The University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore are continuing a joint competitive NIH Seed Grant Program in 2008. The intent of this initiative is to foster teams of investigators crossing disciplinary boundaries and campuses, establish specific research foci, generate preliminary data, and submit research proposals to the National Institutes of Health. There are many opportunities within the NIH extramural program that target teams of scientists, engineers, and clinicians that address specific health issues. An additional goal this year is to foster collaborations between junior and senior investigators and provide mentorship for new investigators in the art of grant writing and research.
In order to be considered, a single-spaced proposal meeting the attached guidelines must be submitted no later than June 23, 2008. The proposal should address the scientific merits of the proposed research and identify and justify specific NIH programs that would be receptive of a full proposal that contains preliminary results obtained under the Seed Program. The number of awards will depend on the quality and quantity of proposals received as well as the proposed budgets. The entire program is projected to be $650K. The maximum grant size is $75K.
Criteria:
Eligibility:
All full-time tenured or tenure track faculty members having primary academic appointments within the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, College of Chemical and Life Sciences; Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Agriculture and Natural Resources; School of Public Health or the A. James Clark School of Engineering of UMCP; and, the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Nursing of UMB are eligible. This award is to encourage groups of researchers (minimum of two faculty PI’s – one from each campus) to collaborate on new avenues of research that would not otherwise be explored by any one group alone. The research project must not overlap in focus with ongoing funded research in any of the participating laboratories and is expected to lead to applications for new external funding.
Expectations:
Award recipients are expected to produce sufficient preliminary results so that within 12 months after expiration of the award, a proposal for external funding is submitted. Such a proposal is a desired outcome, but is not mandatory. Awardees will participate in future Progress Session(s) or other events that bridge campuses and bring researchers together.
Review:
Proposals will be evaluated by a committee of faculty from both campuses and representatives from each school with wide ranging expertise appropriate to submitted proposals. Applicants should not expect detailed written critiques of their proposals. Proposals will be reviewed for: 1) how well the project meets the goals of the Seed Program, including the composition of the team of investigators; 2) meeting NIH criteria (e.g., significance, approach, novelty, and qualification of investigators to carry out the research); and 3) likelihood of attracting outside funding. Scientific merit of the proposed studies will be the most important factor assessed in this competition. but the inclusion of junior tenure track faculty will be considered as a highly favorable component of any application.
Allowable Expenses:
Research supplies; purchase or rental of equipment for new research; travel
for research purposes (excluding travel to meetings or symposia); matching funds for research items; salary support for a temporary position (1 year or less) for technicians, research associates (postdocs), and/or graduate students.
Expenses Not Allowed:
Salaries for PIs, secretarial support; general telephone services and postage; alterations or renovations of laboratory space; purchase of laboratory or office furniture; purchase or binding of periodicals and books; dues and memberships in scientific societies.
Conditions of the award:
Other:
The proposal should also identify specific research goals that will enhance the success of
a full proposal, as well as, provide a specific targeted timeline by which these objectives can be reasonably achieved. Finally, the proposal should provide a budget that adequately reflects the intended use of the funds with respect to the proposed objectives for each institutional component.
University of Maryland Division of Research
2133 Lee Building, College Park, MD 20742-5141
Contact: umseedadmin@umd.edu
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