Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
Q: Can a non-citizen/non-permanent resident lead a Pilot project?
A: A non-citizen/non-permanent resident is eligible to lead a Pilot project if s/he is faculty, has a project relevant to the CTR and his/her own institution allows him/her to apply for NIH grants.
Q: Is an individual eligible to apply for the Pilot Program if s/he was the recipient of a COBRE grant?
A: The Project lead for Pilot projects may not concurrently have research funding from other IDeA Program award mechanisms (e.g. INBRE, COBRE). Pilot projects may not overlap with ongoing funded projects.
Q: Can a PI submit more than one Pilot grant?
A: A PI can only submit one Pilot grant application. However, the individual can also be a collaborator on someone else’s research. In addition, an individual can submit an application for both the Pilot and Scholar Programs.
Q: Could you please verify that research faculty are eligible to apply?
A: Leaders of pilot projects must hold a faculty appointment or equivalent at the time the pilot award commences. For the purposes of this FOA, these are individuals who can independently apply for Federal or non-Federal investigator-initiated peer-reviewed Research Project Grants (RPG).Individuals holding postdoctoral fellowships or other positions that lack independent status are not eligible to lead pilot projects.
Q: What qualifies as Clinical and Translational Research?
A: Clinical and Translational research is research that impacts human health. It is incumbent on the applicant to demonstrate how his/her research project affects human health. Below are some helpful definitions and a schematic of the different phases of translational research.
Q: Is an individual eligible if they have already received a previous GP IDeA-CTR award?
A: Yes. As long as the project being submitted does not have any overlap with the one previously funded.
Application Process
Q: Can projects involve collaborators from non-IDeA-CTR sites?
A: Yes. There are no restrictions per se in where collaborators are from. Collaborators and co-mentors from different sites are encouraged.
Q: The NIH face page form asks for an institutional signature when it is used for official NIH submissions. Is the institutional signature a requirement for the Pilot Program submissions?
A: This signature is not required at the time of application submission. Individuals who are awarded funding will be asked to complete this step after the applicant selection process.
Budget
Q: Are stipends allowed in Pilot Program budgets for graduate students and post-doctorate fellows?
A: Although stipends for graduate students and post-doctoral trainees are NOT allowed, wages and salary support for students and post-docs ARE allowed.
Q: How should I calculate fringe benefit rates?
A: Fringe benefits should be calculated by using your institutional rates at the time of application.
Q: Will institutions of Pilot awardees receive indirect payments?
A: All monies coming from the NIH for the Pilot Program will have indirect costs payable to the participating institution. Salaries will pay the locally accepted fringe benefit rate at the participating institution.
Q: The Pilot RFA states that equipment purchase is not allowed. Are items such as wristband monitors that monitor physiological stress, sleep and physical activity considered equipment?
A: The definition for equipment, as stated in 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92, is an article of tangible nonexpendable personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per unit. (45 CFR Part 74.2 and 74.34 and NIHGPS) (Frequently Asked Questions Equipment under NIH Grants, retrieved 12/20/2016 from NIH)
Community Engagement
Q: Who will review the Community Impact Narrative?
A: A brief project summary is a required part of the application process. This is reviewed by members of the Great Plains IDeA-CTR Community Advisory Board who will provide feedback from a community perspective and ask questions related to the proposed project’s impact on population health. It is important for applicants to explain the potential impact of the study, including future directions, concisely and in plain language. The feedback from this process is sent to applicants and reviewers.
Q: What is the purpose of the Engagement and Dissemination Plan for awardees?
A: One of the requirements of awardees is to meet with members of the Community Engagement and Outreach core two times during the project. The purpose of these meetings will be to formulate a plan to effectively engage the community which is relevant to your research, and develop a dissemination strategy. This plan is meant to help investigators better understand and communicate with relevant stakeholder groups. It is also intended to allow stakeholders to provide input on project relevance and improve the connection between clinical and translational science activities and the community at large.