Sealy Center on Aging (SCOA) & Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health (CIRWH) FY2023 Pilot Research Grant Program in Gender Differences and Aging

BACKGROUND

The objective of this program is to stimulate the development of new research initiatives in the strategic areas of gender differences among aging populations ELIGIBILITY Any full-time UTMB faculty member is eligible to apply; junior faculty are encouraged to apply and may receive special consideration. Investigators may not submit more than one application for consideration. Grants must address gender differences among the elderly

FUNDING

Pilot grants of up to $20,000 are available for the development of new research ideas. All funds must be spent by August 15, 2023. Carry-over across fiscal years is not possible due to institutional budgeting requirements. Funds may not be used for faculty salary or for indirect costs. Funds may not be used for equipment purchase or travel. Funds may not be used for research taking place outside of the UTMB campus.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS PROPOSAL PACKAGE

Please organize your application as follows (2 pages maximum, not including References, Biosketches, Budget, and Other Support):

A. Title of the proposal

B. Names, affiliation, and expertise of the PI and collaborators as relevant to the proposal.

C. Specific Aims - What do you intend to do?

D. Significance - Why is the work important? What has already been done? If the aims of the application are achieved, how will scientific knowledge be advanced and health outcomes improved?

E. Innovation - Does the project employ novel concepts, approaches, or methods? Does the project challenge existing paradigms or develop new collaborations, methodologies or technologies?

F. Approach - Are the conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses adequately developed, well integrated, and appropriate to the aims of the project? Are appropriate controls, potential problems, and alternative tactics considered? Is an appropriate approach developed to perform the work and analyze/interpret the results?

G. Relevance - How will the proposed project strengthen gender differences and/or aging research at UTMB? Will the project employ useful collaborative arrangements that take advantage of the unique strengths of the scientific environment at UTMB?

H. Future funding - Explain how this pilot grant will help lead to future funding.

I. References - this section is not considered in page limitations.

J. Biosketch of PI and key personnel - this section is not considered in page limitations.

K. Detailed budget and budget justification - Salary support for faculty is not allowed, but is allowable for technicians, research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, etc. You should use PHS 398 form for preparing the budget: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html. This section is not considered in page limitations.

L. Other support and additional funds that are available (or pending) for developing the proposed project. Junior investigators should also list start-up funds. This section is not considered in page limitations.

SUBMISSION

Proposals are due by 5:00 PM on January 15, 2023. Please send a single PDF file to Susan Ball (srball@utmb.edu). Please name your file as “[LastName]_CIRWH_FY2023.pdf,”

APPLICATION REVIEW

Reviewers will be asked to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal, as well as the likelihood that successful completion of the proposed project will advance the goals of CIRWH and SCOA. Awards will be made depending on the availability of the funds and with a start date of February 15, 2023.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

By accepting this funding, awardee(s) agree to acknowledge CIRWH and SCOA as an affiliation and source of financial support on all research products related to the grant. Awardee(s) will submit a final report detailing the status of the study, resources committed, and value created (new manuscripts, disclosures, grants, etc.). This report will be due 45 days after the end date of the project. · Awardee(s) will be required to present their data/final report to the CIRWH-SCOA seed grant committee and/or at a UTMB-hosted conference.