To submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), please click on the link above. The LOI must be completed by 5 pm ET on March 4, 2022.

Completed LOIs will include the title and short description of your project. This short description is limited to 4 sentences total and should accurately describe the biomedical relevance of your project.

Completed applications, including required signatures on the Face page, must be submitted to the link above by 5 pm ET on April 4, 2022.

Applications submitted without a Letter of Intent submission will not be accepted.

Applications with missing components will not be accepted.

If you have any questions relating to this FOA please contact John.Clarkson@uscmed.sc.edu.

The application forms package can be downloaded from the SC INBRE website in a fillable, pdf format. All forms must be completed according to the NIH guidelines for “R” series awards. Each package includes the following:

• • Face Page:  This page must be filled out in its entirety and signed by an authorized institutional representative.

  • Project Summary/Performance site/Key personnel:  Fill out all components and indicate whether or not the project uses human embryonic stem cells.

  • Biographical Sketch of PI (NIH-format)

  • Biographical Sketch(es) of other Key Personnel (NIH format)

  • Budget Page:  Enter direct costs only; total cannot exceed $50,000; enter costs for first year of funding only.  New projects will be renewed for a second year if a satisfactory progress report is received when requested during year one.

  • Budget Justification: Allowable costs include personnel; supplies; travel; equipment; and other costs as allowed on NIH research project grant budgets, including indirect costs.

  • Project Description:  Proposals must be prepared with 0.5" margins all around, using Arial (or similar sans serif font; font size no smaller than 11pt) and subdivided into sections indicated below (page limits are noted):

    1. • Introduction/Response to Reviewers’ Comments (for resubmissions only): 1 page

       • Progress report (for DRP competitive renewals only): 2 pages

       • For current DRP awardees seeking a third year of funding, indicate how the additional funding will be crucial for a proposal submission within this third year or how funds will be used to address reviews from a previous proposal submission.

  •  Specific Aims: 1 page

  • Significance, Innovation, and Approach: up to 6 pages. All applicants need to address scientific premise (part of Significance), rigor and reproducibility, and relevant biological variables (both under Approach)

  • Literature cited: 1 page

  • Human Subjects. Projects involving human subjects must already have IRB approval at the time of proposal application. This includes projects that are deemed to be exempt by their institutions.

    1. • Please include the IRB Letter in your proposal application.

       • Please include a certificate of training in HS research (CITI) for all study personnel in your proposal application.

       • Human subject research must complete the appropriate required forms (see links to forms at bottom of page).

No activities involving human subjects can be initiated without appropriate IRB approval of the protocol. Applications with human subjects that do not have prior IRB approval will not be reviewed.

• • Vertebrate Animals (1 page). If the project involves vertebrate animals, provide the following in your proposal: 1) a description of procedures; 2) justification for model used; 3) address minimization of pain and distress; and 4) method of euthanasia according to NIH guidelines (see https://olaw.nih.gov/guidance/vertebrate-animal-section.htm for additional information). Note: Submit your animal protocol for approval while you are preparing your DRP application.

Research involving vertebrate animals must be approved by the IACUC before work on the project can begin.

Applications involving vertebrate animals that do not include an IACUC Approval Letter will not be reviewed.

• • Biosafety (1 page; if necessary). Discuss the biosafety aspects of the proposed work and, if necessary, file for approval from the Institutional Biosafety Committee as you prepare your proposal to SC INBRE. If there are no biohazards, please state so.

  • Data Sharing Plan (1 page). Describe the plan, consistent with NIH data/resource sharing policies (https://grants.nih.gov/policy/sharing.htm), for sharing of research data/resources generated. A sample plan is available on this website.

  • Authentication of Key Biological/Chemical Resources (1 page). Describe methods/procedures for validating the identity of significant biological/chemical agents used.

  • Plans for Further Development of the Work (1 page). Describe plans for publication and how you plan to use the data in grant proposals; if possible, mention specific opportunities for funding; new collaborations.

  • Plans for training of students/postdoctoral fellows under the award (1 page). Formal training plans are not allowed but activities designed to improve student research capabilities can be described. Make sure to include opportunities for training in lab safety and responsible conduct of research.

    1. • CRU applicants: Explain what role the students will have in the project and how participation in the project will help develop the students’ research and intellectual skills and help them mature as scientists. Provide details of interactions between faculty member and students/fellows.

       • PUI applicants: Include a description of how the proposed research will be accomplished with an undergraduate research team. How will the students be trained and supervised in conducting research (involvement in experimental design, execution, and data analysis)?

  • Faculty Career Development Plan (2 pages).  Each applicant will select two advisors: a career advisor from the applicant’s institution and a scientific advisor who should be an established investigator in the applicant’s scientific area (i.e. senior collaborator).  A written plan describing the contribution each advisor will make to the scientific and career advancement of the applicant, along with any planned activities the applicant will take part in to foster his/her career development, must accompany each application. The plan should indicate the frequency of meetings between the applicant and their advisors, contributions advisors played in proposal preparation, and indicate goals and milestones for the applicant’s career progression. Financial support can be requested if the scientific advisor is devoting significant time commitment to guiding the DRP applicant.

  • Letter of support from Advisors. Each individual listed as an advisor must provide a letter of support

  • Biographical sketches of Advisors (NIH format)

  • Checklist: This is the page where the indirect costs associated with the project are calculated and shown.