Research at The University of Toledo : deArce Memorial Endowment Fund in Support of Medical Research and Development

deArce Memorial Endowment Fund in Support of Medical Research and Developmen

Deadline:  Tuesday, 20 January 2009

The deArce Memorial Endowment Fund Program supports medically related research, education or public service projects.  Funds support research and scholarly activity that will advance a faculty member’s professional career, position the faculty member for additional external support, or to provide assistance in developing a promising research program.  Approximately $100,000--awarded through a competitive, peer-reviewed process--is available in the 2009-10 academic year for this program. The preparation of textbooks, instructional activities or construction projects are not eligible for support. 

Although there is no maximum limit to the award, requests generally should not exceed $25,000. Funds may support personnel, graduate student stipends, travel necessary to conduct research, equipment and supplies.  If graduate stipends are awarded, a tuition waiver may be requested from the graduate dean. Assistant professors can apply for summer salary support (maximum support for six weeks’ summer salary and fringes). However, associate and full professors cannot apply for summer salary or release time. Funding will be available in May 2009 with all expenditures completed by 15 May 2010.  Awardees must submit a written report to the Office of Research Development by 31 August 2010, summarizing the results of the project with a list of presentations, publications, and proposals directly resulting from the project.

Proposals will be reviewed by the University Research Council.  The evaluation process takes into consideration the faculty member’s rank and discipline.  For assistant professors the most important consideration is the likelihood that a successful project will lead to a productive and meaningful research program and to self-sustaining, external support.  For associate and full professors, the proposal must explain how the project takes the individual into higher national stature in research or into a new and promising area capable of generating self-sustaining support.  All applicants must clearly identify where they intend to submit proposals resulting from the proposed studies. For example, if proposals are intended for NIH, the type of proposal (R15/21/03/01) and institute must be identified.
 

Eligibility

Full-time, tenured and tenure-track faculty who will be at the university during the 2009-2010 academic year are eligible to apply. Faculty in the College of Medicine are not eligible for these awards. A faculty member may not receive salary support from more than two awards over any five-year period from this and the Summer Research Awards and Fellowships Program.
 

Submission Requirements

Proposals must be double spaced, font size 12 points or higher, and submitted as a single PDF file. The following information must be included:
 

1. A completed deArce proposal cover page with all appropriate signatures.
   Download Cover Page PDF
   Download Cover Page .doc
    
2. An abstract, written for a general audience, that summarizes the project and its expected outcomes.  The abstract must not exceed 250 words.
    
3. A project description that includes sections on objectives, significance, methodology (or approach) and outcome. The outcome section should indicate the contribution a successful project will make to the individual’s professional growth.  The project description must not exceed six (6) pages including all figures and diagrams.  The description should provide the council members with sufficient information to show the possible contribution of the project to the discipline.
    
4. A list of references limited to one page.
    
5. A one-page budget and budget justification that lists the major categories of expenses, including faculty salary and fringe benefits, student salary and fringe benefits, travel, equipment and supplies.  Requests for travel funds should include the location and purpose of the travel as it relates to the project. 
    
6. A two-page c.v. that includes the individual’s  current professional position, degrees (with institutions and dates), professional positions held, recent relevant publications, other original products, and grants and contracts.
    
7. A copy of the final report from previous URAF awards for those who have received awards during the past five years.
    
8. No appendix material will be accepted

Applicants with proposals in the area of medical research and development are encouraged to apply ONLY to the deArce Memorial Endowment Fund Program. Such applications, if not selected as most meritorious for funding, may be eligible for support from the Summer Research Awards and Fellowships Program.

Evaluation

Proposals that do not follow the above guidelines or do not meet eligibility criteria will not be accepted. Proposals will be reviewed by the Research Council, which may obtain additional reviews from individuals both on and off campus. Although the council represents a broad spectrum of expertise, it is important that the proposal be written in a way that communicates to an intelligent reader--but not necessarily one well-versed in the particular subject matter, as would occur if the proposal were submitted to a national competition.
 

Excellent          

Proposal worthy of support and likely to result in significant contributions, but questions exist relating to objectives, significance, methodology/approach, or outcomes.
 

Has significant shortcomings and is not worthy of support.
 

Submit one hard copy of your proposal with the signed cover sheet, plus the complete proposal as a single PDF file via E-mail or disk, no later than 3:00 PM on Tuesday, 20 January 2009, to Dr. Elsa Nadler, Office of Research Development, 3rd Floor, CCE Building, Health Science Campus, urafp@utoledo.edu or elsa.nadler@utoledo.edu.