Faculty Research Seed Grants Program

1. January 14, 2025 - APPLICATION DUE - submit to research [at] mghihp.edu (research[at]mghihp[dot]edu)
2. March 1, 2025: Award start date.
3. August 1, 2025: Midterm report due.
4. February 1, 2026: Project end date.
5. May 31, 2026: Final report due.

• Applicants for these awards must currently hold a faculty appointment at the Institute and have, at minimum, a 10-month contract at a 0.5 FTE level.
• Prior recipients of internal seed grants are NOT eligible.  
• Priority will be given to faculty who have not received start-up funds. 

• The application clearly portrays a significant area in need of research, with well-defined research objectives and a scientifically sound approach to the study that is deemed meritorious by peer review.
• The project is of appropriate scope and rigor to produce preliminary data for use in subsequent applications for extramural funding and publication, and a clear plan is described for how future funding will be pursued (e.g., timeframe, funding agency, type of grant, etc.).
• Priority will be given to interdisciplinary approaches that align with the Institute's strategic vision and mission.
• Applicant's ability to serve as Principal Investigator (PI) is evident by a track record of publications and prior research collaborative activities commensurate with one’s stage of career.
• The project is feasible based on proposed objectives, timeline, and budget.

Appropriate use of FRSG Award monies include, but are not limited to:

• Project-related expenditures
• Statistical consultation beyond available IHP-based resources, if necessary
• Support for travel to and from a research site

• Awardees must submit an end-of-project year report of their activities to the Associate Provost for Research.
• Awardees must meet with the Institute's grant account representative initially, and at least 90 days prior to completion, to ensure appropriate accounting and monitoring of funds.
• Awardees must give a formal presentation of their research progress and results at the MGH Institute within the next academic year following the completion of the funding of their project.
• Awardees must submit their findings for publication and provide a copy of submission to the Provost's Office.
• Awardees are expected to use this award as the basis for a subsequent extramural grant submission.

Final application by order of assembly and page limits:

1. A signed proposal cover letter from your Academic Unit Leader (AUL) approving this submission.
2. Proposal Applicant Letter attesting to the rationale for application in relationship to your career and program of research (1 page), accompanied by your biosketch using the NIH format.
   • Describe how the FRFP funding will enhance your ability to obtain external grant funding and identify the intended grant(s) (1 page).
3. Project Abstract – Project Title and description of no more than 500 words
4. Proposal (following the format for NIH R03 Grant Applications):
   • Specific Aims (1 page)
     • State concisely the goals of the proposed research and summarize the expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved.
     • List succinctly the specific objectives of the research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology.

• Research Strategy (6 pages, not counting bibliography/references): Organize the Research Strategy in the specified order and using the instructions provided below. Start each section with the appropriate section heading – Significance, Innovation, Approach. Cite published experimental details in the Research Strategy section and provide the full reference in the Bibliography and References Cited section.
  • Significance
    • Explain the importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress in the field that the proposed project addresses.
    • Explain how the proposed project will improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice in one or more broad fields.
    • Describe how the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field will be changed if the proposed aims are achieved.
  • Innovation
    • Explain how the application challenges and seeks to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms.
    • Describe any novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation or interventions to be developed or used, and any advantage over existing methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
    • Explain any refinements, improvements, or new applications of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions.
  • Approach
    • Describe the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Unless addressed separately in Item 15 (Resource Sharing Plan), include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted as well as any resource sharing plans as appropriate.
    • Discuss potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success anticipated to achieve the aims.
    • If the project is in the early stages of development, describe any strategy to establish feasibility and address the management of any high-risk aspects of the proposed work.
    • Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and precautions to be exercised. A full discussion on the use of select agents should appear in Item 11, below.
      • (Note: If an applicant has multiple Specific Aims, then the applicant may address Significance, Innovation, and Approach for each Specific Aim individually, or may address Significance, Innovation, and Approach for all of the Specific Aims collectively. As applicable, also include the following information as part of the Research Strategy, keeping within the three sections listed above: Significance, Innovation, and Approach.)

1. Budget (2 pages): 
   • Page 1-2 Written budget and budget justification for allowable research activities as noted above in Section V.
      

• A copy of the completed application should be given to your AUL for review and sign-off approval regarding any effects on program resources, such as use of IHP facilities, prior to submission. 
• Submit the proposal with the coversheet and AUL signoff as one PDF document via email to: research [at] mghihp.edu (research[at]mghihp[dot]edu)
• Proposals involving human subjects are not required to have IRB approval at the time of submission but must receive approval by the IRB before funds are awarded.

• Support for grant management issues and monitoring of grant policy compliance occurs through the Institute’s research administration in the Office of the Provost.
• All funds must be spent during the funding period otherwise they are forfeited.
• Copies of all publications resulting from FRSG-supported research should be submitted to the Associate Provost for Research (Provosts’ Office). Published reports are required to acknowledge the support of the Faculty Research Seed Grant Program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, as follows: “This work was partially supported by a Faculty Research Seed Grant from the MGH Institute of Health Professions.”
• Compliance with fulfilling previously stated Responsibilities of the Awardees.