by zarslan in Faculty/Professional Development

Funding Opportunity! MMC Metabolic COBRE is looking for new pilot project applications for the 2021-2022 year

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Pilot Project Program 2021-2022

DESCRIPTION

This pilot project program will provide funds to support research related broadly to the themes of metabolic health and disease, obesity, osteoporosis, adipocyte and skeletal biology, and neural inputs regulating metabolism. The goal of this program for the 2021-2022 year is to support highly meritorious applications that may include:

  • research projects to generate preliminary data or proof of principle that will support competitive extramural grant applications
  • collaborative, translational research projects that may be interdisciplinary in nature
  • technological or methodological studies to enhanced shared core facility resources
  • infrastructure proposals to enhance data utilization in research

The scope of projects may not exceed a budget of $30,000 and a one-year implementation timeline (September 1, 2021-August 31, 2022). The number of awards will depend on the budgets of the most competitive applications. Applications will be reviewed and prioritized by researchers with expertise in the area of the applications. Applications will be scored, and written reviews will be provided. The COBRE Steering Committee in consultation with the External Advisory Board will make funding decisions. All applications require approval by NIH prior to funding. Investigators who receive support are expected to participate in COBRE activities, publish and present research findings, and apply to external funding agencies for subsequent support.

Email of intent due May 14, 2021, and final applications accepted until Tuesday, June 1, 2021.

CRITERIA & CHECKLIST FOR APPLICATION

1. Eligible applicants:

  • Any individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed pilot research as the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator are invited to apply.
    • The Principal Investigator may have a primary appointment in any research entity within the state of Maine, as long as at least one Co-Investigator has a primary appointment at MaineHealth.
    • Individuals at MaineHealth with a Staff Scientist position or a Faculty position are eligible to apply.

2. Topic of application: Pilot project applications must be scientifically related to goals of this COBRE program or provide new technology or methodological development related to core facilities supported by the COBRE. Applications that support infrastructure improvements that impact research related to the goals of the COBRE are also eligible.

3. Funds available

  • Pilot projects will have scope and objectives that can be accomplished within one year (September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2022), with defined and measurable milestones.
  • No cost extensions are not automatically granted, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
    • Extension of pilot project funding may be considered in rare instances, but will undergo a second review process that evaluates progress within the first year of funding.

4. Application packet: A completed NIH Form PHS 398 is required, which includes the Cover Page, Summary/Relevance/Senior/Key Page, Budget Page, and separate Budget Justification Page found below.

  • Please note: the Cover Page does not require an institutional official signature during the application stage, but must be otherwise fully completed. Box 7a should indicate the total Direct Costs you are budgeting for, and Box 7b should be the total Direct + Indirect Costs of your proposal.
    • On the Project Summary, Relevance and Senior/Key pages, any Senior/Key Personnel listed will need measurable time; however, you may have a mentor or contributor who does not give measurable time.
    • Cite mentors in section “Other Significant Contributors”, unless they are budgeted or giving measurable time.
    • On the Detailed Budget page – budgets for a pilot project will not exceed $30,000, and may be less depending on the scope of the research proposed in the application. NOTE:  if you wish to propose in-kind effort for any staff on the project, this will require approval from the director of MMCRI, Liz Jacobs.  It is strongly suggested that in-kind effort should not exceed 5%.
    • Please contact MMCRI Research Accountant Elena Odlin (ODLINE@mmc.org, 396-8062) in a timely manner to work on your budget and to ensure you use correct rates and allowable NIH costs. You will need her approval of your budget prior to submission (an email can serve as approval).  Note that Elena will need to have evidence of in-kind approval from the Director prior to approving the project.
    • Please note that funded pilot projects will be supported by the COBRE core facilities at no cost (Histopathology and Histomorphometry, Proteomics and Lipidomics, and Physiology Cores). Please contact the individual core facilities to verify the services available for your project.
    • No Indirect Costs are noted on this page.
    • On the Budget Justification page, please provide a detailed justification for all personnel.
    • NIH Biosketches are necessary for all key personnel and collaborators (ScienCV-generated will ensure correct formatting).
    • Study Aims and Research Plan (6 page total limit) to include study aims, background/significance, experimental design, data interpretation and statistical analysis, mentoring plan for junior investigators (if appropriate), and timeline.
    • References (no page limit).
    • If applicable, provide letters from collaborators or consultants (not included in page limits).
    • If applicable, the Vertebrate Animal write-up, with IACUC approval number and a copy of your approved protocol comes next (see pg. 9 below).
    • If applicable, the Human Subjects write-up, your IRB approval and education document, and your Inclusion Enrollment Table is last (template below).

APPLICATION DEADLINES AND INFORMATION

  1. Intent-to-submit emails are Friday May 14, 2021. Submit an email with your intent to apply to Cole Ferm (nferm@mmc.org) with 1) your proposed pilot project title, 2) a list of key personnel, and 3) a one sentence objective of the study.
  2. The complete application deadline is Tuesday June 1, 2021. Submit completed applications by noon, Friday, June 1, 2021by email to Cole Ferm (nferm@mmc.org) as a single PDF file. No appendices will be accepted as part of the application. Late applications will not be accepted
  3. This document is provided as a word file to facilitate the generation of your application packet. Please delete any sections that are not needed (e.g. vertebrate animals, human subjects if n/a).

FOR QUESTIONS related to this funding mechanism, please contact Lucy Liaw, PhD, liawl@mmc.org, 396-8142.

REVIEW CRITERIA

1. Significance and overall impact of the research

  • Is this project of high significance?
  • Are resulting data and subsequent application likely to be competitive for future extramural funding?
  • Is the project related to scientific areas consistent with the COBRE in Mesenchymal and Neural Regulation of Metabolic Networks (themes of metabolic health and disease, obesity, osteoporosis, adipocyte and skeletal biology, and neural inputs regulating metabolism)? 
  • Does the project take a collaborative approach?
  • Will the application benefit core facility scientific services or research infrastructure?

2. Collaborative research

  • Is this project led by co-investigators with appropriate and complementary expertise?
  • Are the roles of each investigator clearly defined?

3. Project team

  • Is the Project Leader qualified to successfully implement this project?
  • Will the Co-Investigator’s expertise support this project?
  • Is the research team appropriate?

4. Research plan

  • Is the research strategy innovative?
  • Does it take advantage of existing expertise and core facilities?
  • Is the strategy well thought out with a clear evaluation plan? 
  • Are benchmarks for progress specified and reasonable?
  • Are outcomes and alternatives thoughtfully considered?
  • Will any junior investigators receive mentoring as part of this project?

5. Appropriate timeline

  • Does the project fit within a one-year timeline with a well-described implementation plan and milestones?

6. Budgetary considerations

  • Is the budget justified and reasonable to accomplish the study?
  • Are there any potential overlaps in funding?

Grant Application