Translational Research Development Grants
Note: Applications for Translational Research Grants are not being accepted at this time.
Purpose
The purpose of the award is to provide a mechanism to link basic scientists with clinician-investigators, and to promote, cultivate and ultimately to establish innovative translational clinical research programs that have a high probability of attracting external funding after the award period and/or have potential for the generation of intellectual property and ultimately commercialization.
Eligibility
The Translational Research Development Grant Award Program is open to all Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (and/or Wright State Physicians) fully-affiliated faculty members. Collaborating basic scientists may be faculty members within the School of Medicine or external to the School of Medicine (e.g., College of Engineering). Each proposal must identify at least one basic scientist and one clinician-investigator as co-principal investigators. Under certain circumstances, partially-affiliated (i.e., voluntary) clinical faculty may be considered appropriate to serve as a co-PI.
Funding
It is anticipated that up to three awards will be made annually. Total costs for each award may not exceed $50,000. All grant awards will be housed and fiscally managed within the Boonshoft School of Medicine.
Application Process
Note: Applications for Translational Research Grants are not being accepted at this time.
A Translational Research Resource Committee (“the Committee”) will be formed and will be chaired by the associate dean for research affairs for the Boonshoft School of Medicine, and consist of members of the BSOM Research Committee, a representative of the office of the WSU vice president for research, and, depending on the proposal being reviewed, representatives from other colleges with specific expertise. This Committee will provide review, recommendation and oversight of the application and award process. Application and assessment will proceed as follows:
- A Letter of Intent is submitted to the Translational Research Resource Committee (c/o BSOM Office of Research Affairs) at any time.
- The Letter of Intent will be reviewed by the committee, and a recommendation will be made to the associate dean for research affairs whether to invite a full proposal.
- Submission of the full proposal will be made to the committee. Reviews will be held at least twice a year. Proposals will be evaluated for their merit and for their fit with the intent of the grant program, the university’s Strategic Plan and the medical school’s Strategic Plan. The committee may engage additional expert opinion or advice from other internal or external reviewers to assist the review process.
- The committee will forward a written evaluation and recommendation to the BSOM associate dean for research affairs, who, in conjunction with the vice president for research (and the dean(s) of the respective schools/colleges) will make a final decision on the acceptability and funding level of the recommended proposal and will inform the applicant.
- Investigators must submit a yearly and/or final progress report that will be evaluated by the BSOM associate dean for research affairs and the committee. At the end of the two-year funding period, any unused funds must be returned unless a written request is made to (and approved by) the associate dean for research affairs to provide a no-cost extension. The request must include the reason for requesting an extension and a new timeline for completion of the project.
Letter of Intent
Each letter of intent should include (limit to four pages):
- A brief statement of the project’s broad objectives.
- An outline of the proposed project, including a statement of how the proposal fits the definition of being translational research.
- A list of key participants
- A time line for the project
- A draft of the budget for the proposal
- A statement of how the work might be sustained after the two-year funding period.
Full Proposal
Each full proposal must include (limit to 12 pages):
- Elaboration of items in the letter of intent, in detail, including a thorough discussion of the plan for conducting the proposed translational research project, a critical account of the proposal’s significance to the university and medical school, and a complete justification of the budget. A clear indication needs to be provided of how the proposal is considered translational in nature. For guidance please see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2829707/.
- Potential for generation of intellectual property and for eventual commercialization should also be delineated. Note: Any clinical trials conducted as part of the Translational Research Development Grant Program will be administered by the Wright State University-Premier Health Clinical Trials and Research Alliance (CTRA).
In addition, each full proposal must include the following attachments (not counted in the 12-page limit above):
- A detailed letter from the respective department chairs, and/or dean(s) outlining enthusiasm and support for the application and indicating how the research effort will be promoted by the school/college and/or department, including provision of protected time (for clinician-investigators), additional financial support by the school, college and/or department and how the research program will be sustained after the award period.
- Brief biographical sketches of principal investigators and other key participants.
More information
For more information, contact Madhavi Kadakia, Ph.D., associate dean for research affairs.