Description
The MSRP Synergistic Idea Award is being offered for the first time in FY09. The Synergistic Idea Award is designed to promote innovative ideas and scientific collaborations by supporting novel approaches to MS research that will move the field toward the MSRP vision of preventing the occurrence, reversing or slowing the progression and disability, and lessening the impact of MS. This award mechanism is designed to support new ideas, not ideas that are extensions of existing collaborative efforts. Collaborative partnerships must involve at least two, and up to a maximum of four, Principal Investigators (PIs) from different research disciplines. Each collaborative partnership should use synergistic and multidisciplinary perspectives to address a central critical problem or question in MS research. FY09 DOD Multiple Sclerosis Synergistic Idea Award 3 Proposals should have a high probability of revealing new avenues of investigation. Applications must clearly identify the synergy that will enable or greatly accelerate the evaluation of a single innovative hypothesis through a multidisciplinary approach. The Synergistic Idea Award requires that the PIs of the collaborative partnership jointly design a single project. However, each partner will be recognized as a PI, submit a separate application, and receive an individual award. The research project should be supported by the unique expertise of each PI, and clearly define the synergistic components that will facilitate and accelerate progress in a way that could not be accomplished through independent efforts. The collaborative partnership should be multidisciplinary; multi-institutional projects are allowed. It is important that each proposed study include clearly stated plans for interactions among all PIs and institutions involved. The plans must include the means to be used for ongoing communication, coordination of research progress and results, and data transfer. Additionally, collaborative partnerships involving multi-institutional applications must provide an intellectual and material property plan to resolve potential intellectual and material property issues and to remove institutional barriers that might interfere with achieving high levels of cooperation to ensure the successful completion of this award. Clinical trials are not allowed under this mechanism. Refer to the Application Instructions and General Information, Appendix 6, for additional information on clinical trials. The overall goal of this award is to accelerate advances in MS research. The MSRP seeks applications from all areas of basic, preclinical, and epidemiological MS research. The following are significant features of this award mechanism: 1. Synergy: It is important that applications clearly identify the synergy that will enable or greatly accelerate the implementation and conduct of a single innovative MS research proposal. Synergistic research projects are those that will significantly advance a project beyond what would be possible through individual efforts. Contributions to the synergy of this mechanism are expected to be balanced between the PIs unless otherwise justified. It should be clear that each PI has contributed significantly to the intellectual development of the proposed project. New collaborations are strongly encouraged but not required. Examples of a collaborative partnership that is not synergistic and, thus, will not be considered for funding under this award mechanism include, but are not limited to: Reagents supplied by one PI and molecular studies completed by the other PI Service function or core support providing laboratory investigations or statistical analyses A project that can be accomplished in a single PIs laboratory 2. Innovation: Innovative MS research may introduce a new paradigm, challenge existing paradigms, look at existing problems from new perspectives, or exhibit other uniquely creative qualities. Examples of research that are not innovative and will not be considered for funding under this award mechanism include: FY09 DOD Multiple Sclerosis Synergistic Idea Award 4 Proposing research that is merely the next logical step or obvious incremental advancement Using a published series of in vitro assays to further characterize a model system Incorporating known biomarkers into in vitro or clinical models of MS 3. Impact: Research that has high impact will, if successful, significantly advance current methods and concepts toward the MSRP vision of preventing the occurrence, reversing or slowing the progression and disability, and lessening the impact of MS. 4. Preliminary Data: Submission of preliminary data relevant to MS and the proposed project is encouraged but not required. If preliminary data is provided, it must have been generated from the laboratory of at least one of the PI members of the collaborative partnership. Although groundbreaking research often involves a degree of risk due to unforeseen difficulties or results, proposals should be based on a sound scientific rationale that is established through logical reasoning and/or critical review and analysis of the literature. 5. Collaborative Partnerships: This award mechanism is designed to accommodate multiple PIs as a method to bring a new perspective to research and facilitate progress in the field of MS research. Therefore, each PI must demonstrate that he or she possesses the research experience and resources to function as a PI in a synergistic project in a significant way, as well as an appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project supported by the grant. While not required, new collaborations are strongly encouraged. A minimum of two, and up to a maximum of four, investigators may work as collaborative partners on a single project; each investigator will be designated a PI. Developing the research plan should involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information with significant intellectual input from all PIs into the design of a single research project. One member of the collaborative partnership will be identified as the Initiating PI, who will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The other member(s) will be identified as the Partnering PI(s) and will need to complete administrative tasks associated with application submission. Separate awards will be made to each PIs institution. Additional collaborators may be included but will not be designated PIs. 6. Multidisciplinary Research: The proposed MS research project should utilize a multidisciplinary approach to answer an important question in MS research. For this award, major disciplines include, but are not limited to, biology, biochemistry, clinical medicine, computational biology, endocrinology, environmental sciences, epidemiology, genetics, immunology, mathematics, microbiology, neuroscience, nutrition, physics, physiology, and statistics.