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REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS – Idaho INBRE Bioinformatics Core Technology Access Program

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS – Idaho INBRE Bioinformatics Core Technology Access Program

The Biomolecular Research Center, on behalf of the Idaho INBRE Program, is pleased to issue this request for proposals. The goal of the Idaho INBRE Bioinformatics Core is to support data collection, bioinformatics training, and assist INBRE network faculty, students and staff in “big- data” analysis. Through a competitive application process, technology access awards will be made to assist investigators and students around the state in obtaining experimental data needed in a wide variety of projects. Typically, support from these technology access awards will be aimed at paying service charges at core facilities throughout Idaho and other INBRE states, or at other institutions. The awards may be used to pay for such things as bioinformatics consulting (e.g. at UI IBEST), or proteomics analysis (at the BRC proteomics facility), or nucleic acid sequencing (at ISU or UI cores). The awards are not limited to these examples. Dr. Ken Cornell, Director of the Idaho INBRE Bioinformatics Core, is available to discuss potential projects if you have questions about their scope and eligibility for support under the umbrella of “technology access” (contact info below).

Eligibility. Faculty members with an appointment at one of the Idaho INBRE partner institutions (BSU, BYU-I, COI, CSI, CWI, ISU, IVREF, LCSC, NIC, NNU, UI), and who work on biomedical-related research projects that need bioinformatics (such as DNA/RNA sequencing, proteomics/metabolomics, advanced imaging, etc.) are eligible to apply. PI’s should indicate how technology access award results will be used to support planned grant applications and publications. Postdoctoral fellows and graduate students of eligible PI’s are also eligible to apply, but must include a brief letter of support from the PI/mentor.

Reporting Requirements. A brief one-page summary of major findings will be required at the end of the project. As a follow up, investigators will be asked to report annually on subsequent grant applications, conference presentations, talks, and manuscripts that were impacted or stimulated by the technology access award funding. Please acknowledge the Idaho INBRE program (P20 GM103408) in all grant proposals, presentations, and publications that benefited in part from the technology access funding. Also acknowledge any core facilities that provided data or data analysis.

Research Compliance. All proposed research must be in compliance with university policies and governmental regulations. As such, if the project requires IRB, Biosafety or IACUC approval, these should be in place at the time of the award. Such approvals are NOT required at time of the technology access application submission. NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made in response to this FOA.

Application Submission & Requirements

  1. Please click on the “Applications” button below to begin the online application. The application is also found on the BRC website: https://brc.boisestate.edu/.
  2. Attach a Project Proposal (1-2.5 page) as a single PDF document.
  3. The Project Proposal should use the following format:
    1. Project title
    2. Brief project description (no more than 1-2 pages)[if relevant include the specific number of samples that need to be analyzed]
    3. Core facility use and location (projected)
    4. Initial budget estimate (ie costs for the core resources, etc)
    5. A brief statement of the status of required assurances and approvals (if relevant)
    6. Projected timeline
    7. Brief statement of plans for grant submission/publication arising from the access award

Selection Criteria and Review Process

  1. Only complete applications will be considered.
  2. All eligible applications will be reviewed by the Bioinformatics Advisory Committee (BAC).
  3. For this round, the selection criteria will be based on:
    1. Scientific merit and readiness
    2. Feasibility of the project being complete and used in an upcoming publication or grant application
    3. Availability of core resources to complete the project in a timely manner
  4. Upon selection, the applicant will be notified by the The BAC will then work with the investigator to finalize project plans and assist in access to core facilities.

Allowable costs under this award

For this round, technology access funds must be expended by November 30, 2018. No carry-forward will be allowed. We anticipate making 10-12 awards of $3-6K range. Smaller (and larger) awards will be considered depending on the availability of funds. Awarded funds will be used to directly pay core facility or project resource charges (no subawards will be made).

Deadlines & Notification

The deadline for applications this cycle is May 31, 2018. Notice of grant award will be made by June 9, 2018.

Contact:

Questions or concerns regarding this RFA should be directed to:
Ken Cornell, Ph.D.
Director, Idaho INBRE Bioinformatics Core Boise State University kencornell@boisestate.edu
208-426-5429