Request for Pre-Proposals (RFP) for Pilot Study Funding
Center for Pediatric Genomics (CpG)
(Version 1.2, Released September 5, 2014)
Introduction: CCHMC Leadership has announced a major new institutional initiative: The
Center for Pediatric Genomics (CpG). The CpG will build upon Cincinnati Children’s rich
resources, including its collaborative culture, to support and accelerate innovative work that
uses the research, development, and implementation cycle in genomics (Figure 1) to
improve child health. A $1 million fund for pilot studies has been established as the first
program in the new CpG initiative.
The application process consists of two stages of review. The first stage, as described
below, consists of a preliminary proposal (pre-proposal) with a concise description of the
possible project. From these pre-proposals, the CpG
Figure 1. Development cycle for genomics
Steering Committee will invite up to 10 proposals to at CCHMC
submit more detailed experimental and business plans
that will be considered for pilot funding.
Since the CpG is designed to foster and incubate the
best scientific projects, faculty contemplating the
submission of a project whose plans or ideas are
incomplete are invited to contact the CpG Coordinator
or any member of the Steering Committee. The
Committee members would also be pleased to assist
applicants by identifying collaborators, by helping with
study design or by providing general advice.
Members of the Center for Pediatric Genomics (CpG) Steering Committee:
Armand Antommaria, Daniel Choo, Jennifer Dauer (Sponsor), Tracy Glauser, John Harley (Co-Chair),
Peggy Hostetter (Sponsor), Rafi Kopan, Nancy Leslie, Lou Muglia, Bill Nichols, John Perentesis, Niki
Robinson, Harinder Singh, Tom Stroeh, Peter White (Co-Chair) and Jessica Woo.
CpG Coordinator: Kristen Sund
Scope: Priority will be given to collaborative, multidisciplinary projects that will demonstrate
relevance to the CpG mission. Examples include:
 Collaborations between clinicians and scientists to identify and characterize particular
patient cohorts readily amenable to the application of genomics.
 Collaborations between clinicians, geneticists, and/or bioinformaticists to identify the
gene(s) responsible for particular disease phenotypes.
 Coordinated efforts, usually led by basic scientists, to develop animal models or other
mechanistic studies for functional validation of potential causative genes or variants
of uncertain significance.
 Collaborations between translational scientists and clinicians to develop effective
diagnostic, intervention, or preventive strategies for children based upon genomic
findings.
 Collaborations between geneticists, clinicians, bioinformaticists, and/or ethicists to
return genetic results to clinicians, patients, and/or the medical home and evaluate
the effects on health outcomes.
 Coordinated efforts to develop and apply new methods, tools, or applications of
genomics that would be contribute toward advancing child health.
Resources: Applications are limited to CCHMC full time or part time faculty. A budget is not
requested as part of the pre-proposals.
Timeline:
October 30, 2014 - Deadline for submission of pre-proposals. The Committee will arrange
for proposal review and select a subset for further consideration. As needed, development
into the final proposals will be done with help from the Committee. The funded projects will
be selected from this final group.
December 31, 2014, 5 PM - Deadline for invited final applications.
January 30, 2015 – Awardees announced and funding awarded.
Application details:
Please provide the information requested below and answer the following questions
succinctly. Preliminary applications should not exceed three pages. A suggested length
for each section is given below. Please use 0.5” margins and Ariel 12 font. This is an
internal submission of a preliminary proposal and therefore will NOT need the approval of
Sponsored Programs. Those requested to prepare final proposals in the next round will
need to obtain Sponsored Program approval.
Date submitted:
Title:
Applicant:
Division:
Key Personnel and their Divisions:
A. Aims (~1 page): Please describe your research aims. If you are focusing on a clinical
population, be sure to indicate the evidence, if known, for a genetic cause of the
disease or phenotype. If you propose a patient centered project, then please be sure
to describe the numbers of patients and accessibility for the study envisioned.
B. Relevance & Significance (~¾ page): How will your research project will advance
research and development toward better patient care outcomes at CCHMC? How
does this particular project fit within other institutional strengths and priorities? What
is the potential for future work related to your research topic at CCHMC that would
further advance the research, development, and implementation cycle?
C. Environment (~¾ page): What disciplines are necessary to answer your research
question and how will each of the investigators contribute to the project?
D. Incubation (~½ page): What challenges do you perceive and how could these be
overcome by guidance from CpG or other expertise?
Please include:
Bibliography
NIH Biosketches of Key Personnel
The deadline for submission is October 30, 2014. Submissions should be emailed to
CpG Coordinator, Kristen Sund, at Kristen.Sund@cchmc.org.