Signature Interdisciplinary Research Program on Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases (SIPAIID) Pilot Grant Program

The Signature Interdisciplinary Research Program on Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases (SIPAIID) is currently funding pilot grants of $5000 to $20,000 maximum for a maximum of one year support of research in areas where preliminary data is required in order to develop a proposal for major funding.  SIPAIID is interested in supporting all quality projects in all research relating to Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases.  Funding of all high quality grant proposals will be considered.  Evaluation will be based on criteria established by the NIH.  We specifically invite proposals from investigators and areas of primary interest as follows:

1.  Proposals that foster collaboration between laboratories of SIPAIID members, especially those that propose collaboration between clinical and basic scientist members of SIPAIID.

2.   Proposals that envision a collaborative or multi-PI  RO1 or program grant to be submitted in year 2008 to a major funding agency, by one or more investigators. 

3.   Grants that submitted to the NIH (RO types such as RO1, RO3, R21, R31) and received a good almost fundable score (15-25%), but need further preliminary data and the Principal Investigator has no appropriate funds. Projects that are simply extensions of on-going research or that already have ample supporting data are discouraged.   

Peer Review & Assistance

Proposals will be evaluated by the SIPAIID Grant Review Board, plus selected outside experts, under the direction of the Grant Review Board Director currently Peter Medveczky M.D., Professor of Molecular Medicine.  Review criteria include; Significance, Approach, Innovation, Investigators, and Environment.  The Grant Review Board and associated experts are also available for New Investigators for pre-application advice and assistance.  Applications may be submitted twice a year, and they are peer-reviewed quickly, with a response about decision for funding within 30 to 60 days. 

Application Procedure, Deadline, and Contact Information

The research component of the proposal should be brief; it is strictly limited to six pages.  The format is a mini NIH proposal.  Essential parts are Abstract (about 1/3 of a page), Specific Aims (1/2 page), Background, Preliminary Results and Significance (1-2 pages), and Research Plan (3-4 pages).  For further information about the content of these sections, and the NIH grant format, please read instructions for form PHS 398;  http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm 

Additional items to be submitted (not included in the six page limit but include them in a sequence specified by the NIH); 

1. Curriculum vitae of the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators in standard NIH format including current, pending and past funding.  Please also attach a letter of support from additional collaborating participants at the end of the proposal. 

2. Please describe briefly the economics of the study (e.g. costs for reagents, labor, equipment, etc., with justification, 2-3 brief sentences). 

3. Please also indicate if Human Subjects, Vertebrate Animals or biohazards are applicable.   We will contact the applicant for documentation indicating approval of protocols after the project has been approved for funding (funding will depend upon approval of these items by Institutional Boards). 

4. Please cite all relevant References.  

5. An addendum, such as recent and relevant publications of the P.I., or a copy of the NIH proposal’s “Pink Sheet” indicating the score and the critique, can be also attached.

Deadline for upcoming submission is 4 P.M. December 1, 2007.

  Please send the application as an email attachment to Nicole Crawford (below).  Also please send her the original copy of the USF Division of Sponsored Research Proposal Review and Certification Form (Internal Form) signed by the Chair and Dean for Research.  Submit the application to; Nicole Crawford ncrawfor@health.usf.edu.