NINDS Interdisciplinary Team Science Grant (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)

Background

Scientists

The NINDS Interdisciplinary Teams Science RM1 encourages interdisciplinary teams of experts that seek to cross technical and conceptual boundaries through collaboration to achieve ambitious goals for basic, translational, and clinical research questions within the mission of NINDS. We invite teams to challenge existing paradigms, overcome long-standing roadblocks to progress, and/or develop new synergies across different scientific fields.

Team science is powerful, and we expect the goal to be bold, impactful, and challenging, and fully within NINDS mission. This should be a single defined goal that is difficult to achieve by individual or parallel efforts and can only be achieved by the combined efforts of 3-6 multiple Principal Investigators, functioning as co-equals and sharing leadership, each with a distinct background necessary to accomplish the project. Overall, we are looking for a single cohesive program that requires an integrated and interdisciplinary effort. If proposing a clinical trial, only mechanistic trials or Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH) clinical trials will be supported. 

The next application receipt date (October 11, 2023) is upcoming for the new NINDS Interdisciplinary Team Science RM1 (FOA) (RFA-NS-22-036). To determine if your proposal fits the NINDS mission and RM1 mechanism, please provide the following information to your NINDS Program Official or to the NINDSTeamScience@.nih.gov inbox as soon as possible. Non-responsive applications will be withdrawn.  

  1. Descriptive title of the application
  2. Specific aims
  3. List of the PIs with their affiliations and brief description of the expertise relevant to the proposed project
  4. Estimated budget (Approximate Direct/Total Costs, with broad categorical allocations) 


Application due dates: October 7th 2022, October 11th 2023, and October 8th 2024

 View our NINDS Interdisciplinary Team Science RM1 webinar and slides: 

                  Webinar Slides(pdf, 2098 KB) 

Key Features

  • Integrated team effort from 3-6 PD/PIs who will each bring a distinct scientific viewpoint or expertise necessary to pursue the interdisciplinary approach
  • Cohesive, well-defined, and sufficiently focused single research goal that is expected to yield meaningful and significant outcomes within 5 years

Application Specifics (Section IV of RFA)

  • Single set of specific aims organized to address the overall objective rather than by individual PD/PI contributions. For a truly integrated collaborative project, most or all of the scientific aims will require substantial contributions from more than one PD/PI.
  • A research strategy (15-page max) fully describes the overall goal of the research program, its significance within the relevant scientific field(s), the rigor and status of prior research, current obstacles and challenges, and how a team science approach and outcomes will be transformative and/or enable major advances.
  • Single integrated budget that is not limited but must cover all costs and reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
  • The success of team science hinges on well-managed team interactions, clear timelines and benchmarks for success, and evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Therefore, these three “Other Attachments” are required:
    • Team Management Plan (3-page max): This attachment should describe the organizational structure, team composition, shared leadership and contributions, resource sharing and allocation, credit assignment, coordination and communication plans, and intra-team data sharing. 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. This chart will aid reviewers in assessing the feasibility and likelihood that the work plan is adequate for achieving project objectives within the funding period. It will also aid in assessing the degree of integration and collaboration, and the availability of appropriate intellectual and technical expertise for each aim.
    • Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP, 1-page max): This attachment should include a summary of strategies to advance the scientific and technical merit of the proposed project through expanded inclusivity, a timeline, and milestones for relevant components. Please see the PEDP page for more information. 

Next Steps

The first application receipt date (October 7th, 2022) is upcoming for the new NINDS Interdisciplinary Team Science RM1 (FOA) (RFA-NS-22-036). To determine if your proposal fits the NINDS mission and RM1 mechanism, please provide the following information to your NINDS Program Official or to the NINDSTeamScience@.nih.gov inbox as soon as possible. Non-responsive applications will be withdrawn.  

  1. Descriptive title of the application
  2. Specific aims
  3. List of the PIs with their affiliations and brief description of the expertise relevant to the proposed project
  4. Estimated budget (Approximate Direct/Total Costs, with broad categorical allocations) 

Staff will not evaluate the technical and scientific merit of the proposed project; technical and scientific merit will be determined during peer review using the review criteria indicated in this FOA. During the consultation phase, if the proposed project does not meet the programmatic needs of this FOA, applicants will be strongly encouraged to consider other funding opportunities. For requests of $500,000 or more for direct costs in any year, please follow the Policy on the Acceptance for Review of Unsolicited Applications that Request $500,000 or More in Direct Costs as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

 

Related Topics

RFA-NS-22-036

FAQs (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-NS-22-036) 

Plan For Enhancing Diverse Perspective (PEDP) 

NINDS Director's Message on the Team Science RM1

Webinar Event (Wednesday June 29, 2022 12-1PM EDT)