Patient Services Collaborative Grant (PSCG)
Application Instructions
For grant year July 1, 2013-June 31, 2014
DEADLINES
Continuous Application Dates
Funds available: January 1, 2014
For questions regarding these instructions, please contact:
Rita Pickler, PhD, at Rita.Pickler@cchmc.org, 513-803-5064, or
Stephany Clevenger at Stephany.Clevenger@cchmc.org, 513-803-0430
1. Deadlines: Applications will be accepted on a continuing basis with award decisions within
60 days of submission of the completed application. Funds awarded will be available for use
within 30 days of the award decision.
A letter of intent (LOI) should be submitted to Dr. Pickler 30 days prior to the planned
submission of the grant application in order to facilitate the review process and verify
eligibility of the proposal under this mechanism.
2. Purpose: The purpose of the PSCG program is to stimulate collaborative, interdisciplinary,
patient-focused research that will lead to improved outcomes for children and their families.
Applications should be led by a principal investigator who is a faculty member with a primary
affiliation in a research division in the Department of Patient Services at CCHMC and at
least one collaborator from other Patient Services Divisions, Departments or Institutes at
CCHMC, or other research institutions. The PSCG mechanism is designed to promote
collaborations across disciplines and research methods to foster the development of clinical
investigations of children and their families, consistent with the mission of the Department
and CCHMC.
All collaborative research projects will be considered for funding so long as the applicants
and organizations meet the eligibility requirements. Because CCHMC and its collaborating
partners are aware of current trends in health care reform nationally and within the state of
Ohio the PSCG mechanism encourages proposals for research related to the following
areas:
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Care coordination within and outside of the children’s hospital setting, particularly in
relation to Chronic Care Outcomes (CCOs) and the Accountable Care Act (Ohio ACO)
initiative, which has resulted in the formation of the Children’s Health Network (CCHN).
Strategies that positively affect patient flow, length of stay, readmission within 30 days of
discharge, and unnecessary utilization of hospital services prior to admission and/or
after discharge.
Research aimed at improving these metrics and/or defining better hospital performance
measures that also capture the quality of pediatric care are encouraged.
Strategies aimed at reducing hospitalization of patients with asthma or other chronic
conditions.
Quantitative improvements in the quality and or safety of pediatric care within the
medical center.
Other projects based on collaboration between a PI from the Dept. of Patient Services
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and investigators from other departments and organizations that are not necessarily
related to health care reform but that have direct impact on pediatric patient care.
3. Funding Pools: Funding for this program is provided by the Department of Patient
Services, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and collaborating
Departments and Institutes at CCHMC as well as external research institutions. The
Department of Patient Services will contribute up to $50,000 of support per year for direct
costs per project. Collaborating CCHMC Departments and Institutes and external
participating research institutions must contribute matching funds for each dollar from
CCHMC, with a minimum of $10,000 from each research partner. The maximum allowable
budget (direct costs) can be up to $100,000, dependent on the number and support of
collaborating entities. The number of awards will be determined by the quality of the
proposals, the total funds requested by meritorious proposals, and available funding.
4. Eligible Research: Collaborative research supported by this mechanism can include the
entire spectrum of translational research ranging from T1 to T4. T1 research seeks to move
a basic discovery into a candidate health application. T2 research assesses the value of a
T1 application for health practice leading to the development of evidence-based guidelines.
T3 research attempts to move evidence-based guidelines into health practice, through delivery, dissemination, and diffusion research. T4 research seeks to evaluate the "real world"
health outcomes of a T1 application in practice. Basic and pre-clinical research studies can
be considered for funding through this mechanism if the application clearly articulates the
short-term potential for translation to human studies in pediatrics.
5. Collaborations: The PSCG program is specifically targeted at encouraging collaborations
between Patient Services researchers and researchers in other Divisions, Department, and
Institutes at CCHMC as well as other research institutions. Projects involving
interdisciplinary collaborations that have a high potential for improving patient outcomes
within patient services divisions will be given funding priority. Proposals meeting these
criteria and targeted at the specific research questions outlined above in Section 2 will be
given highest priority. Review criteria will also include potential for future funding of
continued collaborative research arising from a PSCG award.
6. Types of Grants Available:
a. New research proposals: These grants are for one year of support with the possibility
for a one-year extension, if approved by all funding partners. Funds will be available
within approximately 30 days of the completed review and funding decision. A second
year of funding is dependent on progress in achieving the specific aims and expenditure
of first year grant as well as support from all collaborating funding organizations.
b. Budgetary notes: The Division of Research in Patient Services at CCHMC will provide
matching funds up to $50,000 per project, for each dollar provided from the collaborating
research entities. Funds provided by the Department of Patient Services may be used
for salary support for the PI, who must have a faculty appointment at the time of the
application and a primary affiliation with a division of the Department of Patient Services.
Funds can also be used to support data collectors, data entry personnel, lab personnel,
etc. CCHMC funds may not be used to provide salary support for faculty in other
Departments or Institutes at CCHMC or any other institution.
c. Competing renewal applications: A second year of support may be sought through a
competing renewal process. Applications for competing renewal should include a
progress report summarizing work during the first year toward achieving the specific
aims of the proposal, as well as budget for the second year of the study with justification
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for both carry-over and new funds.
7. Eligibility: The Principal Investigator (PI) must hold a primary affiliation with a division of
the Department of Patient Services at CCHMC and a faculty appointment at University of
Cincinnati. Collaborators can be faculty members in other Divisions of Patient Services or
other Departments and Institutes at CCHMC or at other research institutions. To be
eligible and responsive to this RFP, faculty must develop collaborative research
proposals from 2 or more of the participating entities. Questions about eligibility should be
referred to Prof. Pickler at the above address.
8. Letter of Support: Applications must include a letter of support from the PI’s Division
Research or Scientific Director. Additional letters of support must be received from all
collaborating entities and should address both the funding commitment and the
commitment to release the faculty to complete work related to the project. Also included
in the letters of support should be a statement regarding the priority of the research
proposal to the supporting research organization.
9. Application Process: Applicants must submit a single integrated, electronic application
to the Patient Services Collaborative Grant Program at the email address listed above using the templates provided in the instructions. The scientific plan section of the application
will be limited to 5 pages plus 1 page of literature citations. The plan, following the outline
of an NIH application, must describe the translational nature of the proposed project and
the details of the multi-institutional collaboration proposed. A budget, Facilities & Resources section and NIH biosketches, should also be included. Human subjects and/or
animal research approvals must also be included. If IRB approval is pending, applicants
will need to address human subjects issues using NIH guidelines.
10. Proposal format: Proposals must be submitted in single spaced text, one-half inch
margins, and no smaller than an 11-point font. Arial or Helvetica typefaces are preferred.
Composition of the proposal must conform to the format described in section 11
immediately below and follow the page limits explicitly. The primary applicant’s name
must appear in the upper right hand corner of each page, and each page must be
numbered in the order of the required elements.
11. Composition of research proposal: New research proposals require the following
elements in the order specified.
a. Face page (check all appropriate IBC, IACUC, IRB, or Radiation Safety
approvals or indicate pending if submitted or planned if not yet initiated)
b. Abstract [scientific (summary) and lay (narrative)]
c. Detailed Budget (1 year; use PHS 398 form provided)
d. Budget justification
e. Facilities & Resources from each participating institution should be described
f. Biosketch(es) (include PI and co-investigators; use PHS 398 form 4 page format
with personal statement, 15 most relevant publications, and other support)
g. Specific Aims (1 page)
h. Research Strategy (5 pages) (significance, Innovation, Approach, Preliminary
Studies)
 For 2nd year competing renewals include Progress Report here.
i. Statements regarding human subjects and/or animal protections
j. Literature cited
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k. Consortium/contractual arrangements
l. Letters of support Division Director, collaborating CCHMC Departments or
institutes, collaborating institutions, or consultants
12. Supplemental items: Supplemental items are not permitted and will not be reviewed.
Human subject protections, references, letters of support, and contracts fall outside the 5
page limit for the Research Strategy but these sections will not be considered in the
scoring process and should not be used to circumvent page limits.
13. Overview of Review Process: The review of applications is performed in two phases:
(1) Scientific Review, and (2) Administrative Review. The applications will be reviewed by
2-3 scientific reviewers with relevant background and experience in pediatric research.
The reviewers will be selected by the Leadership Council of Research in Patient Services
(RPS) and will include ad hoc reviewers from each of the participating institutions. The 23 reviewers will provide written critiques using criteria and format similar to an NIH review
process and scoring system. Review criteria will include an assessment of potential of
the project to stimulate long-term collaborations and to compete for extramural grant
support following the completion of the 1-year funding by the PSCG mechanism.
Administrative review will be conducted by RPS Leadership Council, which will review the
impact scores assigned by the review committee, confirm funding commitment by
collaborative partner organizations, and make final funding decisions based upon
available resources at the institutions, alignment of the proposal with the specific areas
encouraged in this RFA (Sec. 2) and merit of the application reflected in the priority
scores. Critiques from the review process will be provided to the applicants after award
decisions are made.
14. Progress Reports: The investigators of funded projects will be required to submit a
progress report to the PSCG leadership six months after funding begins and again after
completion of the one-year of funding. These reports should be limited to two pages,
including a list of any publications or abstracts arising from the work as well as
information on whether and how the funding has increased collaborative translational
research among the participating institutions. The RPS leadership council will review
progress reports and make decisions about 2nd year renewal applications. If a second
year of funding is requested, the format listed below in Section15 should be followed for
the request.
15. Composition for competitive renewal:
a. Face page
b. Budget requested, including anticipated unobligated funds from year one and
requests for additional fund
c. Budget justification
d. Other support
e. Progress report (use the 2-page format outlined in Section 14 to report progress
toward aims, problems in achieving aims, plans for achieving aims in the second
funding year, and accomplishments)
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Patient Services Collaborative Grant Program (PSCG)
Grant Application
1. TITLE OF PROJECT (Do not exceed 56 characters, including spaces and punctuation.)
1a. Type of application:
Research proposal
TR Faculty Development Award
No
Retreat proposal
2. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROGRAM DIRECTOR
New Investigator
2a. NAME (Last, first, middle)
2b. DEGREE(S)
2c. POSITION TITLE
2d. MAILING ADDRESS (Street, city, state, zip code)
Core proposal
Yes
2e. DIVISION
2f. DEPARTMENT, SERVICE, LABORATORY, OR EQUIVALENT
2g. TELEPHONE AND FAX (Area code, number and extension)
TEL:
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
FAX:
3. CO-INVESTIGATOR
New Investigator
No
Yes
3a. NAME (Last, first, middle)
3b. DEGREE(S)
3c. POSITION TITLE
3d. MAILING ADDRESS (Street, city, state, zip code)
3e. DIVISION
3f. DEPARTMENT, SERVICE, LABORATORY, OR EQUIVALENT
3g. TELEPHONE AND FAX (Area code, number and extension)
TEL:
4.
No
E-MAIL ADDRESS:
FAX:
Human Subjects Research 4a.
Research Exempt
Yes
No
Yes
If “Yes,” Exemption No.
4b.
Human Subjects Assurance No.
4c.
No
6.
No
6a.
Date
6b.
No.
Vertebrate Animals
Yes
If “Yes,” IACUC Approval
7.
7a.
IBC Protocol
Yes
If “Yes,” Approval Date:
7b.
Approval Number:
No
5.
Human Subjects
Protection
Certification:
No
Yes
5a.
Certification Date:
NIH-Defined Phase I Clinical Trial
Yes
8.
No
8a.
Date
Radiation
Yes
If “Yes,” Approval
Animal Welfare Assurance
9. DATES OF PROPOSED PERIOD OF
SUPPORT (month, day, year—MM/DD/YY)
From
Through
07/01/2012
06/30/2013
10. COSTS REQUESTED
Direct Costs ($)
12. The undersigned reviewed this application for a CCTST research award and are familiar with the policies, terms, and conditions of CCHMC
concerning research support and accept the obligation to comply with all such policies, terms, and conditions.
Primary Applicant:
Division Chair of Primary Applicant:
Signature of Primary Applicant
Affiliate applicant:
Date:
Signature of Affiliate Applicant
Date:
Date Application Received by CCTST:
Signature of Division Chair of Primary Applicant
Date:
Division Chair of Affiliate Applicant:
Division Chair of Affiliate Applicant:
Received By:
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Date:
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Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, First, Middle):
Scientific Abstract: Using technical language, briefly describe the proposed project in 200 words or less.
Lay Abstract: Using non-technical language, briefly describe the proposed project in 100 words or less.
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Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, First, Middle):
DETAILED BUDGET FOR BUDGET PERIOD
DIRECT COSTS ONLY
PERSONNEL (Applicant organization only)
ROLE ON
PROJECT
NAME
TYPE
APPT.
(months)
%
EFFORT
ON
PROJ.
FROM
THROUGH
00/00/13
00/00/14
DOLLAR AMOUNT REQUESTED (omit cents)
INST.
BASE
SALARY
SALARY
REQUESTED
FRINGE
BENEFITS
TOTAL
Principal
Investigator
SUBTOTALS
CONSULTANT COSTS
EQUIPMENT (Itemize)
SUPPLIES (Itemize by category)
TRAVEL
PATIENT CARE COSTS
INPATIENT
OUTPATIENT
ALTERATIONS AND RENOVATIONS (Itemize by category)
OTHER EXPENSES (Itemize by category)
SUBTOTAL DIRECT COSTS FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD
CONSORTIUM/CONTRACTUAL COSTS
$
DIRECT COSTS
FACILITIES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
TOTAL DIRECT COSTS FOR INITIAL BUDGET PERIOD (Item 10, Face Page)
Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, First, Middle):
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$
BUDGET JUSTIFICATION
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Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, first, middle):
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Provide the following information for the key personnel in the order listed for Form Page 2.
Follow the sample format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FOUR PAGES.
NAME
POSITION TITLE
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, and include postdoctoral training.)
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
DEGREE
(if applicable)
YEAR(s)
FIELD OF STUDY
NOTE: The Biographical Sketch may not exceed four pages.
A. Personal Statement
Briefly describe why your experience and qualifications make you particularly well suited for your role (e.g.,
PD/PI, mentor, participating faculty) in the project that is the subject of the application.
B. Positions and Honors
List in chronological order previous positions, concluding with the present position. List any honors. Include
present membership on any Federal Government public advisory committee.
C. Selected Peer-reviewed Publications
Please limit the list of selected peer-reviewed publications or manuscripts in press to no more than 15. Do not
include manuscripts submitted or in preparation. The individual may choose to include selected publications
based on recency, importance to the field, and/or relevance to the proposed research. Provide the NIH Manuscript Submission reference number (e.g., NIHMS97531) or the PubMed Central (PMC) reference number
(e.g., PMCID234567) for each article.
D. Research Support
List both selected ongoing and completed research projects for the past three years (Federal or non-Federallysupported). Begin with the projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in the application. Briefly
indicate the overall goals of the projects and responsibilities of the key person identified on the Biographical
Sketch. Do not include number of person months or direct costs.
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Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, First, Middle):
RESOURCES
FACILITIES: Specify the facilities to be used for the conduct of the proposed research. Indicate the performance sites and describe capacities,
pertinent capabilities, relative proximity, and extent of availability to the project. Under “Other,” identify support services such as machine shop,
electronics shop, and specify the extent to which they will be available to the project. Use continuation pages if necessary.
Laboratory:
Clinical:
Animal:
Computer:
Office:
Other:
MAJOR EQUIPMENT: List the most important equipment items already available for this project, noting the location and pertinent capabilities of each.
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