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Research Funding Opportunities for 2008. Presentation Overview. Background on the LSDF Preview of the LSDF 08-01 RFP Preview of the LSDF 08-02 RFP Status report on LSDF 07-01, 07-02
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Presentation Overview • Background on the LSDF • Preview of the LSDF 08-01 RFP • Preview of the LSDF 08-02 RFP • Status report on LSDF 07-01, 07-02 • Goal: explain LSDF granting programs and encourage submission of high quality proposals consistent with the LSDF mission.
LSDF Mission • The Life Sciences Discovery Fund supports innovative research in Washington State to promote life sciences competitiveness, enhance economic vitality, and improve health and health care. • The mission is addressed through competitive granting programs.
Background on LSDF and Its Granting Programs • An agency of the State of Washington • Anticipate receiving $35M/yr of tobacco settlement bonus payments to invest in life sciences research over a period of 10 years • “Life sciences research” is that which is intended to improve human health. • Grants are investments in Washington’s future. • LSDF does not want to replicate other funding programs.
LSDF Leadership • Governed by a Board of Trustees: • Rita Colwell Senator Chris Marr • Jim Cook Senator Jerome Delvin • Tony Hey Rep. Jeff Morris • Gary Locke Rep. Skip Priest • Bruce Montgomery • Lura Powell (Chair) • Cheryl Scott • Lee Huntsman (Executive Director)
LSDF Activities in 2008 • Two grant competitions: • LSDF 08-01 (Projects) “Research projects to improve health and health care in Washington State” (~$6-8M) • LSDF 08-02 (Programs) “New programs of research to improve health and health care in Washington State” (~$18-20M)
2008 Timelines • Event08-0108-02 • RFP release Jan. 23 Feb. 27 • Letter of intent due Feb. 20 Mar. 26 • Proposal due Apr. 16 Jun. 4 • Interviews NA ~Nov. 10 • Awardees announced Aug. 6 Dec. 17 • Start Date Sep., 2008 May, 2009
Basics of the Competitions • Eligibility: WA public and non-profit organizations • For-profit entities in collaboration with eligible organizations are encouraged to apply. • No cap on award size or duration • Proposals must show the potential for achieving LSDF’s core goals: enhancing life sciences competitiveness, improving health and health care and fostering economic development. • Indirect cost reimbursement is recast from a percentage of direct costs to the actual costs of performing research.
LSDF 08-01 Competition • To fund research projects that: • are aimed at improving health and health care in WA; • are investigator-initiated; • have a defined endpoint and limited specific aims, (i.e. are not meant to persist); and • have the ability to contribute to the Washington economy. • ~$6-8M is expected to be awarded (~5-10 awards). • Single stage external review
LSDF 08-02 Competition • To enable new programs of research that: • are aimed at improving health and health care in WA; • are of strategic importance to applicant organizations (e.g. resource commitment); • are built upon strengths of applicant organizations; • show unique synergies among the participants; • are intended to endure; and • have the ability to contribute to the Washington economy, including the potential to attract follow-on funding. • ~$18-20M expected to be awarded (~4-8 awards) • Two stage external review, including interviews of selected programs.
LSDF Application Process • On-line submission system • Letter of intent • Not a screening tool; helps LSDF estimate its workload and prepare for peer review • Proposal • 20 page maximum, NIH-style
Review of Proposals and Award of Grants • Expert review: • Is the scientific/technical/(organizational) merit sound? • What are the potential health and health-care benefits to the state? • What is the potential for economic return? • Review panels will be organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). • Interviewees and awardees will be selected by the Board of Trustees.
Should I Apply? • Proposals must make a strong case with regard to each of the following questions: • Why won’t the project/program be accomplished without LSDF’s investment? • What will be the pay-off to the State of Washington from LSDF’s investment in the research in terms of: • improving health or health care? • contributing to the Washington economy? • Meet with LSDF programs staff to discuss your concept.
Program vs. Project • Is my proposed research a project or a program? • Project: • Is the research likely to be completed within the grant term? • Does the research have a relatively narrow scope? • Do I have a relatively small number of collaborators and co-applicant institutions? • Program: • Am I initiating a program that will endure well beyond the grant term, with evolving research that nonetheless fits under the program’s umbrella? • Do I have significant support (new $, space, faculty commitment) from my institution that will be interpreted as strategic support? • This is not an assembly of projects performed in parallel but rather a new undertaking that involves new synergistic collaborations, a logical but new direction of research, and significant creative vision.
Potential Health-Related Returns • Does the research have the potential to: • improve diagnosis, treatment, prevention and management of diseases? • translate research discoveries to practice? • increase efficiencies in health care and health-care systems?
Potential Economic Returns • Does the research have the potential to: • attract follow-on grant/investment funding? • decrease state expenditures for healthcare? • create jobs within the life sciences sector? • enhance commercialization of research outcomes? • spin out new companies with the prospect for new job creation?
Progress Reports • Reports are necessary for LSDF to track “return on investment.” • Hands-on staff/site visits • Grantees will be required to submit semi-annual, final and post-project reports, including: • progress on project milestones (trigger payments), and • additional specified LSDF metrics.
LSDF 07-01 Competition • Theme: “Beneficial applications of technology to improve health care quality and cost effectiveness” • 102 letters of intent; 74 proposals; > $57M in requests (ave. ~$763,000) • 6 awards made: $4.3M
LSDF 07-02 Competition • Theme: “Innovative programs to advance health research” • 120 letters of intent; 75 proposals; > $285M in requests (ave. ~$3.83M) • 9 PIs/teams will be interviewed in mid-March; awards in early April.
Further Information and Contacts • Website: www.lsdfa.org • Currently hiring for two positions • “Return on investment” in LSDF grants: at website under “About/Events and News”: “Report to the Legislature 2006 ” • Questions about the 2008 competitions: programs@lsdfa.orgor (206) 732-6770