School of Medicine

Research

School of Medicine - Research Enhancement Program (REP)

NEW PROJECT APPLICATION

General Information

The New Project Program was established to provide initial funding necessary for the development of new research ideas into competitive applications for support from extramural agencies. The goal of this program is primarily focused on support for new faculty whose start-up funding could not effectively support their current research programs. Funding of new research directions from existing faculty will also be considered. Applications will be viewed in terms of potential for generating data that will lead to support from National funding agencies. The duration of these projects is for one year. An applicant can resubmit for an additional year of support; this re-application will be critically evaluated based not only on its scientific merit, but also on evidence of submission of extramural grant support during this time. 

Application Format

  1. Title Page (please use the Title Page template).
    1. Title of the research project
    2. Applicant information (name, degree, academic rank, campus address, email address, and telephone number)
    3. Signature of applicant
    4. Signature of Department Head, with dates

  2. Abstract (limited to 250 words)

  3.  Specific Aims. Provide a concise description of the research aims to be addressed during the interim period requested. 

  4. Research Strategy (limit of 6 pages). The goal of this section is to provide a
    detailed description of the rationale, experimental design, anticipated results, and the problems and alternative approaches for the project.
    1. Significance (recommend 1-2 pages) The goal of this section is to present the rationale for the proposed research and to summarize the literature supporting this line of investigation.
    2. Innovation (recommend ½ page)
    3. Approach (recommended 3-4 pages)
      1. Experimental design
      2. Anticipated results
      3. Problems and alternative approaches

  5. Proposed Budget – Investigators will need to provide an overall itemized budget for the first year of the project, and a second year if they believe it will be needed. The budgets should include personnel, equipment (if required), supplies, and other expenses (such as publication costs). Travel will only be considered as an integral part of data gathering. The total period of support cannot exceed two years, and the annual award cannot exceed $75,000 per year. Salary support for clinical faculty can be requested as release time from their clinical duties. The salary support requested for all clinical faculty involved with the proposal cannot exceed $25,000, including fringe benefits (currently $17,730 salary plus $7,270 fringe – at 41%). Basic Science faculty who are associated with the project cannot request support for their salaries. No-cost extensions will be considered on request to the Associate Dean for Research (currently Dr. Wayne Backes wbacke@lsuhsc.edu). No expenditure of award funds can occur past the grant award period and the approved no-cost extension. The form page can be obtained at this link (REP Grant budget page).

  6. Budget Justification. A budget justification must accompany each budget. It is important that the budget be appropriate for the scope of the study. In addition to the scientific merit of the proposal, both the duration and amount of funding requested will be reviewable by the study section.

  7. Plans for Obtaining Extramural Support. Describe your plans to obtain renewal support for this proposal. Please include the targeted funding agencies and the anticipated time frame for submission of these extramural proposals. Include the Specific Aims that are planned for the extramural grant that will be submitted.

  8. Current Research Support. List all current research support by agency number, title, and total direct costs awarded. 

  9. NIH-type biographical sketch. The form page can be obtained at this link (REPBiosketch).

The proposal must be submitted electronically as a single pdf. The title page must have all signatures to be advanced to the review stage. This proposal should be submitted to the Grant Evaluation Committee through SOM Research email
(SOMResearch@lsuhsc.edu).


ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE, INCLUDING ALL COMPONENTS LISTED ABOVE WITH ALL REQUIRED SIGNATURES AND DOCUMENTS PROVIDED ON THE ORIGINAL AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION. APPLICATIONS MUST BE WITHDRAWN IMMEDIATELY UPON NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING BY AN EXTRAMURAL AGENCY.


Grant Deadlines

There are three competitions per year. The deadlines are March 9th, July 9th, and November 9th.


Evaluation of Grant Proposals

Grant proposals will be reviewed by the Internal Grant Review Committee comprised of scientists who are members of the LSUHSC faculty. This grant review committee will operate in a manner similar to NIH study sections. The criteria to be evaluated will include (1) scientific merit and significance of the proposed project; (2) qualifications and productivity of the applicant; (3) potential for securing support from National agencies; (4) appropriateness of funding for this mechanism; and (5) appropriateness of the budget. The committee will score proposals, and make a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Medicine.


Reporting

Final report – The principal investigator is responsible for submitting a final report within 3 months after completion of the grant. This report should include a one- to two-page summary of the progress made on the proposal, a list of manuscripts and abstracts published during this time, and a list of the grant applications submitted and their funding status. This information should be sent electronically to the administrative coordinator of the REP Program (SOMResearch@lsuhsc.edu), clearly indicating in the subject line the program name (i.e. REP Bridge Grant), the name of the PI, and that this is a final report. It is important for documentation of the success of this program and future requests for funding that we receive any information on grants that were funded with assistance from this program. Publications resulting, in whole or in part, from this award should appropriately acknowledge the support.


Termination

An awardee should promptly notify the Associate Dean for Research of the School of Medicine (wbacke@lsuhsc.edu) of any change in their status as a member of the fulltime academic staff. The award will terminate on the date of the change to ineligible status. REP awards may not be transferred to other principal investigators or to other institutions. In the event that this project receives extramural support, the Associate Dean for Research should be notified immediately, and the unexpended funds from the grant are to be returned.