Developmental Research Project (DRP) Program

University Of South Carolina At Columbia, Columbia SC

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

Project Summary – Developmental Research Project (DRP) Program The Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP) in SC INBRE V will support two funding mechanisms designed to grow faculty-led research projects and provide biomedical research training opportunities for undergraduate students. Research Project (RP) awards are the largest award funded through the DRPP. These two-year awards are targeted towards early-career investigators that need support to build their research programs but can also support established investigators that want to make a major shift in their research direction. Pilot Project (PP) awards are smaller yet offer more flexibility in that funds can be requested to redesign existing undergraduate courses into Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs), collect preliminary data to support a grant application or resubmission, mentored pilot projects co-developed by students and faculty that provide students an opportunity to learn grant writing skills, or for data science projects that collect and analyze large data sets. These one-year awards are open to any investigator, regardless of academic rank or career status. PUI and CRU faculty will not compete with each other for funding. Six RP awards, four PP and five PP-mentored awards will be designated for PUI faculty while CRU faculty will compete for three RP, three PP and three PP-mentored awards. Both RP and PP awards can be competitively renewed. To ensure that faculty who receive RP and PP awards have dedicated time to accomplish the project goals, each program requires 50% (RP) or 25% (PP) release time respectively. Notices of funding opportunities will be distributed throughout the SC INBRE V network using email and both SC INBRE’s website and weekly newsletter. Informational videos explaining the application process and addressing frequently asked questions will be posted on the website and applicants will be directed whom to contact with additional questions. All proposals will undergo scientific peer review by a committee of experienced faculty reviewers using NIH review criteria with the most meritorious applications being recommended for funding. RP applications are required to include a career development plan constructed with the guidance of both a scientific and career mentor, who can advise the investigator on balancing the responsibilities of a junior faculty member building their research program. PP applicants are also required to identify a scientific mentor. The DRPP program director will clearly indicate the expectations SC INBRE has for mentors and an evaluation plan is proposed to assess the mentor-mentee relationship and the overall effectiveness of the DRPP in increasing research capacity and developing faculty investigators. The DRPP has been instrumental in enabling faculty to secure extramural funding in SC INBRE IV and will continue to provide critical research support and mentoring needed by early-career faculty in SC INBRE V.