The next application receipt dates are October 20, 2023 and October 8, 2024. Only COMBINE RM1 applications that are fully within the NINDS mission will be accepted and considered for funding by NINDS. To determine if your proposal fits the NINDS mission and RM1 mechanism, please provide the following information in a one-page word/PDF to your NINDS Program Official or to NINDSTeamScience@nih.gov as soon as possible.
- Title
- Team Composition (Names, Title, Affiliation, 1-3 expertise keywords)
- Planned Goal (Describe the single focused goal and its transformative nature)
- Approach (Briefly describe the research strategy and the need for an interdisciplinary and integrated approach)
- Budget (Estimated total costs with broad categorizations (personnel, equipment, travel, F&A, etc.))
The COMBINE RM1 has fixed and limited budget commitments, so funding priorities will include considerations where the research might better fit special funding programs like the NIH BRAIN initiative, HEAL Initiative, ADRD, and other active programs.
Overview
A team science approach expands our ability to pursue challenging problems in neuroscience research in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, rigorous, and mechanistic manner.
Key Features
- Transformative 5-year goal
- Bold, impactful, and challenging
- Single focused goal only achievable through interdisciplinary team science
- Multiple aims are non-responsive
- 3-6 MPIs integrating distinct viewpoints/expertise
- At least 20% effort each
- Subject to SCR policy
- Sufficient scope and complexity to warrant a team approach (as opposed to a Multi-PI R01)
- Anticipated direct costs/year are $500K - $1.5M.
Application Specifics (Section IV of RFA)
Specific Aims and 15-page Research Strategy:
- Overall, address how will the project challenge existing paradigms, overcome long-standing roadblocks to progress, and/or develop new synergies between different scientific fields?
- Specific Aims Page is structured differently (see Section IV). Multiple aims are inappropriate as the research plan must be focused on pursuing a single focused goal.
- Research strategy (15-page max). Teams should use the following subheading to structure the Research Strategy: "Importance of the Research and Appropriateness for the NINDS COMBINE program" and "Approach and Experimental Design".
- Highlight activities, planned outcomes, and/or frameworks that will integrate and combine efforts across disciplines and team members. Single set of specific aims organized to address the overall objective rather than by individual or parallel PI contributions
- The COMBINE program will assume some degree of risk and are in general more ambitious and innovative than traditional NIH applications. Because feasibility will be assessed, applicants should carefully manage any risk in the premise and/or approach.
Other Attachments:
The success of team science also hinges on well-managed team interactions, clear timelines and benchmarks for success, and evidence of commitment to diverse perspectives. As such, three additional attachments are required:
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- Team Management Plan (3-pages max): Address how the entire group will function to accomplish program objectives and vision A helpful reference is the NCI’s Field Guide to Collaboration and Team Science. Whereas, the “Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan” focuses on leadership and interactions across the PD/PIs, the “Team Management Plan” focuses on management of the whole team/key personnel.
- Timeline and Benchmarks for Success (2-pages max): This attachment should include a project timeline in the form of a Gantt chart/table (or similar) that includes all major tasks to be performed during the project as well as critical benchmarks for success. Highlight specific activities and/or planned outcomes that act as “glues”, serving to combine and integrate efforts across disciplines and team members.
- Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP, 1-page max): Highlight specific activities and/or planned outcomes that act as “glues”, serving to combine and integrate efforts across disciplines and team members. Please see the NINDS COMBINE PEDP page for more information.
Inquiries and Contact Information
Staff will not evaluate the technical and scientific merit of the proposed project; technical and scientific merit will be determined during peer review. The COMBINE RM1 has fixed and limited budget commitments, so funding priorities will include considerations where the research might better fit special funding programs like the NIH BRAIN initiative, HEAL Initiative, ADRD, and other active programs. Non-responsive applications will be withdrawn.
For inquiries related to a specific neuroscience topic, contact the relevant NINDS Program Official.
For inquiries related to the COMBINE RM1 program or NOFO, contact the NINDS Team Science Group at: NINDSteamscience@nih.gov
Related Topics
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the NINDS COMBINE RM1 (RFA-NS-23-027)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the NINDS COMBINE RM1 (RFA-NS-23-027)
Plan For Enhancing Diverse Perspective (PEDP) for the NINDS COMBINE RM1 (RFA-NS-23-027)