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Challenge Grant Submissions

(Challenge Grants are new funds (~$200 million) for NIH FY 2009 and 2010 (as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009).

· All applications will be submitted electronically via COEUS and prepared centrally within the Department of Medicine Sponsored Projects Office. RC1 award mechanism

· Earliest submission date: March 27, 2009; Submission due date: April 27, 2009

· Earliest start date: September 30, 2009. Pre-award costs are allowable

· Resubmissions and Renewals are NOT permitted

· Budget proposals are limited to $500,000 TOTAL costs/year for a total of $1,000,000 over two years

· Limited to new applications addressing one of the Challenge Topics

· Applicants may submit more than one application, provided each application is scientifically distinct

DOM Responsibilities:

1. Meet with Principal Investigator to complete the following items:

a. SF424 (R&R) (Cover component)

b. Review person profile in eRA Commons

c. R&R Project/Performance Site Locations

d. PHS Cover Page Supplement

e. PHS 398 Checklist

f. SF424(R&R) Budget – PI must meet with Rhonda Reese or designee to develop detailed budget

i. Personnel

ii. Consultants

iii. Equipment

iv. Supplies & Materials

v. Travel

vi. Patient Expenses

vii. Other Direct Costs

PI Responsibilities:

1. Complete Budget Justification

2. R&R Other Project Information

a. Project Summary (abstract) – one page only. Must begin this section citing the specific topic identifier listed in the table of Challenge Areas and Topics, e.g., This application addresses broad Challenge Area (01): Behavior, Behavioral Change, and Prevention and specific Challenge Topic, 01-GM-104: Mechanisms of Behavior Change Research. (Note: Is not included in the 12 page limit.).

Must also include the following text:
“Every year Johns Hopkins Institutions directly generate about $10 billion in economic activity in the State of Maryland, a 43% increase from the $7 billion generated in 2002 and the equivalent of one of every twenty-four dollars in the state’s economy today. In 2008, Johns Hopkins Institutions provided 45,000 jobs and created 700 new job each year since 2002. Directly and indirectly Johns Hopkins Institutions support more than 100,000 jobs in Maryland, one of every 29 in the state. In Baltimore City along Johns Hopkins directly and indirectly supports 60,000 jobs, or 16.7% of all City employment. This application will create or retain [NUMBER] jobs.”

b. Narrative (lay abstract) – limited to 2-3 sentences.

c. Bibliography and Literature cited – limited to one page

d. Facilities

e. Equipment

f. Other

3. R&R Senior/Key Person

a. Biosketch – limited to 2 pages. Number of publications cited is limited to ten or fewer items. Cite most relevant publications and those that highlight the significance of past accomplishments.

4. PHS 398 Research Plan (Research Design and Methods) – limited to 12 pages. (Must be organized in specific order as below. Start each section with the appropriate section heading.

a. Research Area

i. Statement of the Challenge Area and the specific Challenge Topic – include the project title on the first page.

Must also include the following text:
Johns Hopkins Medicine operates a fully integrated health sciences system consisting of a jointly managed School of Medicine and Health System. Hopkins is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in the creation and translation of new knowledge and therapies to improve human health, the training of future scientists and science leaders and the delivery of state-of-the-art health care. Johns Hopkins has earned more federal grant awards, including awards from NIH alone, than any other University for more than seventeen years.

Research at Johns Hopkins includes an ever growing regional network of collaborating institutions, companies and economic development initiatives. Hopkins is a partner in many science career programs that ensure preparation and interest in science careers by local high school and college students and graduate students, providing a ready source of new qualified staff. The stability and desirability of Hopkins employment make it a very competitive and desirable employer in the region.

Johns Hopkins has organized itself to quickly and effectively utilize the potential funding from NIH consistent with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) goals and objectives. These initiatives include not only proposal preparation but also revised human resource, facilities development and purchasing policies and procedures and a commitment to report effectively on our progress in meeting the ARRA milestones.

ii. Challenge and Potential Impact – what is the research opportunity, scientific knowledge gap or technology that will be addressed: How broad is the impact in science and/or health? Which community (ies) will be affected? What is (area) the size(s) of the community (ies)? Will the potential impact be major?

iii. The Approach – How will you attempt to explore or solve the stated research problem? How will your rationale and/or approach overcome existing challenges or barriers in the field? If you propose to improve existing technologies or to develop new technologies, which needs are being addressed and what is unconventional and exceptionally innovative about your approach? Provide enough information for reviewers to determine what you are proposing to do, but do not include a detailed experimental plan.

iv. Timeline and Milestones – Provide a timeline for the proposed research indicating points where intermediate objectives will be assessed and decisions will be made regarding the course and direction of the continuing research effort. Possible alternative paths that may be followed at critical junctures in the project plan should be described and indicated on the timeline.

b. Specific Aims – one page only (not included in the 12 page Research Plan)

c. Appendix Materials – NOT permitted

d. Resource Sharing Plans:

i. Data Sharing Plan. Regardless of the amount requested, applicants are expected to include a brief 1-paragraph description of how final research data will be shared, or explain why data sharing is not possible.

ii. Sharing Model Organisms. Regardless of the amount requested, all applications where the development of model organisms is anticipated are expected to include a description of a specific plan for sharing and distributing unique model organisms and related resources or state appropriate reasons why such sharing is restricted or not possible.

iii. Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Regardless of the amount requested, applications seeking funding for a genome-wide association study are expected to provide a plan for submission of GWAS data to the NIH-designated GWAS data repository, or provide an appropriate explanation why submission to the repository is not possible.

e. Application Specific Language to be developed by Each Investigator

The purpose of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is to preserve and create jobs, and for NIH awards to promote economic recovery by spurring advances in science and health.

EACH APPLICATION should include a section highlighting
*             Number of jobs created or preserved and
*             Other economic development benefits to third party suppliers and collaborators,
*             A commitment to complete the project objectives by October 2010, and
*             Acknowledgement of rigorous (quarterly) reporting requirements