California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)
RFA 08-02: CIRM Tools and Technologies Awards
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Sponsor's Website
Internal deadline: Tuesday, May 27, 2008
(see internal submission guidelines below)
# of applicants permitted: 4 (internal selection required--see internal submission requirement below)
Amount of funding:
Direct project costs of up to $300,000 per year for 2 years
(CIRM plans to select up to 20 two-year grants)
Eligibility:
Stanford faculty with PI eligibility
Candidates must have received an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree.
The PI is required to commit a minimum of 10 percent effort to the proposed research
A PI may only submit one proposal in response to this RFA.
(Important-please see selection criteria section below)
Research proposals utilizing pluripotent stem cells, adult stem cells or progenitor cells will be considered. Particular consideration will be given to those proposals that are ineligible or unlikely to receive federal funding.
CLARIFICATION FROM CIRM: "[The] RFA is not limited to human stem cell work. However, reviewers will review the applications in context of the objective of the RFA to move stem cell research towards its clinical applications."
Note: Projects proposing commercial scale-up technology development and clinical testing are not appropriate for this RFA.
Purpose:
The CIRM Tools and Technologies Awards will support the development and evaluation of innovative tools and technologies that will overcome current road blocks in basic, translational and/or clinical stem cell research.
Specifically, this RFA will support two types of technology development for stem cell research:
1) the discovery and evaluation of novel tools and technologies for stem cell research
2) the further optimization, scale-up or application of an existing tool or technology for stem cell research for which proof of concept has been achieved.
Possible research goals include, but are not limited to:
Discovery of novel biomarkers (including monoclonal antibodies) for identification, selection, purification, tracking and functional analyses of stem cells and other derivatives
Development of new sensitive assays for pluripotency, genetic integrity and/or for tumorgenicity of stem cells
Development and utilization of efficient homologous recombination techniques for gene targeting in human stem cells
Development of safer and more effective viral and non-viral vectors for gene transduction in human stem cells
Development and analysis of human embryonic stem cell lines with reporter genes inserted into key loci
Development and validation of stem cell scale-up technologies
Development and optimization of new cell separation and purification technologies to effectively remove undifferentiated cells from differentiated progeny
Development and optimization of new cryopreservation technologies
Development of sensitive imaging and molecular techniques for tracking delivered cells in animal models
Development of cell delivery devices and procedures
For all Tools and Technologies proposals, applicants are expected to substantiate the predicted value and role of the tool and technology in overcoming a specific road block in basic, translational or clinical stem cell research.
Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated in three areas: (A) Impact (B) Design and Feasibility of the Research Plan and (C) Qualifications of the PI and Research Team.
A. Impact
The proposed tools and/or technologies contribute to overcoming a significant road block in stem cell biology.
The proposed tools and/or technologies research will significantly impact
existing concepts or methods and drive the stem cell field forward, either
scientifically or towards clinical application.
B. Design and Feasibility of the Research Plan
The rationale for the development and testing of a novel tool and/or technology is convincing.
The proposed research is carefully designed to give meaningful results.
Potential difficulties are acknowledged, and alternative plans are provided should the proposed strategies fail.
The aims of the research can be reasonably achieved within the proposed timeframe.
The milestones stated are well described, scientifically justified and provide a quantitative assessment of research outcome(s).
The scope of the proposed work justifies the timeline and the proposed project budget.
For those applications addressing further development of an existing tool or technology, the preliminary data are compelling and supportive of the proposed concepts, hypotheses and approaches.
C. Qualifications of the Principal investigator and Research Team
The PI and key personnel have the training and experience to conduct the proposed work.
Evidence of prior success and track record supports the qualification of the PI to develop tools and/or technologies as proposed.
The PI is committing the percent effort to the proposed research to maximize achievement of the aims and milestones.
Internal submission guidelines
By Tuesday, May 27, 2008 by 4pm , please submit one original and 6 copies (staple each set of copies) of the following to:
Jeanne Heschele, Research Management Group. Jeanne will be at RMG's former location at 1215 Welch Road, Modular B, Room 20 to accept proposals between 2pm and 4pm on Tuesday, May 27th. Please send an email notifying Jeanne at jheschele@stanford.edu regarding your plans to submit a proposal. She can also be reached on her cell phone at 650-245-2351.
1) Title page (which should include):
RFA 08-02: CIRM Tools and Technologies Awards
Title of proposed research:
Indicate #1 or #2:
#1: Creation and design of novel tools and technologies
#2: optimization, scale up or application of an existing tool or technology for which there is proof of concept.
PI's and Co-PIs, name, title, department, contact information (address, email, phone, fax #)
2) 3-4 page research proposal (references and illustrations not included in the page total)
This proposal should include the following: Rationale and significance, specific aims, research design methods and evidence of feasibility (via preliminary data). Explain how, if the aims are achieved, how the tool or technology will make a critical contribution to the stem cell field by overcoming a specific road block in basic, translational or clinical stem cell research.
3) 4 page NIH Biosketch for each PI and co-PI (s) (Each biosketch should include other support --current and pending, sponsor, amount of funding, and term)
Selection process:
Your proposals will be distributed to an internal review committee to be finalized by Dr. Irv Weissman. That committee will select the four applicants to represent the university. The Research Management Group will submit the Nomination Form and the four applicants will submit their Letters of Intent to CIRM by June 11, 2008. The complete applications are due at the sponsor by July 10, 2008.
