Boundaries for Large Glue Grants
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I apply for a large glue grant if my project needs less than $5 million?
A. Of course. NIGMS encourages applications of different sizes and scope. The large glue grant program is designed for those projects that need more than $300 thousand (the upper limit for the small glue grant program) but less than or equal to $5 million in direct costs.
As a general approach, evaluate the stage of advancement of the science relevant to solving the biomedical problem of interest. Then consider what it would take to solve the problem if a team of investigators already funded in the area were to coordinate and integrate their efforts. What approaches might be possible that aren't with just R01 support? Who would need to be involved? What disciplines would be needed? Are there data that could be generated faster or more efficiently on a large scale? What resources would be required to collect and share information? Plan your strategy and set your budget request accordingly.
Q. How should an applicant decide if an activity is appropriate as part of a large glue grant?
A. Begin by thoroughly reading the guidelines in the RFA and reviewing the information on the glue grant Web site (http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Initiatives/Collaborative/GlueGrants/). These FAQs may also be an aid. The large glue grant program is meant to be an experiment in the support of science and the guidelines are not necessarily absolutes, but are meant to convey the intent of glue support. If you are still uncertain, talk with NIGMS staff.
The large glue grant program of NIGMS was based on a need expressed by the scientific community to have a new mechanism that would allow independently funded investigators to integrate their efforts to solve a major biomedical research problem. NIGMS expects that investigators will propose novel organizational and support mechanisms that best fit the team's area of interest. The funds are intended to provide the glue to bring the investigators together and to allow them to work in an interactive fashion. The funds are not meant to support single-investigator research that can and should be funded through regular research or program project grants. This distinction requires judgements to be made by both applicants and reviewers, but it is important to consider this issue in requesting funding.
Q. May funds be used to disseminate information and materials?
A. Efforts to disseminate information are not only appropriate, but are required. Examples include meetings of participating investigators, newsletters, and Web sites. The flow of information should be two-way: the members of the relevant scientific community should be informed, and their opinions and reactions should be sought and considered. Materials produced as a result of glue funding should be made as available to the wider community as is reasonable. One important objective of the glue grant program is to benefit a broad scientific community (i.e., beyond those named in the application).
Q. Are efforts to collect and model data appropriate?
A. Efforts to collect and model data on a "large-scale" are appropriate. For example, collecting and modeling data to create a genetic network for the overall process being investigated are appropriate. However, critical efforts to validate the individual steps of the pathways (this is most traditionally described as "hypothesis-driven research") likely will fall to individual PI efforts and are not eligible for glue support.
Q. May core laboratories be requested for the generation of data for use by the participating investigators and the cognate biomedical community?
A. Again, that activity would be appropriate for "large-scale" generation of data, via a core laboratory. For example, large-scale application of a gene identification program to identify candidate promoter regions relevant to the biological problem being addressed is within the intent of glue support. However, efforts to investigate the mechanism and regulation of a particular promoter belong to individual investigator efforts and thus are not appropriate for glue support. Applications that simply request core facilities for use by a research community are not responsive to this RFA; an integrated effort to solve a major biomedical problem must lie at the heart of the glue project.
Q. Would comprehensive efforts to generate resources for the relevant scientific community be a proper use of glue grant funds?
A. Yes, for example, the development of transgenic animals or clinical patient databases for use by the community of participating investigators but which could be shared with the larger scientific community is highly appropriate.
Q. Are there cases where support to an individual investigator for his own laboratory is proper?
A. Yes, bridging projects can be used for efforts that align or integrate approaches among member laboratories. Bridging projects, like all glue components, should be used to develop data or resources for the overall glue project. For example, support to allow a participating investigator to employ a standardized model system so that his/her results can be compared with results from other project members is appropriate. Another example is exchanging personnel among laboratories of different investigators to transfer technology between glue grant labs or for other purposes that would help in coordinating and integrating programmatic goals.
Q. Are there cases where support to an individual investigator's laboratory to do fundamental R01-type research is appropriate?
A. An exception to the general guidelines for glue support is that fundamental research can be supported through pilot projects, which are meant to bring investigators into an area who are not funded in the area, but have expertise needed by the team. The pilot projects are expected to be preludes to applications for regular research grant support.
Q. How about methods development in a participating investigator's laboratory to facilitate a large-scale activity?
A. This might be appropriate as a bridging project or as a pilot project depending on the background and other support of the participating investigator. For example, development of data mining software or synthesis of molecular probes is appropriate. If this were mainly development work, a bridging project is appropriate, or where a substantial amount of enabling basic research is required, a pilot project might be feasible.
Q. Will NIGMS fund more than one large glue grant in a particular scientific area?
A. NIGMS is willing to consider funding more than one glue grant in a scientific area. However, all glue grant applications should critically discuss the needs of the field, and if there are other large scale programs funded in an area, whether and why another is needed.
