Clinical Research Feasibility Funds (CReFF)

Submission Due Date: January 4, 2008

The GCRC is offering support for novel pilot projects from young investigators which can provide preliminary data that may be useful in acquiring subsequent independent funding. This program will also offer all the other GCRC resources required to enhance the project (e.g. biostatistics, core lab, database management, nursing support, mentoring).

Eligibility:

Teaching Assistants, Fellows, Instructors and Assistant Professors will be eligible. These individuals should not have independent extramural funding for the project, although supplemental intramural funding is allowed. They must also demonstrate the ability of devoting at least one year to the project.

Submission Requirements:

New projects need to submit the following:

• a five-page proposal stating Background, Hypothesis(es), Aims, Methods, and Biostatistical plan (at least 3 weeks before the submission due date, applicants must contact the GCRC Biostatician at 212 263-0363 for help in preparing the biostatistical plan)
• Application for New Protocol Review
• Supplement for Application for New Protocol Review - GCRC
• a cover letter detailing the request for CReFF funds
• a CV of the applicant

Currently approved GCRC projects need only submit a cover letter detailing the request for CReFF funds and the CV of the applicant.

All items should be emailed to Hal Rosenblatt by January 4, 2008.

Selection Criteria:
All proposals are reviewed by the GCRC Advisory Committee (GAC). The GCRC Program Director and the Associate Directors will designate awardees based upon the reviews discussed by the entire Committee and resulting in a priority score. This decision will be based on additional information such as commitment to the project, additional support, and potential for success.

Recipient Accomplishments:
Awards are given for 1 year. One month prior to the conclusion of the year, awardees are required to summarize their results and accomplishments, including its significance. They may also request an additional year of support. The GAC will receive this information and determine whether an additional year of support is merited.

Awardees will also be required to inform the GCRC of subsequent publications and/or funding which resulted from the proposal for 2 years after the CreFF funding was awarded.

Evaluation Plan:
The success of the program will be assessed by summarizing the reports of the awardees. Expected outcomes are 1) >80% of awardees should have peer-reviewed publications resulting from the proposal and 2) the independent funding resulting from the projects should result in value in excess of the cost of the program. For example, a single RO1 award of $150,000 per year from a group of 5 awardees, whose total CreFF support was $100,000 deems the process of selection and support successful.

Funding provided from NIH, NCRR (M01RR00096) awarded to the NYU School of Medicine