NPOD Project Leader RFA 2022

ELIGIBILITY

Applications from NPOD members and non-members will receive equal consideration. Only applicants in tenure-leading or tenured appointments are eligible. Applications in both basic science and clinical/translational science will be considered. Previous and current recipients of project leader funding from any NIH IDeA program are not eligible, but we encourage applications from previous seed and pilot grant recipients. Collaborations across UNL and UNMC are encouraged. Only one proposal per principal investigator (PI) is permitted. NPOD is particularly interested in projects that make use of NPOD’s research core facility, BORC (see https://cehs.unl.edu/borc/). All required approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC, IBC) must be obtained before funds are released. NPOD’s funding agency, NIH, requires that project leaders commit six months of their time to directing their project. The only exception are faculty who already have external funding. In any such case, the time commitment needs to be negotiated among applicant, NPOD and NIH.

HOW TO APPLY

The application form for project leader  awards is at the bottom of this page. Application forms can also be obtained from Verona Skomski, Administrative Coordinator, NPOD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 316D Leverton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583-0806, e-mail:  vskomski@unl.edu.

The application is in the general format of an NIH R21 proposal. The face page needs to include name of applicant, project title, budget request). The face page needs to be followed by a budget and justification (up to 2 pages), biographical sketch (new NIH style, 5 page limit including other support), research plan (specific aims, background, preliminary results (if any) and experimental plan not to exceed 6 single-spaced pages including figures and tables), a statement regarding authentication of key reagents, documentation of biostatistical consultation*, and a description of plans for future external funding applications, and bibliography. The bibliography does not count toward the page limit. The margins must be 0.5 inches on all sides and use of Arial font with a font size of 11 is required.

*NPOD requires all applicants for project leaders to provide documentation of consultation with a biostatistician of their choice regarding experimental design, and recommend using NPOD’s bioinformatics and biostatistics coordinators, Drs. Kathy Hanford or Steve Kachman (see https://cehs.unl.edu/npod/biomedical-and-obesity-research-core/ Documentation is to be provided by the biostatistician signing the application.

The budget will be $150,000 direct costs; F&A costs and equipment are not allowed. 6 months of required effort for new/junior faculty and 3 months for established faculty (salary) need to be included in the budget. This is one-time funding with no opportunity for renewal or extension. NPOD will work with successful applicants to identify two mentor (paid by NPOD) who guide project leaders to success.  Budgets should be created using the standard UNL OSP template found at https://uofnelincoln-my.sharepoint.com/:x:/g/personal/slund2_unl_edu/Eflvj6dMOsBFm7ykQVEaRhMB3hY2F8_f7ZHpoaD6b6rmnQ?e=YQxt1U&download=1.

Research project investigators must make an initial minimum commitment of 6 person months annually. Established investigators must make an initial commitment of at least 3 person months annually. It is recognized that during the development of an investigator's career (for example, the acquisition of other research support) it may be necessary to reduce these levels of commitment. PD(s)/PI(s) should consult with NIGMS program staff regarding appropriate reductions. Each project investigator should indicate in the Biographical Sketch his/her current and previous history of peer-reviewed research support.

For junior faculty, the 6 months is usually 3 academic months and 3 summer months. Established/senior faculty should use other available summer funding (if available) prior to using NPOD funding and then use academic months to make up the difference.

Applications in pdf format must be received via email at vskomski@unl.edu and/or jzempleni2@unl.edu no later than 5 PM CST on December 18, 2022.

RESPONSIBILITES

Project leaders will become NPOD members and are expected to attend monthly meetings and participate in NPOD events. They will present their research progress at a monthly work-in-progress seminar of the NPOD, and also to the external advisory committee during NPOD’s annual review meeting. In addition, PIs will be required to submit a report to NPOD in time for submission of the center’s annual report to NIH (typically in February). A final report documenting progress, publications, and grant proposals submitted and awarded, will be due to NPOD within 30 days after the end date of the grant. PIs will acknowledge NPOD support (NIH P20GM104320) in publications and presentations resulting from their grant. PIs are expected to submit an R01 grant proposal to NIH or a similar type of grant proposal to another federal agency by the end of the funding period.

SELECTION

The scientific merit of each proposal will be assessed by a panel of experts with no conflict of interest, appointed by the NPOD director. Awards will require approval by the NPOD’s external advisory board.  In the case of potential conflicts of interest, reviewers will be excused accordingly. The review criteria will follow NIH guidelines with the overall scientific merit of the proposal based on overall impact, significance, innovation, approach, investigators, and environment. In addition, relevance of the proposal to the mission of NPOD will be assessed. The review will use the NIH scoring scale of 10-90. Decisions by NPOD are final. Upon approval by NPOD and its External Advisory Committee, proposals will undergo administrative review by NIH NIGMS. Successful applicants will be notified as soon as possible.  

START AND END DATES

Funding period starting June 1, 2023 until May 31, 2024.

APPLICATION