Projects
PFP ApplicationNutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard
CALL FOR PILOT FEASIBILITY PROJECT (PFP) APPLICATIONS IN NUTRITION, OBESITY
OR RELATED RESEARCH FIELD
(NEW AND COMPETING RENEWALS)
DEADLINE: April 1, 2013
The Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard (NORC) will be accepting applications for new pilot/feasibility projects as well as for competing renewals of currently funded one-year projects for the 18th year (08/01/2013-07/31/2014) of the
NIH-supported NORC.
All applications should be received in the NORC office by April 1, 2013.
Please submit electronically to Ewelinka 'Nika' Grzejka at egrzejka@partners.org.
The 2013 P/F announcement and application can be downloaded by clicking here. The PDF file contains instructions and an application form (page 2). The form should be filled out using Adobe Reader (free download), and e-mail to egrzejka@partners.org.
REQUIREMENTS FOR
PILOT/FEASIBILITY APPLICATIONS
(NEW AND COMPETING RENEWALS)
PURPOSE: The overall goal of the PFP is to stimulate innovative research relevant to nutrition or obesity. We hope that this program will be a mechanism through the Center to encourage basic investigators to extend their studies into nutrition/obesity, often in collaboration with investigators in the Center and directly focused on clinical/translational 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 R01 and R21 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 or a significant extension of existing work into a novel direction. 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 August 1. Investigators must reapply for a second year of funding if interested. Please submit a budget for up to $20,000 in direct costs, and indicate 0% for IDC.
* 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.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
STEP 1
Please fill out the “Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard Application For Pilot/Feasibility Project Grant” form (Page 2 of the "pfp_app" (download) using Adobe Reader, print it, and obtain the required signatures.
Then e-mail this form to Ms. Ewelinka 'Nika' Grzejka at egrzejka@partners.org.
STEP 2
NEW AND COMPETING RENEWAL APPLICANTS:
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. Complete application forms in Microsoft Word format (NIH PHS REV. 6/09) may be downloaded HERE, and should include the following form pages.
- NIH Face Page:
- Description, Project/Performance Sites, Senior/Key Personnel,
Other Significant Contributors, and Human Embryonic Stem Cells - Table of Contents
- Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period
- Budget for Entire Proposed Period of Support
- Biosketch
- Resources
- Checklist
NEW APPLICANTS:
Along with your application forms, include a list of 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 NORC. Please include their full names, mailing addresses, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address.
COMPETING RENEWAL APPLICANTS:
Along with your application forms, include an explanation of how this research proposal is a departure from your ongoing work (apart from the first year of your pilot/feasibility project). 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.
Submit applications electronically by attaching to an e-mail
no later than April 1, 2013 to Ewelinka 'Nika' Grzejka at egrzejka@partners.org.
EVALUATION OF APPLICATION
The Executive Committee of the NORC serves as the major review committee for pilot/feasibility studies. The final decision on funding will be made by the NORCH executive leadership based on expert reviews, prior NORCH funding, current funding, and appropriateness of the project to the NORCH goals.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AWARDEES:
- Awardees are required to submit a written progress report for our annual Advisory Board meeting. You will be asked to submit an updated version of this progress report for inclusion in the NORC 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 Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard 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 NORC main office. This may take the form of "Supported in part by Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard, NIH Grant P30 DK40561"
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Applications are due in the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at Harvard office
on April 1, 2013. Please submit electronically to Ewelinka 'Nika' Grzejka at egrzejka@partners.org.
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ewelinka 'Nika' Grzejka at egrzejka@partners.org.