Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program

RCMI Coordinating Center (RCMI-CC) is announcing the second funding cycle of the Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program, intended to provide funding on a competitive basis for hypothesis-driven clinical research projects led by inter-institutional collaborative teams of multiple principal investigators (MPI) from two or more RCMI U54 Centers, along with at least one Mentor and at least one Collaborator from RCMI and/or non-RCMI grantee institutions. A Mentoring Plan, a Communications Plan, and a timetable for seeking extramural funding are required, as are letters of support from the Mentor(s), Collaborator(s), Core Director(s), and Principal Investigators of the partnering RCMI U54 Centers.

RCMI Institution Directory

Post-doctoral fellows, early-career faculty and early-stage investigators from RCMI U54 Centers are limited to submitting only one application as MPI. However, RCMI U54 Centers may be involved in multiple applications. All MPI-led applications must be submitted online and must be received no later than 5:00 PM Hawaii standard time on the application due date. E-mail applications will not be accepted.

Funding Cycle2024-2025
FOA Release DateOctober 6, 2023
FOAFOA RCMI-PPP 2024-2025 Final Release
Instructional Webinar SlidesWebinar RCMI-PPP 2024-2025 Informational PPT
Instructional Webinar RecordingWebinar RCMI-PPP 2024-2025 Informational Recording An informational webinar for prospective applicants, mentors, and collaborators, Investigator Development Core Directors and RCMI Principal Investigators, was held on Thursday, October 12, 2023
Application Link2024-2025 Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program Application Site
Application Due DateTuesday, January 16, 2024. Applications must be submitted online on or before 5:00 PM Hawaii standard time. E-mail applications will not be accepted.
Applicant EligibilityPost-doctoral fellows, early-career faculty (Assistant Professor), and early-stage investigators from the 22 RCMI U54 Centers.
Multiple Principal InvestigatorsFrom two or more RCMI Centers
Mentor(s)
At least one from RCMI or non-RCMI grantee institution
Collaborator(s)
At least one from RCMI or non-RCMI grantee institution
Page LimitsSeven (one-page Specific Aims; six-page Research Strategy)
BudgetSeparate non-modular budgets with detailed justification for each Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI)
Project PeriodOne year
Direct Cost$100,000–$150,000 per year
Indirect CostNot allowed
NIH BiosketchMultiple Principal Investigators, Mentor(s), Collaborator(s), Other Significant Contributors
Letters of SupportMentor(s), Collaborator(s), Core Director(s), Principal Investigators of partnering RCMI Centers
Human Subjects ResearchProtection of Human Subjects; Inclusion of Women and Minorities; Data and Safety Monitoring Plan
Institutional Review BoardEvidence of IRB application or IRB approval

Purpose of FOA

A primary strategic goal of the RCMI Coordinating Center (RCMI-CC) is to improve minority health and to reduce ethnic and geographic disparities in health by coordinating the development and facilitating the implementation of clinical research across the RCMI Consortium. To more effectively engage RCMI investigators and to spur inter-institutional collaborative research, the RCMI-CC is launching a Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program.

The Pilot Projects Program is intended to foster inter-institutional collaborations and mentoring by providing funding for hypothesis-driven clinical research projects on the science of minority health and health disparities. In particular, this Pilot Projects Program solicits applications that involve inter- institutional collaborations between post-doctoral fellows, early-career faculty and/or early-stage investigators from two or more RCMI U54 Centers in clinical research projects that utilize the infrastructure of the Investigator Development Core, Community Engagement Core and Research Capacity Core and that link the basic sciences and clinical medicine, integrate research discoveries with innovative medical applications, and develop improved patient-care practices through community engagement. Examples include, but are not limited to, collaborations across the life sciences, public health, clinical medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, pharmacology, biomedical informatics, computational biology, ethics, social and behavioral sciences, biomedical imaging and bioengineering, law and health economics that advance our understanding about the social, economic, behavioral, cultural, environmental, and genetic and epigenetic determinants of health disparities and that improve our knowledge about biological systems to reduce the burden of disease and improve human health. The expectation is that data generated from the Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program will be successfully leveraged into full-fledged, competitive NIH grant applications.

Definitions
For the purpose of this funding opportunity, clinical research is defined as human subjects research or research that involves an individual person or a group of people, or research that studies materials from humans, such as their behavior or biological samples. https://www.nih.gov/health-information/nih-clinical- research-trials-you/what-is-clinical-research

A post-doctoral fellow is defined as an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and who is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced training to enhance his or her professional skills and research independence needed to pursue a chosen career path.

An early-stage investigator is defined as a Principal Investigator (PI) who has completed their terminal research degree or post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PI for a substantial NIH independent research award (e.g., R01). https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/list-smaller-grants.htm

An early-career faculty is defined as an Assistant Professor.

Applicant Eligibility

Any post-doctoral fellow or early-career faculty or early-stage investigator at an RCMI grantee institution, who holds a doctoral degree (MD, PhD, ScD, DrPH, PharmD, EdD, DSW, etc.) and who possesses the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research, is invited to form a collaborative partnership with eligible RCMI investigators to submit an application. Each application must be led by Multiple Principal Investigators (MPI) from two or more RCMI grantee institutions. All MPI must meet the eligibility criteria. MPI are limited to submitting only one application. Each MPI must be listed in the RCMI Profiles database. Individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups, as well as individuals with disabilities and those from backgrounds underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce, are encouraged to apply.

The table below shows the acceptable types of MPI teams for the clinical research projects. Additional MPI can be clinical researchers, basic biomedical researchers, and/or behavioral/community researchers. To be clear, MPI do not need to be clinical researchers. Instead, the proposed project must meet the definition of clinical research, as provided above.

RCMI MPI #1 (Contact)RCMI MPI #2
Clinical ResearcherClinical Researcher
Behavioral/Community
Researcher Basic Biomedical Researcher
Behavioral/Community ResearcherBehavioral/Community
Researcher Basic
Biomedical Researcher Clinical Researcher
Basic Biomedical ResearcherBehavioral/Community
Researcher Basic
Biomedical Researcher Clinical Researcher

An individual who currently serves as the principal investigator on an active NIH research project grant (R01) or program project grant (P01) or R35, P20, P60, U01, U19, U54, DP1, DP2, DP5 is ineligible to apply. Also, those with R01-equivalent awards from the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense and national societies and foundations, such as the American Heart Association, are ineligible, as are graduate students.

Mentors

Applications must include at least one mentor from an RCMI or non-RCMI grantee institution. Additional mentors may be from RCMI or non-RCMI grantee institutions or community-based organizations. A brief Mentoring Plan is required.

Collaborators

Applications must include at least one collaborator from an RCMI or non-RCMI grantee institution. Additional collaborators may be from RCMI or non-RCMI grantee institutions or community-based organizations. A brief Communications Plan is required.

Application Process

The application must use the Pilot Projects Program Templates available on the REDCap-based online grant submission system; please refer to the Application Links in the table above. The research proposal is limited to seven pages: the Specific Aims page is limited to one (1) page and the Research Strategy may not exceed six (6) pages (typed single-spaced using 11-pt Arial on one side of the page with 0.5-inch margins). All tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, charts and other displays must be included within the page limits. Also, the Research Strategy section must include a Mentoring Plan, specifying the designated mentor(s); a Communications Plan, specifying the designated collaborator(s); and a project timetable and plan for seeking subsequent extramural support, as well as a description of the services being requested from RCMI and non-RCMI Cores. Preliminary data are not required.

Not counted in the page limits are the MPI Plan, NIH biosketches and other support information for the MPI, collaborator(s), mentor(s) and other significant contributors; cited references; itemized budget with justification; and full descriptions of Protection of Human Subjects from Research Risk; Inclusion of Women, Minorities and Children in Research. A Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table Format Page must also be included. Finally, evidence of IRB submission (or approval) is required at the time of submission.

MPI Plan
Applications must include an MPI Plan as a separate uploaded file. The MPI Plan must provide the following information: qualifications of each MPI; responsibilities and contributions of each MPI; procedures for fiscal and management coordination; data sharing and communications policies; publications and intellectual property policies; procedures for resolving conflicts.

Facilities and Resources
The facilities and resources available for the proposed research at each of the partnering RCMI U54 Centers, as well as services of RCMI and/or non-RCMI cores, should be described, using the Resources Format Page.

Letters of Support
Applications must include letters of support from the mentor(s) and collaborator(s). Such letters must outline their commitment and contribution to the proposed research and their involvement in the preparation of the application. In addition, letters of support are required from the principal investigators of partnering RCMI U54 Centers. Finally, letters of support from the Directors of RCMI and/or non-RCMI Cores must be included, indicating the types of services being provided and costs, if applicable.

Budgets
Applications must include non-modular itemized budgets, with justification, for each MPI, using Form Page 4 and Form Page 5. Each MPI must dedicate a minimum of 10% effort at cost. Grant support may be used for personnel salaries, small equipment (not to exceed $5,000), study participant incentives, supplies and domestic travel.

Available Funds and Anticipated Number of Awards
A $1,000,000 commitment will fund six or more inter-institutional collaborative clinical research pilot projects. Awards are expected to range from $100,000 to $150,000 in direct costs per year for a project period of one year or two years. No provisions for indirect costs will be allowed.

Mechanism of Support
Support from the Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program will be provided through a subcontracting mechanism from the Morehouse School of Medicine to each of the awardee institutions. The MPI will be solely responsible for planning, directing, and executing the research, but the RCMI-CC infrastructure will be available throughout the course of the pilot project.

Scientific Review

RCMI faculty with subject-matter expertise and NIH study section experience, as well as principal investigators of non-RCMI programs, have agreed to serve as reviewers. All applications will be evaluated using a REDCap-based online review system by two RCMI investigators and one non-RCMI investigator. In all cases, individuals with conflicts of interest, either real or perceived, will not be assigned as reviewers. NIH-type review criteria and the NIH 9-point scoring scale will be used. Specifically, applications will be reviewed on the following criteria: significance, innovation, approach, investigators, and environment, as well as research focus, collaborations and partnerships, and core usage. In addition, the overall likelihood that support will be leveraged into a competitive MPI NIH grant application will be assessed.

Significance: Does the proposed research address an important health problem? Does the proposed research address an ethnic or geographic disparity in health? If the aims of the research are achieved, how will scientific knowledge or clinical practice be advanced? What will be the effect of the study on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventive interventions that drive this field?

Innovation: Is the proposed research original and innovative? For example: Does the research challenge existing paradigms or current clinical practices or propose an innovative hypothesis to address a critical barrier that prevents progress in the field? Does the research develop or employ novel concepts, approaches, methodologies, tools or technologies? Does the research access a hard-to-reach underserved community?

Approach: Are the conceptual or clinical framework, study design, investigative methods and analytical tools adequately developed, well-integrated, well-reasoned and appropriate to the aims of the proposed research? Do the MPI acknowledge potential problems or pitfalls and consider alternative strategies? Does the research employ a team science approach? Are the plans for the protection of human subjects from research risks, and the inclusion of minorities and members of both sexes/genders, as well as the inclusion of children, justified in terms of the proposed scientific goals?

Investigators: Are the MPI applicants and collaborator(s) appropriately trained and well suited to conduct the proposed research? Is the proposed research appropriate to the experience level of the MPI and collaborator(s)? Does the investigative team bring complementary skills or experience to the project? Do the MPI applicants show evidence of scientific productivity and scientific achievement, as measured by the number and quality of publications and extramural funding record? Is the Mentoring Plan sufficiently detailed to ensure a beneficial outcome for the MPI? Is the Communications Plan sufficiently detailed to ensure that the MPI and collaborative team is sufficiently agile to respond rapidly to unexpected problems or pitfalls?

Environment: Does the scientific environment in which the proposed research will be performed contribute to the probability of success? Does the proposed study benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, or subject populations, or employ useful collaborative arrangements? Is there evidence of institutional support, such as faculty-release time and/or matching funds?
Research Focus: Does the proposed research meet the definition of clinical research? Does the proposed research align with the mission of the NIMHD and RCMI-CC? Are health disparities of vulnerable groups addressed?

Collaborations and Partnerships: Does the proposed research represent a partnership between post- doctoral fellows, early-career faculty and/or other early-stage investigators from two RCMI U54 Centers? Do the collaborators and mentors have the appropriate academic qualifications, research experience, and productivity to contribute to the success of the proposed research? Does the project include non-RCMI mentors and/or collaborators?

Core Usage: Does the proposed research make use of RCMI and/or non-RCMI core facilities? Are letters of support provided by core directors?

Funding Recommendations and Decisions

Applications that demonstrate a team-science approach to reducing health disparities and show convergence of expertise between MPI from two RCMI grantee institutions and their RCMI and non- RCMI collaborator(s) and mentor(s) will be considered highly responsive to this FOA. Funding recommendations will be based on priority scores, with direct oversight by the RCMI-CC MPI and ratification by the RCMI-CC Steering Committee, with final approval by NIMHD. Awards will be distributed across as many RCMI U54 Centers as possible, provided the proposed research is meritorious. Each Pilot Projects Program awardee will be required to submit a written summary of research productivity and progress, which will be included in the Research Performance Progress Report.

Informational Webinar

The online Application site to access the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), as well as the slide presentation with Q&A and video recording of the Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program Informational Webinar, can be accessed here: 2024-2025 RCMI-CC Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program Application Link

To facilitate the development of multiple principal investigator (MPI) teams of post-doctoral fellows, early-career faculty and/or early-stage investigators from RCMI U54 Centers to respond to the NOFO of the RCMI Coordinating Center Clinical Research Pilot Projects Program, we will convene Scientific Webinars for prospective applicants to present their research and resource needs.

Scientific Webinar dates: currently scheduled for October 24, 26 and 31, 2023 at 3:00 pm ET.

To sign-up to present or to attend or to get more information about the Scientific Webinar Series, please contact Pam Bullard at pbullard@hawaii.edu.

 

For further collaboration support, please refer to the PROFILES database, add your listing to the MPI database located at https://rcmi-cc.org/mpiprofile, or contact your institution’s RCMI Investigator Development Core Director.

Inquiries

Inquiries concerning this funding opportunity are encouraged.

Vivek Nerurkar, DMLT, MSc Ph.D.
Multiple Principal Investigator
RCMI Coordinating Center
John A. Burns School of Medicine
University of Hawaii at Manoa
651 Ilalo Street, BSB320
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
(808) 692-1668
nerurkar@hawaii.edu

Pamela L. Bullard, B.A.
Administrative Coordinator
Investigator Development Core Consortium
RCMI Coordinating Center
John A. Burns School of Medicine
University of Hawaii at Manoa
651 Ilalo Street, MEB401G
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
(808) 692-1475
pbullard@hawaii.edu