OK-INBRE Mini Grant 

2023-24 APPLICATION PACKAGE

DEADLINE MARCH 1, 2023 AT 5:00 P.M.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

The primary objective of the Oklahoma IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (OK-INBRE) Mini Grant program is to foster research programs at the OK-INBRE primarily undergraduate institutions so that faculty researchers may gain valuable experience in designing, conducting, and reporting biomedical research, thus enhancing their ability to compete for extramural funding beyond the local level.

The proposed research project must align with one of the biomedical research themes of the OK-INBRE program (Cancer, Developmental Biology, or Infectious Diseases).

APPLICATION PACKAGE AND SUBMISSION

The application deadline is 5:00 pm on March 1, 2023. Please reference the Application Instructions and Forms for details on application components.

Faculty may submit more than one application, provided each application is scientifically distinct. While faculty may simultaneously apply for OK-INBRE Collaborative grants, Mini-Grants, and Research Project Investigator Awards, only one award may be accepted.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR ELIGIBILITY

Principal Investigators must hold a full-time faculty appointment at one of the eligible institutions listed below.  OK-INBRE can support non-tenure track or consecutive-term faculty with a justification/letter of support from the Departmental Chair.  The letter must indicate that the institution has provided resources (e.g., startup funding, independent lab space, protected time for research) for the faculty member to successfully carry out the OK-INBRE project, and that the institution is committed to support the faculty member in their position for the foreseeable future so that the faculty member may continue to develop their research program and apply for external grant funding.

ELIGIBLE INVESTIGATOR INSTITUTIONS

University of Central Oklahoma                 
East Central University                               
Northeastern State University                     
Northwestern Oklahoma State University  
Southeastern State University                     
Southwestern Oklahoma State University  
Cameron University                                    
Langston University                                   
Rogers State University                              
Oklahoma Panhandle State University       
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma

BUDGET AND PROJECT PERIOD

The earliest potential start date for the project is May 1, 2023. The project end date is April 30, 2024.

The maximum allowable direct cost for Mini Grants is $25,000 for the project period.

The following institutions will be required to waive F&A: East Central University, Rogers State University, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Awards at these institutions will be funded by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. 

APPLICATION REVIEW

Each application will be assigned to two expert biomedical research scientists with expertise aligned with applicant research topics to evaluate the scientific merits of the proposal. A panel of biomedical research scientists will also discuss and provide scientific input on each proposal. The application will be ranked according to its scientific merit using the NIH scale of 10 to 90 with 10 being the theoretical perfect score.

Upon completion of the peer review process, each applicant will be provided with the faculty peer review committee critiques. The scientific merit review will be based on the following criteria:

• Feasibility and scientific merit
• Soundness of the approach and research design
• Quality and appropriateness of data analyses
• Qualifications and experience of the investigator
• The role played by undergraduate/graduate students/postdocs/fellows in the proposed research. You may describe prior student involvement in your lab if appropriate.
• Potential of the research to leverage into a national, state, or foundation application
• Previous publication and grant submission productivity of the applicant

TERMS OF AWARD

All selected projects must be submitted to NIH for approval before funds can be dispersed and the project can begin.

For selected projects involving human subjects or vertebrate animals, all Institutional Review Board (IRB), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approvals must be secured before the project can be submitted to NIH for approval and work on the project can commence.Such approvals do not have to be in place at the time of application.

Radiation Safety Committee and Institutional Biosafety Committee protocols must also be approved by relevant review committees prior to funding of awards.

The Investigator will be required to present their project and progress to the OK-INBRE External Advisory Committee when requested.

The Investigator will be required to submit a written project progress report in early spring, near the end of the project period, which will be submitted to NIH. Instructions will be provided by OK-INBRE, typically in January of the award year. The report shall include a summary of research results, significant discoveries, outcomes, and progress in layman’s terms; grant applications and awards; manuscripts published, submitted, or in preparation; presentations at professional meetings; and any technology development and patents derived from the project.  SUBMISSION OF THE PROGRESS REPORT IS REQUIRED TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ANY FUTURE OK-INBRE FUNDING.

Refer programmatic questions to OK-INBRE Program Manager Dawn Hammon at dawn-hammon@ouhsc.edu or 405.271.2133 x46613 or the OK-INBRE Program Director, Dr. Darrin Akins, at darrin-akins@ouhsc.edu.

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