M.I.N.D. Institute seeks applications for Pilot Research Grant Program

UC Davis faculty are invited to apply for pilot research grants from the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute designed to foster acquisition of preliminary data needed to compete for extramural funding.

The competitive program is open to all faculty eligible to apply for National Institutes of Health R01 funding. The deadline for submitting applications is April 3. The M.I.N.D. Institute’s Research Support Committee, consisting of M.I.N.D. Institute members, faculty from related UC Davis departments and community members, will review all applications.

The UC Davis M.I.N.D Institute is a multidisciplinary translational research center dedicated to understanding and finding effective preventions, treatments and cures for autism, fragile X and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Institute faculty belong to many campus departments, and institute collaborations involve researchers throughout the university. M.I.N.D. Institute officials are interested in encouraging new collaborations and research efforts that will advance the mission of the M.I.N.D. Institute. More information about the M.I.N.D. Institute can be obtained at www.mindinstitute.org.

Additional information and an outline of the application process follow:

* Eligibility – This funding opportunity is open to all UC Davis faculty members eligible under university guidelines to submit an NIH R01 application. Faculty may hold only one pilot grant at any given time.

* Award Period/Funding Limit – Projects will be funded for one year, with maximum project budgets limited to $25,000. Because of the limited funding available for this program, budgets will be carefully reviewed by the RSC. Funds will become available before the end of this fiscal year.

* Application – Sections a-e of the application should not exceed five NIH-style continuation pages (PHS 398/2590 - Continuation Page). Font should be Arial 11 point, margins 0.5 inch or more. The following sections must be included:

a. Description – Include a paragraph of 300 words or less that gives a general summary of the goals of the research project, expected outcomes and how the research will facilitate acquisition of future extramural funding. It would be best if this description was comprehensible to a lay audience.

b. Specific Aims – A practical list of specific aims for the proposed research should be included. Each specific aim should have a set of hypotheses or expected outcomes.

c. Background and Significance – Provide the reviewers with sufficient referenced background information to understand the proposed research and why it is consistent with the mission of the M.I.N.D. Institute. Explicitly address the issue of how the proposed research will facilitate acquisition of future extramural funding.

d. Preliminary Observations (optional) – Any preliminary data that are germane to the proposal may be included at the end of the Background and Significance section.

e. Experimental Procedures – Describe the research procedures in sufficient detail to assure reviewers that the project is feasible with the currently available environment and personnel, and within a one-year time period.

f. References (not included in 5-page limit) – The literature cited should appear after the experimental procedures.

g. Budget (not included in 5-page limit) – A one-page budget (PHS 398 – Form Page 4: Detailed budget for initial budget period) and a one-page budget justification should be included at the end of the application. Please note that all M.I.N.D. Institute-related core costs, for example, phlebotomy or subject assessment costs, must be included in the budget.

h. Other Support (not included in 5-page limit) – Please list all current and pending grants, and indicate if there is overlap with the proposed project.

Submission – Submit the application electronically to Laura R. Lacy, Ph.D., M.I.N.D. Institute Research Administrator, at lrlacy@ucdavis.edu on or before April 3, 2006.

* Review Criteria – In addition to scientific quality, applications will be evaluated based on: their relationship to the Institute’s mission, level of innovation, likelihood of receiving future extramural funding, and collaborative nature.

Questions – For questions or additional information about this program, contact David G. Amaral, M.I.N.D. Institute Research Director, at dgamaral@ucdavis.edu.