CU Anschutz SOM Programmatic Incubator for Research (CU ASPIRE) Program

• Research must be focused on an unmet need in basic science or clinical medicine that can only be addressed by a team of investigators. This focused research effort must be built around a scientific hypothesis and is distinct from the SOM Transformational Research Programs, which are much broader in vision and scope.
• The interdisciplinary research group should operate with the goals of:
  • Establishing preliminary findings to support the unifying scientific theme of the program, including joint publications.
  • Developing a plan to programmatically integrate the investigators, projects, and cores.
  • Identifying a funding agency and establish a timeline and plan for grant submission of a program project, center grant, or large (> $1M direct) multi-PI grant application in 2-3 years.
• This is a milestone-driven program with continued funding dependent on progress to programmatic research. Progress will be evaluated every 6 months.
• After Year 1 of funding, project teams will present their progress to program leadership and other relevant scientists, outlining overall progress and achievement of milestones, including progress towards submission of a program project grant application. Year 2 of funding will be contingent on progress during Year 1.

• PI must hold a primary appointment in a Department within the School of Medicine. Multi-PI applications will not be accepted.
• At least 3 and no more than 5 investigators (inclusive of the PI) are required as part of the application.
• At least two investigators (other than the PI) must have a primary appointment at the University of Colorado.  This could include CU investigators in schools outside of the School of Medicine, investigators throughout the CU System, and CU investigators employed by Denver Health, National Jewish Health, and the VAMC. 
• One investigator may be included from an institution outside of the University of Colorado.
• Individuals from traditionally under-represented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Title page including contact information and 200-word abstract focusing on the significance of the unmet need in basic science or clinical medicine.
• Specific Aims (1 page): overview of program proposal, its critical components, and how support of this program is expected to lead to external programmatic support.
• Research plan (5 pages) – The research plan should emphasize how the program will result in scientific progress that is more than the sum of the parts.  Recommended structure includes the following components:
  • Overall research goal, rationale for the program, and scientific hypothesis
  • Significance of the scientific theme, programmatic integration of the team, potential impact of the research, and innovation
  • Description of anticipated projects and cores
• Investigators (1 page): summarize the role of each investigator, their accomplishments, and evidence of previous collaboration between the investigators.
• Path to external funding (0.5 page): describe how the two years of funding will lead to submission of a program project, center grant, or multi-PI grant application in 2-3 years.
• NIH biosketch for each investigator.
• Up to 3 letters of support may be included.
• No limit on references. 
• Appendices will not be accepted.
• Budget and justification for up to $100,000/year for up to 2 years of support. Funding may not be used for salary support for investigators, administrative activities, support conferences, or travel (unless specifically approved by the CU ASPIRE Program).  No indirect costs are allowed.
• Awardees will be required to meet with program leadership every 3 months to discuss progress and potential problems.

Reviewers will evaluate applications based on:

• Scientific merit including significance of scientific theme
• Programmatic integration of scientific team
• Prior productivity of scientific team members
• Likelihood of project leading to scientific accomplishments and external funding in 2-3 years
• Applications should demonstrate how the proposed structure of the expected external funding application will enable the scientific goals to be achieved.
• Applications will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee of non-conflicted SOM faculty.