Technology Access Grants
Wednesday, June 6 2012
The Technology Access Grant Program enables investigators to conduct pilot experiments or exploratory studies using the technologies and technical support of the IBEST Genomics Resources Core, Computational Resources Core and Optical Imaging Core. These grants, which are provided by IBEST in partnership with the Idaho INBRE Program, are intended to help investigators produce preliminary data or proof-of-concept data needed for competitive external proposals.
Proposals will be accepted at anytime during the year, and the review process is simplified and expedited. The amount of each award will depend on the resources to be used, but will typically range from $5,000 to $10,000. Amounts up to $15,000 may be awarded if the need is justified based on project requirements. All awards are contingent upon the availability of grant moneys.
Applicants are expected to consult with the appropriate IBEST Core facility directors prior to submitting their proposals to obtain advice on experimental design, sample preparation (when appropriate), specific information on the cost of analytical or computational services, and data analysis services. The investigator will determine the services required with advice from the core director, but the core director alone will determine the costs of these services in compliance with University of Idaho policy.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. A cover letter (max. 1 page) that contains:
a) A brief statement as to how the proposed research is related to human health or consistent with the ‘real time evolution’ theme of IBEST or ‘cell signaling’, the scientific theme of INBRE,
b) A specific plan for preparing research proposal(s) to secure extramural funding from NIH or other federal agencies and related to the Technology Access Grant request; and
c) A statement that explains how the investigator will comply with the necessary university and NIH regulations concerning research on Human Subjects, Animal Care and Use or recombinant or infectious biological agents (if appropriate).
2. Proposals submitted to the Technology Access Grant Program should be no more than two pages in length, and include descriptions of the following: background and significance of the proposed research, experimental design, analytical or computational services and data analysis services that are needed.
3. The proposal must contain a budget limited to $15,000 that includes a description of the specific services to be obtained. Budgets must include official quotes generated by the core facility director. Only costs incurred by the Core Facilities may be included. All other costs (i.e., sample collection and DNA or RNA extraction and purification) are to be borne solely by the investigator.
4. Proposals should be submitted via email as a single .pdf file to
ibest@uidaho.edu.
5. Proposed work must be completed within the same fiscal year (February to January) of the accepted proposal.
6. IBEST and INBRE require all recipients of a Technology Access Grant to cite this support in publications that emanate from this funding. For reporting purposes, IBEST and INBRE will also require information about all publications, presentations, and grant submissions that result from this funding.
7. Within one year of the award applicants must submit a brief final report (1-2 pages) that describes their research findings.
Important Notes:
a) If the proposed research involves Human Subjects or Vertebrate Animals, or recombinant or infectious biological agents, the investigator must comply with NIH guidelines as outlined in “PHS 398 Instructions - 6/2009 Revision” (see NIH website shown above) and confirm compliance in the cover letter. For details on how to comply at the University of Idaho, see the Office of Research Assurances website.
b) Investigators must comply with all assurances and certifications listed on pages I-32 and I-33 of the PHS 398 Instructions. Please also state your compliance in the cover letter.
PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
The IBEST Research Oversight Team and the Director and Associate Director of the Idaho INBRE Program will evaluate each proposal in terms of scientific merit and the potential to form the basis of a competitive proposal for extramural funding.
Ranking will be based on (in descending order of importance): (i) potential to lead to new extramural funding from NIH or federal agencies or foundations, (ii) scientific merit, (iii) likelihood of publication, and (iv) likelihood of future core facility usage.