Call for Research Proposals

New Approaches to Perception and Cognition

Due April 2, 2008

A goal of the BSI is to foster new interactions and collaborations across the Institution that will produce transformative, highly innovative new approaches to selected research problems, and/or to support development of enabling platforms and cores that will benefit many researchers in the target areas.  This call is for proposals relevant to perception and related cognition.  For example, one area of interest is in the neuroscience of aesthetic visual or auditory perception.  Cores relevant to this call for proposals could utilize physiological or imaging strategies, and relevant projects could include neurobiological studies of normal perceptual and cognitive processes or disease-related changes of perception and cognitive behavior in man or in animals, examined through appropriate approaches, such as imaging, genetics, or cognitive assessment.

We seek proposals that meet the criteria of being multidisciplinary, novel, and potentially transformative of research in the field. Applications are due April 2, 2008. We are not specifying budget limits, but investigators should recognize that the higher the budget the higher the bar that the proposal will need to clear from a merit standpoint.  We anticipate that applications will range from approximately $100K to a maximum of $1M for up to two years.  Principal investigator effort can be included on grants. Indirect costs will not be charged.  

Applications will be scored by an expert panel of external and internal investigators.  The proposals will be judged on the basis of innovation, ability to change the research field, and the bringing together of new collaborative groups.  We discourage the seeking of supplemental funds or bridging support for ongoing research programs. 

The format for proposals is as follows:

1. A brief proposal, not to exceed four pages (excluding Appendix, if one is needed)
2. Proposal format:
i. Scientific abstract
ii. Goal of the project or platform
iii. Rationale
iv. Pertinent experience and/or preliminary data
v. The scientific team and scientific leader(s): provide rationale for assembly of the group 
vi. Anticipated pitfalls
vii. A budget for up to two years, separating startup and operating costs
viii. Anticipated milestones
ix. Appendix: NIH type biosketch of PI (s)
Current other PI external support (NIH format)
Any supplemental figures: maximum of two pages

Applications should be submitted electronically as a single combined PDF to bsmith13@jhmi.edu. After initial screening by the review committee presentations to the committee may be requested.

Inquiries can be directed to Barbara Smith (bsmith13@jhmi.edu; 410-955-4504).