Gene Therapy Initiative Seed Grant Funding Announcement
OBJECTIVE
As part of our dedication to accelerating progress in biomedical research, the UC San Diego Gene Therapy Initiative (GTI) is committed to promoting scientific discovery among researchers at UC San Diego. By providing seed grant funding opportunities that support preliminary findings and exploratory new concepts with gene therapy-related programs, we aim to serve as catalysts, facilitating research and innovation within the field. Ultimately, our goal is to help bridge critical gaps between good ideas and breakthrough discoveries by fostering collaborative interactions to expedite the translation of research into therapeutic treatments.
ELIGIBILITY
This funding and corresponding in-kind support is open to UCSD faculty members. Projects can be early to late stage and must facilitate the advancement of gene therapy-related programs.
BUDGET & ELIGIBLE COSTS
The grant provides up to $100,000 for one year in direct costs to support the proposed research activities.
The budget justification should address each cost category required to perform the work. The requested costs should align with the proposed project activities. Allowable costs include Salaries & benefits, supplies, equipment, reagents, facility use, and publication. Unallowable costs include travel, computer and office supplies, administrative support, parking, equipment maintenance/repair, team building activities, and indirect costs.
A No-Cost Extension request submitted 60 days before the project end date will be considered upon evaluation of the final progress report.
FUNDING CRITERIA
This RFA is intended to support GTI-related goals. Proposals will be judged on key aspects of scientific merit, feasibility, collaboration, and potential for impact. The following will be evaluated, along with other criteria: preliminary data, novel approaches, available infrastructure, and resources to meet proposed deadlines, multidisciplinary approaches with commercialization potential, and advancement of knowledge with promise of transformative findings.
PROPOSAL FORMAT
Documents must be in 11-point font or larger and have at least half-inch margins.
The proposal for SEED grants should include the following:
- Cover Letter – The proposal must include the PI’s contact information.
- Proposal Abstract –300 words or less.
- Research Plan – 3-page limit, including specific aims, methodology, results, feasibility, and significance (including figures)
- Reference – List all references used in the proposal
- Budget and Justification – Use the PHS398 Detailed Budget template https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html
- Refer to the Budget & Eligible Cost section for details.
- Biosketch – NIH-style biographical sketch for each investigator.
- Letters of Support – Optional
- Facilities/equipment
- IACUC/IRB Approval Letter – Copies of IRB or IACUC approval must be submitted prior to activation of the grant award.
- No appendices
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested researchers are invited to submit their grant proposals in one PDF document to GTI_admin@health.ucsd.edu by Friday, March 1, 2024, at 5 PM PT. A confirmation of the application receipt will be sent within 24 hours.
Members of the GTI Scientific Advisory Committee will evaluate and score the submitted proposals. Successful applicants will be notified by Monday, May 15th, 2024, with funding to commence on Wednesday, July 1st, 2024.
REQUIRED REPORTING
Final report deadlines will be shared with selected candidates. Additionally, the recipients may be invited to present their findings at a symposium, and/or conference.