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1 Page 1 of 7 SU - UMU Pilot Grant Program Driving Inspiration and Innovation through Collaboration Syracuse University- Upstate Medical University 2015 Pilot Grant Application Responding to society s most pressing biomedical and health care needs requires the integration of rich perspectives and the expertise of diverse researchers and clinicians. Syracuse, New York has the potential to contribute to national needs through synergistic efforts within its biomedical research and health care workforce. However, one challenge to achieving synergy is the lack of awareness among researchers in our region of the expertise and interests available. Financial resources are also often needed to foster new collaborations. To address these issues and stimulate collaborative, interdisciplinary research between faculty at Syracuse University and Upstate Medical University, SU Trustee Mr. Sam Nappi has funded $500,000 for the first phase of a pilot grant program. Grants of up to $100,000 direct costs for up to two years duration will be awarded to teams comprising two or more faculty members or clinicians representing both campuses. These awards are expected to result in the submission of competitive proposals to extramural sponsors of biomedical or health care research. Target Time line: Call for Proposals September 11 Letter of Intent Submission Deadline October 16, 5pm November 10, 5pm Internal Review Week of the Nov 16 Notification of Invitee Week of the Nov. 23 Presentations (invited) December 11 Selection December 11 Eligibility. Any faculty member, clinician or research scientist interested in and capable of engaging in biomedical or health care-related research, who is eligible to be a Principal Investigator (PI) at the home institution. Application: The application is designed to allow teams to concisely present the biomedical or health care problem, its relevance and responsiveness to national needs, the innovation of the solution, and the team s qualifications. Application materials and the selection processes are modeled after federal applications, including NIH and DARPA. SELECTION CRITERIA AND PROCESS Criteria: Proposals will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit, including innovation, feasibility of the proposed approaches, and the team s qualifications and capabilities to address the project s aims; and the project s significance to and potential impact on national biomedical or health care needs. From among highly rated proposals, additional considerations will include the project s potential to generate intellectual property or to transform the field or discipline. Selection Process: A two-stage review and selection process will be used, modeled after the NIH review process but incorporating an oral presentation as used by other federal agencies. Stage One: all proposals will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit, significance and impact by nonconflicted reviewers from the Syracuse area or nearby institutions. Stage Two: The PI s of highly rated proposals, that are aligned with SU's and UMU's research priority areas, will be invited to give a 5 minute presentation followed by Q&A to a research advisory panel comprising the Vice Presidents for Research from SU and UMU, Sam Nappi, Marc Viggiano, and Al DiRienzo. Stage Two review criteria will be: likelihood to lead to extramural funding, inter-/trans-disciplinary collaboration project that are transformative, the opportunity to build translational research, create intellectual property or transform the fields/disciplines, and the

2 Page 2 of 7 quality of the public presentation. Award decision: Presenters will be notified of funding decisions shortly after the oral presentations. The panel may recommend adjustments to funding requests; the proposed research strategy or the team composition. Negotiation and acceptance. The project team will be provided the opportunity to clarify or otherwise negotiate the proposed modifications. The final research strategy, team, and budget would be incorporated into the award documentation. Pre-award Requirements for Stage Two Presenters Submit a detailed budget and a one page budget justification from each campus by December 4, All applicable institutional regulatory requirements must be addressed prior to project initiation and disbursement of funds, e.g., human or animal subjects protections, data management and sharing agreements, environmental health requirements, etc. The application materials include the attestation that the project team will submit an application for external funding within 9 months of the project period end date. Post Award Reporting Requirements An annual progress report will be required 6-months after the award s start date. Failure to submit the required progress report by the deadline specified may result in funds being frozen until this requirement is met. The Application includes the following elements. A. Application information: Lead collaborators, potential regulatory requirements, project purpose and significance, and outcomes and future plans, and budget to be recorded in this application. B. Description of Materials to be included. Details of the 5 sections to be included in your attached PDF. C. Attachment (a single PDF) to be uploaded below where directed. The attachment will contain the follow components: 1. Specific Aims: 1 page 2. Research Strategy and time-line: up to three pages 3. Bibliography: not expected to exceed two pages 4. Biographical sketches: for two co-pis and other key personnel, up to five pages per person. 5. Budget Justification. One page maximum budget justification. Formatting requirements of documents included in the attachment. Unless otherwise specified, font style and size: 10.0 point Arial or 11.5 point Times New Roman paragraph line spacing margins all sides; continuously paginated, bottom center. Figure captions and tables are excluded from font and spacing requirements, however text must be legible when printed. Header: Both co-pis and their departmental / institutional affiliations should be in the upper right hand corner of each page. Applications that do not adhere to formatting or other instructions may be returned without review. You may return to your partially completed online application after exiting by using the same link you used to access the application (from the SU Office of Research web page) providing you are using the same IP network address. Helpful Resources: Applicants who are invited to present their project to the selection panel will be asked to provide a one-page project summary using the template provided below. SU-UMU Presentation Template

3 Page 3 of 7 Was a Letter of Intent submitted to vpr@syr.edu or David Amberg? Yes No Only applicants that completed a Letter of Intent by the October 16, 2015 deadline may apply. SECTION A: APPLICATION INFORMATION Project Collaborators: SU Co-PI UMU Co-PI First Name Last Name Title Department Phone Additonal Project Collaborators: (as needed) First Name Last Name Collaborator Collaborator Collaborator

4 Page 4 of 7 Title Department Phone Project Title [In up to 100 characters (including spaces).] This project involves: Yes No Human subjects Animal subjects Hazardous Materials Existing (protected) IP Potentially non-routine data management (HIPAA etc) Project Purpose and Significance. In 750 characters or less (including spaces), describe the need/problem to be addressed and specify the source(s) supporting its significance to biomedical research or health care (e.g., National Academies, Office of Science and Technology Policy, agency strategic plans or budget justifications, etc.). Outcomes and plans. In 1000 characters or less (including spaces), describe the expected outcomes of the research strategy and how they will support a follow-up application for federal funding. Identify the likely agency and current (representative) funding opportunity announcements that could be pursued and/or how the proposal aligns with the

5 Page 5 of 7 strategic goals of the funding agency. Budget: Maximum total is $ 100,000. Enter $ amount in each category. Enter 0 if no $ for category. Salary and Fringe Benefit $ Materials and Supplies $ Travel $ Other $ SECTION B. DESCRIPTION OF MATERIALS TO BE INCLUDED. The following FIVE sets of materials are required to be completed as described in detail below, and attached in a single PDF document as noted in Section C. 1. Specific Aims. In one page, describe concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will have on the research field(s) involved. Include the specific objectives of the research proposed in the collaboration (e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology). 2. Research Strategy and time line. In two to three pages, present the rationale and approaches for your research and experiments. Note any challenges and alternative approaches. Include a time line for completion of specific objectives/aim(s) with milestones as applicable, and identify the activities / tasks for which each PI is responsible.

6 Page 6 of 7 3. Bibliography. Present the references cited the previous sections. Include any other references that are relevant but not cited that reflect the current state of knowledge and the art. Not expected to exceed two pages. 4. Biographical Sketch. Include for PI s and any other key personnel; each may not exceed five pages. The new NIH format (effective May 2015) must be used for all key personnel Budget Justification. A one page maximum, budget justification that describes how all proposed costs are both reasonable and essential for the completion of the proposed research plan. Indirect costs are not allowed. SECTION C. ATTACHMENT. Upload your application materials in a single PDF document. Name your PDF document using the file naming convention of the SU and UMU Co-PIs last names, e.g. Smith-Jones.pdf 1. Specific Aims. (1 page) 2. Research Strategy and time line. (up to 3 pages) 3. Bibliography. (no more than 2 pages) 4. Biographical Sketches. (up to 5 pages per key personnel) 5. Budget Justification. (1 page budget justification) Block 1 Presentation template for individuals selected for informational purposes only. Those selected for presentation will be notified during the week of Nov 23rd. SU-UMU Presentation Template

7 Page 7 of 7 By clicking the SUBMIT button you will be submitting your FINAL completed application. A confirmation will be sent to the Project Co-PIs for SU and UMU. Contact vpr@syr.edu or David Amberg with any questions.