2008 Intramural Research Grant (IRG) Program
Georgetown University Medical Center

Obtaining extramural research support has become increasingly difficult, with greater numbers of applications and lower funding rates.  As a result, there are a number of new investigators who are having a difficult time receiving their first large award and establishing research independence.  The age at which PIs obtain their first R01 continues to rise.  There are also numbers of mid-career and senior investigators having difficulty establishing new lines of research, and successfully continuing previously funded projects.  The Georgetown University Medical Center Research Committee recognizes this dilemma.  Thus, the purpose of the 2008 Intramural Research Grant (IRG) Program is to provide support to new, mid-level, and senior investigators who are engaged in health-related research (including basic, clinical, translational, and population sciences) with large research projects pending but not funded.  Potential applicants must currently not hold any other large awards (though they may have one expiring in 2008).

Mechanism of Support
A total of $50,000 will be available in FY 2008 from funds authorized by Howard J. Federoff, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President for Health Sciences.  It is anticipated that a combination of smaller awards (not exceeding $25,000 per investigator) will be made.  Funds will be available for a 12 month period beginning in the Spring, 2008 and are primarily intended to be used for partial salary support for personnel working on the project, research supplies, or other specific research-related costs as approved in the project budget.  The proposed project should be aimed at providing key missing preliminary data for a pending, unfunded award that has previously been peer reviewed, with the commitment to resubmit the application in 2008 or 2009.

Eligibility
Applicants must have already submitted aspects of the proposed project as part of a larger application (3 or more years of $100,000/year or more direct; i.e., R01, NSF, or larger foundation awards) and have their latest peer review committee evaluation in hand, along with evidence that it will not be funded.  Applicants cannot currently hold any other large awards that extend beyond 2008.  Applicants must be full-time members of the faculty at Georgetown University Medical Center at the time that they apply.  This includes faculty at the rank of Instructor or higher on any University-designated track.  Note that students, fellows, residents, trainees, or others without a faculty-level appointment at the medical center are not eligible to apply.   Eligible projects must be submitted by a single investigator and only one project may be applied for per investigator.  Faculty members who have received an IRG Program award within the past five years are not eligible to reapply.

Submitting a Letter of Intent
Although not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to send a non-binding electronic letter of intent (LoI) to the Research Committee by COB Friday, March 7, 2008.  The LoI should include the title of the proposed project, the name of the organization the larger grant was previously reviewed by and is pending with, the total dollar amount and number of years of support requested for the pending award, and the name of the principal investigator and his or her University affiliation(s).  The LoI will help facilitate review by the Research Committee and should be sent to irg@georgetown.edu.

Preparing and Submitting an Application
Applicants for IRGs should use the IRG application template available here.  A single application package (to be compiled in order: cover letter, application template, NIH biosketches, letter[s] of collaboration/support, prior summary statement[s]) and priority scores in *.pdf format consisting of all required elements must be submitted via email to irg@georgetown.edu.  Complete applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. March 21, 2008 to be considered for FY 2008 support; late applications will not be accepted.  The IRG application template should be completed as directed using Arial 11 point type.

Budget
The budget section should indicate the requested funds for personnel, research supplies, and any other specific expenses needed to complete the proposed work and include a concise justification for each.  In the budget justification section, applicants should also succinctly describe how the requested IRG funds will permit research not currently possible with existing extramural or intramural research support.  If faculty release time from other duties and salary support is requested, justification for how this funding would result in research that would not otherwise be possible (and electronic signature approval from the department chair involved) must be provided.  Funds for travel to scientific meetings are not allowable costs; the Research Committee will make other budget recommendations as needed.

NIH Biosketch
Current NIH biosketches for the PI and other key personnel must be included with the application submission.  Applicants should download the PHS 398 Biographical Sketch Format Page (and related instructions) by visiting http://grants.nih.gov.

Where to Send Inquiries
For additional questions, address inquiries to irg@georgetown.edu.

Review Process and Awards
Applications will be administratively reviewed for general conformity to program guidelines; nonconforming applications will be returned without further consideration.  Applications will be peer-reviewed by members of the Georgetown University Medical Center community with the ability to evaluate scientific and technical merit.  The review criteria will generally follow the criteria of the NIH (e.g., significance, approach, innovation, investigators).  Successful applicants will be notified regarding the status of their applications by April 30, 2008.  Applicants who receive funding will be required to submit a progress report at the conclusion of the project period and present the results from the project at a GUMC Research Committee-endorsed research event.