Since our neurodegerative disease research group received COBRE grant support we have administered 5 separate research pilot grant programs and provided financial support to investigators totaling in excess of $1,000,000. The purpose of the pilot grant program has been to increase the scope of research conducted at UND related to the theme of the COBRE grant and to increase the competitiveness of UND investigators for funding from extramural organizations. Resulting from this investment in research pilot grant support, the recipients brought into the institution over $5.2M. Thus, pilot grants have been an excellent investment in the on going success of our COBRE grant supported neurodegenerative disease research group. The following is a brief description of the research pilot grant program that we are proposing for the COBRE Phase III funding period. First, we will solicit proposals for our research pilot grant program. Second, the applications will be submitted electronically to the PI/PD. Third, the grants will be distributed to the grant review committee consisting of Dr. Geiger (PI/PD), Drs. Vaughan and Brown-Borg of our Internal Advisory Committee, and Dr. Fyffe of our External Advisory Board. Fourth, the reviewers will meet with the applicants to discuss the hypothesis proposed, the methodological and scientific approaches to be taken, the respective involvement of named investigators, and their timelines and benchmarks of success. We have found that this;""""""""site visit"""""""" approach provides to the applicants a very high quality review and an outstanding opportunity for mentorship. Fifth, midway through the pilot grant year investigators will submit a progress report and then again meet with the grant review committee to evaluate progress, receive advice, and review plans for the remaining one-half of the pilot grant year. At the end of the pilot grant period, the investigators will submit to the review committee a final report in which they describe their original or modified specific aims, their research findings, and most importantly detailed information about abstracts submitted and presented, manuscripts submitted and published, and grants submitted and funded.
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