CU Anschutz SOM Programmatic Incubator for Research (CU ASPIRE) Program

Category 1. School of Medicine oriented applications

• PI must hold a primary appointment in a Department within the School of Medicine.

Category 2. Cross-campus applications

• PI must hold a primary appointment in a Department within one of the CU Anschutz Schools/Colleges (Medicine, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dental Medicine, Nursing or Public Health).

General Eligibility Criteria (applies to both Category 1 and 2)

• At least 3 and no more than 5 investigators (inclusive of the PI) are required as part of the application.
• Multi-PI applications will not be accepted.
• At least two investigators (other than the PI) must have a primary appointment at the University of Colorado. This could include CU investigators in CU Anschutz Schools/Colleges (Medicine, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dental Medicine, Nursing or Public Health), investigators throughout the CU System, and CU investigators employed by Denver Health, National Jewish Health, and the VAMC.
• Up to two investigators may be included from an institution outside of the University of Colorado.
• Individuals from traditionally under-represented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Research must be focused on an unmet need in basic science or clinical medicine that can only be addressed by a team of investigators. This focused research effort must be built around a scientific hypothesis and is distinct from the SOM Transformational Research Programs, which are much broader in vision and scope.
  
• The interdisciplinary research group should operate with the goals of:
  • Establishing preliminary findings to support the unifying scientific theme of the program, including joint publications.
  • Developing a plan to programmatically integrate the investigators, projects, and cores.
  • Identifying a funding agency and establish a timeline and plan for grant submission of a program project or center grant (> $1M direct) application in 2-3 years.
    
• This is a milestone-driven program with continued funding dependent on progress to programmatic research. Progress will be evaluated every 6 months.
  
• After Year 1 of funding, project teams will present their progress to program leadership and other relevant scientists, outlining overall progress and achievement of milestones, including progress towards submission of a program project grant application. Year 2 of funding will be contingent on progress during Year 1.

• Title page including contact information and 200-word abstract focusing on the significance of the unmet need in basic science or clinical medicine. Please specify whether the application should be considered under Category 1 or 2 or both.
  
• Specific Aims (1 page): The Specific Aims page should include an overview of the program proposal, overall scientific goal and hypothesis, critical components of the proposal, and how support of this program is expected to lead to external programmatic support.
  
• Research plan (5 pages) – The research plan should emphasize how the program will result in scientific progress that is more than the sum of the parts. Recommended structure includes the following components:
  • Overall research goal, rationale for the program, and scientific hypothesis
  • Significance of the scientific theme, programmatic integration of the team, potential impact of the research, and innovation
  • Description of anticipated projects and cores
    
• Investigators (1 page): summarize the role of each investigator, their accomplishments, and evidence of previous collaboration between the investigators.
  
• Path to external funding (0.5 page): describe how the two years of funding will lead to submission of a program project or center grant grant application in 2-3 years.
  
• NIH biosketch for each investigator.
  
• Up to 3 letters of support may be included.
  
• No limit on references.
  
• Appendices will not be accepted.
  
• Budget and justification for up to $100,000/year for up to 2 years of support. Funding may not be used for salary support for investigators, administrative activities, support conferences, or travel (unless specifically approved by the CU ASPIRE Program). No indirect costs are allowed.
  
• Awardees will be expected to meet with program leadership every 3 months to discuss progress and potential challenges.

• Format application materials as a single PDF
• Submissions will only be accepted through the following link:
  • https://redcap.ucdenver.edu/surveys/?s=AFEYFRP7PJDRKFKL
• The application due date is February 1, 2023

Reviewers will evaluate applications based on:

• Scientific merit including significance of scientific theme
• Programmatic integration of scientific team
• Prior productivity of scientific team members
• Likelihood of project leading to scientific accomplishments and external funding in 2-3 years
• Applications should demonstrate how the proposed structure of the expected external funding application will enable the scientific goals to be achieved.
• Applications will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee of non-conflicted CU Anschutz Medical campus faculty.

• Posted Date: October 14, 2022
• Application Due Date: February 1, 2023

For questions regarding program and application process:

ASPIRE Email Box: ASPIRERFA@ucdenver.edu 
Jennifer T. Kemp, PhD (jennifer.t.kemp@cuanschutz.edu)
Nancy Miller (nancy.j.miller@cuanschutz.edu)

CU ASPIRE Program Director: David Schwartz, MD (david.schwartz@cuanschutz.edu)

CU ASPIRE Program Co-Director: Lori Sussel, PhD (lori.sussel@cuanschutz.edu)

View list of the 2022 ASPIRE Program Team Awards >