Getting Funded

1
Getting Funded

• When You Have No Preliminary Data
• Grants-For-Lunch

2
Funding Without Data

• Also known as
• Pilot studies
• Seed money
• Feasibility studies
• Phase I feasibility studies
• Small grants
• Preliminary studies
• Exploratory/Developmental Grants

• Sources
• NIH R03
• NIH R21
• GCRC Pilot grants
• Other pilot projects and seed grants available at
  UTMB via already funded grants and endowments

3
Common Features of Possible Funding
Opportunities(specifics may vary)

• Little or no preliminary data required
• New projects only, no competing continuations
• New investigators or investigators exploring a
  new area are encouraged
• Usually provides a limited amount of money for a
  limited amount of time (non-renewable)
• Support may be for early, conceptual stage of
  development of ideas or for specialized purposes
• May involve novel, high-risk or previously
  unexplored areas
• May pave the way for larger studies or grants or
  may be intended to further the career of new
  investigators.

4
R03 NIH Small Grants Program
5
R03 Small Grants

• Getting started / how to begin
• http//grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/r03.htm
• General Program announcement
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-
  108
• Not all ICs accept investigator initiated
  (unsolicited) applications
• Check list of ICs before getting started
• Applications must include an appropriate Program
  Announcement number and title on line 2 of the
  PHS 398 application

6
R03 Small Grants

• DEFINITION
• Supports small research projects that can be
  carried out in a short period of time with
  limited resources. R03 provides support for
  specialized purposes.

7
R03 Small Grants

• SCOPE
• Limited funding for short period of time
• Pilot or feasibility studies
• Secondary analysis of existing data
• Small, self-contained research projects
• Development of research methodology
• Development of new research technology

8
R03 Small Grants

• CHARACTERISTICS (unless specified otherwise in a
  program announcement or RFA)
• Project period up to 2 years
• Uses modular budget format
• Direct costs up to 50,000 per year
• New projects only, no competing continuations
• No thesis or dissertation research
• Only one revision of previously reviewed R03
• Research Plan may not exceed 10 pages
• Competing continuations not accepted

9
R03 Small Grants

• CHARACTERISTICS (cont.)
• Use PHS 398 forms and instructions
• Accepted at standard application deadlines
• F A application subject to full UTMB rate
• Appendix may include only original, glossy photos
  or color images of gels, micrographs, etc.
  provided that a photocopy is also included within
  the page limits of the research plan. No
  publications or other printed material, with the
  exception of preprinted questionnaires or
  surveys, may be included in the appendix.

10
R03 Small Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA
• Discrete, well defined projects
• Realistically completed in two years
• Less detail and discussion in research plan than
  R01
• Less emphasis on methodological details than R01
• Justification for work provided in lit cites,
  etc.
• Prelim data not required, particularly in pilot
  and feasibility studies
• Often designed to support the research of
  scientists in the early stages of establishing
  independent research careers.

11
R03 Small Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA (cont.)
• Reviewers will consider the following
• Significance does study address important
  problem?
• Approach is project well developed and
  realistic?
• Innovation novel concepts used? Existing
  paradigms or clinical practice challenged?
• Investigator well trained? Work appropriate to
  PI experience level?
• Environment does it contribute to probability
  of success?
• NOTE application does not have to be strong in
  all categories to be judged likely to have major
  scientific impact

12
R03 Small Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA (cont.)
• Reviewers will consider the following (cont.)
• Protection of human subjects
• Risk to subjects
• Adequacy of protection against risks
• Potential benefits of proposed research
• Importance of knowledge to be gained
• Inclusion of minorities
• Inclusion of both sexes / genders
• Inclusion of children

13
R03 Small Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA (cont.)
• Reviewers will consider the following (cont.)
• Care and use of vertebrate animals
• Proposed use of animals in project (species,
  strains, ages, sex, and numbers of animals to be
  used)
• Justify use of animals
• Information on veterinary care of animals
• Procedures to ensure discomfort, distress, pain,
  etc will be limited to that which is unavoidable
• Describe methods of euthanasia to be used, if any

14
R03 Small Grants

• NIH ICs that DO accept unsolicited R03s
• NEI NIA NIAAA
• NIAID NIBIB NICHD
• NIDA NIDCR NIEHS
• NIMH NINDS NINR
• NLM

15
R03 Small Grants

• NIH ICs that DO NOT accept unsolicited R03s
• FIC NCCAM NCI
• NCMHD NCRR NHGRI
• NHLBI NIAMS NIDCD
• NIDDK NIGMS

16
R21NIH Exploratory Developmental Research Grant
Award Program
17
R21 Exploratory Grants

• Getting started / how to begin
• http//grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/r21.htm
• General Program Announcement
• http//grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-03-
  107
• Not all ICs accept investigator initiated
  (unsolicited) applications
• Check ICs before getting started
• Applications must include an appropriate Program
  Announcement number and title on line 2 of the
  PHS 398 application

18
R21 Exploratory Grants

• DEFINITION
• Intended to encourage exploratory and
  developmental research projects by providing
  support for the early and conceptual stages of
  these projects. Studies may involve considerable
  risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a
  particular area. Projects of limited cost or
  scope that use widely accepted approaches and
  methods within well established fields are better
  suited for the R03 small grant mechanism.

19
R21 Exploratory Grants

• SCOPE
• Intended for new, exploratory research projects
• May involve considerable risk but lead to
  breakthrough in a particular area
• Projects distinct from those supported through
  R01 mechanism
• Projects to increase knowledge in
  well-established area are not meant for R21
• Projects of limited cost or scope that use widely
  accepted methods are better suited for R03

20
R21 Exploratory Grants

• CHARACTERISTICS (unless specified otherwise in a
  program announcement or RFA)
• Project period up to 2 years
• Uses modular budget format
• Combined direct costs for 2 years may not exceed
  275K, no more than 200K in any one year
• New projects only, no competing continuations
• Only two revisions of previously reviewed R21
• Research Plan (a d) may not exceed 15 pages

21
R21 Exploratory Grants

• CHARACTERISTICS (cont.)
• Preliminary data not required but may be included
  if available
• Use PHS 398 forms and instructions
• F A application use full UTMB rate
• Use instructions for the appendix detailed in the
  PHS 398 except that no more than 5 manuscripts,
  previously accepted for publication, may be
  included.

22
R21 Exploratory Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA
• Novel, scientific ideas or new model systems
• Extensive background material not required
• Reviewers will focus on conceptual framework,
  level of innovation and potential to
  significantly advance knowledge and understanding
• Less emphasis on methodological details than R01
• Justification for work provided in lit cites,
  etc.
• Preliminary data not required

23
R21 Exploratory Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA (cont.)
• Reviewers will consider the following
• Significance does study address important
  problem?
• Approach is project well developed and
  realistic?
• Innovation novel concepts used? Existing
  paradigms or clinical practice challenged?
• Investigator well trained? Work appropriate to
  PI experience level?
• Environment does it contribute to probability
  of success?

24
R21 Exploratory Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA (cont.)
• Reviewers will consider the following (cont.)
• Protection of human subjects
• Risk to subjects
• Adequacy of protection against risks
• Potential benefits of proposed research
• Importance of knowledge to be gained
• Inclusion of minorities
• Inclusion of both sexes / genders
• Inclusion of children

25
R21 Exploratory Grants

• REVIEW CRITERIA (cont.)
• Reviewers will consider the following (cont.)
• Care and use of vertebrate animals
• Proposed use of animals in project (species,
  strains, ages, sex, and numbers of animals to be
  used)
• Justify use of animals
• Information on veterinary care of animals
• Procedures to ensure discomfort, distress, pain,
  etc will be limited to that which is unavoidable
• Describe methods of euthanasia to be used, if any

26
R21 Exploratory Grants

• NIH ICs that DO accept unsolicited R21s
• NCCAM NCRR NEI
• NIA NIAAA NIAID
• NIBIB NICHD NIDA
• NIDCD NIDCR NIEHS
• NIMH NINDS NLM

27
R21 Exploratory Grants

• NIH ICs that DO NOT accept unsolicited R21s
• FIC NCI NCMHD
• NHGRI NHLBI NIAMS
• NIDDK NIGMS NINR

28
Sample funded R21 research proposal

• Mind-Body Interactions and Health
  Exploratory/Developmental Research Program
  Psychoneuroimmunology, Stress, and Healthy Aging
  n Hispanics. R21 application submitted by Dr.
  Victor Sierpina FY2004 http//cam.utmb.edu/resea
  rch.asp
• Dr. Victor Sierpina, Department of Family
  Medicine, has granted permission for potential
  applicants at UTMB to view this document as an
  example of a R21 Developmental award application
  that received funding . This proposal was
  submitted in response to a solicitation
  RFA-OB-03-005.

29
Comparison of R03/R21

• R03
• Uses widely accepted approaches and methods
• Funding for up to 2 years
• Modular budget format
• Direct costs up to 50,000/yr
• New projects only, no competing continuations
• Only one revision
• Research Plan may not exceed 10 pages

• R21
• Exploratory and novel approaches and methods
• Funding for up to 2 years
• Modular budget format
• Combined direct costs for 2 years may not exceed
  275K, no more than 200K in any one year
• New projects only, no competing continuations
• Only two revisions
• Research Plan (a d) may not exceed 15 pages

30
Comparison of R03/R21(cont.)

• R03
• No thesis or dissertation research
• Use PHS 398 forms and standard application
  deadlines
• Use full UTMB FA rate
• Appendix may include original, color/glossy
  images, provided a photocopy is also included
  within the page limits of the research plan. No
  publications or other printed material, with the
  exception of preprinted questionnaires or surveys.

• R21
• Preliminary data not required
• Use PHS 398 forms
• Use full UTMB FA rate
• Use PHS398 instructions for Appendix, except no
  more than 5 manuscripts, previously accepted for
  publication, may be included.

31
Pilot Funding available on the UTMB
campushttp//research.utmb.edu/funding/opportuni
ties.shtm
32
UTMB Pilot Funding

• GCRC Clinical Research Feasibility Funds
  (CReFF)The CReFF Program focuses on support for
  pilot studies. The purpose is to support
  promising investigator-initiated human studies on
  the GCRC that might not otherwise be possible
  without this support, and to encourage
  investigators to propose pilot studies to be
  conducted on the GCRC. Support will be given for
  a defined GCRC protocol for up to one year.
  Priority will be given to junior investigators
  with appropriate mentors who propose pilot
  observations that are likely to lead to
  extramural grant support. For more information,
  contact the General Clinical Research Center at
  gcrc_at_utmb.edu

33
UTMB Pilot Funding (cont.)

• UTMB Center on Aging External Funding for Aging
  Research and Education/training ProgramsEmphasis
  on funding pilot projects The Sealy Center on
  Aging has been able to award pilot funding based
  on funds received from the Sealy endowment, the
  Claude D. Pepper Older Americans grant (funds 3
  to 4 pilots per year), and the Center for
  Populations Health and Health Disparities grant
  (funds 4 pilots per year). From 1997 - 2003 the
  Sealy Center on Aging has awarded funds to
  support 46 pilot projects. Several pilot projects
  have produced R01 grants.

34
UTMB Pilot Funding (cont.)

• Center for Population Health and Health
  Disparities (CPHHD) Pilot Research GrantsFunding
  of up to 50,000 per year for up to two years is
  available to support pilot projects involving
  health disparities.  A priority for this funding
  is to stimulate laboratory-based and
  interdisciplinary investigations exploring
  mechanisms for disparities in health by
  ethnicity, socioeconomic status, etc.  A major
  component of the UTMB CPHHD is a population based
  longitudinal study of stress and health in
  approximately 2,000 Mexican American adults in
  Galveston County.  This program was offered for
  the first time in the fall of 2003 with funding
  originating with NIH. The last round was held in
  October, 2004.For further information contact 
  Kyriakos Markides, kmarkide_at_utmb.edu or James
  S.Goodwin, jsgoodwi_at_utmb.edu

35
UTMB Pilot Funding (cont.)

• Center for Addiction Research Fostering
  Advances in Addiction Science Pilot Grant Program
  Funds research in the mechanisms/processes
  underlying drug abuse and addiction, including
  (but not limited to) targeted genomic/proteomic
  studies to discover molecular mechanisms of
  addiction, translational research in addiction
  and systems biology approaches to integrative
  models of addiction. Up to three pilot grants
  (30,000 each) for one year, with possibility for
  two years. Faculty at the Assistant Professor
  level and above are eligible to apply. The
  program is designed to promote interdisciplinary
  research collaborations among UTMB faculty that
  will ultimately result in external funding. The
  last due date was November 29, 2004.For further
  information Theresa Tarrant, tltarran_at_utmb.edu

36
UTMB Pilot Funding (cont.)

• CIRWH Seed Grant ProgramThe Center for
  Interdisciplinary Research on Womens Health seed
  grants are intended to support promising basic,
  clinical, or translational research relevant to
  the general area of womens health and likely to
  lead to significant external grant funding.The
  next round of these competitive grants of 12,500
  will be announced in the spring. The grants will
  be open to UTMB faculty at the assistant
  professor level and above who are conducting
  research in women's health. The center also
  encourages applications from more senior UTMB
  investigators gathering pilot data for new
  multidisciplinary projects in women's health.
  The last round was held in September, 2004.For
  further information contact Joanna Bremer,
  jobremer_at_utmb.edu

37
UTMB Pilot Funding (cont.)

• NIEHS Center in Environmental Toxicology at UTMB
  Pilot ProjectsLimited funds are available to
  support Pilot Project studies in the
  Environmental Health Sciences. Research
  proposals should have a strong emphasis on the
  Centers interests in the environmentally-related
  problems of oxidative stress and signaling, DNA
  repair and mutagenesis, biotransformation, asthma
  pathogenesis, and environmentally based community
  outreach and education programs. Special priority
  will be placed on applications which emphasize
  collaborative efforts. It is anticipated that
  four pilot projects will be funded for up to
  17,500 for one year. The next deadline is
  February 15, 2005.Contact RayKay Santa,
  rksanta_at_utmb.edu or Jonathan B. Ward, Jr.
  ,jward_at_utmb.edu.

38
UTMB Pilot Funding (cont.)

• UTMB Mind-Body Research Scholars Program
  Provides seed grants to help foster
  interdisciplinary mind-body research through
  mentoring, training in research tools, techniques
  and writing skills. Seed grants in the amount of
  5000-7500 for the period of 1 year.
  Approximately 4-6 researchers will be awarded
  annually. UTMB tenure and non-tenure track
  faculty at the assistant professor level or above
  are eligible to apply. Preference will be given
  to junior faculty and investigators entering
  mind-body research as a new field. Applications
  are also encouraged from UTMB investigators
  gathering pilot data for new multidisciplinary
  projects in the area of stress and coping
  behaviors addressing the needs of Hispanic
  patients and the elderly. The deadline for the
  first round (FY2005) is in February 14.
  Contact Pam Bass or Dr. Victor Sierpina,
  vssierpi_at_utmb.edu.

39
UTMB Pilot Funding (cont.)

• John Sealy Memorial Endowment Fund for Biomedical
  Research Research Development GrantsThe purpose
  of the Research Development Grant program is to
  stimulate the development of new research
  initiatives through the support of pilot projects
  that have a very high probability of attracting
  new biomedical research grants to UTMB.
  Investigators at the rank of Assistant Professor
  or above are eligible to apply. Grants may be
  awarded for up to 35,000 per year for up to two
  years.  Applications accepted January, April and
  September.  The next deadline (for 2005 only) is
  February 1, Contact Helen Cook,
  hcook_at_utmb.edu

40
Resources for identifying funding when you have
no preliminary data

• Research Services Website http//research.utmb.e
  du/
• UTMB Yellow Sheet http//research.utmb.edu/resear
  ch/yellowsheet/ysonline.htm
• SPIN funding database and SMARTS GENIUS funding
  alerts http//rdhs.utmb.edu/
• NIH Guide http//grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/inde
  x.html
• NIH Website for new investigators
  http//grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/ind
  ex.htm
• Contact
• Linda Crumpler, Reference LibrarianResearch
  Services Funding LibraryRebecca Sealy EastRoom
  4.400DRoute 0156Phone [phone]Email
  lcrumple_at_utmb.edu