OHSU’s Methamphetamine Abuse Research Center (MARC) seeks applications for pilot project research grants. These grants of up to $25,000 are designed to bring new research directions, approaches, and investigators into the center. Projects are also intended to generate preliminary data for future R-type grant applications. All OHSU and VA faculty interested in methamphetamine research are encouraged to submit proposals. Postdoctoral trainees are not eligible for this award.
The MARC will evaluate proposals on their scientific merit, innovation, and on their alignment with the MARC’s research themes, which include:
- Neuroadaptation to methamphetamine;
- Neurocircuitry of methamphetamine response;
- Impulsivity as a predictor of methamphetamine abuse or as a characteristic that may be altered by methamphetamine;
- Neuroimmune response (drug-induced or endogenous differences in neuroimmune function that affect the response to methamphetamine);
- Translation between preclinical and clinical models of methamphetamine effects/abuse.
Pilots funded in an initial year are eligible for consideration for a second year of funding; however, all investigators who have received an initial year of funding must submit a new proposal describing their progress and proposed work for a second year of funding. For examples of previous MARC pilot projects, please see Component 6. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on March 30, 2015.
Who is eligible. All OHSU and VA faculty interested in methamphetamine research may submit proposals. Postdoctoral trainees are not eligible.
Proposal elements. Please include the following components:
1. The following forms from the NIH’s PHS-398 forms page:
- Face page (official signatures other than yours NOT required)
- Abstract page (Form Page 2)
- Budget pages (Form page 4 and Form page 5, if 2 years of support are requested), with written justification for budget requests.
- Biographical sketch form (including other support)
2. Research proposal including specific aims, background, preliminary data, methods and procedures, and references (five-page limit excluding references; 6-page limit for investigators requesting a second year of funding, with the additional page devoted to the progress report). Use NIH R01 guidelines for formatting: margins, font size, line spacing, figures and legends, etc.
3. Relationship of pilot project to center goals
4. Explanation of need for conducting pilot project at this time (e.g., scientific, fiscal or other reasons).
Maximum budget: $25,000.
Process. Proposals will be reviewed by at least two members of our external scientific advisory board and the MARC Director and/or Scientific Director. Recommendations will be made to the MARC Executive Committee for funding, with a target start date of July 1, 2015.
For more information, please visit the MARC website or contact the MARC scientific director, Tamara Phillips, at phillipt@ohsu.edu or 503-220-8262 x56674 or the MARC administrative manager, William Schutzer, at schutzer@ohsu.edu or 503-721-1413.
Review additional funding opportunities in this week’s Funding Alerts.
