CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE Pilot Awards Application Packet

Transcription

1 CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE Pilot Awards Application Packet

2 CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CVRI) Pilot Awards The Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) at Baylor College of Medicine is pleased to announce pilot awards for proposals in cardiovascular research that will promote collaboration between multiple investigators and are likely to lead to externally funded grants in the foreseeable future. Timeline: Mark your calendars! The submission website will OPEN Monday, October 17, Submit your proposal here: Applications will be reviewed by members of the CVRI Executive Committee. Funding for selected proposals is anticipated to be available December June 30, No extensions will be allowed. The expectation is that before the end of calendar year 2017, the co-pis will submit a grant proposal for external funding (NIH preferred). Goal: To promote the writing of multi-pi grants in the area of cardiovascular research (clinical, translational or basic). Eligibility: All BCM faculty members who are members of the CVRI. Membership in the CVRI is free. Please visit for more information The initiative should utilize a multiple-pi approach, including two or more PIs, with primary appointments in at least two different BCM departments. Amount of funding: 2-4 awards up to $25,000 will be made in unrestricted funds. Start synergizing and formulating your proposals! The submission website will OPEN Monday, October 17, Please direct questions to cvri@bcm.edu.

3 CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CVRI) PILOT AWARDS The Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) at Baylor College of Medicine is pleased to announce pilot awards for proposals in cardiovascular research that will promote collaboration between multiple investigators and are likely to lead to externally funded grants in the foreseeable future. TIMELINE The submission website will open Monday, October 17, Please visit for announcements regarding future deadlines. Applications will be reviewed by members of the CVRI Executive Committee. Funding to selected proposals is anticipated to be available December 2016 June 30, No extension will be allowed. The expectation is that before the end of calendar year 2016, the co-pis will submit a grant proposal for external funding (NIH preferred). GOAL To promote the writing of multi-pi grants in the area of cardiovascular research (clinical, translational or basic). ELIGIBILITY All BCM faculty members who are members of the CVRI. Membership in the CVRI is free. Please visit for more information. The initiative should utilize a multiple-pi approach, including two or more PIs, with primary appointments in at least two different BCM departments. AMOUNT OF FUNDING 2-4 awards up to $25,000 will be made in unrestricted funds COLLABORATIVE IMPACT AND EXTERNAL FUNDING POTENTIAL The CVRI Pilot Awards are intended to foster collaborative research projects with a high probability of obtaining external funding within a year. Special attention will be paid to the potential collaborative impact of the application and the external funding plan included in the application. REVIEW PROCESS Applications will be reviewed by members of the CVRI Executive Committee. Executive committee members are listed here: Applications will be scored on a 9 point NIH scoring system, with the addition of one decimal point. Applications will be scored on each of the following criteria: Overall Impact, Collaboration, Significance, Investigator, Approach, and Environment. Reviewers will make a budget recommendation based on the application, requested budget, and justification.

4 EVALUATION CRITERIA Significance of the research to cardiovascular science Appropriate study design Feasibility of the research design and plans for external funding Clear organizational study plan incorporating significant contributions from multiple investigators Scientific expertise of the investigators Assessment of the budget and budget justification External funding potential FORMAT OF THE APPLICATION Documents must be uploaded separately. Applications should be in Arial 11 point font with one-half inch margins. Each application must contain the following items in the order outlined below: 1. Summary sheet This electronic form is part of the online application and will be accessible once you begin the application. It includes list of PI/collaborators, assurances and compliance, and project title. 2. Project description This description is meant to serve as a succinct and accurate description of the proposed work when separated from the application. State the application s broad, long-term objectives and specific aims, making reference to the health relatedness of the project. Describe concisely the research design and methods for achieving these goals. Avoid summaries of past accomplishments and the use of the first person. Do not exceed one page PDF format, 11 point Arial font with ½ margins. 3. Research plan (maximum 6 pages) The research plan should include sufficient information needed for evaluation of the project, independent of any other document. Be specific and informative, and avoid redundancies. Use Arial font, size 11 points or larger, and ½ margins. Organize Items a-d, to answer these questions: a. What do you intend to do? b. Why is the work important? c. What has already been done? d. How are you going to do the work? a. Specific Aims State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved.

5 List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology. b. Significance Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed project addresses. Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields. Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved. c. Innovation Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms. Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or intervention(s) to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation or intervention(s). Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions. d. Approach Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Unless addressed separately, include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted as well as any resource sharing plans as appropriate. Describe the collaborative element of the study design and how this will contribute to success. Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims. If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any strategy to establish feasibility, and address the management of any high risk aspects of the proposed work. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and precautions to be exercised. 4. Plans for submission for a federal or foundation grant and timeline for submission Provide a 1-2 page summary of anticipated plans for grant application, including expected timelines and funding source/grant type. Use 11 point Arial font, single-spaced with ½ margins.

6 5. Bibliography and references cited Provide a bibliography of any references cited in the Research Plan. Each reference must include names of all authors (in the same sequence in which they appear in the publication), the article and journal title, book title, volume number, page numbers, and year of publication. Include only bibliographic citations. Follow scholarly practices in providing citations for source materials relied upon in preparing any section of the application. The references should be limited to relevant and current literature. While there is not a page limitation, it is important to be concise and to select only those literature references pertinent to the proposed research. 6. Budget NIH Budget MS Word format Complete the budget form and provide complete justification for each requested item. The justification has a 1500 character limit. Funds are to be used primarily for supplies and technical support. Investigator salary/fringe and major equipment are not allowed. Proposals cannot exceed $25,000 in total direct costs. No indirect costs are to be included. 7. Biographical sketches Sample Biosketch with Instructions, Biosketch Template (MS Word Format) Provide an NIH format biographical sketch for the principal investigator and all investigators. Each biosketch should not exceed 4 pages in length. Include the following information: a. Personal statement. Briefly describe why your experience and qualifications make you particularly well-suited for your role (e.g., PD/PI, mentor) in the project that is the subject of the application. b. Positions and Honors. List in chronological order previous positions, concluding with the present position. List any honors. Include present membership on any Federal Government public advisory committee. c. Peer-reviewed publications or manuscripts in press. NIH encourages applicants to limit the list of selected peer-reviewed publications or manuscripts in press to no more than 15. Do not include manuscripts submitted or in preparation. The individual may choose to include selected publications based on recency, importance to the field, and/or relevance to the proposed research. When citing articles that fall under the Public Access Policy, were authored or co-authored by the applicant and arose from NIH support, provide the NIH Manuscript Submission reference number (e.g., NIHMS97531) or the PubMed Central (PMC) reference number (e.g., PMCID234567) for each article. If the PMCID is not yet available because the Journal submits articles directly to PMC on behalf of their authors, indicate "PMC Journal - In Process." A list of these Journals is posted at: Citations that are not covered by the Public Access Policy, but are publicly available in a free, online format may include URLs or PMCID numbers along with the full reference (note that copies of publicly available publications are not acceptable as appendix material.) d. Research Support. List both selected ongoing and completed research projects for the past three years (Federal or non-federally-supported). Begin with the projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in the application. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the

7 projects and responsibilities of the key person identified on the Biographical Sketch. Do not include number of person months or direct costs. 8. Assurances and compliance Approved protocols are not required with this application. However, if funded, researchers must obtain institutional approval for proposals involving human subjects, animals, recombinant DNA (rdna), lasers, x-ray machines, irradiators, or radioactive materials. Please indicate if your proposal will include any of these: human subjects, animals, recombinant DNA (rdna), lasers, x- ray machines, irradiators, or radioactive materials. For all of the above except irradiators, please type in the protocol number under which approval for research on the item(s) is being applied (can be draft at time of application). Printable Application Instructions Submit your proposal here: PROGRESS REPORTS Progress reports (1-2 page PDF, Arial 11 point with ½ margins) and a financial report will be required within two months after completion of the award (approximately August 31). The progress report should detail scientific progress made on the project, including any manuscripts or presentations made or planned. It should include a section on external funding applications made or planned, and describe the collaborative aspects of the work conducted. IMPORTANT DEADLINES Application Submission: To be announced, please check for updates. Note: Application submissions require BCM ECA authentication. Please use your BCM user name and your BCM password to login. Enter your user id as BCM\your username (E.g. If your username is 'jsmith', then enter 'BCM' followed by back-slash '\' followed by 'jsmith' without any spaces i.e. BCM\jsmith). If you have general questions regarding Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) Pilot Awards, please review Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Section below or us at awards@bcm.edu

8 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. Are both clinical and basic research applications accepted? Yes, clinical, basic and translational projects are all accepted. 2. Must applicants be members of the CVRI? All applicants must be members of the CVRI. Membership is free. Please visit for more information. Primary Investigators must be BCM faculty members with a primary appointment at BCM. Collaborators (co-investigators) may hold primary appointments to other institutions, provided they are CVRI members; however subcontracts are not permitted to other institutions. A research team may consist of PI/collaborators from the same department if they are from different sections. Trainees may work on a project but are not eligible as primary investigators or collaborators. 3. May an applicant be listed on multiple applications? Yes, as long as each application is separate and unique. 4. Is there a limit to how many times an individual may receive the award? No, there is no limit as long as each application awarded is separate and unique. 5. Are subcontracts or consultants permitted on the award? No, the award is funded by the College and funds are intended to be spent to support work at the College. 6. What fund type is the award? The award is type 1 unrestricted funds. The funds do not carry over into new fiscal years, so extensions are not possible. Each awardee will have a new account set up to receive the funds. 7. Are previous awardees permitted to apply for a second year of funding? Previous awardees may apply again if the proposal is for a new pilot project unrelated to the original project that received CVRI Pilot Award funding. If it is for the same project, then previous awardees are not eligible to apply for a consecutive, back-to-back year and therefore, must wait at least 2 years to apply again.

9 OMB No and (Rev. 10/15 Approved Through 10/31/2018) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors. Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FIVE PAGES. NAME: era COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login): POSITION TITLE: EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.) INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE (if applicable) Completion Date MM/YYYY FIELD OF STUDY NOTE: The Biographical Sketch may not exceed five pages. Follow instructions below. A. Personal Statement Briefly describe why you are well-suited for your role(s) in this project. The relevant factors may include: aspects of your training; your previous experimental work on this specific topic or related topics; your technical expertise; your collaborators or scientific environment; and/or your past performance in this or related fields. Note the following additional instructions: For institutional research training, institutional career development, or research education grant applications, faculty who are not senior/key persons are encouraged to complete this section, but not required to do so. Applicants for dissertation research awards should include a description of their career goals and intended career trajectory and their interest in the specific areas of research designated in the FOA, in addition to the information outlined above. Candidates for Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research should include a description of their general scientific achievements and/or interests, as well as specific research objectives and career goals, in addition to the information outlined above. Indicate any current source(s) of educational funding. If there are factors affecting your past productivity that you wish to explain, such as family care responsibilities, illness, disability, or military service, you may address them in your personal statement. Indicate if you have published or created research products under another name. You may mention specific contributions to science that are not included in Section C. Do not present or expand on materials that should be described in other sections of this biosketch or the application. Figures, tables and graphics are not allowed. You may cite up to four publications or research products that highlight your experience and qualifications for this project. Research products can include audio or video products; conference proceedings such as meeting abstracts, posters or other presentations; patents; data and research materials; databases; educational aids or curricula; instruments or equipment; models; protocols; and software or netware.

10 B. Positions and Honors List in chronological order positions held since the completion of your most recent degree, concluding with your present position. High school students and undergraduates may include any previous positions. For individuals, such as fellowship applicants or career development award candidates, who are not currently located at the applicant organization, include the expected position at the applicant organization, with the expected start date. List any relevant academic and professional achievements and honors. In particular: Students, postdoctorates, and junior faculty should include scholarships, traineeships, fellowships, and development awards, as applicable. Clinicians should include information on clinical licensure and specialty board certification, if applicable. Include present membership on any Federal Government public advisory committee. C. Contribution to Science Candidates for Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research who are high school students, undergraduates, and postbaccalaureates are not required to complete this section. Briefly describe up to five of your most significant contributions to science. While all applicants may describe up to five contributions, graduate students and postdoctorates are encouraged to consider highlighting two or three they consider most significant. Descriptions may include a mention of research products under development, such as manuscripts that have not yet been accepted for publication. Each contribution should be no longer than one half page, including citations. These contributions do not have to be related to this project. For each contribution: Indicate the historical background that frames the scientific problem; the central finding(s); the influence of the finding(s) on the progress of science or the application of those finding(s) to health or technology; and your specific role in the described work. You may cite up to four papers accepted for publication or research products that are relevant to the contribution. o Research products can include audio or video products; conference proceedings such as meeting abstracts, posters or other presentations; patents; data and research materials; databases; educational aids or curricula; instruments or equipment; models; protocols; and software or netware. o These citations do not have to be authored by you. You may provide a URL to a full list of your published work. This URL must be to a Federal Government website (a.gov suffix). NIH recommends using My Bibliography. Providing a URL to a list of published work is not required, and reviewers are not required to look at the list. D. Additional Information: Research Support and/or Scholastic Performance Note the following instructions for specific types of applicants/candidates: High school students are not required to complete this section. Applicants for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships, dissertation research grants, and candidates for Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research from the undergraduate through postdoctoral levels should use this section to provide information about their scholastic performance, following the instructions below. In situations where applicants/candidates in these categories also have research support, they should complete both parts of this section. Research Support

11 For all other individuals required to complete a biosketch, list selected ongoing and completed research projects for the past three years (Federal or non-federal support). Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and your responsibilities. Do not include number of person months or direct costs. Do not confuse Research Support with Other Support. Though they sound similar, these parts of the application are very different. As part of the biosketch section of the application, Research Support highlights your accomplishments, and those of your colleagues, as scientists. This information will be used by the reviewers in the assessment of each individual s qualifications for a specific role in the proposed project, as well as to evaluate the overall qualifications of the research team. In contrast, Other Support information is required for all applications that are selected to receive grant awards. NIH staff will request complete and up-to-date other support information from you after peer review. Scholastic Performance Predoctoral applicants/candidates (including undergraduates and postbaccalaureates): List by institution and year all undergraduate and graduate courses, with grades. In addition, in the space following the chart, explain any grading system if other than 1-100, A, B, C, D, F, or Show levels required for a passing grade. Postdoctoral applicants: List by institution and year all undergraduate courses and graduate scientific and/or professional courses germane to the training sought under this award, with grades. In the space following the chart, explain any grading system if other than 1-100, A, B, C, D, F, or Show levels required for a passing grade.

12 OMB No and (Rev. 10/15 Approved Through 10/31/2018) BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors. Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FIVE PAGES. NAME: era COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login): POSITION TITLE: EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and residency training if applicable. Add/delete rows as necessary.) INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE (if applicable) Completion Date MM/YYYY FIELD OF STUDY Please refer to the Biographical Sketch instructions in the General Application Guide for NIH and Other PHS Agencies, R&R Senior/Key Person Profile Form, in order to complete sections A, B, C, and D of the Biographical Sketch. Samples are also available here for your reference. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: NIH, Project Clearance Branch, 6705 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7974, Bethesda, MD , ATTN: PRA ( and ). Do not return the completed form to this address.

13 Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): DETAILED BUDGET FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD DIRECT COSTS ONLY List PERSONNEL (Applicant organization only) Use Cal, Acad, or Summer to Enter Months Devoted to Project Enter Dollar Amounts Requested (omit cents) for Salary Requested and Fringe Benefits FROM THROUGH NAME ROLE ON PROJECT Cal. Mnths Acad. Mnths Summer Mnths INST.BASE SALARY SALARY REQUESTED FRINGE BENEFITS TOTAL PD/PI SUBTOTALS CONSULTANT COSTS EQUIPMENT (Itemize) SUPPLIES (Itemize by category) TRAVEL INPATIENT CARE COSTS OUTPATIENT CARE COSTS ALTERATIONS AND RENOVATIONS (Itemize by category) OTHER EXPENSES (Itemize by category) CONSORTIUM/CONTRACTUAL COSTS DIRECT COSTS SUBTOTAL DIRECT COSTS FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD (Item 7a, Face Page) $ CONSORTIUM/CONTRACTUAL COSTS FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS TOTAL DIRECT COSTS FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD $ PHS 398 (Rev. 03/16 Approved Through 10/31/2018) OMB No Page Form Page 4