Applications due March 31 for NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (CoBRE)

Pilot Project Call for Applications
Applications due March 31, 2020
Anticipated start date: June 1, 2020
NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (CoBRE)
Center for Host Pathogens Interactions (HPI)

In anticipation of funding for the 5^th consecutive year, the UND HPI CoBRE invites proposals for pilot projects to support promising research that fits well within the scientific theme of the Center.  We anticipate supporting 2-3 new pilot projects at up to $50,000 direct costs per year for one year with anticipated start date of June 1, 2020. The UND HPI CoBRE program is open to all full time UND faculty. It is expected that this program will attract investigators into the broader research area of host-microbe interactions at mucosal surfaces, foster new collaborations among new and existing investigators, and promote the utilization of Flow Cytometry, Imaging and Histopathology core facilities.

Preference will also be given to projects covering, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Mucosal immune responses to infectious and non-infectious insults
• Chronic inflammation in neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases of mucosa
• Microbiome effects on health and disease states in the host
• Microbial manipulation of host immune processes
• Host responses that impact lung, gut and skin mucosal inflammation
• Investigations into understanding inflammatory processes in health and disease
• Development of new research tools to study host-microbe interactions
• Identification of new therapeutics, diagnostics, and treatments for infectious and inflammatory diseases

Successful projects must extensively utilize one or more of the HPI CoBRE core labs (http://med.und.edu/orgs/host-pathogen-interactions).

Criteria for evaluation of Pilot Project applications include:

• Strength of the science and the quality and clarity of its presentation;
• Relevance to the focus of UND HPI CoBRE;
• Likelihood of the pilot project becoming a competitive extramural project;
• Likelihood of productivity by the conclusion of this pilot grant funding;
• A clear, detailed plan for utilization of one or more CoBRE Core Laboratories;
• Career status of the applicant;
• Previous productivity and research funding, both attempted and successful.

CoBRE Projects must have a single Principal Investigator who will be responsible for the scientific direction and management of the project. Collaborators can be included if the collaboration provides expertise necessary to the proposed research and not held by the PI.

General Terms and Conditions of Pilot Project Awards:

1. Funds may be used for consumable supplies, services or small laboratory hardware (nothing >$5,000).
2. Personnel costs are allowable but preference will be given to applications that name specific individuals who are assured to be present on-site, eligible to work and ready to begin no later than June 1, 2020. PI salary support is not allowable.
3. Travel costs and tuition costs are not allowed.
4. Investigators who receive CoBRE support are required to participate fully in the regular research meetings of the of the Center, as well as seminars, symposia, workshops and other special activities organized or sponsored by the Center.
5. Submission of a R-level (R01, R21, or P0I) grant for extramural support during the funding period.
6. Any publication arising from the work supported by HPI CoBRE and/or any of the core facilities supported by HPI CoBRE (Flow cytometry, Imaging and Histology cores) must cite the grant (NIH/NIGMS P20GM113123).
7. A standard NIH-type progress report (ca. 2 pages in length) is required from each CoBRE project investigator by February 01, 2020 for inclusion in the annual CoBRE progress report to NIH.
8. Term and budget adjustments: The CoBRE PIs reserve the right to make term and budget adjustments in accordance with the intent of the Host Pathogen-CoBRE program and NIH policies concerning scientific overlap of projects.
9. Unanticipated new requirements: By accepting CoBRE funds, awardees agree to comply with any and all requirements not already mentioned that may be imposed on CoBRE by NIH or other institutional authorities.

Prospective applicants with questions about eligibility, program details, or the “fit” of their project to the CoBRE theme are encouraged to contact Dr. Jyotika Sharma (701-777-2624; jyotika.sharma@med.und.edu).

The Application Process:

Applications should be prepared in general accord with the NIH PHS 398 application guidelines, (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html).

Include:

1. NIH Face Page (Form Page 1).
2. NIH Pages Two and Three: Summary, Relevance, Project/Performance Sites, Senior/Key Personnel,  Other Significant Contributors, and Human Embryonic Stem cells.
3. NIH Detailed Budget (Form Page 4). Allowable costs include salary support for graduate students or staff and supplies. Funds cannot be used for PI’s salary, travel, and equipment purchases greater than $5,000.
4. Budget/Personnel justification
5. Biographical Sketch(es) of Pl and Key Personnel
6. Research Plan/Proposal (three-page limit utilizing 10 pt font with single spacing and including specific aims, significance, innovation, and research strategy). Bibliography is not included in the three-page limit.
7. If a previous UND HPI CoBRE Pilot Grant awardee, History or Success from Prior Awards (one page maximum outlining the progress on that prior work, including publications and extramural funding).
8. NIH Human subjects, if applicable
9. Vertebrate animal justification and protection, if applicable

In addition, please observe the following:

• The research plan may not exceed three (3) pages in length including figures and tables but excluding references (which must be complete citations in the NIH style).
• All figures and their lettering must be large enough to be clearly legible. Legibility of all provided material is the responsibility of the applicant.
• Missing or inaccurate information may disqualify your application from consideration.
• IRB, IBC, and IACUC approvals must be secured prior to grant funds being released (June 1, 2020). These documents are required for obtaining NIH approval for funding the pilot projects.

Proposals should be submitted by e-mail to Ms. Shannon Bupp (Shannon.bupp@und.edu) by 5 p.m. March 31, 2020. Awards are scheduled to begin June 1, 2020, in anticipation of the 5^th year funding

Evaluation:

Each COBRE Pilot Project will be evaluated in two steps. In the first step, proposals will be evaluated based on scientific merit using the NIH scoring system. Proposals will be scored on a scale of 1 (best) through 9 (worst) based on significance, investigators, innovation, approach, environment (pertaining to research being proposed and the use of core labs), and an overall impact score (based on the high likelihood of success as a fully developed NIH proposal and the scope of work corresponding to the priorities of the CoBRE program). In the second step, the CoBRE Internal Advisory Committee will determine which grants to recommend for funding based on the priority scores and the COBRE mission. Final approval for funding will be made by the External Advisory Committee, with approval from the NIH.

Contact:

For additional information, please contact Jyotika Sharma (701-777-2624); jyotika.sharma@med.und.edu).