Discovery and NCH Pilot Guidelines August 2014

College of Medicine

Dean’s Discovery Grants Program

Nationwide/COM

Cross-Campus-Collaborative Pilot Program

Guidelines and Application

August 2014

Introduction

The leadership of TheOhio State University (OSU) College of Medicine(COM) is dedicated to the success of independent faculty research programs. To enable the development of novel research ideas, the COM offers a Dean’s Discovery Grants Program. The goal of this programis to provide sufficientresearch support to generatepilot data forextramural grant application(s), specifically funding with full indirect costs, within one year of the award.This program will enable successful scientists with a track record of productivity to broaden their research portfolio, or generate new resources or initiate new collaborative partnerships, striking out in new directions beyond current research, in areas relevant to the science community at the OSUWMC and of interest to extramural funding agencies. Funding provided by the COMshould be thought ofas a “venture capital initiative,” invested for the purposes of growth and return on investment (generating indirect dollars on funding that can be used to re-invest in pilot programs). Applications shouldprovideevidence for the strong probability of success in future funding applications, increased publication quality, and increased national reputation.

A new pilot program will begin this year, supported by Nationwide Children’s Hospital & Research Institute and the College of Medicine Office of Research to facilitate collaborative pilot projects between faculty at the two campuses. These pilots may be new partnerships or already established partnerships between faculty.

Eligibility (applicants must meet all criteria)

1. Demonstration of Novelty. The application should clearly state how the requested funds will lead to the pursuit of novel research ideas, how this leads to collaborations with other investigators at OSUWMC (or Nationwide Children’s Hospital & Research Institute in the case of the Cross-Campus-Collaborative pilots), or if laboratory resources (such as a critical equipment) are requested, that the resource will benefit multiple investigators. Proposals from teams proposing programmatic grants (P01, U54, U01) or multi-PI R01 grants are particularly encouraged and will receive priority for funding.

1. Productivity of Research Program. The PI(s) must have an active research program and demonstrate a recent (within 2 years)history of program productivity. Examples of these metrics include, but are not limited to or restricted by, PI status on past and current NIH grants (support at the level of an R21 or R01 in last two years) andpeer reviewed publications (i.e., at least 2 publications per year in journals with impact factors > 6.).

1. COM Appointment and Protected Time. Only full time faculty from tenure initiating units (primary home departments) within COM and a rank of at least Assistant Professor (any track) are eligible for funding.Nationwide Children’s faculty are eligible only if they are Co-PIs with Wexner Medical Center faculty in the Cross-Campus-Collaborative Pilots. Department Chairs and Center/Institute Directors are not eligible to apply. Applications should state how the pilot study/resource will facilitate external grant applications that a) return full indirect costs to the COM and b) provide salary support commensurate with a ≥ 25 percent effort (e.g., NIH RO1, P01 and U54 applications). Applicants must have a faculty rank of at least an Assistant Professor level or above (any track). Questions of eligibility should be addressed with the Vice Dean for Research’s office in the COM prior to submission. This office will render a timely decision and sign off on eligibility. All applicants must demonstrate sufficient protected research time to accomplish the project (documented by the departmental chair [and division director if applicable]). Previously funded faculty are permitted to apply once again after 3 years.

1. Competitive Federal Application. The PI must detail how the research will lead toa competitive federal application with full indirect costs (excludes equipment grant) within one year of the award start date.

Deadlines

There will be multiple application deadlines per year, with the first occurring on April 30, 2014, the second on August 31, 2014, and the third onDecember 31, 2014. All applications are due to the COM Office of Research () by 5:00 PM on the designated deadline day. If the deadline falls during a weekend, applications will be accepted the next business day by no later than 5:00 PM.

Review Process

All applications will undergo scientific review by a designated institutional review panel comprised of senior clinical and basic science investigators at OSU who are currently funded, and have grant review experience at a national level. These investigators will serve as primary and secondary reviewers for all proposals. All proposals will receive an NIH-format scientific priority score with an abbreviated written reviewthat will be made available to the top eight applicants within 45 days of submission. Standard conflict of interest criteria will be considered when assigning and reviewing proposals. Funding is targeted to begin approximately 30 days after application approval.

Applications will beprioritized by COM leadership based on the score and review of the Scientific Review Committee. The funding priority will be reduced for applicants that have received intramural pilot funding within the last three years from the College of Medicine, COM Departments, and Office of Heath Sciences centers and institutes. Such examples include the Pelotonia, CCTS, or Neurosciences pilot programs. The major criterion for priority willbe the realistic expectation of successful grant awards to the applicant within 1-2 years. Other factors are the track record of the PI, the scientific merit of the proposal,and thequality of theinvestigative team and environment. Matching funds by a department, Center, or program will be considered strong evidence of broad support but are not required.

Funding

Funding will be limited to one-time supportfor the project identified in the pilot funding application. Awards are limited up to $25,000 for single investigator projects and up to $50,000 for larger team projects. Funds are intended to primarily support laboratory personnel, supplies and other required expenses (e.g., cores). Funds will not support salary for the PI or any travel except when travel is required to improve the competitiveness of the grant (e.g., invited presentation to the NIH for a P01). Specific budget line items may be cut based on available funding and/or inadequate justification. This program is not intended to support faculty retention.

All supported faculty will be reviewed over the 12 months following support. Success on the acquisition of extramural grants will benotedand considered for future funding decisions for PIs.

Instructions and application for the Discovery Grant & Cross-Campus-Collaborative Program :

Instructions: (1 inch margins, 11 Arial font) and append as a single PDF file.

1. Cover Letter (1 page limit) Provide a summary of research program, funding/NIH application status, lab productivity, and specific use for pilot funding.
2. Cover Page Form (see page 4)
3. Detailed Budget: Use the form page provided on page 5.
4. NIH Biosketch. Include a four page biosketch for the PI and Co-Is. List the current, pending and recent past funding (2 yrs.) available to each applicant. List all publications (published or in press only) in the past five years.
5. Research Plan (limit 3 pages excluding references). Include a Specific Aims page, statements of significance and impact, brief research strategy providing an overall rationale for the experimental approaches proposed (avoiding highly specific details regarding scientific methods), and a clear statement of how pilot funding will help achieve a high priority score on a future submission.

College of Medicine

Dean’s Discovery Grants Program& Nationwide/COM Cross-Campus-Collaborative Pilot Program

P.I.

Department Dept. ORG Number

Fiscal Administrative Contact

Project Title:

Has this or a similar applicationbeen submitted to or funded by other OSU pilot programs? YES/ NO(circle). Please list them here:

Total Budget Requested $______

ThePI has other forms of internal (e.g. start-up funding) and external funding (with the exception of fellow or student funding) but no resource to initiate a novel project.

The PI will have sufficient protected research time to accomplish the project.

For mixed split appointees, the PI’s non-COM department chair has agreed to cost share the funding based on percent appointment.

Appropriate Department/Division/Institute Faculty Panel has pre-reviewed submission.

I am in agreement with the above stated conditions of this COM proposal.

Signature ______Date: ______

Department Chair/Institute Director/non-COM TIU Chair*

Signature ______Date: ______

Division Director (if applicable)

Signature ______Date: ______

Department/Institute Administrator/FiscalOfficer

*When applicable, funds will split proportionately between COM and non-COM department chair based on MOU.

Signature Principal Investigator:______

Date:______

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