Jump to FAQ's about: the Stage Two Application, Pre-Proposal Application, Eligibility, Percent Effort, Other Funding, Letters of Support, and Miscellaneous Issues (including IRB requirements, indirect costs, salary caps, preliminary animal research, and success rates).
If your question is not answered after reviewing the FAQ’s, email ddcf@aibs.org with “2013 CSDA” as the subject line. No phone calls please.
Stage Two Application Questions
How do I return to my proposal once I've started it?
You may use this link to access a proposal that is in progress. You should bookmark this page to return to your proposal.
Is there a template for letters of support?
No, for the second stage of the competition both the chair and the mentor must provide signed letters on institutional letterhead. These letters must be appended to the proposal as indicated in the instructions.
My mentor is the chair of my department. Do I need to find another person to write my mentor letter of support?
No. Your chair may provide a letter that addresses both roles, as mentor and as chair providing institutional support.
Would the new public access policy adopted by DDCF in 2013 limit the journals to which I can submit my DDCF-funded work?
No. The policy will only require that you submit an electronic copy of your final peer‐reviewed manuscripts in the PubMed Central online archive immediately upon acceptance for journal publication. The manuscript will have to be made publicly available in PubMed Central no later than 12 months after the official date of journal publication.
Pre-Proposal Application
What is the difference between the institution where I hold a faculty appointment and the grant receiving organization?
The degree-granting institution where your faculty-level appointment is located (e.g., Harvard University) may differ from the grant receiving organization. If you are associated with an affiliated research hospital or research institute (e.g., Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and your grants are administered through that organization, then that institution is the grant receiving organization.
Are there any limitations on the number of applications that can be submitted per institution for this competition?
No, there are no limits regarding the number of applications that can be submitted per institution. However all applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and must be able to provide a letter of institutional support from the department chair to assure institutional commitment and protection of professional time for research.
Eligibility
Must my institution nominate me to apply for the 2013 Clinical Scientist Development Award competition?
No, nominations are not required to apply for this competition. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria to apply.
Am I eligible to apply if I work at a research institution or hospital that is affiliated with a university or medical school?
Individuals working at research institutions or hospitals affiliated with a Medical School or University (the degree-granting institution) are eligible as long as they hold a full-time faculty appointment at the assistant professor level at the degree-granting institution.
What is a degree-granting institution?
An accredited, degree-granting institution in the U.S encompasses the institution, all affiliated graduate schools, related hospitals and research institutes.
Do I qualify to apply if I work at a research institute or hospital?
Individuals from independent research institutes and hospitals that are not affiliated with an accredited, degree-granting institution in the U.S. are not eligible to apply. These awards are intended to support physician scientists working in an academic environment. Investigators at research institutes and hospitals with academic appointments are encouraged to apply through eligible institutions.
Why are there restrictions on the tax status of the institution accepting the award?
DDCF can award grants only to institutions that have letters from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service documenting that they have been determined to be exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that they are not a private foundation or a Type III supporting organization as defined in Section 509(a) of the Code. Please contact ddcf@aibs.org if you have any questions.
Am I eligible to apply if I do not have a valid medical license?
No, only physician scientists with a valid medical license at the time of application are eligible for this competition.
I have a joint appointment. Which institution should I apply through?
You should apply through the institution where you have a full-time appointment. If your appointment is considered full-time at both institutions, then you should apply through the institution that will administer your award.
Can international investigators apply to the CSDA?
Yes, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria. Applicants do not have to be U.S. citizens.
I work in clinical research, but I have a Ph.D. not an M.D. Am I eligible to apply?
No. Applicants must have received an M.D. or a foreign equivalent, or D.O. from an accredited institution.
My title is instructor. Am I eligible to apply?
Full-time, post-fellowship instructor positions are eligible only when recognized as full-time faculty level appointments by the applicant institution.
I was an instructor prior to my current appointment as assistant professor. Am I eligible to apply?
If your Instructor position was considered a full-time faculty level appointment by the institution and the date of the appointment occurred after January 1, 2008, then you are eligible to apply. To be eligible, applicants must be appointed to their first full-time faculty level position between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2013.
I completed my fellowship in 2002, was appointed as a full-time assistant professor-level instructor in 2005, and was appointed as an assistant professor in 2008. Am I eligible to apply?
No. To be eligible, applicants must be appointed to their first full-time faculty level appointment between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2013.
I was appointed as an assistant professor at my current institution in 2008, but was previously an assistant professor at another institution (appointed in 2005). Am I eligible to apply?
No. To be eligible, applicants must be appointed to their first full-time faculty level appointment between January 1, 2008 and January 1, 2013.
I held a research associate position in 2007, but was appointed as full-time faculty in March 2008. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. Research Associate positions are not considered full-time faculty level appointments.
Can fellows apply to the CSDA?
No. Individuals in fellowship and research associate-level positions are not eligible for the CSDA competition.
Are there any limitations in terms of clinical areas you are willing to fund?
No. Clinical investigators working in any disease area are eligible for this award.
I have been a full-time faculty member for more than five years, but I took an official leave of absence during this time. Can a leave of absence exception be made to the eligibility requirement since my first full-time faculty appointment was made prior to January 1, 2008?
The foundation will consider requests for such exceptions on a case-by-case basis. There are no guarantees that exceptions will be granted. Contact ddcf@aibs.org to discuss your specific case.
Are acting assistant professors or adjunct assistant professors eligible for this award?
This award is intended for physician scientists who hold a full-time academic position with a length of appointment that covers the grant period (minimum of three years). Individuals with acting and adjunct professor post-fellowship positions are not eligible unless these positions are recognized as full-time assistant professor level faculty appointments by your institution.
Are adjunct instructors or acting instructors eligible for this award?
No. This award is intended for physician-scientists who hold a full-time academic position with a length of appointment that covers the grant period (minimum of three years).
My institution considers an adjunct professor position to be a full-time, faculty level position. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. If your institution considers an adjunct professor position to be a full-time, faculty level position, you may apply for this award.
Am I ineligible if I held an acting instructor, acting assistant professor or an adjunct position before January 1, 2007?
If the position of acting instructor, acting assistant professor or adjunct assistant professor was considered a temporary position at your institution, then it does not count toward the five year restriction.
Percent Effort
I have a National Institutes of Health K series award, which requires 75% research effort. Can I still apply for the CSDA?
An awardee must devote 75% of his/her professional time to research, but there is no minimum effort requirement for the CSDA project itself. However, if the CSDA proposal requests salary support for the CSDA grantee, the percent effort committed to the CSDA project must be equal to or greater than the percent salary charged.
I am a surgeon and I have a large clinical commitment; however, I also do research. Do I have to dedicate 75% of my time doing research?
On rare occasions, exceptions have been made on a case-by-case basis. Please contact ddcf@aibs.org if you have questions.
Other Funding
I have been successful in obtaining other research funding. Will this hurt my chances in getting an award?
No, candidates will not be penalized for having other career development awards, but there can be no scientific or budgetary overlap between the proposed aims of the CSDA research and those of other awards.
I am the principal investigator or co-principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health R01. Can I apply for this award?
No. An award will not be made if, prior to the commencement of this award, the applicant has been or becomes the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health, peer-reviewed, R01 or equivalent research grant. This includes but is not limited to: research projects that are part of a P01 program project, P50 center grant or a U01 cooperative agreement, and DP1, DP2, and R37 grants. K99/R00 awardees are eligible only when the R00 component starts after July 1, 2013.
I have a National Institutes of Health K series award or other research support. Can I propose the same scientific aims?
No. The aims proposed on your CSDA application must be distinct from those of other awards, with no scientific or budgetary overlap.
Letters of Support
Can my letter of institutional support from the chair instead be from the head of my division?
Applicants who are part of a department of medicine may have their division head write this letter. All other applicants must have their letter of support written by their department chair.
I have two mentors. Can my mentors both write a letter of support?
For the pre-application you must choose a primary mentor to submit the letter of support. You will be able to provide a joint letter, or separate letters from each mentor if invited to submit a full application.
My mentor is the chair of my department. Do I need to find another person to write my mentor letter of support?
No. Your chair may author the two letters. However note that the two letter templates are different and must both be uploaded to the application site. You will not be able to submit your application without both of these letters.
My primary mentor is also the department chair. Can he or she provide only one letter of support?
No, if your mentor is also the department chair, he or she must provide two letters: a letter of institutional support and a letter of mentorship. Please note that the letters of support must use the templates provided, and the two templates are different.
Where can the department chair and the mentor download the templates for the letters of support?
The applicant must access the online application and follow the instructions within to send information to the individuals providing letters of support. The individuals providing the letters of support will then receive instructions via email with a link to a webpage where the forms may be downloaded.
Will I be notified when my letters of support have been uploaded by my mentor or department chair to the pre-proposal website?
No. You must check your pre-proposal application to see if the letters have been uploaded. Pre-proposals cannot be submitted unless the two letters have been uploaded.
Will I be able to review the letters of support before submitting my pre-proposal application?
No, you will not be able to review or access the letters of support before submitting the pre-proposal application.
Miscellaneous
What is DDCF's definition of clinical research?
Clinical research involves the scientific investigation of the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of human disease using human subjects, human populations or materials of human origin. Included in the definition are studies that utilize tissues or pathogens only if they can be linked to a patient.
It is expected that the research protocols of grant applicants will require Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Occasionally, the Foundation has funded research that does not require IRB approval, such as research using de-identified patient populations. If a research project is being proposed that does not require IRB approval, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact program staff to discuss whether the proposed research falls within the DDCF's definition of clinical research.
In keeping with the wishes expressed in Doris Duke’s will, experiments that use animals or primary tissues derived from animals will not be supported by this program.
When is Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval or submission required to be in effect, at the time of the full proposal submission or before an award is forthcoming?
IRB approval can be pending at the time of full proposal submissions; however, if you receive a grant, we expect that you will have approval by the start date (July 1, 2013) or no later than October 1, 2013.
When is Investigational New Drug (IND) approval required to be in effect, at the time of the full proposal submission or before an award is made?
IND approval can be pending at the time of full proposal submissions; however, if your proposal is recommended for funding, we expect that you will have IND approval by the grant start date of July 1, 2013 and no later than October 1, 2013.
What if I don’t have an exact proposal title by the time of pre-proposal submission?
You only need a tentative title at the pre-proposal stage and will be able to change it if you wish.
Does the award provide any formal coverage of indirect costs?
The total indirect costs for the duration of the award can be up to $12,000 per year for three years.
Is there a salary cap for this award?
No. The foundation does not have a salary cap for what can be charged against this award.
Can I request salary support for my mentor in the budget?
Yes. Up to 5% of the mentor's effort can be included in the budget.
Can I request support for a graduate student or mentee in my budget?
Yes, you may allocate funds to support a graduate student or mentee as long as these individuals would be working on the proposed project. If an award is made you may be required to provide an additional mentoring and career development plan for these individuals.
My preliminary research has included research in animal models. Can I include this in my proposal?
Yes. Preliminary research in animal models may be included in your application. However, no DDCF funds may be used for experiments that utilize animals or primary tissues derived from animals. If you are planning animal studies concurrent to your proposed CSDA research and mention these in your proposal, you must clearly state that these will be supported by other funds and include the source of these funds.
What is the success rate for applicants submitting proposals?
Although there is no way to know how many applications we will receive this year, we can provide an estimate of the success rate based on data from previous competitions. The average success rate for proposals reviewed in past competitions was 13%.
How many awards will be made?
DDCF plans to award up to 16 grants in 2013.