Request for Applications: The 2nd Year-Collaborative Bioinformatics Pilot Award
Center for Integrative Bioinformatics and Experimental Mathematics (CIBEM), URMC
Website: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/integrative-bioinformatics-experimental-mathematics/
In the era of Big Data in biomedical research, the Center for Integrative Bioinformatics and
Experimental Mathematics (CIBEM) at the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology,
University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) invites applications for experimental bioinformatics
pilot awards to promote collaborations between CIBEM faculty members and experimental
bioinformatics scientists. This pilot program is designed to support projects that require both
innovative bioinformatics experimental technologies and novel bioinformatics analysis or
computational methods. Priority will be given to high-risk, highly innovative projects related to
CIBEM faculty’s research interests. Examples of topics appropriate for these applications include,
but are not limited to, the following:
1. A new pilot study to generate novel or new type of bioinformatics data using innovative
bioinformatics technologies or newly developed assays, such as novel high-throughput
single-cell assays, cutting-edge bio-imaging technologies, and other advanced biotechnologies
that produce high-dimensional complex data.
2. A pilot Big Data study in biomedical sciences with a goal to address important biomedical and
public health questions using the Big Data.
3. A study to generate additional high-throughput and complex bioinformatics data from an
ongoing or existing study for investigating interesting scientific questions that require complex
analytical/computational methodologies or systems biology approaches.
4. A pilot study to generate preliminary data to obtain large bioinformatics related grants from
government agencies and external funding organizations by collaborating with the CIBEM
faculty members
Eligibility: All faculty members of the University of Rochester are eligible for this award.
Review Process: Proposals will be evaluated by a review committee consisting of the CIBEM
faculty members and domain-specific experts. Candidate proposals will be scored based on the
following criteria:
1. Significance: This includes the scientific importance of the project and potential for publications
in top scientific journals.
2. Innovation: Are any innovative experimental bioinformatics technologies and novel experimental
designs proposed?
3. Approach: The overall soundness of the research plan such as the scientific rigorousness of the
research plan; the appropriateness of steps to achieve the aims within the budget; and the plan
for extramural funding opportunities.
4. Potential to use sophisticated quantitative/computational bioinformatics methodologies and the
expertise/skills of CIBEM faculty members.
5. Potential success for acquiring extramural funding.
6. Qualification of investigators: This includes the academic background, experience and
skills in advanced experimental bioinformatics technologies, and publication records in top
scientific journals.
Awards: A budget of $30,000-$50,000 (direct cost only) per project may be requested for a one-year
award. It is anticipated that 2 to 3 proposals per year will be funded based upon the merit of
applications. Productive and promising projects can be renewed for multiple years. Size of the grant in
relation to the amount requested will be at the discretion of the review committee.
Grant conditions and allowable costs:
 Any publications resulting from this research effort should acknowledge the CIBEM
Bioinformatics Pilot Award support.
 The data from this award should be shared with the CIBEM faculty members and analyzed by
collaborating with the CIBEM faculty members. The data generated from this award should be
submitted to and will be managed by the CIBEM data management system.
 Allowable costs will typically be those associated with successful completion of a research or
scholarly project, and may include graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, technician, and
research assistant salaries, experimental reagents, supplies and software costs. Travel to
meetings or conferences will not be supported. Travel that is essential to successful completion
of the aims of the project is permitted. Publication costs (e.g., charges associated with
reproduction of materials or obtaining copyrights) are allowable.
Application must include:
1. A complete coversheet with the contact information of the PI and key personnel.
2. Biographical sketches for key personnel in NIH format (not to exceed four pages from each
investigator)
3. Proposal: Write the proposal such that a panel of reviewers with diverse backgrounds can
clearly understand the project. The proposal must not exceed three (3) single-spaced
typewritten pages (including tables and illustrations) in NIH grant proposal format and font.
References are not included in the three-page limit. Divide the proposal into the following
sections:
 Significance
 Background
 Preliminary data (if any)
 Approach: Experimental design and/or methods
 Collaboration plan with the CIBEM faculty members
 Plan for extramural funding applications
 Innovation
 Timeline
 Appendices (not required) may contain letters of collaborative arrangements and equipment
sharing.
Our CIBEM faculty members are happy to help with the design of your study and your proposal.
You may find our CIBEM faculty members’ research interests, expertise and contact information
from our Center’s website:
http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/integrative-bioinformatics-experimental-mathematics/
4. Budget Justification: Indicate how the budgeted items relate to the research project.
5. Human Subjects and Animal Research: If research involves human subjects, animals,
biohazards, or otherwise raises regulatory issues, the application should identify those concerns
and provide documentation that they will be addressed. If IRB, UCAR, or EH&S review and
approval is required, it may be obtained after the proposal has been approved but must be in
place before funds are expended or research is initiated.
Submission
The deadline for this proposal will be: March 15, 2014. The award will be announced on May 1, 2014.
Please email the complete application as a single PDF file to Dr. Hulin Wu at
Hulin_Wu@urmc.rochester.edu