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Office of Research Affairs


 


Event Calendar

April 18, 2013
Collaborative Workshop
Chaired by Richard Johnston, Ph.D.
“Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms of Obesity-Related Sequelae”
9:00 a.m.–noon, MSB 2.103.

September 12, 2013
Collaborative Workshop
Chaired by John Hancock, M.B., B.Chir, Ph.D.“Signal Transduction in Cancer”
9:00 a.m.–noon, MSB 2.103

October 8, 2013
Annual Medical School Research Retreat
Robertson Auditorium - IMM
8:00 a.m.–4:05 p.m

Keynote Address:
Dianna Milewicz, M.D., Ph.D.
UTHealth Medical School
"TBA"

Click Here to Register

October 17 or 25, 2013
Dean’s Lecture
TBA
"TBA"
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., MSB 3.001

December 4, 2013
Ernst Knobil Distinguished Lecture
Michael Brown, M.D.
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
"TBA"
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., MSB 3.001

December 5, 2013
Collaborative Workshop
Chaired by Rick Wetsel, Ph.D.
“Inflammation -- Double Edge Sword in Disease pathogenesis”
9:00 a.m.–noon, MSB 2.103

January 22 or February 12, 2014
Dean’s Lecture
TBA
"TBA"
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., MSB 3.001

March 6, 2014
Cheves Smythe Distinguished Lecture
Luis Miguel Gutierrez-Robledo, Ph.D.
Institute of Geriatrics, Mexico
"TBA"
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., MSB 3.001

View the calendar

Interim Grant Assistance and Supplement Programs
 

In response to the recent decline in Federal funding, the Office of Research Affairs has created Interim Grant Assistance and Supplement Programs for faculty in the current intensely competitive funding climate.  The Office provides support to talented investigators at two critical junctures in the funding process,  (1) when they need to gain substantive research experience in order to collect pilot data and (2) to maintain their research programs while awaiting a funding decision.

The supplement program is designed to assist the clinician-scientist engaged in year one or year 2 of a career development type award in furthering the transition from mentored faculty to independant investigator.

The University of Texas Medical School recognizes the fact that to effectively compete for NIH grants, applicants must propose the most relevant and top quality projects that will make them successful competitors. The Office of Research Affairs is committed to making this possible with the following awards and supplements.

  • Bridging Grant
  • NIH K Award
  • Just Missed Grant
  • Pilot Grant Program

Bridging Grant Program

I. Purpose and Criteria

Investigators (tenure-track Medical School faculty) with a renewal grant application (an R01 or the equivalent) that has not been funded by extramural funding and received a competitive ranking may submit a proposal to the competitive application process for up to $30,000 to maintain their program for a maximum of one year. These funds are intended to provide interim support for an ongoing research program.

Highest priority will be given to those requests for which there are matching funds available through the PI’s department or other non-Federal fund sources. However, full consideration will be given to requests where no non-Federal matching funds are available. Funds are not to be used for investigator salary support or for equipment. Salary support for personnel, other than the PI should be justified.

II. Submission Requirements
Each application must include:


(a) A letter from the PI’s Chairperson stating either the amount and nature of the matching fund support, or verifying the unavailability of matching funds.

(b) A letter containing the investigator’s request to include a clearly delineated budget, other support information from all funding sources including the dates covered by such support, should accompany the request. The investigator should also describe what other efforts are, have been or will be made to obtain funding for the project. Finally, describe how you plan to address weaknesses cited by the reviewers.

(c) Summary Statement (“pink sheet”) of the original proposal.

(d) Description of what aspects of the research are to be continued during this interim period. 

(e) Summary Budget page (NIH form PHS 398, page 5 for non-modular grants or NIH Modular Budget Format page) describing the last year of the previous grant.

III. Deadline
All applications must be received by the 15th of December, April and August, unless otherwise specified. Only one application can be funded per cycle.

The Bridging Grant funds will be transferred into the recipients’s departmental account and will be tracked by the department DMO. Should the renewal application receive support after receipt of the Bridging Grant, unused funds will be returned to the Dean’s account. The investigator must provide the Research Committee with documentation of all funds utilized.

Submit all application materials in .pdf format to the Research Committee for review to msresearchcommittee@uth.tmc.edu.

For questions, please contact kimberly.j.campbell@uth.tmc.edu.

NIH K Award Supplement

I. Purpose and Criteria
Clinician-scientists (tenure-track Medical School faculty) who are recipients of new (Year 01) or (Year 02) NIH type K awards and have been provided protected time for research may submit a proposal for up to a $25,000 one-time award to assist in maintaining their research program. Candidates must hold an M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., Pharm.D., or equivalent clinical degree.

II. Submission Requirements

The proposal must include:

(a) A letter containing the investigator’s request and a proposed budget.  The award is not intended to supplement the salary of the PI.


(b) A list of any other applicable Federal, non-Federal, national and local research support available, along with the dates covered by such support.


(c) A description of current, past and future plans for efforts made in obtaining funding for the project.


(d) A letter from the PI’s chair person, describing in detail, the Department’s plan for the career development of the investigator.


(e) The summary statement of the original proposal.


III. Deadline

All applications must be received by the 15th of December, April and August, unless otherwise specified.
The NIH K-Award supplement will be transferred into the recipient’s departmental account and will be tracked by the department DMO.  The investigator must provide the Research Committee with documentation of all funds utilized.

Submit all application materials in .pdf format to the Research Committee for review to msresearchcommittee@uth.tmc.edu.

For questions, please contact kimberly.j.campbell@uth.tmc.edu.

Just Missed Grant

I. Purpose and Criteria
An investigator (tenure-track Medical School faculty) with a new NIH grant application that has not been funded but has received a competitive ranking may submit a proposal for up to $30,000 to initiate the project and obtain additional data necessary to address the concerns of the Review Group. Priority will be given to applications for major grant awards such as a R01 or the equivalent.  Applications for declined Challenge Grant proposals will not be considered. 

Funds are not to be used for investigator salary support or for equipment costing more than $500. Salary support for personnel, other than the PI should be justified.

II. Submission Requirements
Each application must include:

(a) A letter containing the investigator’s request including a detailed budget and a list of other support information from all funding sources including the dates covered by such support. The investigator should describe what other efforts are, have been or will be made to obtain funding for the project.  Finally, describe how you plan to address weaknesses cited by the reviewers.

(b) A letter of support by the chairman of the investigator’s department. Summary Statement (“pink sheet”) of the original proposal and summary budget page (NIH form PHS 398, page 5 for non-modular grants or NIH Modular Budget Format page describing the first year of requested support.

(c) Description of what aspects of the research are to be initiated during this interim period. 

II. Deadline
All applications must be received by the 15th of December, April or August, unless otherwise specified.
The Just Missed funds will be transferred into the recipient’s departmental account and will be tracked by the department DMO. Should the revised application receive support after receipt of the Just Missed Grant, unused funds will be returned to the Dean’s account.  The investigator must provide the Research Committee with documentation of all funds utilized.

Submit all application materials in .pdf format to the Research Committee for review to msresearchcommittee@uth.tmc.edu.

For questions, please contact kimberly.j.campbell@uth.tmc.edu.

Pilot Grant Program (Submissions have been suspended until further notice)

REVIEWERS Only: Access Reviewer Scoring Sheet

I. Purpose and Criteria

An investigator (tenure-track Medical School faculty) interested in gathering preliminary data to pursue funding for a R01 NIH grant application or its equivalent may submit a proposal for up to $25,000. Funds may be used for direct costs such as technical support, supplies, etc. Funds are not to be used for investigator salary support or for equipment costing more than $500.  Medical School Pilot grants are not intended to replace or to supplement departmental start-up funds for new faculty unless in extraordinary circumstances that will need to be justified by the PI and his/her chair.   Requests for support for collaborative projects are encouraged. A PI may only submit a single application per funding cycle.

II. Submission Requirements

Each Application must include:

a) A letter (one page limit) from the investigator, which briefly summarizes the investigator’s plans.  That letter should also describe what other efforts are, have been or will be made to obtain funding for the project. If, after receiving a Medical School Pilot Grant, the investigator plans to apply for an extramural grant equivalent to a R01 rather than a NIH R01, the investigator needs to explain the equivalency.

b) Applicant’s NIH-Style Biographical Sketch (2 pages maximum) on Form PHS398.

c) Other Support (no page limit) to include a description of other support  from all external and internal funding sources including, but not limited to, grants, contracts, endowments, gift accounts, departmental reserves, and departmental start-up funds and the amounts and dates covered by such support.  

d) Scientific Plan (maximum of four pages including illustrations and legends) to include: Budget and Budget Justification (one-half page, including the percentage effort of the Principal Investigator(s) that will be devoted to the project), Specific Aims (no more than one-half page), Background and Significance and Experimental plan (no more than three pages) and References (without page limit).  Appendix material will not be accepted.  Font size, line spacing and margins of the Scientific Plan should follow NIH Guidelines.

e) A letter of support from the investigator’s chairperson, which includes an approval of the Principal Investigator's percentage effort devoted to the project and a statement that the proposal has been reviewed and found scientifically meritorious by a departmental peer-review committee. Peer review committees should review the applications based on the criteria listed in section III.The peer-review process should be described in detail.

III. Review Criteria

Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

a) Scientific Merit and Innovation

b) Adequacy of Peer Review

c) Collaborative Potential

d) Potential for Leading to an R01 in one year

e) Need for funds             

                                                                               

IV. Deadline

All applications must be received by (Date to be Announced)

The Pilot Grant funds will be transferred into the recipient’s departmental account and will be tracked by the department DMO. The Research Committee will require a progress report at the end of the term of the award.  Award will be made with the understanding that investigators will submit an R01 or its equivalent during the pilot period.

Submit all application materials in .pdf format to the Research Committee for review to msresearchcommittee@uth.tmc.edu.

For questions, please contact kimberly.j.campbell@uth.tmc.edu.