2008-09 Pilot/Feasibility Study Grant Program

PURPOSE

The purpose of the MDRTC Pilot /Feasibility (P/F) Grant Program is to promote research on diabetes by new and established University of Michigan faculty. Its goal is to enable investigators to generate a sufficient body of preliminary information for a successful application for major research funding from NIH or other national granting agencies. Grant proposals may be in areas of basic biomedical research, or in clinical, behavioral, epidemiological, health services, or translational research and should address key questions in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, or control of diabetes, its complications, or related endocrine or metabolic disorders (for example: counter-regulatory proteins, obesity, metabolic syndrome). Translational research projects should focus on the translation of research advances into clinical practice and include the identification of barriers to widespread adoption of new science and the testing of interventions to overcome these barriers.

ELIGIBILITY

Individuals who have full-time instructional or research faculty positions at the University of Michigan are eligible to apply as Principal Investigators of P/F proposals. Eligible applicants are: a) new investigators beginning careers in research on diabetes; b) established investigators in areas other than diabetes who wish to focus their expertise on a problem in diabetes research; or c) established diabetes investigators who wish to take an entirely new direction in diabetes research. This new direction cannot be an extension or outgrowth of research currently being undertaken by the applicant. Individuals who receive a 2008-09 Diabetes Interdisciplinary Study Program grant co-sponsored by the Michigan Comprehensive Diabetes Center and MDRTC are not eligible to receive a 2008-09 MDRTC P/F grant.

APPLICATIONS

Proposals should be for one year of support, with requested funding up to $50,000. P/FS funds may not be applied to salary support for the Principal Investigator, travel expenses, or purchase of equipment (i.e., durable items costing over $5000).

Each proposal will receive peer review by a group of recognized experts in the area of the proposal from the United States and abroad. It is anticipated that P/FS projects that receive a favorable review will be funded in December, 2008.

Applications must be prepared using the new 2008-09 MDRTC P/F application. An application form can be obtained by calling Pam Campbell at the MDRTC at 763-5730 or emailing (pamcamp@umich.edu).

Proposals should be for one year of support, with requested funding up to $50,000.

Application Due Date: 5 PM Monday, August 4, 2008