Applications due Jan. 13 for Great Plains IDeA-CTR scholars program

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: Great Plains IDeA-CTR Scholars Program
Application Deadline: Jan. 13, 2017 (5 p.m.)

Overview
The IDeA-CTR Scholars Program is administered through an NIH/NIGMS grant entitled “Great Plains
IDeA CTR” with the goal of developing successful clinical translational research (CTR) investigators.
To achieve this goal, the program will provide selected Scholars with the protected time and seed
grant funding to develop competitive CTR projects for submission to the NIH. Scholars accepted into
the program will receive salary support of up to 50% FTE (including up to 23% fringe benefits) and up
to $50,000 annually to support preliminary research efforts for up to four years. Indirect costs are not
allowed.

For the purpose of the IDeA CTR Scholars Program, CTR is defined using the operational definition
proposed by the Association for Clinical Research Training. This definition was specifically
developed for the research training environment.

For more details regarding the definition of translational research that will be used for the Scholars
Program, please see: “Translational research fosters the multidirectional integration of basic research,
patient-oriented research, and population-based research, with the long-term aim of
improving the health of the public.” – Rubio DM et al. Defining translational research: implications for training. Acad
Med 2010; 85(3): 470-8.

Program Requirements
Participation in the Scholars Program will include:
– Participation and attendance at the Annual Meeting held in Omaha, NE at UNMC or other
participating site(s)
– Enrollment and participation in a two-semester Mentored Scholar Program research leadership
series (CTR 901 and 903) http://www.unmc.edu/cctr/education/msp/
– Attendance (in person or remotely) at a minimum of two-thirds of monthly scientific symposia/lecture series sponsored by the Great Plains IDeA CTR

Participating Institutions:
– Boys Town National Research Hospital (BTNRH)
– North Dakota State University (NDSU)
– University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK)
– University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)
– University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)
– University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO)
– University of North Dakota (UND)
– University of South Dakota (USD)

Eligibility:
– Full time faculty at participating institutions, with preference given for individuals at the rank of Assistant Professor (MD, PhD, or equivalent).
– Eligible to apply for NIH funds (e.g., US citizen or a permanent resident),
– Has an established focus of relevant clinical, clinical-translational, or community translational research without previous NIH R01 or equivalent funding, and not on a currently mentored K award or a funded Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) or IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE). Current and former PD/PIs of an NIH Small Grant (R03), Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21), Dissertation Award (R36), or SBIR/STTR (R41, R42, R43, R44) remain eligible.

Application Process:
Application to the program is done centrally through UNMC’s REDCap portal: https://unmcredcap.unmc.edu/redcap/surveys/?s=RLTK894CKX

1. Questions arising during application development may be sent directly the Professional Development KCA Director, Dr. Ted Mikuls (tmikuls@unmc.edu) or Operational Director, Dr. Lani Zimmerman (lzimmerm@unmc.edu).
2. Applications are to be submitted in REDCap.
3. Applicants requiring assistance with topics such as biostatistics or trial design in preparation of this application may contact the UNMC Center for Collaboration on Research Design and Analysis (CCORDA): https://www.unmc.edu/publichealth/centers/ccorda/ . CCORDA personnel may be contacted by email or by phone.
4. The IDeA-CTR Scholar Selection and Program Committee will review all applicant portfolios and schedule formal interviews for the top candidates.
5. Final scores will be submitted after discussion of candidates and rankings of the Committee will be presented to the Steering Committee for final selection. Applications will be reviewed in accordance with NIH guidelines for Career Development K-awards. The five criteria considered in providing an overall assessment will include: 1) candidate; 2) Career Development Plan/Goals; 3) Research Plan; 4) Mentor(s); and Environment & Institutional Commitment.
6. After a Scholar has received R01 or equivalent funding, her/his position will be opened for new applications from which a new Scholar will be chosen.

Application Deadline and Start Date:
Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2017. Scholar selection is expected to be completed by March 1, 2017. Access to program funding will be granted when Scholars are admitted to the program.

Required Application Materials:
1. Full curriculum vitae (CV) of scholar applicant.
2. NIH biosketch of the proposed primary mentor.
3. List of other potential investigators for mentoring team; provide NIH biosketches.
4. Completed “IDeA CTR Scholar Facesheet” in REDCap.
5. A personal narrative of no more than 3 pages that describes the applicant’s:
– Motivation and commitment for becoming an independently funded investigator.
– Plan for career development.
– Past experience(s) in CTR and rationale for additional training. Gaps in training or career development that will be addressed through further training should be clearly identified.
– Primary CTR area of interest or targeted research area. If applicable, describe how the proposed CTR focus addresses the overall theme of the Great Plains IDeA CTR (diseases of aging, health disparities pertaining to urban-rural residence or other causes, etc.).
– Potential mentor(s) and their area(s) of expertise. Mentors may be chosen from any of the participating institutions, but at least one will be identified near to the Scholar to assure adequate observation of Scholar progress.
– Current resources (e.g. equipment, lab or office space, research resources, clinical coordinator, or statistical support) available to support the pilot research project and lead to submission of an R01 grant application or equivalent, as applicable.
-Identify current RFA’s or PA’s that are relevant to your field for an R01 application
6. Two letters of recommendations, one from inside and one from outside the applicant’s institution. One should be identified as a proposed mentor and detail a commitment to mentoring the applicant throughout the training period. The mentor should have a history of external research funding and should not be the applicant’s immediate supervisor (e.g. Division Chief, Chair, Dean). Scholars should have a project that is independent of their mentor’s ongoing research.
7. A letter from the appropriate Division Chief, Department Chair and/or Dean confirming the applicant will have 50% or more protected time for research, if selected, throughout the training period (which will be re-assessed annually).
8. Provide a brief narrative in lay language that describes the project and its importance and/or relevance to the Great Plains states and research community (should not exceed 20 lines of text with the use of half-inch margins and 11-point font text).
9. Include an “R” mechanism grant proposal that follows the NIH guidelines for the R-21 mechanism (e.g., Specific Aims, Significance, Innovation, and Approach) with Budget and Budget justification as well as human subjects, animal welfare (if applicable), and references outside the page limitation. The Aims (1-page) plus Research Plan (6-pages) should not exceed 7 pages in total. Note that significance may be obtained by the Great Plains IDeA Community Advisory Board, if relevant, to ensure that projects address issues of importance to our community and/or region. Budget should assume up to a  $50,000/year research plan (see attached budget sheet). Indirect costs are not allowed. See budget sheet for additional detail.
10. Once all documents are complete, submit your application in REDCap. The application may be completed in more than one sitting.