Bonus Funding for CTSI Pilot Awards
CTSI offers Bonus funding for some Pilot Awards. Specific Bonuses may not be available for every funding opportunity. Each funding opportunity announcement will indicate whether or not Bonus Awards are available. Applicants should inquire with CTSI staff if they are not sure.
Proposals for Pilot Awards should apply for only one Bonus Award. In special circumstances, based on the program and the availability of funds, applicants may be permitted to apply for a second Bonus Award, but the team must receive permission from CTSI staff in advance.
The purpose of bonus awards is to encourage and to support particular activities and initiatives within the research community. Bonus Awards must be requested in the original proposal budget and cannot be requested after the grant review is complete. Applying for a Bonus Award does not impact the review of the Pilot Award proposal and is not required for any Pilot Award.
- When applying for bonus funding, follow all instructions for the parent Pilot Award.
- In the initial Round 1 application, indicate in the letter of intent which bonus award the application will seek (limit 1 sentence).
- In the complete Round 2 application, include the extra bonus amount in the proposed budget. In the event that an application is selected for funding, but not selected for the bonus award, the final budget can be adjusted in consultation with the CTSI staff.
- In the complete Round 2 application, include in the application proposal a description as a separate section of how the project meets the criteria for the bonus award (limit 1 page in addition to the regular application), and any supporting letters or materials (no limit).
The review and selection of grants for bonus awards is independent of the parent Pilot Award. In general, CTSI faculty and staff will review whether an award meets the criteria for a bonus award only after the Pilot Award is selected for funding based on peer review of its scientific merit. Specialized reviewers or external reviewers may help CTSI faculty determine suitability for Bonus Awards. Proposals will be judged to be “eligible” or “not eligible.”
Community Engagement Bonus Award
Conducting research with community members and increasing participation of communities outside of the University in the research enterprise is a priority for CTSI (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/communityengagement/pdf/PCE_Report_508_FINAL.pdf).
There are many examples of how community groups might engage. See for example: Callard F, Rose D, Wykes T. Close to the bench as well as at the bedside: involving service users in all phases of translational research. Health Expect. 2012; 15(4):389-400. PMID: 21615638; PMCID: PMC5060629.
Examples include:
- Community council that will participate in the development of the research question, analysis or dissemination to ensure that the proposed research is relevant to an UBR community.
- Participation by a community group to improve recruitment.
Bonuses must provide a Letter of Support (does not count toward page limits) from any community group describing active participation in the proposed research study. It is expected and encouraged to compensate community partners for their participation, and these bonus funds may also do this indirectly by supporting other project activities.
Applications that deliver a meaningful research experience to an early career investigator may be eligible for an additional $5,000 of funding.
“Early career” may include any investigator on a team who does not have a regular faculty appointment. Secondary school students, undergraduates, predoctoral students, health professional students, residents, fellows, and postdoctoral scholars are included. Persons who are University staff (e.g. research coordinators) might also be eligible if the proposal explains how the experience may lead them towards more independent or sustained research careers. Faculty members are not eligible for these bonuses, because they are already eligible to apply as the Principal Investigator. Contact CTSI staff if you are not sure about eligibility.
Bonus funds should specifically benefit the individual, though we expect this investment and engagement will also benefit the project. Successful applications will identify the early career investigator on the team and propose didactic or experiential training specifically for the early career investigator.
Funds from the bonus, as well as funds within the core Pilot Award, may be used for:
- Salary support for the trainee
- Workshops, classes or training materials for the trainee
- Travel to and preparation for a meeting for the trainee
- Project costs or supplies that enhance the trainee’s experience
- Subprojects that foster trainee independence
Note that NIH restricts purchase of certain infrastructure items with grant funds. These items include computers, telephones, office equipment, and others. Salary for graduate medical trainees and professional school tuition are not eligible for funding. Consult with CTSI staff about any items that might be restricted.