To: Perelman School of Medicine Faculty

From: Dr. Lou Soslowsky, Associate Dean for Research Integration

Re: NIH Animal Research Instrumentation Grant Program (S10)

PAR-18-599 - https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-18-599.html

Date: February 12, 2018

Note: This is separate from the SIG/HEI S10 programs, and is a limited submission opportunity. Only one application will be accepted from the University. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research is overseeing the application selection process. Details of review below. Please refer to the NIH announcement for complete information.

I write to share with you an opportunity available through the NIH Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program which encourages applications from groups of NIH-funded investigators to purchase or upgrade scientific instruments necessary to carry out animal experiments in all areas of biomedical research supported by the NIH. Applicants may request clusters of commercially available instruments configured as specialized integrated systems or as series of instruments to support a thematic workflow in a well-defined area of research using animals or related materials. Priority will be given to specialized clusters of instruments and to uniquely configured systems to support innovative and potentially transformative investigations. Requests for a single instrument will be considered only if the instrument is to be placed in a barrier facility.

Applications will be accepted for commercially available instruments only.

• If a cluster/series of instruments is requested, it must include an item that costs at least $50,000. The least expensive instrument in a cluster/series must cost at least $20,000.
• If a single instrument is requested, it must cost at least $50,000. Reminder: A single instrument may be requested only if it is to be placed in a barrier facility. [If a PI is requesting a single instrument to be used out of a barrier facility then they must consider a SIG-Shared Instrumentation Grant or High End Instrumentation Grant-HEI grant.]
• There is no upper limit on the cost of each instrument, but the maximum award is $750,000.
• Since the cost of the various instruments will vary, it is anticipated that the amount of the award will also vary.
• Awards are for one year and for direct costs only. Cost sharing is not required.

Eligibility: The PD/PI chosen for this application should have documented (in the biographical sketch) technical expertise directly related to the requested instrumentation or scientific expertise in biomedical research using animals, must be affiliated with the applicant organization, and must be registered on eRA Commons. The PD/PI does not need to have an NIH research grant or any other research support, and may be a Core director, tenured or non-tenured faculty member of the applicant organization.

Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed under the S10 mechanism.

Three Major Users who have substantial need for the entire instrumentation request, must be identified. Each Major User must be a PD/PI on a distinct active NIH research award in an area of biomedical research using animals or animal tissue. (The requirement is one award per investigator, with more awards per investigator allowed. An award given to multi-PDs/PIs is counted only once towards the fulfillment of this requirement.) PDs/PIs on NIH training or fellowship grants (i.e., T and F mechanisms) and other non-research grants are not eligible to be Major Users. Once this eligibility requirement of three Major Users with NIH-funded research projects has been met, additional users with active research awards from NIH or other sources, may be added as Major or Minor Users.

New this year, we are sharing the attached S10 submission guide that provides some tips and examples for putting together a proposal. 

In order to coordinate requests at the school level, I am asking that all applicants first submit a letter of intent (LOI) - co-signed by the faculty member’s Department Chair - to me via Leigh Rosen Gantz at rosenlk@pennmedicine.upenn.edu. After an initial review ensuring there is no duplication among all S10 proposals, the Vice Provost for Research - in consultation with faculty leadership in animal studies - will review all proposals and select one for submission.
 

Your letter of intent to me should be submitted by April 6, 2018 and include:

• Cover page with: PI name, title, department, address, email address and proposal title
• Type of Instrument (make, model) and brief description of its use and importance to support innovative and potentially transformative investigations
• Estimated total cost (reminder: the base cost of the instrument should be at least $50,000)
• Location of instrument (name of core facility, building location)
• In table form a list of the major user groups, names, titles, departments (a major user group of three or more investigators who are Principal Investigators on active NIH research grants with the following activity codes, P01, R01, U01, R35, R37, DPI and DP2 must be identified. Note: Projects supported by NIH research grants should require at least 75 percent of the AUT (accessible user time). The major user group accounts for at least 35 percent of the AUT (accessible user time)
• Letter from Department Chair that if the cost exceeds the request, identifies and confirms the source(s) of funding for the balance as well as an explanation of how the costs of installation, maintenance, support personnel, and service will be met
   

If you have any questions regarding the application, please contact Leigh Rosen Gantz at rosenlk@pennmedicine.upenn.edu or (215) 746-8497. The NIH application due date is May 31, 2018.
 

Thank you for your consideration.