Center for Psychiatric Neuroscience
2500 North State Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39216-4505
Telephone (601) 815-4727
Fax (601) 984-5885
FOR RESEARCH IN PSYCHIATRIC NEUROSCIENCE
(SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM)
Thematic Focus of the CPN
The research theme of the CPN is the neurobiology of major depressive disorder, and this thematic focus is at the center of four major CPN-funded research projects examining the cellular and molecular determinants of major depressive disorder. Therefore, the goal of our competitive Small Grants Program is to fund proposals with a research theme broadly related to the neurobiology of major depression and which will complement the research activities of the four major independent CPN-funded research projects. Only proposals that have a research theme related to the basic neuroscience of major depression, which may include human, animal or in vitro studies, will be considered. For more information on the CPN's current research projects go to our website at http://cpn.umc.edu.
Funding
One small grant will be awarded for the 2008-2010 award period at a maximum of $50,000 per year for two years (see details below). The maximum funding from the CPN for a small grant is $25,000 per year for two years, with one-to-one matching funds from UMC, for a total of $50,000 per year for two years. Grant applications are reviewed internally by an Institutional Research Grant Review Committee and funding can begin as early as July 1, 2008.
Eligibility
1. All full-time UMC faculty members ( Jackson campus) are eligible to apply. Since a major objective of the CPN is to encourage junior faculty members in psychiatric neuroscience research, the majority of grants will be awarded to faculty members who have not received prior R01-type support from NIH. Note that prior CPN Subproject support is considered prior R01-type support from NIH. However, consideration will also be given to new and unique ideas by established faculty members who are conducting psychiatric neuroscience research and, in exceptional circumstances, established investigators conducting research in diverse fields who will utilize the local grant mechanism as a source of seed money to explore an idea and initiate a research program relevant to psychiatric neuroscience. In these latter cases, however, highest priority will be given to those investigators who do not have major grant support (e.g., R01, R03, R21, K award) for their research and have experienced recent sustained difficulty (>2 years) in obtaining major grant support.
2. Applicants cannot be members of the CPN Institutional Research Grant Review Committee. If a member of the committee wishes to apply for a grant, he/she must resign from the committee.
3. Project principal investigators whose projects are currently funded by the CPN are not eligible to apply for the Small Grants Program.
4. Awards will not be made to an established investigator if it is for support of the work of a junior faculty member. The junior faculty member's name should be designated as the applicant and his/her title indicated. The junior faculty member must have a mentor who is an established investigator and who is committed to facilitating the development of an independent research program by the investigator.
5. Grants are awarded by the Small Grants Program of the CPN with the understanding that the recipient will not accept funds for the same purpose from any other granting agency.
6. Citizenship requirements: CPN awards may be made only to eligible applicants. Continued funding is dependent on the grantee's maintaining eligibility.
(a) United States citizens are eligible to apply for a CPN small grant.
(b) Permanent resident aliens are eligible to apply for a CPN small grant. These applicants must provide notarized evidence of their status.
(c) Since the CPN is funded by the National Center for Research Resources, a component of NIH, the center must adhere to NIH eligibility requirements. Specifically, NIH requires the applicant to determine that individuals' visas will allow them to remain in this country long enough for them to be productive on the research project. Applicants must provide notarized evidence of their status for the duration of the award period. If a grant is awarded and an individual's visa will not allow a long enough stay to be productive on the project, the CPN/NIH may terminate the grant (see Administrative Requirements-Changes in Project and Budget and Administrative Requirements-Enforcement Actions-Suspension, Termination, and Withholding of Support).
Initial Review Criteria
The usual NIH-established guidelines for grant review will be followed. Particular emphasis will be placed on the perceived potential of the applicant to develop an independent and extramurally (NIH) funded research program."Pre-Proposal Process"
Faculty members interested in competing for funds should submit the following materials no later than Monday, January 14, 2008.
1. The name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator.
2. The identities of other key personnel and participating institutions.
3. NIH biosketches for the principal investigator and all key personnel prepared on Form PHS398.
4. A descriptive title of the proposed application.
5. A brief pre-proposal (letter of intent) that is no more than one single-spaced page. The pre-proposal should briefly describe the proposed project. Format the proposed project with a hypothesis and specific aims. Tie the proposed work and its significance to the theme of major depressive disorder and the Center. The project should reflect research that would take no more than 2 years to complete.
6. Deliver or mail the original and three (3) copies of your pre-proposal to Anne Dautenhahn, Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Sciences Building, Room L719. Additionally, send an electronic version of your proposal to amdautenhahn@psychiatry.umsmed.edu.
Application Process
Only complete "pre-proposal" packets will be reviewed. Candidates selected for potential funding will be asked to submit a complete research grant application using the specific guidelines established by NIH (PHS 398). Candidates selected to develop their pre-proposals into full proposals will be notified of the application deadline and review dates.Full Research Grant Application Policies
Full Research Grant Application Instructions
Full Research Grant Application Form