2002/2003  Pilot Study Grants:      

Request for Proposals

 

The NIDA-funded Substance Abuse Research Development Program (SARDP) at the UT Center for Social Work Research is pleased to issue a request for pilot research proposals.  SARDP’s pilot research program is intended to provide the opportunity for University of Texas Social Work faculty to engage in research on substance abuse and social work.  As our social work faculty are at differing levels of involvement in substance abuse research we are tailoring our grant award program to try and suit investigator needs at several levels.  A total of $30,000 is available this project year to support pilot project grants in two tracks.

 

Track 1: Small Grants or Supplements to Existing Pilots

Awards will be made in the $2,000 - $5000 range to support research projects with targeted objectives (such as collection of pilot data to assess psychometrics; RA support to analyze existing data, etc.) The request may involve supplemental funds for an existing research project or may involve funds for a small pilot project.  No faculty salary will be allowed in the budget and a much less rigorous concept paper is required in the formal application (see attached.)  

 

Track 2: Larger Pilot Project

Awards of up to $10,000 will be made to support larger pilot projects with targeted objectives such as development of instrumentation, data collection, data analysis, etc., to support an application for NIH funding.  This is anticipated to involve a new research project.  Some faculty summer salary (1 month salary for PI only) will be allowable in the budget and PI’s must include RA support in the application.  A more rigorous concept paper (in NIH format) is required in the formal application (see attached.)

 

We request that the pilot research projects and the activities that these funds will support  be used to examine: 1) substance abuse among minority and/or underserved populations; 2) integration of conceptual models into research design; 3) innovative research ideas, recruitment, retention strategies; 4) development or adaptation of an intervention/prevention and testing its feasibility; 5) community-based participatory research; and/or 6) technologies of dissemination of intervention/prevention strategies, etc.  Acceptance of pilot study funding by a PI implies a commitment to prepare a grant application to NIDA or other relevant NIH funding source.

 

Pilot funding recipients will be required to meet on a monthly basis with the SARDP staff to present updates regarding finding and/or barriers to progress and will be asked to make a power point presentation to the annual Steering Committee meeting for the Parent Grant.  A final report will be required at the end of the pilot study.

 

Deadline Information:

A total of $30,000 is available to fund projects in Track 1 and Track 2 during 2002-2003.  Applications will be accepted and reviewed on an on-going basis until April 1, 2003.  All funds must be expended no later than August 31, 2003.  An applicant may only apply one time for these funds in either or both tracks.  Track 1 applications will be reviewed internally by the SARDP Executive Committee members.  Track 2 applications will additionally be reviewed externally by SARDP Advisory Board members.  Applicants will be notified of award 3-4 weeks after submission.  The following pages describe the application procedures.

 

APPLICATION    PROCEDURES

Latest Deadline for Submission is April 1, 2003

_______________________________________________________________________

Assemble the ORIGINAL PROPOSAL in the following order and prepare on 8 ½” x 11” paper.  Please assure that the materials are easily readable.

 

1. Cover Sheet – see attached form; include names of any collaborating investigators and information on human subjects and animal research approval requirements.  Pilot research projects involving human subjects must undergo IRB review.  Proposals that have not undergone such review will be evaluated and support may be awarded, but funds will not be released until the PI receives written IRB approval.
2. Summary Statement – see attached form
3. Detailed Budget and Budget Justification – Funding period is from date of release of funds though August 31, 2003, see attached Budget forms
4. Biographical Sketch for each investigator – see attached form
5. Concept Paper –

a) TRACK 1:  (1)describe the proposed research in narrative form and not       exceeding two (2) single-spaced pages (excluding bibliography) with type no             smaller than 12 pt. Since the proposal will be evaluated by a Faculty Review       Committee composed of faculty members who, while generally acquainted with             the applicant’s field of study, cannot be specialists in each particular area of       research, it should be written such that a non-specialist can understand it, in plain          language, free of jargon.  It should be clearly focused and organized and cover the       following:

a)      summarize aims of the proposed project

b)      background and significance

c)      research design

d)      implications or expected results of pilot work

e)      timeline of activities

b) TRACK 2: describe the proposed research in narrative form and not exceeding ten (10) single-spaced pages (excluding bibliography) with type no smaller than 12 pt. Since the proposal will be evaluated by a Faculty Review Committee composed of faculty members who, while generally acquainted with the applicant’s field of study, cannot be specialists in each particular area of research, it should be written such that a non-specialist can understand it, in plain language, free of jargon.  It should be clearly focused and organized and cover the following:

1. The purpose and significance of the project, including the nature of the general problem and the specific aspect to be investigated, the specific aims/purposes of the project, the importance of the problem to the research area, and what difference the expected results of the project will make and to whom.  Applicants should not assume that their project will automatically appear significant to others, but should explain this significance explicitly and cogently. (recommended length = 1 page);
2. The background of the problem the project is intended to address, including the relationship of the proposed project to the work of other scholars in the same general area. (recommended length = 1 page);
3. The preliminary work of the investigators that provides the basis for the proposed study, including uses and results of University Research Grants and/or Special Research Grant funds received in the past and resulting publications.  Describe previous extramural support and include the dates of the previous awards and amounts received, including publications.  Specify the relationship of the proposed project to the applicant’s previous, immediate, and long-range research objectives. (recommend length = 1 page);
4. The plan and methods, including the basic ideas or questions to be explored, what theoretical model it is tied to, specific tasks to be performed, plans for data collection and analysis, collaborative activities and working arrangements, expected results and publication plans.  If the study involves travel, explain why the travel is essential to the success of the project.  Specifically discuss your plans for obtaining funding for this project in the future.  How will the proposed project, if funded, provide a foundation for future research?  What agencies outside of the University do you plan to approach for future funding for this project? (recommended length= 5-6 pages);
5. timeline of activities (recommended length= 1 page)

6. Bibliography.  The bibliography should be a short list, not to exceed one (1) page, of primary materials and publication that have the greatest relevance to the proposed study.

 

 

 

 

Pilot Study Grant Application Form

COVER SHEET

 

Please Type

PI Name  ____________________________________        SSN ___________________

                        Last                        First                                MI

 

Descriptive Title of Proposed Research: _______________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

 

Funds Requested: _________________________________________________________

 

 

Faculty Rank  _____________________        Address ____________________________

Campus                                    Campus

Code    ________________    Phone   _________________  Fax____________________

Names of Collaborating Investigators:

 

1.         Name  _______________________________________________________

                                    Last                                                        First                                             MI

            Dept. _______________________     College ________________________

           

Role on the project _____________________________________________

 

2.         Name  _______________________________________________________

                                    Last                                                        First                                             MI

            Dept. _______________________     College ________________________

           

Role on the project _____________________________________________

 

3.         Name  _______________________________________________________

                                    Last                                                        First                                             MI

            Dept. _______________________     College ________________________

           

Role on the project _____________________________________________

 

4.         Name  _______________________________________________________

                                    Last                                                        First                                             MI

            Dept. _______________________     College ________________________

           

Role on the project _____________________________________________

 

 

 

Does this project involve human subjects?       Yes           No

 

If yes, a copy of your approved Application for the Review of a Project Involving Human Subjects will be required to be on file at the Center for Social Work Research and at the offices of the Substance Abuse Research Development Program prior to beginning the study if it is selected for funding.  For further information, please contact the Office of Sponsored Projects, MAI 303, 471-6424.

 

Does this project involve vertebrate animals?       Yes           No

 

If yes, a copy of your approved Animal Utilization Proposal Form will be required to be on file at the Center for Social Work Research as well as the Substance Abuse Research Development Program prior to beginning the study if it is selected for funding.  For further information, please contact the Animal Resource Center, 471-7534.

 

______________________________________________    ________________________

Signature of Principal Investigator                                                                   Date

 

OPTIONAL: Under provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, the applicant is entitled to access of the evaluation of his/her application unless (s)he has waived such access.

 

I hereby waive my right of access to the evaluation by my peers.

 

______________________________________________    ________________________

Signature of Applicant                                                                                        Date

 

If funded, I hereby give my approval for sharing my proposal with colleagues who request to see samples of successful proposals.

 

______________________________________________    ________________________

Signature of Applicant                                                                                        Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Detailed Budget & Budget Justification

Budget Period is from time funds are released until August 31, 2003

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

TRACK 1       $2000 - $5000

                        Cannot include faculty salary

                        Must include RA support if an RA is needed

 

TRACK 2       Up to $10,000

                        May include up to 1 month of faculty summer salary

                        Must include RA support if an RA is needed

 

Please use NIH budget  Form Page 4 from PHS 398 (Rev. 05/01).  You can access the form via the web at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/fp4.pdf

 

Budget justifications must show how all expenses necessary for completion of the research, including statistical programming, will be covered. The budget and budget justification of each approved application will be reviewed for appropriateness.  If more than $10,000 is needed to complete the research, please show how the additional funding will be obtained (e.g., in-kind contributions, loaned equipment, other funding, etc.).

 

 

 

Please use the NIH format from PHS 398 for your bio-sketch.  You can access the form via the web at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/biosketch.pdf

CONFIDENTIAL

Evaluation Form 2002-2003 Pilot Study Grant

 

PI/Applicant_____________________________________________________________

                        Last                                                                        First                                                        MI

Please rank each criterion from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong) with a ranking of 3 representing an average for UT-Austin faculty member.

 

Expected benefit to applicants’ program of research:

                                1                              2                              3                              4                              5

                           none                                                                                                                      major

 

Evidence of investigators’ ability to carry out project:

                                1                              2                              3                              4                              5

                      impossible                                                                                                                 certain

 

Importance of the proposed work to the knowledge of the discipline:

                                1                              2                              3                              4                              5

                           trivial                                                                                                           highly significant

 

Soundness of work plan (feasibility within timeframe):

                                1                              2                              3                              4                              5

                highly unlikely to                                                                                                 sure to succeed

                         succeed

 

Intrinsic scientific, scholarly or creative excellence of the work:

                                1                              2                              3                              4                              5

                very deficient                                                                                                              outstanding

 

 

Please circle your answer:

 

Is the PI a faculty member in the UT School of Social Work?                      Yes                         No

 

Is the project consistent with the mission of the SARDP?                           Yes                         No

 

What level of funding is being requested?                                                     Track 1                   Track 2

 

Is there a clear plan for leveraging funding from Pilot Study

    grant into future major external funding?                                                     Yes                         No

 

What is the potential of the researcher for subsequent NIH funding?:

______________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

Please list the strengths of the proposal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please list the weaknesses of the proposal:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***Please return to evaluation to SARDP ten days after you receive it.***