Call for Research Proposals

Regeneration and Repair in the Nervous System

Due April 2, 2008

A goal of the BSI is to foster new interactions and collaborations that will produce transformative, highly innovative new approaches to selected research problems, and to support development of enabling platforms and cores that will benefit many researchers in the target areas.  In the area of regeneration and repair, open working groups led by Larry Schramm and by Tom Brushart and Ahmet Hoke have been meeting regularly to discuss the current state of research in the CNS and the PNS, respectively, and the needs in these areas. The consensus from these meetings is that progress will best be stimulated by a flexible program of grants to support new collaborations or enabling new platforms. 

This represents a call for grants that meet these criteria. 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 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. Applications will be reviewed by an advisory committee to the BSI. Presentations to the review group may be requested after the initial review.

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