Seed Grant Application Guidelines

The Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging’s Seed Grant Program is intended to support the initial stages of new research, in preparation for attracting additional funding at a later stage from extramural sources. This RFA is open to all topic areas in radiology research. 

All Radiology faculty are eligible to apply.  Clinical fellows, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and non-faculty researchers may apply, but will need a faculty mentor acting as a co- investigator who will undersign the science and assume fiscal responsibility for the grant.

The goal is to award three seed grants at $30,000 each with a duration of one year.  Projects providing a plausible justification to spend the maximum budget of $30,000 are strongly encouraged.  Projects will not be scored more favorably by the review committee due to a smaller budget. 

If funded, the principal investigator is expected to submit a one-page progress report to the chair of the review committee at the conclusion of the 12-month project period.  A request for one no cost extension of 6 months will be considered by the review committee. 

Instructions 

Your proposal should clearly and thoroughly describe the project’s aims, previous work, background, methods, significance, and budget. For frequently asked questions for the awardees, please review this FAQ Awardees Informational Sheet. 

Format

  • Font: Arial, 11 pt.
  • Margins: at least 0.5 inch on all sides

Contents         

  • Your proposal should contain the following sections, clearly indicated. Please respect the indicated page limits. If it’s a resubmission, please indicate so in the beginning of the proposal and describe the revisions.

Abstract (500 words total)
Summarize the rationale/innovation, objectives, approach, and potential impact of the proposed research.

Research Plan (4 pages total)

  1. Put the project title and principal investigator’s name(s) at the top of the first page
  2. Project Aims. Concisely state the objectives of the project and the goals to be reached during the project.
  3. Background, rationale, and innovation. Provide a description of the relevant literature and the unmet need the project aims to address.  For established researchers, please state how the project represents a new direction for their research program.
  4. Study Team. Name the principal investigator(s) and co-investigator(s) and briefly outline their respective unique contributions. If relevant, state the previous collaborative experience between the study team including evidence of productivity (shared grants and publications).  Up to 2 PIs are allowable per submission.
  1. Approach. Describe the methodology to achieve the project aims.  Include a data analysis and statistical plan with sample size justification for animal or human studies as appropriate.   Include expected outcomes, potential pitfalls, and alternatives.
  2. Impact. Discuss the importance of successful outcomes and the plan for extramural funding.

References (1 page, not included in the 4-page limit of the Research Plan)

  • Provide citations in support of the Research Plan.

Biosketches

  • Include NIH style biosketches for PI(s)

Budget and Budget Justification (1 page) Itemize the specific items for which funds are being sought.

  • Allowable costs include Department recharges, research supplies, and personnel effort for staff (e.g. CRC, postdoctoral fellows, SRAs, etc).
  • PI salary support, equipment, non-Radiology recharges (excepting LARC charges), computer and textbook purchases, office supplies, administrative support, parking, and travel are UNALLOWABLE costs.

Letters of Support (no page limit)

  • If the principal investigator is not faculty, include a letter of support from a faculty mentor acting as a co-investigator, who will undersign the science and assume fiscal responsibility for the grant.

IRB/IACUC Approval

  • Full funds will not be released until acceptable human or animal subjects approval documentation is provided.

Department Seed Grant Applications

A Call for Applications will be announced in the Fall of each year.

The seed grant program is intended to support the initial stage of new research directions in preparation for attracting additional multiyear funding from extramural sources.  The seed grant program is open to all Radiology faculty.  Clinical fellows, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and non-faculty researchers may apply, but will need a faculty mentor acting as a co- investigator who will undersign the science and assume fiscal responsibility for the grant.  In alignment with our department’s strategic aim of supporting Team Science, applications that stimulate and promote collaborations between faculty members will be viewed favorably.  Diversity in team members is encouraged.

Allowable costs include recharges for the use of Department resources (e.g. scanner time), research supplies, or staff salary support (e.g. effort for CRCs, postdocs, technicians, etc). For single purchases of supplies over $1,000, please include a quote from the appropriate vendor with the application.  IRB and IACUC approval are not required at the time of the application but must be attained before the release of the full funding (partial funding may be released at the discretion of the committee to facilitate acquiring the relevant approvals).  PI salary support, equipment, non-Radiology recharges (excepting LARC charges), computer and textbook purchases, office supplies, administrative support, parking, and travel are UNALLOWABLE costs.

Pilot Grant

Pilot grants with budgets of up to 5,000 per award will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the seed grant committee.  The guidelines and format are identical to the seed grant mechanism.  Please submit pilot grants via email to the committee chair.

Chair, Seed Grant Program

Michael Evans, PhD
Professor
Associate Professor