MARCE
http://marce.vbi.vt.edu/
Middle Atlantic Regional Center of Excellence
for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases
Request For Research Proposals
Electronic Submission Deadline: November 6, 2005
(Sunday by 12:00 midnight)
Approximate Award Date:
March 1, 2006
The Middle Atlantic Regional Center of Excellence for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious
Diseases Research (MARCE) fosters research that will enable rapid defense against bioterror
agents and emerging infectious diseases. Fourteen universities, seven government partners, and
ten corporate partners are currently working together to improve our nation's public health
response system. Specific diseases under investigation include Anthrax, Tularemia, Smallpox,
and Cryptosporidium, for example. This RFP is issued to solicit new research projects to enhance
and expand MARCE’s current research portfolio. The ultimate goal of the MARCE is to develop
vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics that target the Category A-C agents (particularly Category
A), and projects directly related to achieving this goal will be given high priority.
Applications for basic and applied research specific to NIAID Category A, B, or C pathogens or
toxins are invited (http://www2.niaid.nih.gov/biodefense/bandc_priority.htm) with specific
priorities for the following areas of research:
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Category A Diagnostics.
Category B Diagnostics (e.g., ricin, enterics).
Yersinia pestis (Plague).
Therapeutics for ricin intoxication.
Therapeutics for enteric infections.
Genetic systems to construct mutants of Category A-C agents.
Animal modeling of Category A-C agent infections.
Public Health research projects involving collaborations with state health departments.
Funding available: MARCE will provide up to $150,000 direct costs per year for up to a 3-year
period. Funding beyond the initial period will be contingent upon competitive renewal of the
MARCE cooperative agreement (NIH/NIAID U54-AI57168).
Content of Applications
Applications may be submitted as either a detailed letter of intent, or a
full proposal.
1. If you choose to submit a Letter of Intent, it must include the following:
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Title of the project
NIH Abstract (include Specific Aims)
NIH Biosketch of Principal Investigator and current contact information
Estimated annual budget and period of funding requested (2 – 3 years of funding allowed)
2. If you choose to submit a full proposal, it must include the following:
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Face page.
Budget pages (first year detailed budget, projected annual costs for full period, and
budget justification)
Up to eight pages of text including an abstract, specific aims, research/project plan, and
justification of the project in relation to the Strategic Plan for the MARCE.
References (literature cited).
Vertebrate animal and human subjects protection sections. Any project that includes any
human subjects work must also include the NIAID concept proposal form.
Use PHS398 forms and follow the PHS398 instructions for formatting
(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html). Submissions must be signed by
the PI of the RCE, the PI of the application, and the designated Institutional Official(s).
Submission of Letter of Intent or Full Proposal. Whichever you choose to submit, it must
be emailed as a single document (pdf preferred) to rcegrants@medicine.umaryland.edu by
midnight, Sunday, November 6, 2005. Applicants considered for funding will be notified and
asked to submit a full proposal and/or original application with institutional approvals prior to
March 1, 2006.
MARCE contacts for further information:
Jennifer Snyder, Ph.D.
MARCE Research Coordinator
jsnyder@medicine.umaryland.edu
Phone: (410) 706-5330
Gloria Smedley, MBA
MARCE Research Administrator
Center for Vaccine Development
University of Maryland, School of Medicine
685 W. Baltimore St., Room 480A
Baltimore, MD 21201
gsmedley@medicine.umaryland.edu
Phone: (410) 706-5328