Brain Research Foundation Fay/Frank Seed Grant Program
To: Chairs, Departments in the Biological, Physical and Social Sciences
From: Heather Daniels, Graduate School
Date: October 8, 2012
Subject: Brain Research Foundation Fay/Frank Seed Grant Program
Deadlines:
Nominations are due at the Graduate School on Wednesday, October 17; Deadline for internal competition is Friday, October 26.
Project Description:
The Brain Research Foundation’s Annual Seed Grant Program was initiated in 1981. The purpose of the Program is to provide start-up money for new research projects and innovative programs that have the potential of becoming competitive for an NIH grant or other external funding sources. Our goal is to have this initial effort succeed in opening future opportunities for research, collaboration and scientific advancement. The support focus is for new research projects of the highest scientific merit.
Funding Preferences:
1.) Funding is to be directed at pilot research projects that are both innovative and will likely lead to successful grant applications to NIH and other public and private funding entities.
2.) Assistant Professor – Junior faculty with a new research project that will generate pilot data that will lead to RO1 funding or a comparable outside grant will be first priority.
3.) Associate Professor – Faculty who are pursuing new research directions. Must explain how the project is a new research direction. (Note: A new technique is not considered a new direction unless it pertains to a different area of study.)
4.) PI can receive a maximum of 2 consecutive years of funding. PI may reapply after one year of not receiving funding.
5.) Seed Grants are NOT to be used for bridge funding between grants.
The grant period is for one year in the amount of $50,000 (direct costs).
Allowable costs under this award:
100% of these Seed Grant funds must be utilized for direct costs.
These costs may include: Purchase and care of laboratory animals; Small pieces of laboratory equipment, totaling $5,000 or less; Laboratory supplies; Salary for scientific (including postdoctoral fellows) and technical staff (including laboratory technicians)
Costs not permitted: Facilities and administrative costs; Salary recovery for the PI; Domestic and foreign travel; Conference or seminar fees; Personal computers, computer hardware or software; Large laboratory equipment; Tuition reimbursement
Eligibility:
To be eligible, the PI must be a tenured/tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor working in the field of neuroscience. The number of proposals UW–Madison may submit is limited to two.
Website:
Seed Grant Guidelines (pdf)
http://www.thebrf.org/Grants/Fay+Frank+Seed+Grant+Program
This contains additional information on the program and specific application instructions, etc.
Internal Competition Application Instructions:
Notice of intent: Send an email message to gsgrants@grad.wisc.edu with subject line "BRF-Seed" by Wednesday, October 17, 2012 to inform us of your intention to submit a proposal. Please include the following in your e-mail message:
--name and contact information for the PI
--title of PI (assistant or associate professor)
--a brief description (two to three sentences) of the proposed project.
Applications for internal competition: Send your pdf application for internal competition to gsgrants@grad.wisc.edu with subject line "BRF-Seed" by Friday, October 26, 2012. Your application for the internal competition should include the following information:
--Name and contact information for the PI
--Title of proposal
--NIH Biosketch (4 page maximum)
--Brief Project Summary (1 page maximum)
For the projects selected, a letter of intent must be submitted electronically. Letters of intent are due by Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at 4 pm CST.
If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact Heather Daniels (608) 263-7274 or Petra Schroeder (608) 265-4868 or email gsgrants@grad.wisc.edu