these institutions had decided to devote to the program. Investigators should contact their own institutions’ CTSA leaders to determine the level of support being provided for the collaborative pilot grants.

Please note: All funds not spent by the end date of the Pilot Project Award will be returned to the participating institution and NIH. No extensions will be granted. For proposals that require IRB-approval and/or IACUC approval, IRB and/or IACUC submission is required by the date of application for your proposal to be considered for review.

Application Deadline, Notice of Awards and Funding Cycle

ApplicationDeadline:

Investigators will submit one application to the two participating institutions by each institution’s deadline.

University of New Mexico – March 1 2013
University of Utah – February 152013
Kansas University – February 15 2013

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – Date

FundingCycle:

If awarded, the pilot funding will be made available from the participating institutions to be used in research at that participating institution at the funding date established by the institution:

University of New Mexico – 01 April 2013 to 31 March 2014
University of Utah – 01 April 2013 to 31 March 2014
Kansas University – 01 April 2013 to 31March 2014

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – 01 April 2013 to 31 March 2014

Eligibility and Project Requirements

  • PrincipalInvestigators fortheseawardsmustbemembersof theinstitution’sfaculty(junior orsenior investigators).
  • Allinvestigatorsselectedtoreceivefunding willbeexpectedtosubmita FinalProgressReportattheendof thefundedproject andanadditionalreportoneyearlater,detailingprogresstodate,expenditures,andall submittedpublicationsandgrantapplications (pendingorfunded) relatingtothepilot project.
  • Projects must be approved at each participating CTSA and by each CTSA’s PI.

Evaluation Criteria

Each application will be reviewed at each separate institution during a normal pilot project review cycle. The review committee will consist of each institution’s normal pilot project review committee. Each application will be reviewed by that institution’s evaluation criteria which may include but is not limited to:

  1. Scientificmerit/qualityofresearchplan
  2. Probabilityofextramuralfunding,ifsuccessful

Presentations and Publications

  • Awardeesareexpectedtosubmit collaborative extramural grants.
  • Allpublications, grants,andpresentationsresultingfromresearchfundedbyFrontiersorusingFrontiersresourcesshouldciteFrontiersasacontributingsourceofsupportandindicateFrontiers’NIHCTSA granttitle andnumber.
  • Investigatorsareresponsibleforsubmittinganypeer-reviewedjournalarticlesresultingfrom researchfunded bythisawardtoPubMedCentral,theNIHdigitalarchiveofbiomedicalandlifesciencesjournal literature.See

Budget Guidelines

Two separate budgets will be submitted to each participating institution, according to that institution’s guidelines. Funds may be used for any research purpose other than faculty salary support. Typical expenses include laboratory supplies, small equipment, patient costs, consultants, or support for pre/postdoctoral students (note: if working in the lab, not as trainees), technicians, or research assistants. Awards are not transferable to any other institution.

The award period at each of the participating CTSA institutions will depend on the respective budget/project period ends dates reflected on the official Notices of Award of each parent CTSA.

How to Apply

Emphasis on concise communication of the relevant information will help to demonstrate effective proposal writing and communication skills, and the likelihood of success in developing the full, competitive proposals to follow these pilots.

Investigators will write one application with two separate budgets that will be submitted separately to each participating institution. Investigators will follow the application guidelines for each of the institutions that the application is being submitted. One budget will be submitted which includes both sites. This may include the following components:

  1. Cover page
  2. Abstract
  3. 5 page Research Plan (does not include references)
  4. Specific plan to obtain extramural funding including timeline of grant submission
  5. Budget and budget justification
  6. NIH biosketch on all participants

KU (Frontiers) – Specific Information for this RFA

Please note the following information specific to applications to Frontiers:

  • Questions to Frontiers PIs: Please contact either Richard Barohn, MD () or Lauren Aaronson, RN, Ph.D. ()
  • Questions about administrative issues regarding the Frontiers Pilots Program: Gregory S. Kopf, Ph.D. () or Kelly Robertson ()
  • Please submit applications by February 15, 2013 via e mail to Kelly Robertson () and clearly mark in the subject line that this is an inter-institutional CTSA pilot grant

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