About RIH Injury Control COBRE

The RIH Injury Control COBRE brings together junior investigators, senior faculty and advisory committee members to build a center which produces high level, independent researchers equipped to address and improve the substantial burden of injury on population health.  The RIH Injury Control COBRE is made up of an Administrative Core, Injury Control Digital Innovation Core & Injury Control Research to Practice and Policy Core needed to develop and sustain a thematic multidisciplinary center of research excellence on injury control. 

 The Injury Control Digital Innovation Core (1) provides a scientifically rigorous structure that facilitates the development and evaluation of innovative digital health-based injury control, through expert consultation on qualitative research, analysis of big data and study design; (2) facilitates partnerships between researchers, clinicians, at-risk populations and relevant industry-based partners, with a focus on enhancing quality and equitable dissemination of research and (3) develops and maintains an “innovation lab” of asynchronous and real-time injury-focused digital health training resources for junior researchers. 

 The Injury Control Research to Practice and Policy Core (1) provides a robust infrastructure of methodologic support in order to facilitate injury control research moving forward into clinical practice and policy and (2) creates systems to train injury control researchers to rapidly and effectively disseminate research findings with the goal of impacting clinical practice and policy. The RPP Core inspires innovation in translational research, promoting interdisciplinary collaborations among technology professionals, scientists, clinicians, community members, and stakeholders. 

 Each pilot project and research project leader project must align with the COBRE research core priorities and can address any component of injury control (injury prevention, treatment or rehabilitation). The Injury Control COBRE is committed to recruiting and retaining research led by and serving racial and ethnic minorities.

Pilot Project Proposal

Eligibility 

A Pilot Leader must hold a faculty appointment at the time that the award is made. Faculty investigators at any rank (includes established investigators) are allowed to lead Pilot Projects, however, junior investigators with research-, or clinical-track faculty appointments will be given priority. Individuals holding postdoctoral training positions are not eligible to lead Pilot Projects. The junior investigator is defined either as (1) an individual who does not have and has not previously had an external, peer-reviewed research project grant (R01) or Program Project Grant (PPG) from either a Federal or non-Federal source that names that investigator as the PD/PI, or an established investigator who is making a significant change to his/her career focus.

 Grants that name an applicant as a co-investigator, collaborator, consultant, or a position other than PD/PI, do not disqualify the applicant. Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) grants, exploratory/pilot project grants (such as NIH R03 and R21 awards), mentored career development awards (such as NIH K01 and K08 awards), or other Federal or non-Federal funding whose purpose is to provide preliminary support in anticipation of an RPG or PPG also do not disqualify the applicant.

 Investigators must have a research mentor in a field related to the proposed research.  If needed, the Injury Control COBRE Executive Committee can help investigators identify an appropriate research mentor.   Contact COBRE Administrator Julie Bromberg at jbromberg@lifespan.org for more information.

 Funding Available

Funding is offered for each pilot project for up to 2 years with a total budget of up to $50,000 direct costs. Indirect costs will not be provided to the applicants’ home institution.

 Use of Funds

The Budget may include federally allowable research expenses and supplies. Equipment cannot be purchased. Awards are not transferrable in the event the Pilot Project Leader transfers to a non-eligible institution. Unused funds revert to the COBRE.

 Performance Period

The project duration is up to 24 months.  A progress report will be submitted with the COBRE annual reporting to NIH/NIGMS in the RPPR report.  Second year of funding is dependent upon a successful completion of year one objectives.

Application Process

Letter of Intent

All applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to Julie Bromberg at jbromberg@lifespan.org with a subject line of “COBRE Pilot Project LOI”. Please prepare a single pdf document that includes the following documents:

• Title page including: Your name and degrees, affiliation, home department, research mentor (or if you need one) and the mentor’s affiliation and home department.
• One-page summary/scope statement of your proposed project or idea, including a statement about how your research will utilize the Injury Control COBRE resources
• CV and/or NIH Biosketch

 COBRE Faculty are available to meet with applicants to discuss how to strengthen your Letter of Intent. Contact Julie Bromberg (jbromberg@lifespan.org) to connect with COBRE faculty.

Letters of Intent will be reviewed to ensure eligibility and that the proposed research fits with the mission of the COBRE. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Those invited to submit a full proposal will be asked to discuss their proposal with the Injury Control COBRE Core Directors.

 Full Proposal

Applications will follow abbreviated NIH format using PHS 398 forms with minor modifications. See checklist on last page for a complete list of application components.  Applicants should work with their departmental grant administrator to be sure the application complies with COBRE and NIH rules. Also please note the following:

1. Research Strategy Section: Limited to 6 pages, excluding references. Follow NIH PHS 398 Format outline. The Research Plan should include the following:
   • Significance: Include overall significance of the project, including relevance to Injury Control COBRE goals and plans for use of data from pilot project for subsequent independent funding.
     • Innovation: Include both conceptual and technical innovation.
     • Preliminary data: (if applicable)
     • Research plan including expected results and alternative approaches.
     • References: Not included in 6-page limit.
2. Mentor Letter: Applications must be accompanied by a letter from the mentor detailing previous collaborations to date (if applicable) and agreeing to advise on the proposed research.

 Submission Details

Applications should be submitted via Piestar RFx. If you have any issues, please contact Julie Bromberg at jbromberg@lifespan.org or 401-444-8403.

 Review Process and Selection Criteria

Applications will be reviewed by the Injury Control COBRE review board.   Recommendations will be provided to the COBRE’s External Advisory Committee and to National Institute of General Medical Sciences for final determination. Applications will be evaluated using NIH scoring for scientific merit including significance, investigators, innovation, and approach. Reviews will also assess the proposal’s relevance to the long- term objectives of the Injury Control COBRE, proposed interaction with Injury Control COBRE Cores and potential for future independent funding. Funding is dependent upon the final approval of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Research Project Leader Proposal

 Eligibility

The Research Project Leader must be employed in Rhode Island, with priority given to those based at Rhode Island Hospital/ Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Postdoctoral fellows or other positions that do not carry independent faculty status (or equivalent) will disqualify that individual and his/her research project from further consideration, unless evidence is provided that a faculty appointment is forthcoming prior to approval by NIGMS.

A junior investigator who does not have and has not previously been a PI on an external, independent, peer-reviewed research project grant (R01) or Program Project Grant (PPG) or PPG subproject, or equivalent award from either a Federal or non-Federal source.

• Grants that name an individual as a co-investigator, collaborator, consultant do not disqualify that investigator from junior status.
• Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) grants, exploratory/pilot project grants (such as NIH R03 and R21 awards), mentored career development awards (such as NIH K01 and K08 awards), or other Federal or non-Federal not characterized as research grants also do not disqualify the investigator.
• Early-career investigators in the last two years of a K-award are eligible for COBRE funding.

Although priority is given to early career investigators, an established investigator who is making a significant change to his/her career goals by initiating a new line of research that is distinctly and significantly different from his/her current investigative program may also serve as a Research Project Leader.

The intent of this FOA is to support and develop promising investigators whose early career support consists of awards geared toward initiating their intended area of research. Each Research Project Lead should indicate in his/her Biographical Sketch their current and previous history of peer-reviewed research support.

Foreign components are not allowed.

Contact Julie Bromberg at jbromberg@lifespan.org with any questions about eligibility.

Funding Available & Use of Funds

Application budgets may not exceed $150,000 in direct costs per year.

Faculty effort must be a minimum of 6 calendar months. Salary for technical personnel are permissible. Costs for equipment (>$1,000 per item) require prior approval. Renovation and/or honorariums are not allowed. Computer Support fees are not allowable.

All regulatory approvals (NIGMS, IRB, COBRE External Advisory Committee) must be obtained before funding is made available to your institution.

Unused funds will be deobligated and revert to the COBRE. COBRE Research Project awards are NOT transferable to institutions outside of Rhode Island. If the Principal Investigator transfers to a non-eligible institution, the remaining project grant funds will be deobligated back to the COBRE. Carry Forward of unobligated balance is at the discretion of the Director.

Performance Period

The funding period is 2 years (or until R01 level funding is secured) with potential for a third year of funding pending review, approval, and the availability of funds. A progress report will be submitted with the COBRE annual reporting to NIH/NIGMS in the RPPR report.  Continued funding is dependent upon a successful completion of annual objectives.

Application Process

Letter of Intent

All applicants must submit a Letter of Intent to Julie Bromberg at jbromberg@lifespan.org with a subject line of “COBRE RPL LOI”. Please prepare a single pdf document that includes the following documents:

• Title page including: Your name and degrees, affiliation, home department, research mentor and the mentor’s affiliation and home department.
• One-page summary/scope statement of your proposed project or idea, including a statement about how your research will utilize the Injury Control COBRE resources
• CV and/or NIH Biosketch

COBRE Faculty are available to meet with applicants to discuss how to strengthen your Letter of Intent. Contact Julie Bromberg (jbromberg@lifespan.org) to connect with COBRE faculty.

Letters of Intent will be reviewed to ensure eligibility and that the proposed research fits with the mission of the COBRE. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.  Those invited to submit a full proposal will be asked to discuss their proposal with the Injury Control COBRE Core Directors.

Full Proposal

Using PHS398 forms and instructions, applications should use standard NIH formatting requirements (½ inch margins, Arial size 11-point font). The full application should be submitted via Piestar RFx. Please download this solicitation to see the full checklist for a complete list of application components.  Applicants should work with their departmental grant administrator to be sure the application complies with COBRE and NIH rules. Also please note the following:

1. Research Strategy Section: Limited to 6 pages, excluding references. Follow NIH PHS 398 Format outline. The Research Plan should include the following:
   1. Significance: Include overall significance of the project, including relevance to Injury Control COBRE goals and plans for use of data from pilot project for subsequent independent funding.
   2. Innovation: Include both conceptual and technical innovation.
   3. Preliminary data: (if applicable)
   4. Research plan including expected results and alternative approaches.
   5. References: Not included in 6-page limit.
2. Letters of Support
   1. Institutional letter of support from applicant’s department chair or equivalent. The letter must demonstrate clear commitment to support a multi-year faculty appointment for the proposed Research Project Leader independent of the outcome of the COBRE grant application and for release time for the investigator for the budget effort.
   2. Letters of support from Mentor(s).
   3. Strategy for seeking subsequent external support (1 page). Describe how receiving a COBRE Research Project Leader award will enhance chances for NIH R-level funding, or the equivalent, and include a statement of intent to submit a proposal as one of the outcomes of the project.

Review Process and Selection Criteria

Reviews will use the NIH review criteria. The Overall Impact score will also include consideration of relevance to the COBRE’s mission scientific merit of the work, potential for the award to provide a basis for further research support from NIH or other major external sponsors, and the likelihood that the proposed work will be completed during the award period.

Regulatory Approvals

If your project includes human subjects or vertebrate animals, institutional IRB or IACUC (respectively) approval is required before the proposal can forwarded to NIH for final approval/ release of funds. 

Special Considerations

While the best science will be prioritized and the ability of the investigator to contribute to and meet the goals of the Center, special consideration will be given to those who (in no particular order):

• Align with the COBRE’s focus on injury control (injury prevention, optimal treatment or novel treatment of injury, rehabilitation of injury) and candidates with interest and/or experience in digital innovation and/or research to practice and policy.
• Applicants is Rhode Island Hospital based faculty.
• Employ the use of COBRE Core services.

Additional Requirements

Research Project grant recipients must participate in Research Project Leader training activities including seminars and R Grant Writing Workshop. Second year funding is contingent upon favorable review by the COBRE Executive Committee and the COBRE External Advisory Committee concerning project progress; participation in Center activities; scientific integrity and rigor of project; potential for Center synergy; and potential for successful external funding. Research Project Leaders will be required to provide project updates, during the monthly mentor/mentee meetings and attend and present at the COBRE and IDeA symposiums. Research Project recipients must submit written quarterly and annual progress reports.

Research Project Leaders are expected to have submitted:

• NIH R01 level funding by the end of year 2 
• 1 manuscript by the end of year 1
• 2 manuscripts by the end of year 2

Research Project recipients are required to acknowledge sponsorship from the Rhode Island Hospital Injury Control COBRE supported by the grant in all research publications and presentations during the performance period and any future publications related to this research.