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Intramural Research Support Program
General Information
Objectives- The goal of the Intramural Research Support Program is to enhance research activities in the School of Dentistry. Highest priority is given to 1) providing support for new investigators who are endeavoring to initiate and develop their research programs, and 2) supporting pilot studies with a clear potential for expansion into larger projects that can compete for extramural funding. Priority will be given to those research projects which involve School of Dentistry students.
Eligibility- Participation as co-investigator in an intramurally funded project is not restricted. The following eligibility guidelines refer to the Principal Investigator (PI), defined as the primary author of the proposal and the person assuming responsibility for completion of the project.
- Full-time faculty members of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry are eligible.
- Pre-doctoral students and residents of the School of Dentistry are eligible, with the stipulation that such individuals must (a) be in good academic standing and have at least average academic performance, (b) demonstrate a primary role in development of the research project and proposal, and (c) be sponsored by a faculty mentor.
Submission of Applications- A letter of intent should be submitted to the School of Dentistry’s Office of Research on or before February 1. The letter should include: (1) the project title, (2) a list of all participating personnel and their roles on the project, and (3) an abstract that briefly describes the hypothesis and methods. A full grant application is due on or before March 1. Applicants will be notified of award by April 1.
Method of Review- Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria in order of decreasing importance: (1) ability of investigators to complete the project, (2) appropriateness of budget, (3) use of appropriate methods, (4) potential to result in subsequent extramural funding, (5) likelihood that the results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, (6) collaboration between students and faculty, and (7) collaboration between basic science and clinical faculty. The Dean of the School of Dentistry will be informed if funding is recommended.
Amount of Award- Although there is no fixed maximum budget for proposals, it may become necessary to set a limit per proposal according to the total funds available. At present, budgets greater than $2000 will require special justification.
Restrictions on Use of Funds- The available funds are restricted to expenditures categorized as commodities (supplies), which may include small items (<$1000) of non-inventoried equipment except for consumer electronics. At present, awards cannot be made for costs of inventoried equipment, training, salary, software, or travel. Costs for services require prior approval on a case-by-case basis. Examples of services that have been approved in the past include postage and long distance telephone for surveys, printing of posters, and care of live animals. Student travel for the presentation of research results is sponsored by the Office of the Dean through a separate program. However, in order for such travel to be considered, research abstracts must be submitted to the Office of Research and approval received prior to submitting the abstract to the conference organizers. This office will review and consider which research results are worthy of having the travel funded. Any funded travel must follow our student travel policy.
Award Period- Awards are made for a one-year period, that is, all grant accounts terminate at the end of March. Because of this, awarded funds should be utilized as promptly as possible.
Compliance Issues- When developing a research project it is essential to consider whether the work involves any of the following.
- Human subjects (IRB)
- Animals (IACUC)
- Radiation or radioisotopes (Radiation Safety Committee)
- Recombinant DNA or pathogenic organisms (Biohazards Committee)
There is a regulatory committee for each of these areas, and verification of approval by the applicable committee is necessary before funding can be awarded for any project that involves these activities. Information can be obtained online at the UMMC Division of Research site.
Mandatory Report- A Progress and Expenditure Report must be sent to the Office of Research within 90 days of the end of the award period. This report should include a brief description of progress made in the project, a list of publications (including abstracts) arising from the project, and any applications to other funding sources resulting from the intramural support. The report should also include an account of expenditures. Principal Investigators of funded applications will be expected to make a strong commitment to complete the proposed project. In rare cases, the Principal Investigator may need to request an extension. In these cases, a progress report must be submitted on or before March 1st along with a projected timeline and budget for completion. Extensions are not guaranteed. They may be granted at the discretion of the Office of the Dean.
Acknowledgement- Publications (including abstracts) resulting from research supported by these funds should acknowledge this support by the following statement: “Supported by the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry Intramural Research Support Program.”
Sources of Assistance in Developing a Proposal- The application procedure may seem arduous; however, the intention is that the process of thoroughly planning a research project (development of a formal proposal and submission to peer review) will maximize the likelihood that efforts will be successful and rewarding. Moreover, if research is carefully planned, the investigator will have accomplished much of the writing of the manuscript(s) that will be submitted for publication when the study is completed. An excellent discussion of grant writing can be found in the Journal of Dental Education, 50(3): 180-186, 1986. Applicants with questions or comments should feel free to call the Office of Research (601-984-6010).
Application Instructions
The proposal should be written according to the following format:
FACE PAGE. The first page of the application should be the completed UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY APPLICATION FOR INTRAMURAL RESEARCH GRANT, -with all signatures and copies of any approved assurances.
I. RESEARCH PLAN (typically about 3 pages)
- Specific Aims- This should be a concise explanation of exactly what the project will accomplish. In other words, you should state what new information the research is intended to produce. The preferred format is a statement of one or more hypotheses that will be tested. If this is part of a larger project, then indicate where this study fits within the long-term objectives.
- Background and Significance- This section should explain why the accomplishment of the stated aims is worthwhile. You should provide a brief, critical review of current related literature and indicate the deficiencies or discrepancies that will be addressed by your project.
- Preliminary Studies (optional) - If the investigators have done previous work that relates to the present project, this should be outlined here. Any other information supporting the investigator's ability to complete the project will be helpful.
- Experimental Design and Methods- This section should explain exactly how the stated specific aims will be accomplished. You should outline the design strategy and timeline, and indicate what methods will be used to obtain data. If experimental variables are to be narrowed based on initial results, then specify the screening criteria. If a new material, device, or technique is to be developed, then specify the performance levels necessary to proceed to the next stage of product development. Statistical tests of hypotheses must be clearly described. It is also important to describe precisely all experimental controls, even if they seem obvious. Finally, a discussion of the possible outcomes and corresponding implications is a good way to demonstrate that the project has been carefully thought out.
II. LITERATURE CITED
Use any format that provides full information on the reference.
III. LIST OF RELATED PUBLICATIONS BY PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR AND OTHER PROJECT PERSONNEL
A lack of such publications by a new investigator should not discourage submission of the proposal. Curriculum vitae (CVs) may be substituted for this section.
IV. KEY PERSONNEL
Briefly describe the specific role and time commitment of each participant in the project.
V. RESOURCES AND OTHER SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROJECT
List the equipment and facilities necessary, and their availability for this project.
V. BUDGET
Itemize the approximate costs of supplies (including animals) and pre-approved services. Recall that this funding mechanism cannot support travel, salary, training, software, or purchases of equipment.