Harvard Clinical Nutrition Research Center

CALL FOR PILOT FEASIBILITY PROJECT (PFP) APPLICATIONS IN NUTRITIONAL RESEARCH
(NEW AND COMPETING RENEWALS)

DEADLINE: March 3, 2008

Applications should be in the format of an RO1, including all the NIH forms and budget pages, with the text portion of the grant limited to 3-5 pages single-spaced (NIH PHS 398 Rev. 9/04/Interim Revision 4/06). For anyone planning to submit a continuation, please be certain to detail the progress you have made in the first year, as well as your plans for the proposed second year.

In addition, please suggest 3 or 4 individuals who might be able to review your application knowledgeably. These individuals can be from within or outside the Harvard Clinical Nutrition Research Center, but should not be current collaborators. Please include their full names, mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address.

All applications should be received in the HCNRC office by MARCH 3, 2008. Please submit electronically to Suzzette McCarron at smccarron1@partners.org.

The 2008 P/F announcement and application can be downloaded by clicking here. The PDF file contains instructions and an application form. The form should be filled out using Adobe Reader (free download).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR
PILOT/FEASIBILITY APPLICATIONS
(NEW AND COMPETING RENEWALS)

PURPOSE: The overall goals of the PFP is to stimulate innovative research relevant to clinical nutrition. We hope that this program will be a mechanism through the Center to encourage basic investigators to extend their studies into nutrition often in collaboration with investigators in the Center and directly focused on clinical problems. PFP recipients will receive preferential access to the Core facilities.

The specific purpose is to find by criterion:

Young investigators (senior fellows* or junior faculty) established by research programs relevant to clinical research who are without NIH grant support (K awardees are encouraged to apply).
Established scientists not currently focused or nutrition per se who wish to initiate studies of direct or indirect importance to nutritional problems.
Established nutrition researchers with novel new projects distinctly removed from their currently funded research projects.

ELIGIBILITY: New investigators, as well as established investigators, are encouraged to apply. Investigators requesting pilot/feasibility funds must show how this project is a departure from ongoing work. Pilot/feasibility projects may be an extension of other work, but cannot overlap any funded project. [Please note that pilot/feasibility grants are not intended to be used as bridging support for projects not funded by the NIH.] The intent is to provide preliminary data for future NIH funding or other funding vehicles.

PURPOSES FOR WHICH FUNDS MAY BE USED: Funds may be used for technical support and supplies. Equipment is funded only in very rare instances where it is vital to the particular project and is so unique that it is not available in any of the Center's core facilities. Such equipment requests must be well justified in the budget and approved by the Executive Committee. P.I.'s salaries and travel are not funded.

MAXIMUM AWARD: The amount of the award varies with the availability of funds. Previous awards have ranged between $12,000 and $20,000. The period of funding is for one year, beginning April1. Investigators must reapply for a second year of funding if interested

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

New Applications:

Applications should be in the format of an RO1, with the text portion of the grant limited to a maximum of 5 pages single-spaced, and should include the following form pages (NIH PHS 398 Rev. 9/04/Interim Revision 4/06). Applications also may be downloaded HERE.

HCNRC Cover Page (please fax signed copy to 617-724-1731)

NIH Face Page:

Abstract and Key Personnel

Table of Contents

Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period

Budget for Entire Project and Budget Justification

Biographical Sketch

Other Support - Please give an explanation as to how this research proposal is a departure from your ongoing work.

Resources and Environment

Personal Data on Principal Investigator

Animal and/or human study approvals

* Fellows must be in the final year of training and must have a documented commitment to a faculty appointment by a sponsoring division or department.

List three or four names (including contact information) of those who could be called upon to review your application. These names can be from within or outside of the CNRC at Harvard. Please include their full names, mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address.
All the required forms may be downloaded as a single Microsoft Word document HERE. Submit completed applications electronically to Suzzette McCarron at smccarron1@partners.org.

Competing Renewals:

Applications should be in the format of an RO1, with the text portion of the grant limited to a maximum of 5 pages single-spaced, and should include the following form pages (NIH PHS 398 Rev 9/04/Interim Revision 4/06). Applications also may be downloaded HERE.

HCNRC Cover Page (please fax signed copy to 617-724-1731)

NIH Face Page

Abstract and Key Personnel

Table of Contents

Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period

Budget for Entire Project and Budget Justification

Biographical Sketch

Other Support - Please give an explanation as to how this research proposal is a departure from your ongoing work (apart from the first year of your pilot/feasibility project).

Resources and Environment

Checklist

Personal Data on Principal Investigator

Animal and/or human study approvals

Please be certain to tell us the progress you have made in the first year (limited to two pages), as well as your plans for the proposed second year.

Applications for continuations are reviewed internally and are not sent out for external review.

All the required forms may be downloaded as a single Microsoft Word document HERE. Submit completed applications electronically to Suzzette McCarron at smccarron1@partners.org.

EVALUATION OF APPLICATION

The Executive Committee of the CNRC serves as the major review committee for pilot/feasibility studies. Each member of the Executive Committee reviews each application and assigns a priority rating to each project. In addition, each pilot/feasibility application is sent to two outside expert reviewers. The Executive Committee considers these ratings and ultimately decides upon the awarding of these grants.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AWARDEES:

Awardees are required to submit a written progress report around the middle of March for our annual Advisory Board meeting. You will be asked to submit an updated version of this progress report around the middle of June for inclusion in the CNRC non-competing renewal application to the NIH.
You may be invited to present your work at our annual Advisory Board meeting. This usually takes place in mid-September.
It will be necessary for you to be available on the day of our annual Advisory Board meeting for a general discussion between the Advisory Board members and all pilot/feasibility investigators.
The Harvard Clinical Nutrition Research Center support must be acknowledged on all publications of the research, and all such publications and grant applications resulting from the pilot/feasibility awarded must be reported to the CNRC main office. This may take the form of "Supported in part by the Harvard Clinical Nutrition Research Center, NIH Grant P30 DK40561"

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Applications are due in the Harvard Clinical Nutrition Research Center office on MARCH 3, 2008. Please submit electronically to Suzzette McCarron at smccarron1@partners.org..

PERSON TO CONTACT: Suzzette McCarron 617-726-4166 (smccarron1@partners.org)

Click here to see a list of Projects Awarded, 1998 – present

Click here to download a Pilot Feasibility Project Application in PDF format.

Home | Education | Research | Links