P&F Application Instructions

• Maximum 5 pages in length (references not included) organized in an abbreviated NIH format to include:
  • 1-page Abstract
  • 1-page Specific Aims section
  • 3-page Research Strategy with sections on:
    • Significance
    • Innovation
    • Approach (including Rigor & Reproducibility, Preliminary Data, Experimental Approach, and Pitfalls/Alternative Plans)
• An explanation about how successful completion of the proposed studies will lead to an NIH grant submission
• NIH biosketches
• Other Support
• Facilities and Resources
• Research Budget (Please note that funding will be limited to supplies and services)
• Both Vertebrate Animal and Human Subjects sections, if relevant, to insure adherence to all institutional (IACUC, IRB) and federal guidelines and policies.
• Approval letters for Vertebrate Animal and Human Subjects sections, if relevant.

• 1 page Abstract
• Maximum 1 page (references not included) written in a succinct format to include:
  •  Introduction
  • Significance
  • Approach
  • Expected Results
  • Potential Pitfalls
• NIH biosketches
• Other Support
• Facilities and Resources
• Research Budget (Please note that funding is limited to supplies and services)
• Both Vertebrate Animal and Human Subjects sections, if relevant, to insure adherence to all institutional (IACUC, IRB) and federal guidelines and policies.

Internal applicants apply through the UM Competition Space, an online platform for grant processing, using level 1 login and password.

External applicants can register for an account at this same site by clicking on login in the upper right corner of the page and then following the Register link at the bottom of the page.

Pilot Grant proposals will be reviewed and ranked by external reviewers according to an NIH scale (1–9), assessing:

• Significance
• Investigator
• Innovation
• Approach
• Likelihood that the work will lead to new NIH funding
• Overall scientific merit

Innovation Award proposals will also be reviewed and ranked by external reviewers using an NIH scale, but the review criteria will be restricted to:

• The perceived significance of the proposed new technology or experimental approach
• Applicability to more than one project
• Experimental strategy
• Overall merit

After proposals are assigned rankings with a brief critique, they will be discussed at a review session that will include the Pilot & Feasibility Program Committee chair and members, who will discuss the reviews, proposals and assign final scores. Dr. Elder will work with the Center Administrator Ms. McKeon to forward scores as well as Committee recommendations to the Executive Committee, which will vote on proposals to fund.

• Present an oral presentation of their project at the UM-SBDRC Annual Symposiums
• Provide a 2-page summary (progress report) of their results to be included in the annual Progress Reports submitted to the Executive Committee, the Advisory Committees, and the Pilot & Feasibility Selection Committee.
• Acknowledge funding and grant support from UM-SBDRC P30AR075043 on any publications including data generated or arising from Pilot & Feasibility funding.
• Report any subsequent grant funding that resulted from the UM-SBDRC pilot or feasibility funding

The UM-SBDRC is a P30 funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).