UND epigenomics CoBRE announces new pilot grant program

The UND CoBRE for Epigenomics of Development and Disease is announcing a new pilot grant program for 2019/2020. The funding opportunity is a short-term pilot grant program designed to allow researchers to generate preliminary data using epigenomics platforms in order to increase their ability to compete for extramural awards. This is a competitive pilot grant program to support novel, innovative research that fits with the overall goal of the CoBRE: to promote research focused on understanding the functional role of epigenetic changes in biological systems.

The deadline for applications is November 1, 2019, and we anticipate funding 3-4 proposals with a maximum budget of $30,000 for one year.

All basic science/clinical/translational/population health or other faculty members throughout UND are encouraged to apply. Prior to submission, all applicants are encouraged to discuss their research aims and methodology with epigenetics group members in order to maximize synergy within the group. Collaborators are allowed, but funds can be provided only to collaborators from North Dakota institutions.

Applications should be prepared in general accord with the NIH PHS 398 application guidelines (revised 01/2018, available from http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html).

Forms required:
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 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 including specific aims, significance, innovation, and research Strategy).
7. Bibliography using NIH citation style
8. NIH Human subjects research form, if applicable
9. Vertebrate animal justification and protection form, if applicable
10. Letters of support

In addition, please observe the following:

• All figures and their lettering must be large enough to be clearly legible.
• Missing or inaccurate information may disqualify your application from consideration.
• IRB, IBC, and IACUC approvals must be secured prior to anticipated start date.

Grants will be awarded based upon the standard NIH criteria (Significance, Approach, Innovation, Investigator, Environment), the ability to expand novel research capabilities in the CoBRE, and the potential for the data generated to support competitive proposals for extramural funding. The grants will be funded through a competitive review process.

Proposals should be submitted by email to Jennifer Henry (jennifer.henry@UND.edu) by 5 p.m. on Nov. 1, 2019. Awards are scheduled to begin Dec. 1, 2019, and end on June 30, 2020.