Call for Pilot Project Proposals

UM MFBS Center Program Due Date: August 21, 2006

Background

The University of Miami's Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center has been sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) 
(www.rsmas.miami.edu/groups/niehs) since 1991. The two major research foci of the MFBS center are in "marine animal models relevant to environmental health" 
and "aquatic toxins and human health". An integral part of the operation of the MFBS Center is support of Pilot Projects which utilize the Core resources of these programs, 
and which seek to either develop new research activities addressing the mission of NIEHS, or which build upon existing programs in environmental health sciences 
related to the marine and freshwater environments. Annually, the Center issues a Call for Proposals. Proposals are reviewed by the Internal and External Advisory 
Committees of the Center with selected proposals being funded. Due to an anticipated increase in our budget there is $25,000 available to support one project.  
We anticipate making the award by September 1, 2006. This project has a shorter duration than usual with funds required to be spent by 31 March 2007.
 Equipment and P.I. salary are not allowed, and request for travel is discouraged, unless it is specifically used for research-related travel. All other direct costs are allowable; 
no indirect costs are allowable. It is advisable to contact the Center Core Leaders or Local Investigators (see list below or the websites for external Center Investigators) 
regarding core utilization or collaboration prior to submission. Proposals which utilize a Center Facility Core and/or develop or extend a collaboration with a center member 
will be given priority. Proposals should reflect consideration of the research interests of the Center 
(see NIEHS http://www-apps.niehs.nih.gov/centers/Public/contents/ctr-1110.htm and UM - www.rsmas.miami.edu/groups/niehs web pages).

Center Investigators who are Core Leaders:

Lynne Fieber, Core Leader
305-421-4906
Neurophysiology Core

Lora Fleming, Core Leader
305-243-5912
Community Outreach and Education Program Core

Kelly Rein (FIU), Core Leader
305-348-6682
Toxin Probes Core

Michael Schmale, Core Leader
305-421-4140
In Vivo and In Vitro Fish Culture Core

Doug Crawford 305 421-4121 and Martin Grosell 305 421-4623, Core Leaders
Toxicogenomics Core

Additional Local Center Investigators:

William Abraham
John Berry
Gregory Bossart
Yong Cai
Douglas Crawford
Patrick Gibbs
Kenneth Goodman
Alice Hudder
Bonnie Levin
Zhongmin Lu
Danielle McDonald
Margie Oleksiak
Helena Solo-Gabriele
Patrick Walsh
Chris Wood
Julie Zaias

        

Proposal Preparation Guidelines:
Proposals will follow an abbreviated format for PHS 398 proposals, including a cover page, research proposal, budget, and biographical sketch. Maximum 
length of the research proposal portion of the application is 4 pages and should include in the following order: Abstract (200 words or less), Specific Aims, 
Background and Significance, and Methods. An additional section of 1/2 page in length entitled “Relevance to MFBS Center or ARCH Program Activities and 
Environmental Health Sciences” should be included after Methods. Append to this application a PHS 398 one year detailed budget (Equipment and 
P.I. salary are not allowed, and request for travel is discouraged unless it involves field work, or brings investigators to Miami specifically to perform research projects. 
All other direct costs are allowable; no indirect costs are allowable.). Under the Other category of the budget, list the Center Cores (without a dollar figure) you 
propose to use, if any. On a separate page, all categories should be justified including use of Core Facilities. Costs for core facilities use will be calculated 
separately from the amount awarded. Proposals requiring the use of animals or human subjects must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate 
institutional committees prior to beginning the award, but not prior to the review process. Complete the application by including a 2-page NIH PHS-398 Biographical Sketch
for the PI and any Co-PI(s). Note: Since funds will be spent and administered from an existing grant via the Center Office on the RSMAS campus, 
it is not necessary to obtain institutional approval signatures on the PHS 398 cover page.

Proposal Review:
Proposals are reviewed by the Internal and External Advisory Committees of the NIEHS Center.

Application Schedule:
3 August 2006                 Call for Proposals
21 August 2006               Proposals due by 5pm
31 August 2006               Awards Announced, Electronic Abstract Due
1 September 2006          Funding Begins for One Project
15 January 2007             Interim Report Due
31 March 2007                Funding Ends, Final Report Due/Schedule Center Seminar

Send an original and 7 hard copies (or one electronic copy) of the proposal to:

Lora E. Fleming, Acting Center Director
c/o Ms Gayl Van De Bogart, Center Administrator
Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Virginia Key Campus
gvandebogart@rsmas.miami.edu
Tel: 305 421-4736