Vanderbilt University

Application Instructions

An abbreviated NIH format and PHS 398 forms are used for the application. The following form pages must be completed and included with the application:

  • Face Page (form pg. 1)
  • Description and Personnel (form pg. 2)
  • Budget and Justification (form pgs. 4 & 5)
  • Biographical Sketch form page
  • Complete Active and Pending Other Support (example format may be found on the NIH web site for downloading PHS 398 forms and instructions)

The form pages can be obtained from the NIH web site

The research plan (Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies, and Research Design and Methods) should not exceed a total of 5 pages including all figures and schemes (references should also be included but do not count toward the page limit). The applicant's departmental chairman must sign the face page. The application does NOT require Vanderbilt Grants Management approval.

Please submit your application electronically to the Center Manager, Ms. Kakie Mashburn, and mail ONLY THE SIGNED ORIGINAL (Biochemistry Dept., 638 RRB, campus zip 0146), on or before the application deadline.

Budget
Pilot project funds are budgeted each year (April-March fiscal year). Announcements of awards are made on or before 1 April, and the fiscal year for these projects coincides with that of the Core Center grant. Applications may request budgets up to $40,000; however, the exact funding level will depend upon the number of awards made and the amount of available funds. Occasionally, a second year of funding may be awarded.  Pilot project recipients interested in a second year of funding must re-apply, and under no conditions will a third year of support for a project be allowed. Because of the restricted budget, faculty salaries are not allowed, nor are meeting expenses, tuition or stipend for graduate students, consultant costs, patient costs, travel, office equipment and expenses, general computer software or hardware, renovation, large equipment, third party contractual payments, and others deemed inappropriate by the Steering Committee. Equipment is discouraged except for items absolutely necessary to carry out essential projects (i.e., no general equipment). Allowable expenses include salaries of scientific personnel, laboratory supplies, small equipment maintenance, publications, and certain analytical costs.

Review of the Proposal
Proposals are distributed for review both at Vanderbilt and externally, depending on the research area (intra-department conflicts are avoided). Applicants are encouraged to suggest potential reviewers who are regarded as experts in the field. Scoring uses the new NIH scale (1-9). The Steering Committee evaluates the reviews, considering the applicant, the mean scores, the reviewer comments, and any area of focus within the Core Center. Applicants will receive reviewer comments, and funding decisions will be announced on or before the project period start date (1 April). Progress reports on awarded projects are due at the end of the grant period.