BCM Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery
Seed Grant Application 		 
 
   Prior Awardees:
       2023
       2022
       2021
       2020
       2019
       2018
       2017
       2016
       2015
       2014
   
     
  We are pleased to request proposals for the year of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery Faculty Research Grant program. The intent of this program is to provide support to eligible faculty members for research projects with a high likelihood of future extramural funding. Each grant will provide up to $25,000 for one year; the funds must be used for the direct-cost expenditures of research conducted and may not be used for salary support for faculty, residents, or clinical fellows. Funding will begin July 1, 2024.

  • Applicants must be full-time faculty members at the instructor, assistant professor, or associate professor level in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery. Proposed projects that include participation by residents, fellows, or students will be given the strongest consideration. Applicants are strongly encouraged to work with senior faculty mentors. Team-based, clinically-integrated, collaborative projects involving both clinical faculty and non-clinical scientists within our department are highly encouraged. Similarly, applicants are encouraged to include members of the department’s Office of Surgical Research (OSR) support team in the in the planning and execution of the proposed research project; OSR services—such as subject enrollment by a core research coordinator or statistical analysis by our core research analyst—can be included in the study budget (see https://www.bcm.edu/departments/surgery/surgical-research/office-of-surgical-research for details about OSR services).

    Faculty members who wish to apply should submit a complete application via the online submission site (https://orit.research.bcm.edu/R5T80IF3WH2/SurgerySeedGrant/Default.aspx) by 6:00 PM on Monday, March 11, 2024. Applications will not be accepted after this deadline.

    This proposal may be submitted to other funding sources for support, but this must be acknowledged on the face page form of the application. Submission for support elsewhere will not affect the evaluation of this proposal; however, in the event that more than one award is offered, the investigator may be required to accept only one source of funding.

  • The submitted application must include:
  1. NIH biosketches for the applicant and each collaborating faculty member (5-page limit for each; see attached template, instructions, and example). Existing grants and other current sources of research support must be listed in Section A (Personal Statement) of the biosketch, as in the attached example.
    Sample Biosketch, Biosketch Template (MS Word Format), Biosketch Instructions
  2. A comprehensive research plan. The research plan should be no more than five single-spaced pages in overall length (with 1” margins and 11-point, Times New Roman or Arial font), and must include each of the sections listed below. Applications that are incomplete or exceed the page limitations WILL NOT BE REVIEWED.
    • Summary – Provide an overall summary of the research proposal, including the hypothesis and specific aims (1 page maximum length).
    • Significance and Rationale – Describe the need for the proposed research and how it will advance the field. Report any preliminary observations that served as the basis for the proposed work.
    • Scientific Approach – Describe the experimental plan, including details about study design, experimental methods, materials, analysis, potential problems and alternative approaches. The research plan in surgical innovation proposals must include specific, objective milestones for success.
    • Anticipated Results and Future Plans – Describe the expected results, their implications, and your plans for subsequent work and funding.
    • Study Team and Resources – List and describe the roles and expertise of the key personnel involved in the research project. Describe the resources available to complete the project, including patients, biological samples, controls, equipment, animal models, etc.
    • References
  3. Budget (1 page maximum) – List the expected expenses for which the award will be used. If appropriate, please include members of the department’s OSR support team (e.g. research coordinator or data analyst) in the budget. If applicable, describe additional funds that will be used to cover other expenses. The maximum amount of the award will be $25,000.

  • Members of the grant review committee will review and score proposals based on the following criteria:
  • Significance – Does the proposal address an important surgical problem? Will successful completion of the project lead to a significant advance in the field? Does the proposal focus on one of the department’s priority areas?
  • Scientific approach – Is the hypothesis clear and well formulated? Will the research plan adequately test the hypothesis? Are the scientific approach and plans for analysis sound? Have potential problems and alternative approaches been considered? If the proposal centers on the development of a surgical innovation, are specific, objective milestones for success defined?
  • Investigators – Does the team of investigators have sufficient expertise to successfully complete the project? Are residents, fellows or students involved in the project? Does the project involve collaboration between clinical faculty and non-clinical scientists?
  • Feasibility – Are adequate resources—including patients, biological samples, controls, equipment, expertise, animal models, etc.—available? Can the project be completed with the proposed budget and within the one-year funding period?
  • Potential for subsequent funding – How likely is it that successful completion of the project will serve as a foundation for subsequent extramural funding?

  • The awarded funds are to be expended solely for the purpose of the sponsored research project. Disbursement of funding will be contingent on documentation of completed BCM IRB or IACUC approval of the proposed research. Funds must be entirely expended before the grant end-date; no-cost extensions will not be provided. Awardees will be required to submit a formal two-page report describing the results of the research project, resulting publications, and resulting grant proposals. The report must be submited to Mamie Ilboudo within 30 days after completion of the funding period. Award recipients will also present an oral report at departmental Grand Rounds following the conclusion of the grant.


Application submission is closed.





Please contact Mamie Ilboudo (Mamie.Ilboudo@bcm.edu) if you have any questions.

Important Deadlines
Application Submission: 
Monday, March 11, 2024 6:00 PM
   
 
     
 
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