May 20, 2013
The Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Cardiovascular Program invites applications for the 2013 cycle of Development Grants. The purpose of this funding program is to provide resources for innovative projects with the goal of generating new approaches that could fundamentally advance the biology of heart regeneration.
HSCI may fund up to four development grants. Each project will be funded at a maximum of $30,000 direct costs for one year. These grants can be submitted either by an individual investigator, or as collaborative project between two PIs who together apply for a grant. Depending on the policies of the applicant’s home institution, up to 20% indirect costs (TDC basis) may be budgeted in addition to direct costs.
The number of grants awarded will depend on the number and quality of proposals submitted, as well as the availability of funding. HSCI reserves the right not to fund any project. Decisions regarding the appropriate level of funding for any proposed project will be made by the review committee, and will be based on the availability of other funding sources.
It is understood that any tool or reagent generated as part of an HSCI Cardiovascular Program-funded grant will be shared with the wider HSCI community.
Eligibility Criteria
Development Grants are targeted to members of the HSCI community with PI rights. Only individuals with PI status in their home institutions, independent laboratory space assigned to them, and prior independent funding sources in their name (such as start-up funds or sponsored awards), as verified by a home institution research/finance administrator, are eligible to apply for Development Grants. Priority will be given to excellent projects from PIs who are not currently funded by the HSCI.
An applicant may be the Principal Investigator on only one Development Grant application per funding cycle. If you have multiple proposals in mind, please submit only the strongest one.
You must have HSCI Principal or Affiliated Faculty status before you apply for an HSCI Development Grant. To apply for HSCI Affiliated Faculty membership, simply email your CV with a statement of your research interests to Dr. Jordan Kreidberg at jordan.kreidberg@childrens.harvard.edu. The review and approval process may take a week or more, so it advisable to contact Dr. Kreidberg as soon as possible.
Application Process
All applications must contain the following:
1. Project Title
2. PI and Home Institution
3. Abstract (max. 1/3 page)
• Brief, lay statement summarizing the key points of the proposal
4. Research Proposal (max. 3 pages, including references)
• Background and Rationale
• Specific Aims
• Milestones
• Key risks and plans to mitigate
• References
5. Budget
• HSCI budget template (NIH format, available from HSCI upon request)
• Total project costs may not exceed $30,000 direct costs per year, for a period of up to one year. Depending on the policies of the applicant’s home institution, up to 20% indirect costs (TDC basis) may be budgeted in addition to direct costs
6. Budget Justification/Narrative (max. 1 page)
• Justify proposed costs at the line item level of detail
• Include effort committed by all personnel, even if salary is not requested (PI must commit effort)
• Include supplies and other expenses
7. NIH-formatted Biographical Sketch of Applicant (max. 2 pages)
• Include up to 5 recent/relevant publications
8. Other Support (NIH format, current and pending)
• Highlight support relevant to the proposed project
• No page limit
9. Letter of Institutional Support Including
• Authorized institutional signature (as determined by applicant’s home institution’s policies for research proposal submission—usually a central grants office official) as confirmation that the host institution approves the proposed scope and budget; upload PDF with signature.
NB: - Letters of recommendation are not needed
- Papers in press can be included in references and submitted with application
Submission Process
Please send your application via email to robert_perez@harvard.edu no later than 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, Monday, August 12th, 2013.
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Review Criteria
A key goal of the HSCI is to improve human health by supporting basic, translational, or clinical research in cardiovascular stem cell biology. Factors for reviewers’ consideration include: scientific quality, relevance to the HSCI mission, and potential for developing new therapeutic strategies.
Members of the HSCI scientific community and/or external researchers will independently evaluate the proposals, giving primary consideration to excellence regarding the factors mentioned above. They will also consider the availability of alternative funding sources, and the potential to promote future collaborative research, particularly between institutions. They will also assess relevance to heart failure and regenerative medicine, and whether the project will ultimately contribute to the development of new therapies. Recommendations from the reviewers will be sent to the HSCI Executive Committee for final decision.
Inquiries
Programmatic questions regarding the HSCI Cardiovascular Program may be addressed to Claudia Rizzini, Program Director, at (617) 495-4388 or claudia_rizzini@harvard.edu
Administrative questions regarding this call for proposals may be addressed to either
Robert Perez, Grant Programs Coordinator (617-496-5295, robert_perez@harvard.edu), or Scott Balderson, Associate Director of Gifts and Grants (617-495-4704, scott_balderson@harvard.edu).
Application Timeline
Application due date: Monday, August 12, 2013
Review outcome notification: Friday, October 25, 2013
Award start date: December 1, 2013
Thank you for your interest in the HSCI.