Annual Career Development Workshop (June 23, Columbia) Agenda and Event Details (required registration now closed)
In anticipation of pending renewal, the South Carolina IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (SC INBRE) Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP) solicits applications for the 2025-26 award cycle. The DRPP in SC INBRE V will support two funding mechanisms designed to grow faculty-led research projects and provide biomedical research training opportunities for undergraduate students: Research Projects and Pilot Projects.
Research Project (RP) awards are the largest award funded through the DRPP. These two-year awards are targeted towards early-career investigators that need support to build their research programs but can also support established investigators that want to change direction in their research.
Important Dates
Release Date: Feb 12, 2025
Deadline for Letter of Intent: March 3, 2025, 5 pm ET
Deadline for submission: April 4, 2025, 5 pm ET
Period of performance: Sept 1, 2025 through Aug 31, 2026 (write for 1 year)
Award amounts and number of anticipated awards
RP awards will be funded at up to $55,000 per year in direct costs for two years. Awards are made for 1 year initially, which will be automatically renewed for a second year with a satisfactory progress report submitted to SC INBRE by May 1st of the year following the award date. A competitive renewal for a third year of RP support can be submitted.
Up to NINE RP awards will be made: SIX to faculty at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) and THREE to faculty at Comprehensive Research Universities (CRUs), one at each of the following institutions – Clemson University, Medical University of South Carolina and the University of South Carolina.
Forms and Links
Letter of Intent Link (closed – was due March 3)
Human Subjects Forms (see below)
🚨 Proposal Application Form (IMPORTANT: DOWNLOAD THE FORM – don't use Google Drive or another online method to complete it!)
Proposal Submission Link – Make sure that you flatten / optimize to reduce the overall size your PDF!
Goals and expectations for RPs
RP awards are designed to position SC INBRE investigators to successfully compete for NIH research project grants, either R15/R16s for PUI faculty or R01/R21s for CRU faculty. Within two years of their initial award, RP recipients are expected to submit a research project grant application to NIH. To prepare for this submission, awardees are required to attend SC INBRE’s Annual Career Development Workshop where they can receive guidance on various aspects of grant preparation and review. When project leaders are ready to begin writing their NIH application, they can work with SC INBRE’s Administrative Core to enroll in USC’s Propel research mentorship program. As part of its commitment to SC INBRE, USC (lead institution) will allow DRPP investigators to participate in this 9-month intensive grant writing program which provides one-on-one mentorship from the planning to submission stages of grant writing.
Additionally, faculty are expected to include student training as a key component of their project. Junior/early-stage faculty funded through the DRPP will be required to participate in the Entering Mentoring program organized by the Administrative Core (AC) to develop mentoring skills which will be essential in training undergraduate students in biomedical research.
RP leaders are required to participate in SC INBRE’s annual Science Symposium along with their trainees, where the investigator will give an oral presentation (at least once) on their project and students can present posters on their research. This symposium is typically held in February of each year and abstracts are due in January.
All network institutions must have committed to providing 50% release time (6 person months) for RP leaders at the time of award.
LOI/Application Submission Instructions and Contact Information
To submit a Letter of Intent (LOI), please click on the link above. The LOI must be completed by 5 pm ET on Monday, March 3, 2025. Absolutely no late LOIs will be accepted.
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. Applications submitted without an LOI submission will not be accepted.
Applicants should include their email address which will be used for all correspondence regarding this application.
Completed applications, including institutional required signatures on the Face page, must be submitted to the link above by 5 pm ET on Friday April 5, 2025. Absolutely no late applications will be accepted.
Applications with missing components will not be accepted.
If you have any questions relating to this NOFO, please contact John Clarkson (Email).
Utilization of Core Facilities
If core facility support is required, projects should propose to work with an IDeA program affiliated core. The following is a list of cores most frequently used by SC INBRE investigators. For those seeking Bioinformatics Core services please contact Dr. Edie Goldsmith (Email).
Instrumentation Resource Facility at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Dr. Austin Worden, Director (Email, 803-216-3823)
Microarray Facility at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Michael Shtutman, (Email, 803-777-8988)
Molecular Analytics and Informatics Core Facility at the Medical University of South Carolina, Dr. Jeremy Barth, Director (Email, 843-792-9984)
NMR facility at Claflin University, Dr. Arezue Boroujerdi, Director (Email, 803-535-5536)
If utilizing the services of a core facility, applicants must work with facility directors to plan the proposed experiments. A letter of support from the chosen facility’s Director, or a quote if using a commercial facility, must be included in the proposal.
If the technical services required by the project cannot be provided by a facility in South Carolina, or the project is based upon existing collaborations that involve the use of other resources, it is acceptable to use other service providers, in or outside South Carolina, but a justification must be provided. Applications cannot include subcontracts to institutions in non-IDeA states.
Eligibility
Any faculty member engaged in biomedical research at a network institution is eligible to submit an application to the DRPP. Individuals serving as PI of an NIH research award (R01, R21, R15, R16) or supported by other IDeA programs (i.e. COBRE or IDeA-CTR), regardless of academic rank, are not eligible to apply for RP funding. Faculty who are the PI of a foundation or R03 grant are eligible to apply for RP funding, provided there is no scientific overlap between the DRPP application and other currently held awards.
Faculty at non-network institutions who would like to apply for DRPP funding would be required to submit an institutional MOU and a letter of support from their administration indicating support for the release time required for RP awards with their application. Please reach out to Dr. Edie Goldsmith (Email) if you are applying from a non-network institution.
Individuals submitting RP applications ideally will be early-stage investigators/junior faculty, typically tenure-track assistant professors, who are building their independent research program and have not received substantial NIH funding as a principal investigator.
Applications from more established associate or full professors will be considered only if the proposed project represents a significant change in research direction, such that RP funding would enhance competitiveness for a future NIH application.
Individuals holding non-tenure track or research faculty appointments are eligible to apply for RP funding provided that by the end of the RP award the faculty member will be placed in a tenure track position. A letter from the applicant’s department chair committing to this change in academic appointment is required as part of the application.
Faculty that have been awarded 2 years of DRP support from SC INBRE previously are eligible to apply for a 1-year competitive renewal for additional funding through the SC INBRE V RP funding mechanism. Faculty that have been awarded only 1 year of DRP support from SC INBRE previously are eligible to apply for a 2-year competitive renewal of additional funding through the SC INBRE V RP funding mechanism. The total amount of DRP + RP support cannot exceed 3 years.
Mentoring
All early career faculty supported by the RP awards are required to have two mentors, one scientific and one career mentor, who can help them navigate the challenges associated with establishing a research program while transitioning to a faculty role. Mentors will advise faculty during the preparation of their career development plan to ensure the proposed plan activities will enable the faculty member to achieve their career goals.
See Mentoring page for more details.
🚨 Proposal Preparation Instructions
All projects must address biomedically relevant questions within the scope of research supported by NIH. It is incumbent upon the applicant to clearly demonstrate the biomedical relevance of the proposed work within the proposal.
The application forms package can be downloaded from the SC INBRE website in a fillable, pdf format. Proposals must be prepared with 0.5” margins all around, using Arial (or similar sans serif font; font size no smaller than 11 pt) and subdivided into sections indicated below (page limits are noted). 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(es) of PI and other Key PersonneI (NIH-format)
Biographical Sketch(es) Example (NIH format)
🚨 Budget Page: Enter direct costs only; total cannot exceed $55,000; enter costs for first year of funding on the detailed budget form. New two-year 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. Student support should be listed as salary not stipends.
Introduction/Response to Reviewers’ Comments (for resubmissions only): 1 page
Progress Report (for second and third year competitive renewals only): 2 pages
For current 2-year 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.
For current 1-year DRP awardees seeking 2 years of new funding, describe how your initial funding has let to the new aims.
There should be new specific aim(s) for the renewal with the scope of work appropriate for the duration of the award.
Specific Aims: 1 page
Research strategy (up to 6 pages): Should have the following 3 sections — Significance, Innovation, and Approach. Rigor of prior research should be addressed in the Significance section. In the Approach section, applicants need to address rigor, in terms of how the proposed study will address weaknesses in previous research, describe experimental design/methods that will yield robust and unbiased results, address anticipated outcomes/alternatives, and relevant biological variables.
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.
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. For applications selected for funding, the Administrative Core will not release funds until such projects have been approved by NIH/NIGMS.
Vertebrate Animals (1 page). If the proposed project involves vertebrate animals, include a vertebrate animals section which addresses the following: 1) a description of procedures which includes species, strains, sex, ages, and number of animals to be used in the proposed project; 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 IACUC approval while you are preparing your RP application if you do not already have it approved.If your campus does not have an OLAW assurance or IACUC and you want to propose a project involving vertebrate animals, contact Dr. Edie Goldsmith (Email) before submitting your application. Research involving vertebrate animals must have IACUC approval before work on the project can begin. For applications selected for funding, the IACUC approval letter will be due to John Clarkson (Email) no later than July 18, 2025. The Administrative Core will not release funds to any investigator who has proposed to use vertebrate animals in their research until the project has been approved by NIH/NIGMS.
Select Agents Research (1 page; if necessary). If your proposed activities involve the use of select agents at any time during the proposed project period complete this section. In this section address the following: 1 Identify the select agent(s) to be used in the proposed research; 2) Provide the registration status of all entities* where select agent(s) will be used; 3) Provide a description of all facilities where the select agent(s) will be used. If there are no select agents, do not complete this section.
Resource Sharing Plan (1 page, if applicable): Should be provided for applications which propose the development of novel model organisms or novel research resources/tools.
Data Management and 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. The Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMSP) must include the following sections: 1) data type; 2) related tools, software/code; 3) standards; 4) data preservation, access and associated timelines; 5) Access, distribution or reuse considerations; and 6) Oversight of data management and sharing. A sample plan is available on this website (https://sharing.nih.gov/data-management-and-sharing-policy/planning-and-budgeting-for-data-management-and-sharing/writing-a-data-management-and-sharing-plan#after).
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.
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 RP applicant.
Letter of support from Advisors. Each individual listed as an advisor must provide a letter of support, signed and on letterhead.
Biographical sketches of Advisors (NIH format)
Checklist: This is the page where the indirect costs associated with the project are calculated and shown.
Review
Upon submission, each application will undergo an initial administrative review by the SC INBRE program manager. The program manager will confirm that an LOI was received for each submitted application and after the submission deadline will contact investigators who submitted LOIs, but did not submit a full proposal to ensure there were no issues with the submission process. As part of the administrative review, applicant eligibility will be confirmed, and applications checked to ensure that all required components are included in the application.
Applications for which no LOI was received or where the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
Applications submitted prior to the deadline, but found to have administrative errors (i.e. exceeding budget limit, missing support letters) will be provided an opportunity to correct errors provided corrections are received prior to the posted submission deadline.
In January 2025, NIH transitioned to a new simplified peer review framework for research project grants (R01, R03, R15, R16, R21) and SC INBRE V will adopt the new framework for the review of DRPP applications. Transitioning to the new review procedure will prepare SC INBRE applicants for the review format and comments they can expect when submitting future NIH grant applications and familiarize investigators who may be asked to serve on NIH review panels with the new review process.
All proposals that meet the eligibility requirements and guidelines will be independently evaluated by SC INBRE’s Scientific Review Committee. Reviewers will apply the following review criteria:
Factor 1: Importance of the Research as evidenced by the significance and innovation of the proposed work (Scored 1-9).
Factor 2: Rigor and Feasibility based on the approach described (Scored 1-9).
The following items are not scored individually, but are considered as part of the overall impact score:
Factor 3: Expertise and resources which considers the investigator(s) and environment. Will be denoted as “appropriate” or “gaps identified.” Potential to lead to a competitive extramural grant proposal and potential for publication
Qualifications of advisors and quality/appropriateness of career development plan
Quality of proposed training plans for students
Final decisions on funding will be made by the SC INBRE External Advisory Committee and NIGMS.
Awards and Reporting Requirements
All applicants will receive a notice of award/declination and copies of the reviewers’ comments via email. Award recipients are required to provide the SC INBRE Administrative Core with project data for evaluation and reporting purposes, as follows:
RP award recipients are required to present their results at the annual SC INBRE Scientific Symposium.
Award recipients will be required to submit an annual progress report by the date specified by the Administrative Core. The progress report will include an update on progress towards completing the aims of the research project, and any project achievements to date (students trained, publications, presentations, proposals submitted/funded). As part of the annual report, the Administrative Core will confirm with each RP recipient that they are continuing to conduct their research in accordance with their IACUC approval.
RP award recipients are expected to publish their results and present them at regional and/or national conferences. All publications and presentations, resulting even in part from work supported by SC INBRE, must acknowledge SC INBRE support and grant number P20GM103499. A PMCID must be obtained for each publication in a timely fashion. PMCID information must be provided to the SC INBRE program manager administrative staff as soon as available.
Awardees are also expected to apply for extramural support as soon as possible during or after the completion of their RP award work.
RP award recipients are expected to obtain an NIH Commons ID for all student and post-doctoral participants.
After the expiration date of each award, SC INBRE will continue to contact awardees for outcome-related data such as grants, publications, etc. Failure to provide any requested materials for the award or program evaluation purposes will constitute default under this program and disqualify the RP recipient from further SC INBRE support.
Human Subjects Information
Applicants seeking RP funding may propose to use human subjects as part of their research plan. However, human subject research that qualifies as a clinical trial is not allowed. Investigators proposing human subjects work are required to provide completed human subjects forms with the submission of their proposal which includes information on informed consent process; the inclusion of women, minorities, children and across the lifespan; recruitment and retention plan; study timeline; enrollment tables; and address the protection of human subjects. An official letter of approval from their Institutional Review Board (IRB) is also required as part of the application packet.
If you are working with human cells or de-identified samples, or uncertain if your research qualifies as human subject research, please review the flow chart at this link to see if your work qualifies as Human Subjects research.
Human Subjects Forms
