Diabetes and Endocrinology Research
Center Pilot and Feasibility Project
application deadline is Jan. 15
The Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center (DERC) Pilot and Feasibility Project Program fosters innovative diabetes-related research at UCD and its affiliated institutions to draw new investigators into the field. It also promotes technology transfer between established groups and encourages multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary effort that crosses the normal boundaries imposed by divisions and departments within the university.
Up to five awards are offered annually and over the past six years 31 awards of $20,000 to $50,000 each have been made in response to 91 applications. Emphasis is given to novel and innovative research that requires further preliminary data to enable submission to funding agencies. The principal metric for success is subsequent funding and a continuing commitment of the award recipient to diabetes research.
Eligibility:
Applications are solicited from independent investigators holding faculty positions at UCD, CU Boulder campuses, University of Denver and affiliated institutions that perform research related to the DERC. Post doctoral fellows, professional research assistants and research associates are not eligible.
Junior faculty and new faculty appointees:
The P&F program aims to foster new faculty to conduct research in type 1 and 2 diabetes including basic, clinical and translational research. Applicants who hold or have held NIH R01 or higher level research awards in diabetes-related areas as a principal investigator are not eligible except as noted below. Independent investigators who hold NIH K or NIH R21 awards, career development and young faculty awards from JDRF or ADA are encouraged to apply.
Established investigators outside the diabetes field:
The program supports established investigators from outside the diabetes field who wish to apply their knowledge and expertise to diabetes-related investigation. Applications that are likely to result in a future commitment to diabetes research are considered more favorably.
Established investigators within the diabetes field:
Funding is available for interdisciplinary and innovative high-risk projects that would not be funded normally through the usual granting agencies. In this instance established diabetes researchers can apply directly or as expert collaborators and consultants to non-diabetes investigators.
Tenure:
Awards will normally be of one-year duration but can be extended to two years by a competitive renewal process using the same procedures as the initial application and submission of a progress report.
Budget and Resources:
Grants provide direct costs of up to $50,000 that may include personal salary (usually < 20 percent of the budget), salary for support staff, supplies, patient cost and other expenses including travel to meetings. No indirect costs are provided. Successful applicants will have access to DERC Core facilities for the duration of the award. P&F funds cannot be used to supplement other grants and are subject to termination if the applicant receives funding for the same or similar project from another source.
Application procedure:
Applications should be submitted electronically as an attached MSword or pdf file using the NIH PHS398 format form (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm). Applications should be received no later than Monday, Jan. 15 and addressed to Emily.Warren@uchsc.edu. Specific questions regarding the suitability of the proposed research for P&F support, and its format may be addressed to John.Hutton@uchsc.edu (303-724-6837) or George.Eisenbarth@uchsc.edu (303- 724-6838) prior to submission.
Review process:
All applications are sent for external peer review. Reviewers will examine the scientific merit of the proposal based on its significance, approach, innovation, and budget. In addition, reviewers evaluate the “appropriateness for funding” and “relevance to diabetes.” The DERC Administrative Core Executive Committee (see http://www.uchsc.edu/misc/diabetes/index.html) makes the final decision as to whether to fund the application. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within two weeks of receipt of the external reviews and funding commences on April 1st each year. Summary statements and feedback are available to all applicants upon request.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend the annual presentation of research by P&F funded investigators to be held in March 2007 at the Barbara Davis Center.
