NIH SF424 Resources Template

Last updated July 2018 Source: Office of Research Development, Tufts University

NIH SF424 Facilities and Other Resources Template

Notes: Please delete all instructions in purple and examples in bluebefore uploading this form.

In the form below, identify the facilities to be used for each of the sections (Laboratory, Animal, Computer, Office, Clinical, and Other). If there is no applicable information, please write N/A. Where appropriate, include information concerning their capacities, pertinent capabilities, relative proximity and extent of availability to the project. Please describe only those resources that are directly applicable to the proposed work.

From Research Forms E instructions: Describe how the scientific environment in which the research will be done contributes to the probability of success (e.g., institutional support, physical resources, and intellectual rapport). In describing the scientific environment in which the work will be done, discuss ways in which the proposed studies will benefit from unique features of the scientific environment or subject populations or will employ useful collaborative arrangements.

For Early Stage Investigators (ESIs), describe institutional investment in the success of the investigator, e.g., resources for classes, travel, training; collegial support such as career enrichment programs, assistance and guidance in the supervision of trainees involved with the ESI’s project, and availability of organized peer groups; logistical support such as administrative management and oversight and best practices training; and financial support such as protected time for research with salary support.

If there are multiple performance sites, describe the resources available at each site. Describe any special facilities used for working with biohazards or other potentially dangerous substances. Note: Information about select agents must be described in the Research Plan, Section 9, Select Agent Research.

The examplesin each section below are kindly provided by Dr. Ralph Isberg from a grant funded several years ago. Please delete these examples before beginning (leave the headings in bold) and delete allblue text before PDF conversion and uploading.

FACILITIES & OTHER RESOURCES

Laboratory:

We have exclusive use of a2500 sq. ft. contiguous laboratory and office space in the newly-completed Jaharis research complex at Tufts University School of Medicine. This includes a dedicated tissue culture facility with two laminar flow hoods and two rooms used exclusively for microscopy. The main laboratory contains benches for 15 workers, one fume hood, four sinks, a house vacuum, and a reverse osmosis water system. We have exclusive use of a cold room, and shared use of a warm room, dark room, two equipment rooms and an X-ray film processor. A mini-hood dedicated to 125I handling in the Biochemistry Department is used by my laboratory.

Clinical:

N/A

Animal:

Mice and rabbits are housed in a state-of-the-art Lab Animal Medicine Facility with BSL2 containment, which was renovated in 2007 and is located one floor below our laboratory. The facility is run by two licensed veterinarians with a large technical staff,who will raise antibodies and perform animal infection studies for a fee, and train individuals in proper animal handling, dissection, anesthetization and euthanasia techniques.

Computer:

All microscopes (see Equipment page) are controlled by Macintosh G4 or G5 computers. Most individuals have laptop computers; there are two Macintosh computers and a PC-Windows machine for general use, and three PC-Windows machines controlling various instruments. All connect by EtherNet to Tufts’ central computer system, with access to the Internet. GCG software on Tufts’ computer can be accessed. In addition, we have network access within Tufts to Flo-Jo flow cytometry software, OpenLab image analysis software, and GeneSpring array analysis software.

Office:

A 120 square-foot office adjoins laboratory for the exclusive use of the P.I. with a120 sq. ft. office for an administrative assistant.

Other:

NOTE: This space is an excellent place to discuss the institutional/intellectual environment available for your project, as is now required. See example below:

Washing of glassware and preparation of media is provided by Departmental employees: all of these employees account for their time on an hourly basis. Mechanical and electrical repairs are handled by the Maintenance Department. We purchase some of our supplies from a campus storeroom that has plastic ware and small laboratory items. Sharing of equipment owned by other labs is encouraged, and we take advantage of this daily.

Departmental members include Drs. Andrew Wright, Michael Malamy, Carol Kumamoto, Linc Sonenshein, Andrew Camilli, Elliot Androphy, Michael Malamy, John Coffin and Naomi Rosenberg, all of whom work with pathogenic microorganisms or on some topic important to infectious diseases. We have extensive and friendly interactions with these labs at all levels, and this has contributed greatly to our success. We have close scientific relationships with Drs. Michael Forgac and Ira Herman, a mammalian cell membrane biochemist and cytoskeleton experts, respectively, in the Physiology Department. I am a member of the Tufts Gastrointestinal Research on Adsorptive and Secretory Processes program (GRASP), which funds many pilot project grants, has an active seminar series, and has a professionally-supervised fermentation facility that we have used for large scale protein-purification and for the preparation of competent cells.