Pilot Project Funding: “Near-Miss” Initiative

• Full & Associate level cancer center members ONLY:
• Submitted an NIH R01, U01, R42, R44, P01 or SPORE.
• R01 application that scored equal to or below a 30% and are re-submitting the proposal to NCI /NIH (i.e. A1s only)
• For an R42 or R44 Phase II Grant (STTR/SBIR) submitted to the NCI/NIH, a score equal to or below 40.
• For P01, SPORE, other R01 institutes applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The abstract and specific aim page must describe cancer relevance of the project.
• Submit request for cancer center funding only one time per grant.

NOTE: Non-NCI applications should have significant cancer relevance.

All applications for the “Near-Miss” Initiative must include:

Notice of Intent Materials:

• A cover letter describing the rationale for the request and anticipated date of external grant resubmission.
  • For non-NCI applications, cancer relevance should be addressed in the cover letter.

• A letter from the department chair of the PI attesting to repay the cancer center the amount of pilot funding awarded through this mechanism, should the PI receive pilot funding and is awarded external funding of their resubmission (A1 grant).

Full Application Materials:

• A one-page proposal for use of the pilot funding to include clear plans for how the pilot funding will be used to address reviewer critiques.
• A timeline and/or map (via ITRAC mechanism) for accomplishing the proposed work and identified benchmarks necessary for high likelihood for achieving a fundable score upon new submission (to be completed with Crystal or Kaitlin).
• A proposed budget and justification for the funding. Maximum allowable amount for R01, R42 and R44 grants is $50K with P01 and SPORE funding amounts evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
• Specific Aims page of the originally submitted external grant application.
• The external reviewer critiques of the application with score and percentile.
• The proposed responses to those critiques and plans on how the application will be improved for resubmission.
• If feedback is provided from your submission to the IU External Resubmission Grant mechanism, please include a copy of this feedback at the end of your application package.

The complete application in PDF format should be sent to Kaitlin Evans at kcondron@iu.edu or Crystal Baker at crybanks@iu.edu.

• Review of application and funding will be performed by a committee composed of the cancer center's program leaders and a final review for determination of funding will be performed by the cancer center's Executive Committee.
• Applications must be to the NIH. No exceptions.
• Submission can be at any time.
• The review committee will consider the overall probability of future funding for the project as reflected in the priority score, reviewer critiques, response of the PI to those critiques, and how the application will be modified for resubmission.
• Additionally, evaluation will include demonstrated ongoing efforts of the PI in obtaining funding for the project (e.g., list of grant applications submitted within the past year), and the level of involvement of the PI in the cancer center. Each application will be considered on its own merit.

After an award is made, an interim progress report will be required to determine if the funds are being used as originally proposed, milestones are being achieved, and the timeline is on target.