Collaborator:FAQ for funding via NIH PAR

FAQ for funding via NIH PAR-06-223

An R21 version of the NCBC Collaborations Program was recently released. Details can be found here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-223.html.

Executive Summary

• This PAR is for projects from individual-investigators or small groups to collaborate with the recently-formed NIH Roadmap for Medical Research National Centers for Biomedical Computing (NCBCs). For a description of the NCBCs see http://www.bisti.nih.gov/ncbc/index.cfm.
• This announcement uses the R21 mechanism, and is intended to support exploratory biomedical informatics and computational biology research—applications should be innovative, with high risk/high impact in new areas that are lacking preliminary data or development. Applications for R21 awards should describe projects distinct from those supported through the traditional R01 mechanism. In the latter case, investigators should consult the parallel announcement PAR-05-063 “Collaborations with National Centers for Biomedical Computing”. For example, long-term projects, or projects designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area will not be considered for R21 awards.
• The intention of the collaborating projects is to engage researchers across the nation in building an excellent biomedical computing environment, using the computational tools and biological and behavioral application drivers of the funded NCBCs as foundation stones.
• Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The applicant may request a project period of up to two years with a combined budget for direct costs of up to $275,000 for the two year period. The request should be tailored to the needs of the project. Normally, no more than $200,000 may be requested in a single year. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.
• Successful applications will be funded by the participating ICs.
• Eligible organizations include: for-profit or non-profit organizations; public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, hospitals, and laboratories; units of state and local governments; eligible agencies of the Federal government; domestic or foreign institutions/organizations.
• Eligible PIs include any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs.
• There is no limit to the number of scientifically different applications that each applicant may submit. However, each application must include a letter of support from the PI of the NCBC with whom the collaboration is proposed.
• Application forms are available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html.
• Telecommunications for the hearing impaired is available at: TTY 301-451-0088

FAQ for funding via NIH PAR-05-063

The NA-MIC budget is already fully allocated between it's 17 sites. However, a funding opportunity has been made available by the NIH via PAR-05-063 for collaborations with NCBCs including as NA-MIC. Several investigators have asked us about this PAR, and we have put together the following FAQ to address some of these questions. While we consult with NIH periodically to verify it, please understand that this is our interpretation of this funding opportunity and not a view that is officially approved by NIH.

Important Dates for this Grant Application

• Letter of Intent Receipt Date: December 19, 2006; April 19, 2007; December 19, 2007; April 19, 2008; December 19, 2008
• Application Receipt Date(s): January 17, 2007 ; May 17, 2007; January 17, 2008
• Peer Review Date: October-November, June-July
• Council Review Date: September 2006, January 2007, September 2007, January 2008, September 2008

I am interested in this grant, what are the steps?

Answer:

1. About six-eight weeks before the letter of intent deadline, send an email to Ron Kikinis (kikinis at bwh.harvard.edu) introducing your project. If you are interested in interacting with a particular NA-MIC investigator, please include them in this email exchange as well.
2. After discussing the project with you, Ron will discuss it with appropriate NA-MIC investigators and NIH officers. He will provide you with feedback from these discussions.
3. In parallel with the above step, identify NIH officers in institutes where your project has a natural fit, and contact them for initial feedback on the idea. Keep Ron and NA-MIC investigators appraised of this feedback so that they can relay it to the NIH program officers for NA-MIC.
4. Consolidate the various pieces of feedback to determine if your proposal is a good fit for this funding mechanism.
5. If yes, submit the letter of intent and proposal by due dates.

What should I know while preparing my letter of intent?

Answer:The letter of intent should contain the following information:

1. Specific aims
2. Which NA-MIC investigators will you be collaborating with? (To learn about NA-MIC PIs, please visit here: http://www.na-mic.org/about.htm)
3. What are your existing collaboration relationships with the investigator mentioned above? (Note, if the answer to this is different from "none", then we should clarify very early in the process whether you are eligible for this grant or not.)
4. What do you plan to get from NAMIC as a result of this collaboration?
5. What do you plan to expand the scope of NAMIC as a result of this collaboration?
6. Which NIH Institute(s) do you think your proposal is most relevant to? Who have you contacted in those institutues about the proposal for initial feedback?

I have an active/past collaboration grant with one of the participating institutions of NA-MIC. Will that impact my chances of getting funded?

Answer: Please note the focus on forming new collaborations in this grant i.e. current collaborators should look perhaps at a general R01. New collaborations from the same institution as the collaborating NCBC, or new collaborations from the same institution as any of the subcontractors to the collaborating NCBC are welcome to apply. The key is to promote the formation of new collaborations. If you are not sure if this criterion applies to you, please contact us and we'd be happy to help answer the question.

In order for me to complete the project I would like to propose in my application, I expect to need some support from NA-MIC personnel. Is NA-MIC budgeted to provide collaborators with that support, and if so, at what level?

Answer: It is reasonable to assume that some proposals will need significant interactions with NA-MIC personnel to ensure reaching their goals, and in that case those NA-MIC personnel should get budgeted as part of that collaborator proposal (i.e. there is no current dedicated funding to supporting these grants in NA-MIC and appropriate budgets must be included in the new proposals.) Some of the recently submitted collaborator proposals have included approximately 30% support for NA-MIC personnel. The best way to determine the budget for NA-MIC participants for your project is to have detailed discussions with your NA-MIC collaborator(s) before you start preparing the proposal/budget. One of the outcomes of these discussions should be the deliverables and related effort that the NA-MIC collaborators are accountable for, and that should be the basis for the budget.

What is the duration for this grant?

Answer:Please note from the PAR: "The earliest start date is April 6, 2006" and "Each NIH NCBC was funded for a five-year period, and has the possibility for a single five-year renewal. Your application must recognize this timeline. Your proposed research must either be complete when the center ends, or you must request sufficient resources for continuing to support the components of the NIH NCBC that will be required beyond the lifetime of the center. Support to build long-term on the proposed work beyond the lifetime of the NCBC can be requested under the normal unsolicited NIH research program or via appropriate program announcements or requests for applications."

Is there an overview of NA-MIC that I can use for the grant proposal?

Yes. We put this NA-MIC overview for PAR-05-063 together in April 2005 and you are welcome to use it as needed in your application. Note that these 5 pages are in addition to the 25 pages of grant text you provide.

International Collaborations with NA-MIC

We have received interest from several international groups to collaborate with NA-MIC. We are referring to these collaborations as iNA-MIC: interNational Alliance for Medical Image Computing. Please note that

• We welcome international collaborators to join our effort.
• If you are interested in our software, please download it and enjoy!
• If you are interested in a collaboration, please factor a subcontract for us in your funding.
• Feel free to contact Ron Kikinis (kikinis at bwh.harvard.edu) to discuss further.