Intramural Research Support Committee
Interim Funding Program

POLICY

This program provides interim support for faculty-initiated research projects when federal or peer reviewed national foundation grant funding has been interrupted by an unsuccessful competitive renewal. Federal funding includes the National Institutes of Health (e.g., R01, P01, or Center subproject), the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, and other federal agencies. National foundation grants must have had a duration of at least two years.

This program provides, on a competitive basis, some interim funding for key aspects of an ongoing research project during preparation and review of a revised application, so that investigators who are believed likely to obtain continued funding can continue their research effort without loss of key support personnel and resources.

The program supports staff salaries and supplies for basic and clinical research. Support for specialized research resources may be requested when necessary to maintain the momentum of an established research program. Such an application should be discussed with the Office of Research (OR) before preparation. Federal contracts and industrial awards which were not renewed are not eligible for support under this program.

Because there are more requests for support than funds available, preference will be given to those situations in which interim funding will most likely result in a national award. The Federal or other application shall be in the upper (better) half of applications reviewed. That is, an "unscored" NIH grant would not usually be eligible because it is in the lower (poorer) half reviewed. An important consideration for interim funding is the Initial Review Group (study section) or equivalent review of the unsuccessful application. The critique of the review group should suggest concrete changes or the acquisition of additional data that can be accomplished in the interim period.

However, in an exceptional instance, an unscored NIH application may have a problem that might be remedied through this program -- such as the acquisition and use of a key reagent that was lacking in the rejected application. If it is thought this kind of situation pertains to the rejected application, provide the study section critique and a memorandum of explanation for preliminary review as to applicability to the program. Preliminary review submissions are due one month before the established interim deadlines.

There are four target deadlines for this program each year.  They are posted on the Office of Research site under Intramural Research Support Deadlines.

The size of awards will vary, depending on need; generally, they will not exceed $35,000-$45,000. Unless justified, expenditures are to be prorated evenly over the 12-month budget cycle. Unexpended interim funds revert to the School at the time extramural funding for this research program is established.  Unexpended funds will be returned to the School at the end of the project period.  Extensions of time beyond the 12 months are not permitted for Interim IRSC grants.  

With appropriate justification, faculty may apply for interim funding when a need is demonstrated even when there is another funded grant.

Interim support may be requested for a unique research resource if necessary to maintain the momentum of the applicant's research program. The budget for such an application shall be appropriate to the project, and the application discussed with the Office of Research prior to submitting the application. Ineligible situations include:

• continuation of intramural award projects
• local (Triad region award projects)
• state awards (e.g., N.C. affiliates of national associations)
• new federal or foundation projects with no current grant supporting that area of the faculty member's research program

PROCEDURES

Applications consist of the following:

1. IRSC APPLICATION COVER FORM  (8/14/06 Version)
2. ENDORSEMENT - A memorandum from the Chairman or designate must support the request for interim funding and explain why interim support is justified, with assurance of resubmittal of the grant application at the earliest appropriate cycle.
3. GRANT COPY - Submit one Adobe PDF document and the original and one (1) complete copy of the grant application for which interim funding is requested, with an updated biographical sketch. Faculty salaries should be blocked out. A full curriculum vitae is not necessary.
4. SUMMARY STATEMENT - The agency's scientific critique must be included in its entirety.
5. WHY INTERIM FUNDS ARE NEEDED - Briefly outline the need for interim funding with respect to the maintenance of a long-term, extramurally funded research program. If appropriate, include a discussion of the impact on key personnel, special research resources, unique animal models, and so on.
6. RESEARCH PLAN - The applicant must outline a specific research plan that will be carried out during the period of interim funding. The application should include:

Hypothesis, objectives and specific aims for period covered by interim funding.

Background, including investigator's perception of the shortcomings identified by the study section. Here the investigator discusses the study section's critique.

Abbreviated Experimental Plan. Here the investigator should emphasize how the Plan will address the critique, how the experimental approach may differ from that previously proposed, how the new plan will address the perceived shortcomings of the application, and the expected outcome(s). The description should be succinct but specific. Include appropriate journal references. The section should not exceed 4 single-spaced pages.

Also, include a copy of the Introduction section of the revised application, and a timeline for plans to submit a revised application.

7. RESOURCES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE - All currently available financial resources must be described , both intra- and extramural. Include carryover funds from the grant for which interim funding is sought, other federal, association, or industrial grant funds, departmental resources and any other interim funding sought. If other resources are available, describe why interim funds are needed.
8. BUDGET - Provide an itemized budget, typically for a 12-month period. The Principal Investigator's salary will be from departmental resources. Equipment and travel will not be supported. The budget will show a subtotal to which other resources will contribute, and by subtraction, the total funds requested from this program will be determined.

For example:

Budget for December 1, _______ through November 30, ________

Personnel
Principal Investigator	-30%	Department Support
Technician	-100%	$44,300
Supplies
Itemize	$6,700
Other
Waste disposal	$ 600
TOTAL	______ $51,600
Grant funds carried over	( 5,100)
Department interim funds	( 5,000)
INTERIM FUNDING REQUEST	$41,500

9. BUDGET JUSTIFICATION - Provide a justification for each of the budget items when item is not self-explanatory (one page or less).
10. Submit the original and 1 copy of the application and an Adobe pdf document (email to pgatsis@wfubmc.edu, CD, floppy or Zip disk) to the Office of Research. See deadlines in Pursuit, or on the Office of Research website.

REVIEW CRITERIA

The Intramural Research Support Committee will review applications for interim funding. A key criterion will be a judgment of the likelihood of funding if interim support is provided. The committee will rely heavily on the evaluation of scientific merit as reflected in the scientific critique by the Study Section. Applicants may wish to comment, however, on the adequacy of this scientific merit review as it relates to studies to be conducted during the period of interim funding. The review committee will prioritize requests for support and transmit their recommendations to the Assistant Dean for Research.