Request for Proposals

To:       Prospective Applicants to the 2008-2009 High Risk/High Impact Pilot Research Fund from the Chancellor’s Science Advisory Council
From:   Vann Bennett, Chair, Science Advisory Council, Duke University Medical Center
Date:    March 10, 2008
Re:       2008-2009 Chancellor’s Science Council Pilot Fund Competition 
Deadline:  April 21, 2008

The 2008-2009 Chancellor’s Science Council High Risk/High Impact Pilot Research Fund

The Chancellor’s Science Council High Risk/High Impact Pilot Fund was established by decision of the Science Advisory Council with funds provided by Chancellor Victor Dzau to provide a maximum of three (3) one-year awards of up to $75,000 to support highly innovative research proposals from regular rank faculty in the Duke University School of Medicine. The goal of this program is to foster novel pilot projects with the potential for high scientific impact. Applications will be considered only for projects not covered by the faculty member’s current funding sources.  Given the limited number of awards available, priority will be given to innovative proposals supported by excellent rationale and with the potential for high impact.

Terms of the Awards

The Science Council anticipates making at most 3 new awards for up to $75,000 each, with funding to start July 1, 2008.  Support is for one year.  A report, including financial expenditures, and presentation to the Science Council is required at the close of the funding year and to take place no later than August 31, 2009. Recipients can apply for renewal for an additional year of funding with evidence of significant progress made, but the Council cannot guarantee further support. Applications for renewals will compete with new proposals.  

Criteria

Proposals will be judged by the following criteria:

• Evidence of novelty, scientific merit, feasibility and potential for high impact.
• Evidence that the proposal does not overlap with a faculty member’s current funding and represents a truly novel research avenue for the faculty member.

Restrictions

Awarded funds must be used to conduct the project proposed. Pilot Funds can be used to purchase reagents or materials or to pay for the time/effort of a person conducting work as part of the project, or other expenses directly incurred as a part of the proposed project.

Eligibility

Regular rank faculty in the Duke University School of Medicine are eligible to submit a proposal. Only one proposal per faculty member is permitted.

Selection Process

Final decisions and allocations will be made by the Chancellor for Health Affairs based on recommendations of the Science Council, which will review and evaluate proposals. 

Funding Period

One year with the possibility of renewal for a second year with demonstration of significant progress and promise.  The funding period coincides with the University’s Fiscal Year (July 1 – June 30).

Application Procedures For All Proposals:

Proposals should include:

• a one-page title page that includes the title of the proposal, the faculty member’s name, primary appointment, and faculty rank  
• a narrative (3 page maximum; 1 inch margins on all sides, single spaced, minimum of Times New Roman 11 point font) that includes: 1) an abstract containing a brief explanation of the idea and its impact; 2) a more complete description of the project and expected milestones, 3) a statement of the expected effect on the faculty member’s future research directions if the project is successful, and 4) a statement that the proposed research does not overlap any sources of funding available or expected during the award period.
• a detailed budget for the proposed project using the budget template (download as an Excel file), as well as a listing of all current sources of funding (including funding agency, project title, funding period and amount) and any new sources of funding expected for the award period (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009). (2 page maximum)
• an NIH-style biosketch of the PI (4 page maximum).

Send your application electronically as a single PDF file containing the 1) title page, 2) the proposal, 3) the budget and, 4) the NIH-style biosketch by email to: joanna.downer@duke.edu by April 21, 2008.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is April 21, 2008.  Please contact Joanna Downer at 919-681-8272 or joanna.downer@duke.edu with any questions.