Instructions

Objective –
The purpose of the Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center (LCMC) Research Grants Program is to promote meritorious clinical and basic investigation at LCMC. The program is especially designed to support studies by individuals who are in the early stages of their research career and individuals who are initiating new lines of investigation. However, proposals from all eligible applications will be considered.

Eligibility –
Members of the LCMC medical staff, nursing staff, house staff, LCMC allied health professionals, and investigators in the Children’s Foundation Research Center at LCMC are eligible to apply for grant support. In addition, non-LCMC based University of Tennessee faculty members who are collaborators with a LCMC based investigator are eligible. It is expected that the applicant will propose an independent research project. Proposals from resident fellows are encouraged, but must be written by the fellow under the guidance of the mentor who will supervise the study. Only one project per principal investigator will be reviewed and awarded. No investigator will be funded more than two consecutive years or more than three out of every five years.

Grant Description –
The amount of the award will be limited to $15,000 for one year of funding. Grants may be renewed once, for a total of two years funding, by submitting a renewal application with a progress report and a budget report at the end of the first year. Renewal applications will be judged in competition with other applications. Instructions for a competitive renewal application should be followed.

Grant applications must be routed through Department Chair, College of Medicine and UT Grants and Contracts Office prior to submission.

All applications are to be submitted by NOON, March 18, 2005 (no exceptions). Grants selected for funding will have a starting date of July 1, 2005.

All studies involving human or animal subjects must be approved by the appropriate Institutional Review Boards prior to the start of funding, July 2005. If this requirement is not completed, the funding will be revoked and awarded to another investigator.

Procedure –
The application forms and instructions can be obtained from the Le Bonheur Research Committee, Gail Dobbins, 572-5355, 401 West Patient Tower, 50 North Dunlap.
All grants will be reviewed by members of the Le Bonheur Research Committee. Ad Hoc reviewers will be used when it is appropriate. The following points will be taken into consideration when the proposals are reviewed:

A. Does the study have scientific merit?

B. If the study includes human subjects, does the benefit of the study outweigh the risks and discomfort? Is it clear how study subjects will be identified and recruited? A consent form must be included? Who will obtain the consent? Could the study be completed in the Clinical Research Center?

C. Can the proposal be completed by the applicant in the time allotted? Is the applicant qualified to carry out the proposed study?

D. Is the proposal clear and concise? Has the appropriate literature been consulted and cited? Was the proposal written with attention to detail? Can the reviewer tell exactly what the applicant plans to do and why?

E. Is it clear how the data will be analyzed? Are appropriate statistical tools used?

F. Is the budget appropriate? Will it be possible to document how the money is spent?

G. Did the applicant follow directions in making the application?

H. Supplements to an ongoing funded research program may be justified only when new leads and projects develop from an established program.Funding decisions are not subject to appeal. The Committee’s final recommendations will be forwarded to the Medical Staff Executive Committee for approval.

Reports –
By June 30, 2006, at the conclusion of a period of grant support, the investigator must provide a Progress Report to the Committee. This report must include the results of the study, suggestions for future study and a detailed budget report. Le Bonheur’s financial support should be acknowledged on all publications related to the proposal.

Instructions –
The Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center Research Grant application form must be used. The application should be typed and the pages must be numbered. The instructions below should be followed:

A. Face Sheet (self explanatory)
B. Budget

The Research Committee may exercise freedom in the expenditure of funds but the following guidelines should be used:

Types of Expenditures Allowed

1. Research Supplies
2. Purchase and maintenance of animals
3. Cost of computer time
4. Subject fees
5. Laboratory or procedure fees (pathology, X-rays, etc.)
6. Equipment costing less than $2,500. (Special justification is necessary for items exceeding this amount)
7. Computer hardware and software (must be fully justified and necessary for completion of project)
8. Salary support for existing research personnel (this includes use of and support for Children’s Foundation Research Center and Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit clinical research nurses) and part-time temporary personnel (such as student stipends)

Types of Expenditures Not Allowed

1. Charges for routine medical care
2. Travel to attend scientific meetings
3. Secretarial and telephone services
4. Periodicals or books
5. Office furniture, equipment or supplies

C. Budget Justification: The exact cost of each item to be included should be provided. The need for each item should be justified. If the study includes laboratory or procedure fees, these studies must be performed at Le Bonheur and the signature(s) of the lab supervisor(s) must be included with the budget justification.

D. Current and Pending sources of support for the investigator and all co-investigators for the last five years including past support by the Le Bonheur Research Grant Program.

E. Personnel Listing: All individuals who will participate should be included with a description of their role in the project. The percent of time on project can be calculated
by multiplying the percent of time per week multiplied by the percent of the year. For example: one day per week for 6 months would be (0.20) (0.5) = .10 or 10%.

F. Description of the study. This segment of the proposal should be no longer than 6 pages not including the bibliography and consent. Use of the following format:
Abstract (one half page)
Specific Aims (one half page)
Background and Significance
Experimental Methods (this should include a time table indicating when various parts of the study will be completed)
Bibliography
Consent (If the study includes human subjects, the consent form should be in the style required by the Le Bonheur Research Committee)

G. Biographical sketch (NIH style; no more than 2 pages, copy attached)

H. Department Check-off List for Research Studies

Submission of a Competitive Renewal Application –
1. Face Sheet – After the title, indicate that the application is a competitive renewal.
2. Budget – Indicate how much money has been spent in each of the categories in the first 7 months of funding. Use a second budget sheet to indicate how money will be spent in the second year of funding.
3. Abstract of proposal (may be the same as the first year)
4. Specific aims (may be the same as the first year)
5. Progress report – In no more than one page indicate the results obtained in the first 7 months of funding.
6. Proposal – In no more than one page indicate the studies planned for the second year of funding. If there have been changes in the protocols from the original proposal, please indicate. If the proposal involves pediatric subjects and includes changes that affect the subject, a revised consent must be submitted.
7. To permit easier review of the competitive renewal application, the application should include a copy of the description of the original study (see item F under “Instructions”)
8. Biographical sketch (NIH style; no more than 2 pages, copy attached)

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The Original and 16 complete copies should be submitted to:

Gail Dobbins
Room 401, WPT, 572-5355
LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center