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Collaboration & Funding
Intramural Scientific Collaboration Program
Purpose
The Intramural Scientific Collaboration Program (ISCP)
is a VRC program intended to provide funding to support basic and
translational research collaborations between VRC investigators
and other investigators within the NIH intramural program. Proposed
collaborations should advance the VRC's mission to conduct research
that facilitates the development of an effective vaccine against
HIV/AIDS. The VRC Committee for Intramural Research (VCIR), composed
of VRC and senior intramural investigators, will review proposals.
The ISCP will be co-chaired by Dr. William Paul (NIAID/DIR) and
Dr. Richard Koup (NIAID/VRC).
Funding allocated under this Program is designed to provide support
to the laboratories of intramural investigators in order to promote
collaborations with VRC investigators.
Specifically, this Program will serve as a mechanism to foster
and support collaborations and cooperative research between VRC
investigators and other investigators within the NIH intramural
program. The following criteria will be taken into account in evaluating
the proposal:
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The research project is a collaboration between
a VRC scientist and an investigator within the NIH intramural
program |
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The research project is consistent
with the goals and scientific agenda of the VRC, as described
within the VRC strategic
plan |
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There is no pre-existing effort within the VRC
that would substantially overlap with the proposed project |
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The goals, objectives and hypotheses to be tested
are clearly described and the project is time-limited |
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The proposed funding, along with other existing
intramural resources for the project, can reasonably be expected
to result in successful completion of the project goals. |
Amount of Support and Funding Limitations
It is anticipated that the majority of projects will be funded for
a period of 1-2 years with an annual dollar amount of up to $50,000,
though larger grants will be considered if well justified. Total
funding available each year for the Intramural Scientific
Collaboration Program is $250,000.
Application Procedures
Applications should include the following:
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Summary of the research proposal, including specific
goals and objectives (not to exceed 4 pages). |
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Letter of support from the collaborating VRC
investigator. |
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Cover letter addressed to the VRC Committee for
Intramural Research. |
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General outline of budget. |
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Biosketch of the Principal Investigator and co-investigators. |
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Where applicable, evidence of current or pending
approval from the Institutional Review Board, the IBC and the
IACUC |
Application Deadlines and Schedules
Applications will be reviewed on a quarterly basis. The review process
will take approximately one month from each submission deadline. The
submission deadlines for each quarter are:
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December 15th |
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March 15th |
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June 15th |
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September 15th |
Review Process and Application Evaluation
Criteria
All proposals will be considered confidential and VCIR reviewers will
abide by this confidentiality. Key factors and criteria for review
include:
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Technical merit
of the proposal including: |
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Scientific merit of objectives and hypothesis
to be tested; |
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Evidence of effective project design and appropriate
project schedule; |
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Logical aims and appropriate methodology; |
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Scientific relevance
of the proposal including: |
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Consistency with the goals and scientific agenda
of the VRC; |
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Potential contribution of the project to the
development of an HIV vaccine or understanding of immune correlates
of protection; |
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Novelty or uniqueness of research aims |
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Feasibility |
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Qualifications of the investigator, including
documented prior experience and past performance with projects
of comparable scope and complexity. |
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Laboratory resources and technical feasibility
of accomplishing the proposed research
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Cost appropriateness of the
budget. |
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Application Forms, Submission
and Further Information |
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Questions regarding the VRC ISCP
may be addressed to Abe Mittelman at: amittelm@mail.nih.gov.
Five (5) copies of each application should be submitted to the
attention of:
Vaccine Research Center
Intramural Scientific Collaboration Program (ISCP)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
National Institutes of Health
40 Convent Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
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