February 2020

Bi-Monthly Email Newsletter                          

• 3TS: T32 Trainee Tracking Program
• SSP: Special Strategic Projects
• RAP: Resource Allocation Program
• LSP: Limited Submission Program
• LGDP: Large Grant Development Program
• TSP: Team Science Program
• RDO Updates and Outreach Activities

3TS: T32 Trainee Tracking Program

T32 NIH Updates from the T32 Trainee Tracking (3TS) Program

• October 2019 marked the beginning of the NIH requirement for utilizing the xTRACT tool for T32 Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) submissions. Due to the lengthy process of historical data the process is proving to be lengthy. The 3TS program continues to offer support to assist programs with transferring their RPPR data into the NIH xTRACT module, but encourages all programs interested in training and assistance to contact Halima Mohammed Todd three months before the RPPR is due for submission. For additional information on RPPR due dates please log into eRA Commons or your Research Management Services (RMS) contact.
• New feature to NIGMS T32 Funding Opportunity Announcement is that all submissions are considered new (Type 1) applications, and there will be no renewal (Type 2) applications received under the new FOA. Since site visits have been part of the review process only for renewal applications, no site visits for peer review will be conducted under the new FOA. Site visits will take place as planned for renewal applications submitted under the parent T32 FOA. Contact your RMS contact for additional questions.
• Due Dates for Competing T32 Renewal Applications:
  • May 25, 2020
  • September 25, 2020

Applicants should check with the relevant Institute or Center (IC), since some do not accept T series applications for all three receipt/review/award cycles.

• For an online library of successful training grant proposals and resources, please visit the Training Grants RDO Guides page.

The 3TS program will continue to post information regarding NIH training grant notifications on the T32 Administrators Group Chatter page on the Chatter page. To join the group send an email request to Halima Mohammed Todd or contact Halima through the link on the T32 Administrators Group Chatter page.

We are here to support and guide you through your T32 grants submissions process. Contact Halima Mohammed Todd if you have questions.

SSP: Special Strategic Projects

Tri-Institutional Partnership in Microbiome Research (TrI-P Microbiome)

UC San Francisco (UCSF), UC Davis (UC Davis) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), have formed a Tri-Institutional Partnership in Microbiome Research to catalyze and fund bold, synergistic, and potentially transformative collaborative research, addressing the major gaps in microbiome knowledge and technology identified by the OSTI Microbiome Interagency Working Group’s FY2018-2022 Strategic Plan for Microbiome Research. The partners convened a well-attended, energetic all-day workshop on Feb. 5, 2020 at the new Integrative Genomics Building at LBNL to foster cross-institutional interaction. We were excited to have UCSF’s Chancellor Sam Hawgood and LBNL’s Director Mike Witherell join us.

TrI-P Microbiome Seed Grant Initiative

The Partnership has now followed up the networking event with a substantive seed grant opportunity supported by all three institutions to the tune of a collective cool $1,000,000. The LOIs for these grants are due Feb. 28, 2020, with a submission deadline of April 3, 2020. Project awards are limited to $200,000 per project, not to exceed $80,000 per institution per proposal, and will be made available for an 18-month project period. By bringing together data scientists and biological researchers to generate novel hypotheses and co-design experiments, the TrI-P Microbiome initiative will generate impactful and novel research with concomitant structured data that will enable additional discoveries and insights through advanced computational approaches and high-performance computing resources, being mindful to position the institutions favorably for follow-on extramural funding. A unique aspect of the TrI-P Microbiome Initiative is its data-driven focus and data structural framework brought through the participation of LBNL’s DOE-funded National Microbiome Data Collaborative (NMDC). The NMDC was founded to support the long-term advancement of microbiome science by building an open and integrated data system.

If you would like to be involved in this exciting cross-institutional collaboration contact [email protected] or check out the RFA on the RDO website.

RAP: Resource Allocation Program

RAP launched the SPRING 2020 cycle on January 29 and is now accepting applications from the UCSF research community. All electronic applications are due by Monday, March 2^nd, 2020 at 2:00 pm (PT).

New look

We are pleased to introduce a recently redesigned program website and encourage you to visit the updated site for important information about the grant application process and to gain valuable tips before the e-submission deadline.

Key RAP Web Resources (tabs) to explore and review before applying for a grant are:

• Homepage exhibits grant deadlines, “3 Steps to Apply” and features article link to the Spring 2020 Launch
• Eligibility & Compare Grants assists applicants in identifying the most opportune grant based on applicant’s eligibility.
• Eligibility requirements need to be met as of date of submission, no waivers allowed.
• Submission Rules list all rules that govern the submission process.
• Resources offers Statistics, Past Awardees, Success Stories, and more.

Faculty in need of financial support at a critical time in their career are encouraged to apply to RAP. The Program continues to offer the Independence Support Award, a grant mechanism designed to assist faculty who submitted an R01 grant that was not funded and may offer a way to maintain a baseline level of research activity during a funding gap. Similarly, the Hardship Awards is a mechanism designed to assist faculty investigators who are experiencing a temporary interruption in extramural funding and can document hardship. Finally, for those who have pursued non-classical pathways and wishing to resume their research careers, the Re-entry grant may be an option to consider.

Achieving success in obtaining funding support requires that applicants plan well in advance of the submission deadline. RAP’s dynamic platform continues to leverage campus initiatives and combines supporting the needs of the funders with those of the applicants. RAP is fully committed to supporting faculty innovation and “Seeding Outstanding Research”.

LSP: Limited Submission Program
Current LSOs of note:

Upcoming LSOs:

Please see below for some limited submission opportunities (LSOs) we expect to announce over the next few months. Mark your calendars accordingly!

** Please note: These LSOs are typically offered the same time each year. Both the availability and eligibility requirements noted are approximate and subject to change. **
Important Links: More information about the LSP & Current LSO listings: rdo.ucsf.edu/LSP.

LGDP: Large Grant Development Program

Dr. Kristin Dolan, the previous LGDP Manager, has left the RDO and we are currently recruiting to fill this role. The program will be on a significantly restricted availability until a replacement is found. Nevertheless, if you have need in this arena, please contact [email protected].

TSP: Team Science Program

The TSP develops and facilitates intra- and inter-campus networking events, enabling participating researchers to meet investigators outside their usual circle of collaborators and to brainstorm new research ideas or expand the aims of their current work.

Upcoming Events

The on-going faculty mixer, In the Mix, between San Francisco State University (SFSU) and UCSF faculty is slated for March 19^th. This particular event in another in our series on Health Equity, focused this time on Health Economic Equity. It will be held from 5:00 – 7:00pm in the Parnassus library Lange Room on March 19^th.

If you manage a UCSF group with a mission that includes team building activities or you would like to add such activities to a new grant or renewal, get in touch with Gretchen Kiser.

RDO Updates and Outreach Activities

Keep on the lookout for Funding Fridays!

Moving forward, funding opportunities from all over campus will be coming into your email inbox on Fridays! In an effort to improve the communication of funding opportunities, UCSF campus offices will be disseminating funding opportunities via email on a single day of the week (when not constrained by short deadlines, of course).

Would you like to inform your faculty of the menu of services and resources available through the RDO?
We are looking for opportunities to speak to groups of faculty to inform them of the programs and resources available through the RDO. Please contact us at [email protected] if you think you could open a time slot for us to speak at your next faculty meeting.

RDO Events Calendar
We’ve just started listing our various events on the UCSF Calendar. Check it out!

Research Development Internship Opportunity
Are you a graduate student or post-doc looking to explore a different career path for PhDs? Contact Gretchen Kiser [email protected] in the RDO for information about an internship in research development.

National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP)
Do you facilitate research team interactions? Or do you help prepare large grant proposals? Do you manage programs that benefit a large cadre of research faculty? Or are you a researcher who now focuses on research administrative functions? If so, then you are likely doing work associated with the emerging field of research development. If these descriptions strike a chord with you, the UCSF RDO encourages you to check out National Organization of Research Development Professionals (NORDP).

UCSF RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT OFFICE
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