Viking Biomedical Research Initiative Pilot Grants

Applicants should become familiar with the NIH R-15 guidelines in their work to develop a proposal but note that some elements are combined or shortened for this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Specifically, the VBRI Pilot Project Grant application reduces the Research Strategy from 12 pages to five and combines the Facilities and Other Resources and Equipment documents for succinctness.

Your application should include the following:

A. Specific Aims (1 page): 

• State 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. 
• List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed (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).

B. Research Strategy (5 pages, not including references). 

Organize the Research Strategy in the specified order. Start each section with the appropriate heading - Significance, Innovation, Approach. Note that NIH R15 guidelines allow for 12 pages, rather than five. References should be attached following the maximum five pages.

For Applicants with Multiple Specific Aims: You may address the Significance, Innovation, and Approach either for each Specific Aim individually or for all of the Specific Aims collectively.

Significance

• Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress that the proposed project addresses.
• Describe the strengths and weaknesses in the rigor of the prior research (both published and unpublished) that serves as the key support for the proposed project.
• Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields.
• Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
• If applicable, indicate the HRPP or ACUC determination number and/or when you anticipate submitting a protocol.

Innovation

• Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms.
• Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
• Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.

Approach

• Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Describe plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project. Describe the experimental design and methods proposed and how they will achieve robust and unbiased results. Include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted.
• Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims.
• If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any strategy to establish feasibility, and address the management of any high risk aspects of the proposed work.
• Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised.

C. Facilities and Other Resources and Equipment (2 pages) 

Use the AREA R15 Guidance in this sample document specific to Facilities and Other Resources. Describe how the scientific environment in which the research will be done contributes to the probability of success (e.g., institutional support, physical resources, and intellectual rapport). In describing the scientific environment in which the work will be done, discuss ways in which the proposed studies will benefit from features of the scientific environment or from unique subject populations or how studies will employ useful collaborative arrangements. If there are multiple performance sites, describe the resources available at each site.

Also list major items of equipment already available for this project and, if appropriate, identify the equipment's location and pertinent capabilities. 

This NOFO combines the Facilities and Other Resources document and the Equipment document required of all R15 applications. Please review the External Grant Proposal Repository for examples.

D. SciENcv biosketch (2 pages)

Use the AREA R15 Guidance for the Personal Statement in this sample document and review WWU specific examples in the External Grant Proposal Repository.

E. Detailed Budget 

Provide a brief narrative justification for how you will allocate the $35,000 under the following categories: Personnel (including students), Equipment, Travel, and Other (Materials and Supplies, Computers, Consultants, Human Subject Participant Incentives, Other). Finalists will work with the Research and Sponsored Programs Office to develop a detailed budget prior to submission to the NIH for final approval.