NIH Transdisciplinary Cancer Genomics Research: Post-Genome Wide Association (Post-GWA) Initiative (U19)
Please distribute this information to your faculty to determine if they have an interest in submitting a proposal to this program.
WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the NIH Transdisciplinary Cancer Genomics Research: Post-Genome Wide Association (Post-GWA) Initiative (U19)
WHO: Texas A&M University faculty. Agriculture, Engineering and TTI personnel may wish to submit internal proposals through their own agency.
WHY: Applicants may request up to $3 million dollars in total costs per year for a maximum of four years.
WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of February 16, 2009.
HOW: TAMU faculty should submit internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.
THE FINE PRINT:
The funding agency, NIH, has limited the number of proposals to one per institution.
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The NIH Transdisciplinary Cancer Genomics Research: Post-Genome Wide Association (Post-GWA) Initiative (U19) has two specific goals: to pursue promising scientific leads from initial GWAS studies of cancer; and to accelerate and coordinate integrative post-GWAS discovery research, which could provide the basis for expediting clinical translation and public health dissemination of the findings. Each application should consist of two to three component sub-projects closely pertinent to a single unifying research theme. At least one of these sub-projects must address the replication or expansion of prior GWAS findings and at least one sub-project must center on epidemiologic aspects. In addition, biological and/or mechanistic studies complementing and connecting the require sub-projects are strongly encouraged as a third sub-project. These goals should require collaboration of multi-center teams comprising both epidemiologists and basic scientists.
Required research components include discovery expansion and replication, as well as epidemiologic studies. Discovery expansion and replication can involve: finding of new associations through pooled or meta-analyses; independent replication studies to confirm genotype-phenotype associations; and fine mapping of association signals. Epidemiologic studies can involve: evaluation of gene-gene and gene-environment interactions; assessment of penetrance and population attributable risk; development of complex risk models; and evaluation of clinical/analytic validity of risk models in observational studies. Applications may be enhanced by including biological studies, which may involve: identification of risk-enhancing genetic variants; examination of functional consequence of a genetic variant; and determination of biological mechanisms of risk enhancement.
The following types of analytical methods and approaches are expected to be used: pooled analyses; replication studies; fine-mapping studies; functional studies; gene-gene interactions and pathway analyses; and epidemiologic studies to be incorporated into risk models. Further, awardees will be required to form a Steering Committee and participate in two meetings of the Post-GWA Initiative per year.
Applicants may request up to $3 million dollars in total cost per year for a maximum of four year.
More information can be found here.
Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines
February 13, 2009: Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project. Send email of intent.
February 16, 2009: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Research Policy and Development Support Office for review by the internal selection committee. The internal proposal should include:
(1) An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NIH program announcement;
(2) Summary budget;
(3) Project and Management Plans (including team members);
The form for completing the internal proposal is here.
This completed form should be submitted electronically for review by the internal selection committee.
*Once your internal proposal has been received with all of the necessary signatures, you will receive an email indicating it will be reviewed by the internal selection committee. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please call 5-1812.*
Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program here.
Selection of a proposal will be based on NIH guidelines. The needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.
During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments. They may also request additional information from PIs.
February 27, 2009: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.
April 29, 2009: Deadline for optional, but recommended, letter of intent to NIH.
May 29, 2009: Deadline for full proposal.
