Request for Application: COBRE: Nebraska Center for Nanomedicine (NCN) Pilot Project

Key Dates

Release Date: August 25, 2009
Submission Date: September 25, 2009
Earliest Anticipated Start Date(s): October 15, 2009

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Summary
• The Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Nebraska Center for Nanomedicine (NCN) invites Junior Investigators to submit an application for a pilot project consistent with the research objective of this Center.

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1. Research Objectives
The COBRE program seeks to promote the initiation and development or expansion of unique, innovative state-of-the-art biomedical research in Nebraska. The long-term goal of NCN is to enable advances in basic and applied nanotechnology research for the development of novel therapies and diagnostic modalities for incurable human disease. The advancement of polymer-based drugs and delivery systems for diagnosis and treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases is the principal scientific focus of NCN research.

Pilot Projects: This solicitation seeks pilot projects to support Junior Investigators with a focused research plan to obtain preliminary data necessary for successful submission of an externally funded research project grant (RPG) such as RO1, UO1, etc.. The project should be executed within six to twelve months after the award. The specific aims in the nanomedicine area, the backgrounds and significance and the robust research plan should briefly be described along with the outline of the long term plan for the applicant’s career development and the RPG submission. Preliminary studies are not required but applicants with preliminary results should describe them. In the absence of preliminary results, applicants should describe the rationale and scientific basis for the proposed research. These sections should not exceed five pages using Arial font 11. These limitations do not include the sections describing Human Subject Research, Vertebrate Animals, Literature Cited, and/or supporting letters. Each project should be accompanied with a four pages NIH style Biosketch.

Each project must identify a senior mentor who will assist the independent career development of the Junior Investigator, and describe institutional commitment to this Investigator (support letters from the Junior Investigator’s department chair). The ultimate goal of the mentoring program is achieving independent status by the Junior Investigators through an acquisition of a major funded grant.
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2. Funds Available

The anticipated level of the award is $50,000 (direct costs) although it may be increased up to $75,000 with the matching contribution from the college or department or other sources subject to availability of the funds. The purchase of major equipment is disallowed and no more than 20% of the award can be contributed towards the faculty salary unless a different arrangement is achieved with COBRE in exceptional cases (such as support of clinical faculty). At least two pilot projects are expected to be funded as a result of this RFA.
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3. Eligible Individuals

Criteria for Eligibility of Junior Investigators: For the purpose of this RFA the eligibility a Junior Investigator is defined either as (1) an individual who does not have or has not previously had an external, peer-reviewed RPG or Program Project Grant (PPG) from either a Federal or non-Federal source that names that investigator as the PI or (2) an established investigator who is making a significant change to his/her career. Senior, funded investigators who are not making a significant career change are not eligible.
With respect to item (1), grants that name an individual as a co-investigator, collaborator, consultant, or to a position other than PI do not disqualify that investigator. Starter grants (such as NIH's FIRST award mechanism, R29), Academic Research Enhancement Award grants (AREA, R15), exploratory/pilot project grants (such as NIH R03 and R21 awards), career development awards (such as NIH K01 and K08 awards), or other Federal or non-Federal funding whose purpose is to provide preliminary support in anticipation of a RPG or PPG also do not disqualify the investigator.
A Junior Investigator must hold a faculty appointment at University of Nebraska at the time that the award is made. Moreover, a clear commitment to support this appointment independent of the outcome of this application must be demonstrated from the institution by a letter(s) from the appropriate senior institutional official(s). Postdoctoral fellow or other positions that do not carry independent faculty status do not qualify.
With respect to item (2), support may be provided to an established investigator who is making a significant change to his/her career goals by initiating a new line of research that is distinctly and significantly different than his/her current investigative program. The current or previous history of independent peer-reviewed research support, which may be indicated in the Biographical Sketch, in a different investigative area than that proposed in this application does not disqualify the investigator. Furthermore, this individual can be of any faculty rank.
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4. Submission Dates and Times

To receive full consideration the applications must be submitted as pdf files via email to Mrs. Marsha Fau, at e-mail: mfau@unmc.edu, no later than 4:00 PM, September 25, 2009. Application submitted after this date will be considered if the funds are available but the priority consideration will be given to the applications submitted by the stated deadline.
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5. Review and Selection Process

For additional information regarding COBRE, please, refer to the original COBRE solicitation RFA-RR-06-002 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RR-06-002.html) and the COBRE website at National Center for Research Resources. If you have questions about this RFA, please, e-mail or call Mrs. Marsha Fau (mfau@unmc.edu or (402) 559-9330).
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7. Anticipated Award Dates

October 15, 2009