1 of 6 CCF RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION 2013 GUIDELINES ...

CCF RESEARCH GRANT APPLICATION
2013 GUIDELINES & REQUIREMENTS
The Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) awards funds to support research related to all forms
of cardiomyopathy affecting children under the age of 18 years. The goal of CCF’s research program is
to advance medical knowledge on the disease and develop more accurate diagnostic methods, lifeimproving
therapies, and ultimately a cure.
The Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF) accepts grant proposals on an annual basis for
innovative basic, clinical or translational research relevant to the cause or treatment of cardiomyopathy in
children. CCF’s grant program is designed to provide seed funding to investigators for the testing of
initial hypotheses and collecting of preliminary data to help secure long-term funding by the National
Institute of Health (NIH) and other major granting institutions. Funding is available in the range of US
$25,000 - US $50,000 for total direct costs only. For grant renewals, CCF funding is limited to two years
(consecutive or otherwise) of support.
Grant award decisions are made through a careful and detailed peer-review selection process. Scientific
excellence and relevance to pediatric cardiomyopathy are the basic criteria for selecting supported
research projects. CCF will issue one request for proposals in 2013. The deadline for grant submission
is Friday, September 6, 2013 with final award decisions made by January 2014. Upon receipt of a signed
letter of agreement from the selected investigator, CCF will disburse the funds in installments during the
grant period.
I. Basic Requirements
The principal investigator must hold an MD, PhD or equivalent degree and reside in the United States or
Canada. The investigator must have a faculty appointment at an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution
and have the proven ability to pursue independent research as evidenced by original research publications
in peer-reviewed journals.
II. Review Process
Each application will be reviewed by CCF’s medical advisors according to a pre-determined criteria.
Independent recommendations and priority scores will then be forwarded to CCF ‘s Board of Directors
where award decisions will be made based on the grant’s scientific merit and CCF’s research priorities.
The proposals will be scored on the basis of:
1. Importance and impact: extent to which the research could make a significant contribution to
the understanding and/or treatment of cardiomyopathy in children.
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2. Focus and Innovativeness: the study's focus on understanding the genetic basis/causes of
cardiomyopathy and its relationship to disease progression in children. Also the study's
uniqueness and possibility of breakthrough findings.
3. Feasibility: quality of the science and qualifications of the investigator to carry out the
proposed work, based on expertise, commitment and the availability of all the elements
required for the project (laboratory, technology, reagents and human or animal subjects).
4. Prospect of long term funding: likelihood of subsequent NIH or other major funding to
sustain the project or for any potential follow-up work
All applications will be held in the strictest confidence and all decisions by CCF are final.
III. Terms of the Award
1. Grant Period: One year funding period begins from the time of the award until the same time
the following year (i.e. February 1, 2014 – February 1, 2015). Extensions will be considered
if there is a valid reason for delays in the study.
2. Grant Payment: Upon signing a letter of agreement, CCF will award 50% of the grant award
amount as start up funds. The remaining payments will be based upon meeting certain
milestones and deliverables. An additional 25% of the grant award amount is provided upon
submission of a detailed mid-year progress report.
For studies that involve patient recruitment or acquisition of tissue/blood samples, additional
payments will be contingent on the number of patients enrolled or samples acquired during
the study period. Final payment is dependant on achieving the outlined aims in the proposed
research study, submission of a detailed final report and verification that research findings
will be presented at a recognized medical conference and/or a manuscript has been
submitted/accepted for publication in a peer reviewed medical/scientific journal.
3. Site of Project: Awards can be made to public or private universities, hospitals and
biomedical research institutions in the United States or Canada. The research shall take place
only in the research facility specified in the submitted research proposal. In the event the
primary investigator (PI) leaves his/her affiliated institution, the PI shall make necessary
arrangements with their institution to permit transfer of research funds.
4. Changes of Status of Principal Investigator (PI): The PI shall give the Foundation immediate
written notice if there is any change or potential change in the PI's affiliated institution. Upon
such notice and approval from CCF, the PI shall make arrangements to have the awarded
funds transferred to the new institution the PI is affiliated with. If the PI ceases research in
the field for which the grant was made, CCF will request the return of the unexpended grant
funds.
5. Expenditures: The grant is made only for the purposes stated in the research proposal and
according the proposed research budget. The grant funds, as well as any interest earned
thereon, may not be expended for any other purpose without CCF's prior written approval.
Any funds not expended or committed for the purpose of the grant shall be promptly returned
to the Foundation. The grant is to cover direct costs only and funds may not be used for any
of the following items: institutional overhead, construction or renovation, purchase of major
capital equipment, office equipment or furniture, travel (unless related to research study),
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tuition fees, journal subscriptions, dues or membership, or equipment service contracts.
6. Grants Administration: The grant funds shall be physically segregated and such funds shall
be shown separately on the PI's books for ease of reference and verification. Records of
receipts and expenditures under the grant, as well as copies of reports submitted to CCF,
should be kept for a reasonable period of time following completion of such receipts and
expenditures.
7. Institutional Support: The proposed research must comply with the regulations of the PI's
Institutional Review Board (IRB) related to research on human or animal subjects. A copy of
the approval or pending approval document must be included with the grant application.
The PI assumes sole responsibility for conducting the research and supervising the work of
co-investigators. For clinical studies, the PI must demonstrate that access to a suitable
caseload or patient population will be available for the study during the funding period.
8. Liability: CCF assumes no financial liability of any kind undertaken by the PI and is not
legally liable for the conduct of the PI and his/her co-investigators. The PI’s institution
acknowledges that CCF is protected from all claims, liabilities, losses and expenses (including
reasonable attorney fees) arising from or in connection with any act or omission of the PI and
his/her co-investigators in accepting the grant, in expending or applying grant funds or in
carrying out the research study to be supported by the grant.
9. Dissemination of Findings: All scientific data and/or findings resulting from work supported
by CCF shall be made available to the public and scientific community through approved
scientific channels such as national medical meetings and peer-reviewed publications. If it
has been determined that the data will not be published, it shall still be made available to the
public through CCF appointed sources. All presentations and publications must acknowledge
CCF's support by its full name of “Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation.” A printed copy
and PDF file of each publication shall be forwarded to CCF for reference and inclusion on the
Foundation website.
10. Progress Reports: The awarded PI will be expected to provide a six-month update as well as a
formal twelve-month progress report with financial summary on the use of the grant funds.
Each report should include a narrative account of what was accomplished by the expenditure
of funds including a detailed description of progress being made towards achieving the goals
of the grant and any significant findings. One year after the completion of the grant, the
grantee will be asked to fill out a final questionnaire to describe any publications or
subsequent funding received as a result of the Foundation's seed funding.
11. References to Work: The PI may include information on this grant in public and internal
reports or publications. For specific print or internet notifications such as marketing/
promotion materials or press releases announcing the grant award, the PI or PI’s institution
must acknowledge CCF's involvement and seek the Foundation’s approval before
distribution.
IV. Application Process
Proposal narratives should be numbered consecutively at the bottom, single-spaced with 1 inch margins
and using at least 12 point font. Please include the following items in your application, keeping in mind
the maximum number of pages per section:
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1. Title Page (2 pages)
Please complete attached form and state name of research project on top line.
2. Project Abstract and Lay Person Summary (1 page each)
Describe briefly and clearly the nature, objective, methods of procedure and significance of
the proposed research project and how it relates to the goal of providing a better
understanding of cardiomyopathy in children and/or improving the treatment or diagnosis of
the disease (limit of 500 words). Include a separate abbreviated version of the abstract in a
format and language suitable for presentation to lay persons (limit to 500 words).
3. Research Plan (7-10 pages excluding references)
The narrative should cover:
a. Title of project
b. Goals and objectives
c. Hypothesis and specific aims
d. Rationale
e. Methodology
f. Evaluation
g. Key personnel engaged in project (name, position, division/department, role in
project)
h. Description of research facilities or scientific environment (laboratory space,
clinical population etc.) available for the project.
i. Comment on the importance of CCF funding:
− How does it allow you to explore a new research area
− Does CCF’s grant supplement other sources of support
− How will it assist you in securing additional long-term funding
j. Comment on significance of your work for the community of affected children and
families:
− Is it similar to or a direct extension of work that has been or is being
performed elsewhere by other investigators
− Does the work complement or extend other studies that are being
performed at your institution
− How novel are the studies that you describe
− Would such a proposal be competitive for NIH funding in its current
form, or would you require additional preliminary data
− Do you anticipate that the support would lead to the generation of
physical resources that might be useful to other investigators in the
field If so, would you be willing to make it widely available for
collaborative work
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4. Budget
Include complete research budget stating amount requested from CCF along with a list of
additional funding sources. No administrative overhead or indirect costs will be supported.
CCF does not cover institutional construction or renovation, purchase of major capital
equipment other than directly needed for proposed research, office equipment or furniture,
travel (except as required to perform a project), tuition fees, journal subscriptions, dues or
memberships, printer or publishing costs.
a. For personnel the budget should cover names, titles, time/percentage effort of all
participants and requested salaries/fringe benefits. Other budget items might
include supplies, equipment, travel and publications.
b. Include statement that the institution or other funding sources will absorb indirect
costs.
c. Add brief budget justification
5. Biographical Sketch (3 pages)
Please provide biographical sketches (NIH format preferred) for key personnel. It should
include:
a. Name and position
b. Education/training: List in reverse chronological order (starting with most recent
course of study), institution & location, degree, year(s), field of study. Begin with
baccalaureate or other initial professional degrees/appointments and include
postdoctoral training.
c. Research and professional experience: list in reverse chronological order (starting
with most recent) previous employment experience and honors including
institution and location, position & title, experience and honors. Also list research
projects completed during last 3 years and selected publications and invited works
pertinent to the application.
6. Appendix
Human subjects or vertebrate animal experimental IRB approval from affiliated institution
V. Submission Format
Applicants must submit an electronic copy of the proposal in either MS Word or PDF format (application
and supporting documents should be consolidated into one file) to grants@childrenscardiomyopathy.org.
The electronic copy of the proposal should be emailed by Friday, September 6, 2013.
Six copies of the proposal should also be mailed Friday, September 6, 2013 and received no later than
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at noon (eastern standard time):
Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation
Attn: Lisa Yue, President
66 Hoover Drive
Cresskill, NJ 07626
Tel: 866-808-2873, ext 901
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Each hard copy should be clipped together and not stapled as they will need to be bound. Upon receipt
of hard copies, a binder containing all submitted grants will be assembled and distributed to CCF’s
medical advisors for review.
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