REQUEST FOR INTRAMURAL PILOT GRANT PROPOSALS Announcement date: October 27, 2017 Submission Deadline: Friday, December 15, 2017 Expected funding date: Thursday, March 1, 2018 Duration of fund: 2 years The Knoebel Institute announces its sixth request for proposals for pilot research projects in the area of aging research. The goals of the fund are to support an increase in external federal funding in aging and/or age-related diseases, to advance areas of aging research strength at DU, to support development of new areas of aging/longevity research, and to promote interdisciplinary partnerships as appropriate. Special emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary proposals, proposals involving a partnership with other departments, institutions and/or companies, as well as research areas involving investigators new to the area of aging research. Pilot projects funded under this mechanism are expected to result in applications for funding for large, multi-year research projects. Funding Level A total of 180,000 is available to fund four to six projects, with a maximal funding level per grant of 45,000 total over the two years. Eligibility All appointed faculty members in the Professorial Series are eligible to apply. Research teams may include other DU employees and students. Proposals will be reviewed on merit, likelihood of funding and scientific impact. Individuals or teams with active funding from this mechanism or a related effort who are delinquent in submitting a final report from a previous Knoebel Institute award are ineligible. Faculty who wish to apply for this funding mechanism are encouraged to contact Lotta Granholm, Executive Director of the Knoebel Institute, or Briony Catlow, Grant Writer, for additional information on the strategic goals of the Knoebel Institute and to ask questions related to the RFP. For logistical questions, please call Briony Catlow (303-871-6869) or email us at: aging@du.edu. Use of the Funds Most expenses for research are eligible, with the following exceptions and conditions: Funds may not be used for course buyout or for overload during the academic year. Faculty summer salary support should not exceed one month per year. Students funded through this project must be working directly on the funded research. Funding for travel to present at one conference can be included. Expenses for research-related minor equipment and disposable supplies are appropriate. Funding may be used for students; however, the DU tuition match is not available for these internally funded projects. Projects may include work that is Page 1
supplementary to projects funded by other sources; however, funds are intended to support freestanding elements that contribute directly to subsequent funding. Funds ordinarily must be spent within 24 months of the date of the grant award. However, the PI can request a nocost extension under special circumstances. Selection Process A selection committee of senior faculty members with strong records of external funding in aging-+related research areas will review the proposals and make recommendations to the Executive Director. The review group may arrange for additional review members with specific expertise as needed, in partnership with the University of Colorado (CU), Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI) or other institutions. Each proposal will be evaluated by the published criteria and applicants will receive a summary statement with the decision letter. Awards will be made by March 1, 2018, and funds will be available immediately. Application Format Application narratives must not exceed 6 pages (single-spaced, Arial 11 pt, >0.5 inch margins) and must include the specified areas below. Proposals that do not include all components or that exceed page limits will not be reviewed. Project timeline, curriculum vitae, budget details, and budget justification are in addition to this limit, but must be presented in a clear and concise manner, according to attached forms. All forms should be submitted as one PDF in the order listed in the outline on page 4. Proposals should also include a 5-page abbreviated CV (Biosketch), using the form provided below. For those investigators transitioning into aging/longevity research, provide a short paragraph in the Biosketch (Personal Statement, see below) that indicates the links between prior work and the proposed work. It is especially important for new investigators to the field to provide a strong rationale for the relevance of their project directly to Healthy Aging or age-related disease. Please include two suggested reviewers with the expertise to evaluate your proposal. Specific guidelines and help with the format can be obtained by contacting the Knoebel Institute Grant Writer: aging@du.edu Review Criteria Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: Importance of the research question Appropriateness / quality of the study methods Appropriateness of the proposed budget and timeline Strength and feasibility of the plan for seeking external funding Qualifications of the PI or research team History of applicant to leverage Knoebel Institute funding effectively, if applicable Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging Pilot Grant 2017 Page 2
Final Report Applicants are requested to provide a 2-page final report at the end of the 2-year funding period, no longer than 6 months following the end of the grant period. Submit the final report to: aging@du.edu. Components of the Final Report: A summary of the Specific Aims of the project and results for each of the aims/goals A list of publications, presentations or other materials resulting from the research A list of submitted grants to other entities resulting from the research, including funded, pending or not funded projects A list of personnel, collaborators, and/or students involved in the project SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Friday December 15, 2018, 5PM MST Submit an electronic copy (.PDF) of the COMPLETE APPLICATION to aging@du.edu. Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging Pilot Grant 2017 Page 3
I. APPLICANT INFORMATION KNOEBEL INSTITUTE PILOT GRANT APPLICATION a. Names: Ranks and Departmental Affiliations of team members. b. Narrative: Three sentences maximum describing the overall research idea, relevance for students, research or general population. This is written in lay terms, so that any person can understand. c. Key words: Include 5 key words describing the project; these will be used to determine expertise for reviewers and should be technical terms. d. Abstract: No more than 200 words summarizing the entire idea with the proposal, relevance, and central hypothesis. II. SPECIFIC AIMS (1 page maximum): Includes a brief summary of background, rationale and a list of specific aims with the project. III. RESEARCH PROGRAM: This section should be maximum 6 pages, excluding Literature cited and Budget. a. SIGNIFICANCE: ½ page describing why this project is of significance. This includes why the study should be undertaken, what the results would mean, and if/how this could lead to federal or private funding of your project. b. INNOVATION: Is this project novel, or does it build upon previous work? Include a brief summary of your work and others in this area, and how this led you to craft a Central Hypothesis for the proposed work. This is a brief (1 page) summary of previous literature in this area. c. APPROACH: This is the meat of the application. Describe, in some detail, your Preliminary Results on the project, Planned Studies, Methods you will use, and an Interpretation/Outcome Discussion, as well as Potential Pitfalls that may prevent you from obtaining results. IV. LITERATURE CITED (Not included in the 6 pages): Provide a Bibliography of cited work. These can be in alphabetical order, or as they appear in the text. V. BUDGET (see form below) VI. BUDGET JUSTIFICATION (see form below) VII. CV/ BIOSKETCH (see form below) If you need help with any component of these forms, please contact the Knoebel Institute: aging@du.edu. We will be glad to provide training with these forms. Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging Pilot Grant 2017 Page 4
VIII. BUDGET (See your departmental budget administrator for assistance as needed) Name(s) Email(s) Project Salaries Faculty Summer Salary Dates of work Description Department(s) Divisi on(s) Amount Student Must be registered as a student for quarters working Non-appointed Non-student (or non-registered student) temporary hire Subtotal salaries Fringe Rate Description Amount Faculty Summer Unless on greater than 9 month contract, Typically 8% Salary then work with departmental administrator Appointed 29% University staff members or post-docs Staff/Postdocs Student 1.7 % Must be enrolled at least.5 time, otherwise use non-appointed fringe Non-appointed 8% Non-student (or nonregistered student) Subtotal fringe Expenses Dates or Details Description Course Buyout Qty = Replacement Rate = Amount Supplies & Materials -copying, printing, software Travel Location -airfare, hotel, meals, transportation Location Equipment Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging Pilot Grant 2017 Page 5
Outside services -includes services such as editing Other Subtotal Less amount covered by other sources of funding ( ) Total request IX. BUDGET JUSTIFICATION In the space below please provide a justification for each budget item requested. If justification for an item is not specific, the item will be deducted from the budget. Please list what support your academic unit is providing for this effort (e.g., secretarial support, graduate research assistant, partial departmental funding, reduction in other assignments, etc.). Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging Pilot Grant 2017 Page 6
X. BIOSKETCH FORM (MAXIMUM 5 PAGES) 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: POSITION TITLE: DEPARTMENT/COLLEGE: 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) Completio n Date MM/YYYY FIELD OF STUDY A. Personal Statement Briefly describe why you are well-suited for your role in the project described in this application. For investigators new to the Aging field: Describe briefly the connection between your ongoing work, and how this would be relevant for the Aging field. 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. Publications (List your publications in chronological order, starting with the most recent) 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 projects and responsibilities of the key person identified on the Biographical Sketch. Do not include number of person months or direct costs. Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging Pilot Grant 2017 Page 7