New investigators are being sought for the proposed Diabetes and Obesity and and Metabolic Syndrome (DOMS) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) at the University of Hawai’i. Four new researchers will be chosen by representatives of the Dean’s office (including Mariana Gerschenson, PhD, Principal Investigator; Marjorie. Mau MD, Deputy Director; O. Le Saux, PhD, Administrative Director; and Jerris Hedges, MD (Dean of JABSOM and Interim Director of UH Cancer Center). Junior Investigators will be chosen by mid-October.
The purpose of the COBRE is to establish a thematic multi-disciplinary center to enhance the ability of selected Junior Investigators to compete for independent National Institutes of Health (NIH) individual research grant (RO1) or other external peer-reviewed funding (RO1 equivalent). Each Junior Investigator is eligible for four to five years of full salary support (50% from the grant and 50% from the institution) and approximately $80,000 to $100,000 per year of research support.
Additionally, a Research Core will support common research needs. Mentors will be able to cover one calendar month of their salary. For more information on the RFA, click HERE.
If the grant is awarded by the National Institutes of Health, the start date will be in the period of June through September, 2016.
Preferred Qualifications for Junior Investigators:
1. Assistant Professor Rank, I3 or R3 at UH. Tenure Track is preferred but not mandatory.
2. JABSOM RCUH employee or equivalent R3, will be moved to a UH I3 Tenure eligible position.
3. 5+ years of postdoctoral experience.
4. High likelihood of obtaining a NIH R01 grant within 3-4 years.
5. Peer reviewed publications, preferably in DOMS-related fields.
6. Research theme commonality between all Junior Investigators.
7. Translational applicability and community research.
Requirements and Qualifications for Junior Investigators:
1. Cannot be supported by INBRE or COBRE simultaneously.
2. Must begin NIH R01 (or equivalent) application process by the end of Year 2 of COBRE support.
3. Obtaining a NIH RO1 (or equivalent) grant will lead to graduation from COBRE.
4. Junior Investigators may be removed from COBRE support if progress is insufficient as determined by an External Advisory Committee.
5. After selection, Junior Investigators must meet all COBRE grant submission deadlines for 2015 as set by the PI. This includes: submitting budgets, budget justifications, abstract, specific aims, research proposal (12 Pages), references, etc.
All Junior Investigator sections must be completed by December 15, 2015.
6. Monthly meetings for Junior Investigators will be required.
7. Junior Investigator must work closely with mentor(s) and grant leadership and commit a minimum of 0.5 FTE annually towards COBRE activities.
Other Criteria for Eligibility of Junior Investigators (NIH):
1. A Junior Investigator is an individual who does not have and has not previously had an external, peer-reviewed Research Project Grant (RPG) or Program Project Grant (PPG) from either a Federal or non-Federal source that names that investigator as the PD/PI. Grants that name an individual as a co-investigator, collaborator, consultant, or to a position other than PD/PI or PD/PI on research grants that allow multiple PD/PIs, do not disqualify that investigator. Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) grants, exploratory/pilot project grants (such as NIH R03 and R21 awards), mentored career development awards (such as NIH K01, and K08 awards), or other Federal or non-Federal funding whose purpose is to provide preliminary support in anticipation of a RPG or PPG also do not disqualify the investigator.
2. A Junior Investigator can be an established investigator who is making a significant change to his/her career. Senior, funded investigators who are not making a significant career change must not be proposed as leaders for individual research projects; if such a project is included, it will not be reviewed or counted in the minimum required 3 projects.
3. The intent of this COBRE is to support and develop promising investigators whose early career support consists of awards geared toward initiating their intended area of research. However, investigators who have managed to obtain significant support in the form of a RPG or PPG (e.g., NIH R01 or P01, NSF,or other Federal or non-Federal agency awards) are not eligible.
Prefer to download and print this information? Click DOMS RFP Sept 2015