RCMI Translational Research Network-MSM-JHS Vanguard Center Pilot Project Program


Background

The Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Center of Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) program received an ARRA Supplement Pilot Project Program Grant that seeks to create greater collaborative synergy within the RCMI community with a specific focus on cardiovascular science and cardiovascular health disparities research. The MSM CCRE supplement grant leverages an existing collaborative relationship between the MSM Cardiovascular Research Institute and the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) as well as the recent emergence of the RTRN-JHS ‘Vanguard Center’ partnership. The intention of the program is to create collaborative team-building opportunities in which the RTRN community collectively adds valuable expertise and resources to the JHS and vice-versa.

Specifically, this RTRN-MSM-JHS Vanguard Center Pilot Project Program provides a unique opportunity for investigators [particularly junior faculty and trainees] in the RCMI research community to introduce novel variables into the JHS and collaborate with MSM and JHS investigators in ancillary studies related to the novel analyte or biomarker being assayed with the funds provided by this program. This program will enable the MSM CCRE and RTRN community to contribute to the advancement of minority health research as well as the ongoing enhancement of the rich JHS dataset by expanding its panel of biomarkers.


Funding Opportunity: Objective
The RTRN-MSM-JHS Vanguard Center Pilot Project Program will support innovative translational, clinical and population science research ideas that leverage the unique nature of the JHS dataset as well as the expertise and research direction of the JHS. The long-term objectives of this program include:

  • Facilitate collaborative team-building in the Cardiovascular Cluster within the RTRN research community

  • Promote increased research productivity of RTRN faculty and JHS investigators by promoting innovative research data generation and the application of state-of-the-art analytical technologies to the biospecimen collection of the JHS.

  • Leverage both extramural and intramural funding resources to generate novel datasets that will expand future extramural grant funding opportunities in the RTRN-JHS Vanguard Center.

    Funding Opportunity: Scope
    There are many research opportunities that could be responsive to this RFP. A major focus of this RFA is to expand the panel of analytes and biomarkers that may be associated with the various cardiovascular phenotypes in the JHS dataset. The following is an example of a potential scenario that is intended to be illustrative, but not all-inclusive:

    · An investigator defines a novel chemokine generated in the fat tissue in an animal model of obesity-induced hypertension. The ELISA to measure this chemokine is well established and can be performed by the JHS Analytical Core Facility. This award can be used by the investigator to cover the expense of performing over 5000 analyses of JHS biospecimens and test her hypothesis that the plasma level of this novel chemokine is directly associated with obesity and hypertension in African-Americans in the JHS cohort.

    Funding Award.
    The MSM-RTRN-JHS Vanguard Center Pilot Project Program intends to fund awards ranging between $20,000 to $70,000 for the 2010/2011grantfiscal year. The research award funds are provided directly to the Core Facility that performs the analysis of the biomarker. In addition, the RTRN-JHS partnership will provide support for biostatistics consultation and analysis of the biomarker data with the JHS dataset.

    Eligibility

  • Faculty

    • o The source of the funding from the MSM CCRE Supplement award necessitates that all funded projects include a MSM investigator as a member of the collaborative investigator team.

    o Similarly, all projects funded by this mechanism must also include JHS investigators in accordance with the JHS Ancillary Study policies.

    o All members of the full-time faculty of RCMI institutions engaged in research are eligible to apply for the RTRN-MSM-JHS Vanguard Center Pilot Project Program by establishing a collaborative team composed of both MSM-based and JHS-based investigators.

  • Research Trainees

    o The RTRN-MSM-JHS Vanguard Center Pilot Project Program will accept applications from post-doctoral fellows and students (enrolled in the PhD, MS, MPH, MD and MSCR programs). Student/trainee applications must include a letter of support from the appropriate advisor/mentor.

    Application Process and Grant Administration

  • Proposal. Investigators must prepare a 2 page proposal describing the research question/hypothesis to be investigated, the overall research plan and the specific rationale for the proposed analysis within the Jackson Heart Study Cohort. A NIH-style grant proposal that aligns with the JHS ancillary study format (abstract, specific aims, background/significance, research plan, description of JHS samples/variables needed, statistical analysis plan) is suggested.

  • Budget and Budget Justification. Investigators must provide a budget and budget justification  that accurately reflects the estimated costs projected by the Core Facility that aligns with the proposed research plan outcome measures (e.g. costs/sample analysis).

  • Research Productivity Plan. The proposal must address how the investigator will leverage the data generated to enhance the PI's research productivity and career development (e.g. manuscript or grant proposal development); as well as fulfill the long-term objectives of the RTRN and JHS related to health disparities research.

    • Review Criteria
    The intention of the RTRN-MSM-JHS Vanguard Center Pilot Project Program is to promote research excellence by supporting project ideas that will stimulate innovation, enhance research productivity of RTRN faculty and further optimize the use of the JHS dataset in health disparities research.  

  • Review Committee. The RTRN review committee composition will include representatives from the MSM CCRE program, the JHS, the DTCC and a member of the RTRN community unaffiliated with either MSM or JHS.

  • Review Process. The process will follow a NIH-style study section approach using standard merit review criteria including: innovation, significance, feasibility of the approach, the expertise and track record of the investigator team, the alignment with JHS research priorities and the Core Facility capability. The committee will also give an overall consideration of the potential impact of the award on the research productivity and capacity-building efforts of the JHS and RTRN. All projects must undergo a two-stage approval process that includes an initial evaluation by the RTRN review team; followed by the standard JHS ancillary study review process (please see JHS website for detailed description). Only projects that achieve JHS ancillary study final approval will receive funding.

    Deadlines and Timetable

    • October 1, 2010   - Grant Proposal submissions are due by 5 pm EST.

    Contact Information
    Please email letters of intent and grant proposals to:

    Charlye D. Majett
    Program Manager, Cardiovascular Research Institute
    Telephone: 404-752-1080
    Fax: 404/752-1732
    Email: cmajett@msm.edu


    For inquiries related to the research elements of the program, please send email to:

    Gary H. Gibbons MD
    Director, Cardiovascular Research Institute
    Director, RCENTER Pilot Project & Career Development Program
    Chairman, Department of Physiology
    Email: ggibbons@msm.edu

    		•