URC/ACTSI Guidelines

The University Research Committee (URC) and sthe Atlanta-Clinical Translational Science Institute (ACTSI) are pleased to announce their third annual call for applications for new pilot studies in clinical translational research.

In addition to meeting all of the general eligibility criteria for URC funding, all applications for these joint URC/ACTSI awards must meet the following specific criteria:

• The proposed research includes a significant (if not complete) focus on patient-oriented research that involves human subjects or primary biological samples from human subjects.



• The use of animal models to supplement the human subject research is allowable, but cannot constitute the preponderance of the proposed research project.



• Proposals that use only cell lines derived from human tissue are not eligible for these awards.



• Applicants must check the box on the front page of the URC application indicating that their proposal is directed to this URC/ACTSI mechanism.

Proposals exploring all aspects of clinical and translational biomedical research, including development of biostatistical methodology, bioethics, and assessment of new technologies will be considered. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the URC and/or ACTSI office to discuss whether their proposed research project is consistent with the clinical translational goals of this new support mechanism.

As with any research proposal evaluated by the URC Biological Sciences Subcommittee, the main review criteria are the fundamental merit of the proposal and the qualifications of the applicant to perform the proposed work. Other criteria also considered in the initial review and subsequent funding decisions are detailed in the general call for URC proposals.

Applications will be evaluated for scientific merit by the URC Biological Sciences Subcommittee. Meritorious proposals will be evaluated for funding by a joint council of URC and ACTSI leadership. Based on excellent scientific progress and a satisfactory research presentation at the annual ACTSI Research Symposium, selected projects may be eligible for a one-year extension of additional funding.

Any applications that are deemed ineligible for this specific URC/ACTSI mechanism will be reviewed by the Biological Sciences Sub-committee and then considered for general URC funding. This will not affect the scientific review or any subsequent funding decisions.