NIH Director's Pioneer Award Program

In the first phase of the application process, nominations will be submitted by mentors, colleagues, institutions, or by the individuals themselves. Only a single nomination package may be submitted for each person. The nomination package will include a letter and the nominee's resume or Curriculum Vita, each no more than two pages in length. Details on the required contents of the letter, along with more information about the award program, appear here: http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-RM-04-007.html

The award process is summarized in detail at: http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/highrisk/
initiatives/pioneer/index.asp

All nominations will be submitted via the internet and are being accepted from March 1 to April 1, 2004. There is no limit to the number of applications per institution. We only ask that you inform our office of all nominations being sent. Please send an email to Lisa Sparks (lsparks@jhmi.edu) to let us know of your nomination.

Radiology-Funded Pilot Project Grants for Molecular Imaging in Cancer

Pilot project grant funds are available to support new innovative projects in molecular imaging (for examples of molecular imaging, see J Cell Biochem Suppl 2002; 39, J Magn Reson Imaging 2002 Oct; 16 (4) or any issue of Molecular Imaging). Studies may involve basic, translational pre-clinical approaches to development of molecular imaging capabilities, broadly related to cancer detection, prevention, diagnosis, or therapy. Cross-disciplinary approaches are encouraged. Funds for pilot projects are provided through Institutional and Department of Radiology support to the NCI funded "Small Animal Imaging Resource Program" (SAIRP). Guidelines for submission are below.

An original and three copies of the application are due to Martin Pomper (Department of Radiology, Rm B-100 Phipps Bldg., 600 N. Wolfe St.) by April 6, 2004. Applicants will be notified by May 15, 2004.

Guidelines For Application:

• Awards will be made for pilot projects or feasibility studies to develop unique molecular imaging research opportunities or ideas.
• All Johns Hopkins faculty members with a cancer-related molecular imaging project, written in collaboration with a faculty member from the Department of Radiology, may apply.
  
• Grants will be awarded in the range of $15,000 to $20,000 for a period of one year. Support may be requested for supplies and technical salaries.
  
• Successful applicants will be required to submit progress reports every six months.

Application Format:

• Specific Aims
• Background including preliminary studies
  
• Experimental Design (please refer to previous publications of P.I. for methods where possible).
  
• Relevant publications of the P.I. (no more than 5).
  
• Budget: Standard NIH grant page with detailed budget justification.
  
• Estimated duration of project
  
• Current and pending support with reasons for no overlap.

Applications must be written in font size 10 or greater. The total length of the Specific Aims, Background and Experimental Design sections combined should not exceed four pages.

Review:
Applications will be reviewed by members of the Molecular Imaging Center. High priority will be given to innovative molecular imaging projects that involve significant interactions between faculty members. Projects can be "high-risk" but should be based on sound reasons for succeeding. For pre-submission inquiries, such as identifying potential radiology collaborators, or other application related information contact: Katie O'Neill, SAIRP Grant Administrator, Rm B-100 Phipps Bldg., 410.614.3020 (koneill2@jhmi.edu).

Blaustein Pain Research Fund

The Blaustein Pain Research Fund has been established to support clinical research and basic research activities in pain at Johns Hopkins. Proposals are being solicited for specific research projects for the next funding period.

Types of proposals that will be considered:

1. Funds to enable a junior faculty member to develop a research project.
   
2. Pilot funds to develop a project to the point that a competitive application for external support can be obtained.
   
3. Funds to complete a small research project.
   
4. Funds to support core personnel that facilitate research for many investigators in the Center (e.g., clinical outcomes coordinator, computer specialist, biostatistician).
   
5. Funds to purchase equipment that will enable a new line of research to be investigated.
   
6. Hiatus funds to maintain research activities during a hiatus of support "between grants."

Requirements:

1. Basic or clinical research that is directly related to improving our understanding of the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of pain will be entertained.
   
2. The applicant should be a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University with a career interest in pain research. Fellows and residents may submit an application under the sponsorship of a faculty member. A clear indication of the commitment of the applicant needs to be made.
   
3. Support of the Blaustein Pain Research Fund must be acknowledged in any publication resulting from the research.
   
4. A brief progress report must be prepared at the end of the funding period.
   
5. The results of the study will be presented at the Blaustein Pain Treatment Center Grand Rounds.

Time Table:
Deadline for receipt of proposals is March 15, 2004. The expected start date for funding is July 1, 2004.

Support Available:
We expect the typical award will amount to around $25K per year (direct costs). The amount requested should not exceed $50K. Only direct costs will be funded. This support can include faculty and staff salaries as well as equipment and supplies. Salaries of personnel outside of the Blaustein Pain Treatment Center can be requested. A proposed budget and budget justification (in an NIH format) needs to be provided. In general, awards will be for 1 year only. If more than one year of support is required, a new proposal will be necessary that will compete with other new applications at that time. Proposals requesting more than $20K in salary support for a faculty member should include a letter from that faculty member's department chairperson indicating career development plans for the individual.

Application Format:
The page limit for the research plan is five pages. The proposal should take a format similar to that of an NIH research proposal with sections that cover Specific Aims, Background and Significance (i.e., rationale), Preliminary results (if available) or Progress Report (for those requesting an additional year of support), and Research Design and Methods. A summary of what is expected in each of these sections can be obtained by contacting the Chairman of the Research Committee. In addition, an abstract (<300 words), a two page biographical sketch of the applicant and all co-investigators, a budget with justification, and a summary of other research support (ongoing and proposed) should be provided. Applicants should indicate how this research will develop their career and/or lead to external support. A letter from the Department Director that comments on the merit of the proposal and indicates the amount of support to be provided for this research by the department should also be included. Eight copies of the proposal should be delivered to the chairman of the Blaustein Pain Research Committee. Applications must be written in a font size of 11 or greater. Any application in which the five page maximum limit for the research plan is exceeded will not be reviewed.

Mechanism of Review:
The proposals will be reviewed by the Research Committee of Blaustein Pain Treatment Center. Recommendations for support will be made to the Director of the Blaustein Pain Treatment Center. The following criteria will be used for evaluation of the proposals: 1) relevance to pain, 2) scientific merit, 3) feasibility, 4) career development potential, 5) synergism with overall pain program, 6) history of productivity as predictor of success, 7) originality, 8) likelihood that research will lead to external funding, and 9) level of departmental support.

Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation Translational Research Fund

The Translational Research Fund (TRF) of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) is intended to support the testing, development, and application of evidence-based interventions with high likelihood of clinical improvement in the functioning of spinal cord injured individuals. Based on rigorous peer review, only extraordinarily promising and meritorious research framed by measurable goals and milestones will be considered for funding. The TRF, a $5 million program, is intended to support projects larger than those funded through CRPF's traditional mechanisms. It is anticipated that projects supported by the TRF could range from $300,000 to $1 - $2M total over three years. Application involves two steps: (i) submission of a Letter of Intent, and (ii) if invited, submission of a full proposal. The next deadline for Letters of Intent is April 1, 2004. There is no limit to the number of applications per institution. Complete details including application requirements appear here: http://www.christopherreeve.org/
Research/ResearchList.cfm?c=98

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