Multi-PI/Program Project Development Awards

Funding Opportunity Number

PICR-MPI-FY2025-01

Funding Opportunity Title 

MULTI-PI/PROGRAM PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AWARDS

Key Dates

Announcement:	July 22, 2024 August 26, 2024 October 7, 2024 January 20, 2025
Rolling Deadline:	Proposals accepted until February 3, 2025
Award Amount:	Up to $100,000

Administrative Contact

Kim Sagendorf (ksagendorf@purdue.edu) 

Funding Opportunity Description: The Executive Committee of the Purdue Institute for Cancer Research (PICR) will allocate funds to support innovative, cancer-focused grants from integrated teams that have as their major goal the submission of multi-PI grants recognized by the NCI.  Integrated teams are emphasized because intra- and inter-disciplinary collaboration can lead to multi-PI and program project grants from the NIH  which are expected by the NCI for our competing renewal every 5 years.  Various mechanisms provided by the NIH are supported by this opportunity (e.g. RM1, P01, P20, P50, U01, U54 etc.). Funding for this opportunity is supported by generous donations by the Indiana Elks and other donors through gifts and endowment funds to the PICR.

There are two stages to the proposal process.  Step 1 is a three-page (maximum) description of:

• the science, underlying hypotheses and planned coordination/integration/synergy of the research projects and cores,
• anticipated key data the funding would enable,
• short description of PICR supported shared resources and other cores needed and how they would support the research,
• proposed research projects including abstracts and specific aims, and
• describe the roles of the investigators involved (including any history of working together).

Preliminary data are not required.  Step 1 will not ask for budget specifics.

The executive leadership of the PICR will review the applications received and then select projects to proceed to Step 2.  The project team would be asked to provide robust proposal details related to the project proposed work, timelines/milestones, and budget (this will include a meeting with Doug Cuttell to help).  The leadership of the PICR strongly encourages planning for an external advisory group early in the process to evaluate the preliminary project planning of the team (i.e., P01).  If insufficient details and plans are not provided, then the team would be asked to re-compete in future cycles for this mechanism (starting again at Step 1).

Any project not selected for Step 1 or 2 will be directed to the other pilot grant mechanisms of the PICR and to individual scientific program solicitations (as available by CIS, TSD and DDMS). 

In addition, Teams awarded at Step 2 may have the opportunity to submit for a renewal at the end of the first award period.

Various NIH multi-PI grant mechanisms have their own requirements and texture and while the PICR wishes to generate more funded proposals in the categories described above, the PICR’s priority is to generate P01 grant submissions such as PAR-23-059 (or equivalent).  The relevant information and considerations for submitting a plan for a P01 type grant include the following:

• P01 grants support broadly based, multidisciplinary, often long-term research programs with a specific major objective. The P01 contains multiple components and projects packaged in one application, consisting of: Research projects (a minimum of 3) that share a central theme, focus, and/or overall objective, an Administrative Core, and Research Support Cores (as needed). Administrative support prior to an actual P01 submission will be provided by the PICR administration.
• While each individual research project should be able to stand on its own scientific merit, research projects must also demonstrate synergy and integration with other research project(s) and utilize at least one of the proposed cores. The research projects are the building blocks of a highly integrated grant and support a common theme or scientific objective rather than the individual components.
• In addition, P01s have the following features: Involve organized efforts of relatively large groups, whose members conduct research projects designed to elucidate various aspects or components of the objective and advance the field; Directed toward a range of problems having a central focus (in contrast to the narrow plan of a traditional R01); Usually have an established investigator (Project Leader) to lead each research project. Also, have individual projects that are clearly interrelated and synergistic (inform the other) so that the research ideas, efforts, and outcomes of the program will collectively offer a distinct advantage over pursuing individual projects separately.

All areas of cancer research relevant to the mission of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) are appropriate for projects submitted to this opportunity announcement.

CLICK HERE to submit your electronic application by 5 pm on the cycle due date. No exceptions. The electronic submission system will not allow applications beyond the deadline. Once here you can enter your Purdue e-mail and password. 

Qualifications/Restrictions:  The PI applicant requesting funds to conduct the proposed work must be a current and full member of the PICR. Co-investigators from other institutions and NCI-designated cancer centers may be included as collaborators or even as the leader of one of the three (or more) projects but funds will not be distributed directly to other institutions. PICR members can only serve as the lead PI on one application. No exceptions. 

Cost share: This announcement does not require cost sharing.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards: The number of awards is contingent upon PICR endowments, gifts and other funds, and the submission of meritorious applications.  Leadership intends to fund up to three teams.

Award Budget: The proposal will be funded at a level appropriate for the proposed work but will not exceed $100,000.  Funding may be renewable at the end of the first funding period.

Award Project Period: Work should commence within less than two (2) months of the date of award.  A project period of twelve (12) months or less is suggested.  Spending will be monitored.  If the regulatory process approvals exceed three (3) months, the award may be terminated.  Funding may be renewable at the end of the first funding period.

Award Restrictions: The budget cannot be used for PI salary support, clerical staff support, equipment or travel. 

Award Requirements:  Acceptance of an award will indicate your willingness to serve on the PICR’s Pilot Grants Review Committee and possibly represent the PICR at the annual Indiana Elks Convention or other philanthropic events.  The awardee MUST acknowledge the PICR using the suggested publication acknowledgement:

“The authors gratefully acknowledge the <insert shared resource name/funding mechanism> and support from the Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, P30CA023168”

No Cost Extension (NCE): No cost extensions are highly discouraged and will only be granted in rare cases and on a case-by-case basis. Requests must be made to the administration of the PICR in writing and well in advance of the project completion date.  The PICR is very interested in making sure the project is advancing and achieving funding and scholarly production for its NCI renewal.

Regulatory: Please note the award is contingent upon obtaining all of the necessary regulatory approvals (e.g., IRB, IACUC, PACUC) or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pertaining to the work that has pending approvals.

Award Setup: PICR Business office will set up one account per award under the Lead PI. Account setup can take up to 4 weeks to complete. 

Reporting: A short project report at the end of the first funding cycle is required for all teams regardless of whether or not they wish to request a renewal.  Responding to periodic requests for progress updates throughout the project period may be requested to update donors and development and inform Purdue senior leadership.  Triage of future applications may occur if reporting requests are ignored.

Proposal Guidelines:

1. Proposal Length: The proposal should be single-spaced and a maximum of three pages in length (Arial, 11pt) with no less than 0.5 inch margins.
2. Required Proposal Structure: please see above
3. For the electronic submission, the items to upload should include (all combined into 1 file):
4. Max 3-page proposal
5. Cited literature (not included in page limit (NIPL))
6. NIH Biosketch for proposed participants (NIPL)
7. Current and Pending Funding for the PI or MPIs of each project (NIPL)   

Review Criteria:

1. The primary review criteria is similar to NIH review criteria:
2. Significance
3. Innovation
4. Cancer Relevance
5. Integration of Collaborative Science (How the P01 Project will be integrated to enable sharing of data and results across projects for greater productivity and scientific progress)
6. Potential to Attract Peer-Review Funding and Peer-Review Publications
7. Productivity from previous internal awards will be assessed and weighted appropriately.
8. Reviewers could consist of senior/program leaders, members, or external experts.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT HISTORY AND UPDATES 

Funding Opportunity Number	Summary of Change
PICR-MPI-FY2025-01	Initiation of Announcement