UWSOD Funding

The Dr. Douglass L. Morell Research Fund supports basic, biomedical, and behavioral research activities not readily supported by external sources or other School of Dentistry resources. It provides funding for short-term research projects using mechanisms that allow rapid response to unanticipated needs and new opportunities. The specific area of priority for this cycle are pilot projects that will allow early stage investigators to collect preliminary data for an R01 (or equivalent) grant submission within 12 months of completing the research funded by Morell.

The Associate Dean for Research of the School of Dentistry holds ultimate authority and responsibility for the use of funds. The grant is administered through the Office of Research with the advice of the Research Advisory Committee of the School of Dentistry or an ad hoc review committee with relevant content expertise. The Research Advisory Committee has established a maximum award of $25,000 for this cycle. One grant submission will be funded.

Pilot grant applications should not be an extension of well-established, ongoing or recently funded studies or projects. All applicants must document the support of their respective department (or college/school). While not required, cost sharing is one demonstration of this commitment.

Funds will be disbursed to the department of the PI for day-to-day administration.

If awarded, a final report detailing project accomplishments will be due within 90 calendar days following the end of the funding period.

Early stage investigators (academic rank below associate professor in any track) who are eligible for NIH early stage investigator status are eligible for this cycle.

Early Stage Investigators (ESI) is defined as a Principal Investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PI for a substantial NIH (or equivalent) independent research award (i.e. PI of an R01, UG3, P01, U01, etc. or PI on a subaward of similar projects).

A letter of intent is required by Friday November 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.. The letter of intent should include the following information and should be an email to dentres@uw.edu:

• PI Name
• Title
• Study Abstract (use NIH Guideline for Study Summary or Abstract)
• Expiration date for ESI status per NIH guidelines

Email application materials to dentres@uw.edu, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday January 10, 2025 . Receipt of materials will be acknowledged within one business day. Please contact the School of Dentistry Office of Research at dentres@uw.edu with application questions.

Instructions for filling out the application form should be adhered to carefully so that the review committee will have all the information needed to evaluate the proposal and make a recommendation. The review committee will evaluate the applications following procedures similar to those used by study sections of the NIH. Recommendations will be transmitted to the Associate Dean for Research for final decisions.

The Research Advisory Committee or ad hoc review committee will evaluate the applications following procedures similar to those used by study sections of the NIH. The review committee will review and score all applications, and will, if needed, consult with appropriate subject matter experts as part of the evaluation process.

Successful pilot research grant applications should:

• Describe how the work is a new collaboration or partnership
• Demonstrate how the work is innovative and feasible
• Propose a framework, methods, approach, and analyses that are adequate and appropriate to the aims and time constraints of the project
• Detail an evaluation plan that clearly describes the preliminary data or proof of concept the project team is seeking and how it will be used to pursue additional funding or concept development (i.e., the measure of a successful project)

Pilot research grant applications are encouraged, but not required, to include the following:

• Partial or full funding match (in funds or in kind) from the PI’s departments
• Plans for sustainability of work after funding (if applicable)

Awards of up to $25,000 in total expenses per project are available. Allowed expenses include:

• Personnel (i.e., salaries and benefits for faculty, staff and students)
• Equipment, materials, and supplies
• Travel only if directly related to the conduct of the research.
• Other direct costs related to the project (must detail the expense and include rationale)

NON-ALLOWABLE USES OF FUNDS

A. Direct Costs

1. Alterations and renovations: Alterations and renovations of research facilities may not be charged to the grant.
2. Cost overruns:  Funds may not be used to absorb cost overruns previously incurred by other projects or activities.
3. Planning activity: Broad institutional planning activity is not considered to be directly related to the conduct of research and therefore may not be charged to the Morell Research Fund. Only those types of planning activities that are an integral part of the research project itself may be funded.
4. Salaries: Salaries or wages, unless directly related to the proposed biomedical or health-related research, are not allowable. Only under exceptional circumstances will support for salaries for faculty and scientists of equivalent rank be permitted.
5. Travel: Use of funds for travel expenses is not allowed unless the travel is directly and solely related to the conduct of health-related research as described in the application. Explain the nature of the travel expenses and their relation to the project. Identify individuals for whom travel funds are requested. Conference travel is not allowed.

B. Facilities and Administrative Costs: No costs normally treated as a facilities and administrative cost may be charged to the Morell Research Fund. No award for facilities and administrative costs will be provided by the fund.

In order to best conserve resources, all budget items require careful and detailed justification.

Applications must meet the following standards:

• Submitted as a single PDF file
• Include required signatures
• Paper size no larger than standard letter (i.e., 8 ½” x 11”)
• Margins of at least 0.5 inch (top, bottom, left and right)
• Single-spaced
• Eleven-point Arial font or larger
• Smaller text in figures, graphs, diagrams and charts is acceptable as long as it is legible when the page is viewed at 100%

Application Form.  Each application must contain the following sections:

1. Completed and signed ESI Pilot Research Grant Application form.
2. Aims, Significance and Methods  (6 pages, including tables and visuals but excluding references)
3. Future Plans / Timetable (1 page)
4. Future Proposals (1 page)
5. Literature Cited (2 page limit)
6. Biosketches for all investigators (5 page limit each)

Within three months after the close of an award a final report is required. This report should be limited to two pages and should include the following:

• The work accomplished;
• The impact of the award;
• Further funding or proposals that have resulted from this work;
• Any publications that have resulted or are expected. Funding from the Douglass L. Morell Dentistry Research Fund should be acknowledged in publications.

Please send the final report to the School of Dentistry Office of Research, dentres@uw.edu

Awardees who do not submit a final report in a timely manner or who do not follow through with a grant application as described in the application, will not be eligible for new support for five years.

Applications must be submitted as a single .pdf file to dentres@uw.edu by the application deadline. Applications do not need to be reviewed by the Office of Sponsored Programs. Receipt of materials will be acknowledged within one business day.  Application Form.