COBRE pilot grant program calls for proposals In anticipation of receiving its continuing renewal, the Center for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) at UND on “Pathophysiological Signaling in Neurodegenerative Diseases” is calling for proposals for its Pilot Research Project Awards. The focus of this program is to increase the scope of research conducted at UND related directly to the theme of the COBRE grant and to increase the competitiveness of pilot grant awardees for funding from national (extramural) organizations. The call for applications is effective starting Friday, May 4, and the deadline for submission of complete applications is Monday, June 4, at 4:30 p.m. Funding for approved projects, depending on availability of funds from NCRR, is anticipated to begin Monday July 2. Projects will be reviewed both for scientific merit and compatibility with the scientific focus of this COBRE grant. We anticipate having $200,000 for this program and the maximum funding per proposal will be $40,000; all funds must be spent by the end of the budget year as dictated by the NCRR (under normal circumstances June 30, 2008). The COBRE grant on the “Pathophysiological Signaling of Neurodegenerative Diseases” is looking to sustain progress made to date and increase the scope of its research activities by supporting neuroscience research at UND. Using molecular/genetic, pharmacological, electrophysiological, biochemical and systems biology approaches, we are working to elucidate causes of and identify potential treatments for such devastating neurological disorders as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, HIV-1 dementia and epilepsy. Applicants (principal investigators) must have full-time faculty appointments in the basic scientist scholar track at the School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Pilot grants may be awarded to faculty members of any rank in the basic scientist scholar track not supported by the COBRE-II grant as project directors. Faculty members who are funded as project directors on the COBRE-II grant are not eligible to submit applications as a principal investigator for a pilot grant. Research funding will support projects from July 2, 2007, through June 30, 2008. The proposed project must be completed within this time frame. You can not receive funds from the COBRE grant and another source (internal or external) simultaneously for the same project. If the same project receives funding from the COBRE grant and another source you must notify immediately the COBRE principal investigator, Jonathan Geiger, and inform him which source of money you plan to accept/keep. Proposals will be reviewed by the external advisory board for this COBRE grant, as well as by a committee chaired by the COBRE principal investigator. Proposals must be scientifically sound and have the potential to be developed, through the generation of preliminary data, into a full project supported either by the COBRE grant, or by extramural granting agencies. Highest priority will be given to: * Research projects that are relevant to the COBREs thematic interests. * Principal investigators with at least 70 percent effort designated for research. * Projects that make effective use of COBRE imaging and/or mass spectrometry core facilities. * Applications with high likelihood of being supported as a full project on the COBRE, or by an extramural granting agency. Proposals must include: * A five-page (excluding references) single-spaced description of an hypothesis-driven proposal that includes a description of specific aims, background and significance, progress to date, and research design and methods. * A brief statement in a cover letter of how the research is relevant to the COBRE’s thematic interests, and as appropriate the projected use of COBRE-subsidized research cores. * An NIH-style biographical sketch. * A fully-justified budget limited to no more than $40,000. No indirect costs will be paid. Funds may be requested for supplies, personnel salaries, animal costs, and minor pieces of equipment. No funds may be requested for faculty salaries. Funds for off-campus collaborations or services must be approved by the COBRE principal investigator Dr. J. Geiger. * A statement as to whether the project requires human and/or animal subject approval; approval is required before money will be released. * A list of consultants/collaborators, and their NIH style biographical sketches. * A list of current and pending grant support (if projects are similar to the pilot grant proposal submitted, please attach summary pages from the grants and a statement about overlap) Approvals must be obtained on the submission form of the UNDSMHS and must include the following signatures; principal investigator, department chair, the Office of Research and Program Development, Institutional Animal Care Committee (as required), Institutional Review Board (as required), and Dean H. David Wilson, or his designate. Awardees will be required to participate actively in the COBRE-supported seminar program and the annual neuroscience symposium, cite at meetings and in ensuing publications the COBRE grant and NCRR as a source of support, and submit written reports as requested by the principal investigator. Please submit the original and an electronic copy of the application by 4:30 p.m. June 4, 2007 to: Ms. Julie Horn, administrative officer, Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Therapeutics, Stop 9037.