The Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (MRDDRC) announces the availability of funds for a New Project Development Award that will provide money to a junior
faculty member* who is in the process of applying for an NIH grant.
The $50,000 award can be used towards salary support for staff,
supplies, travel, and small equipment.
The MRDDRC Advisory Committee will review all grants and make funding decisions.
* Eligibility: only full-time tenure-track BCM junior faculty who have been appointed during the past five years and do not have national competitive research grant support for their research (no NIH R type grants).
Next application period will open early 2009.
Directions for MRDDRC New Project Development Award applications:
A total of five sets (the
original and four copies) of the entire completed application should
be submitted.
The body of the grant proposal must be 20 singled-spaced
pages or less with print 15 characters per inch or larger. Only
full-time tenure track BCM junior faculty who have been appointed
during the past five years and do not have national competitive
research grant support are eligible to apply. Each application must
contain the following items using NIH PHS 398 forms:
1. A cover letter describing how this research relates
to Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. This is critical
and the grant will be considered only if the relationship to mental
retardation and/or developmental disability is clearly described.
2. Abstract of the proposed research.
3. The body of the proposal categorized as follows (Maximum of single-spaced
pages):
a) Specific aims
b) Background and significance of
the research
c) Experimental design, methodology,
data analysis, and any problem areas anticipated
d) Literature cited
4. Description of the plans to apply for NIH funding. Funding is
contingent on the commitment of the applicant to apply for independent
NIH Funding. These plans should be clearly outlined and applicant
should indicate the anticipated date of submission for the NIH proposal.
5. Provide a detailed budget for the application with complete justification.
6. Sources and amounts of present funds available to support research
on this or related subjects by the principal investigator or by
any senior investigator with whom the principal investigator is
associated; in the latter case the applicant should clearly state
how receipt of this award would change this status.
7. If the proposal has been submitted to other granting agencies,
list the agencies and the disposition of applications, if known.
If the proposal has not been submitted to other granting agencies,
will this grant be used to provide “seed” money to obtain
information upon which to base on a formal application? If so, describe
the long-term goals of the research project.
8. Include a Curriculum Vitae of the principal investigator with
a list of publications.
9. Protocols using human subjects, animals, radioisotopes or biohazardous
materials must have appropriate review and approval before funds
can be expended.
Determining that the proposed research represents
a truly independent effort by an investigator is in a circumstance
to evolve to a more independent status will be viewed favorably.
The criteria used in evaluating an application are
the same as those generally applied in competition for funding at
the national level:
1. The significance of the basic or clinical information being sought.
2. The likelihood that the proposed research will provide new information
which will enable to the investigator to be more competitive when
a grant is submitted to an outside funding agency.
3. Whether the specific aims are logical and the approach valid
and adequate.
4. The feasibility of the procedures outlined in the application.
5. Scientific expertise of the applicant to perform the proposed
research. An individual who wishes to carry out a project for which
he/she lacks technical expertise should obtain that expertise by
collaborating with other scientists at BCM or elsewhere.
If you have any questions or require additional information,
please contact:
