Call for Applications
Corrigan Minehan “SPARK” Awards
Deadline: 5:00 pm – Friday, January 10, 2014
Description of the Award
The main impetus behind the grants is to support pilot studies that will lead to sustainable, innovative, and collaborative
projects that will impact cardiac, vascular and stroke care. All proposed projects must:
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Address an important question in human clinical and/or translational cardiovascular and stroke research that
impacts human health.
Include a collaborative, synergistic team of researchers the majority of whom are members of the MGH
Institute for Heart, Vascular and Stroke Care.
Propose research that is new to the team members.
Utilize pilot funds to generate preliminary data that will enable the investigators to obtain further funding to
continue the project. A specific requirement is that all awards must lead to grant applications to governmental
funding agencies, foundations, or industry within six months of completion of the award.
We anticipate that approximately 6-8 Awards will be granted for the coming year. The one-year award is for $50,000 $100,000 depending on the scope of the proposed work. Eligibility and other award information are provided below.
Application Guidelines
The awards are targeted towards junior faculty members to sustain research independence, though applications
from more senior clinician-scientists extending their program to new fields are also encouraged. While there are no
restrictions as to the use of the award, it is anticipated that funds will be targeted to support postdoctoral fellows or
reagents necessary to obtain key preliminary data critical to catalyze applications for sustained funding.
Eligibility
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Eligible candidates must be full time faculty members (MD or PhD) at the rank of Instructor or above, or PhDprepared nurses.
Applicants must have completed their postdoctoral research training.
Applicants must have a full-time appointment at MGH at the time of application and during the entire award period.
In evaluating candidates, the project’s scientific merit, innovativeness, and collaborative potential are of primary
importance. The candidate’s independent research trajectory is also important. In addition, the candidate must
demonstrate (a) a clear ability to develop a sound research plan and (b) have the potential to carry out independent
research.
Review Process for Applications
Applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee comprised of leaders of the Institute for Heart, Vascular and
Stroke Care. Committee members will rotate such that all programs will be represented over time. Critiques of the
applications will not be provided.
Application Format
Applications must include the following information – please use this as your checklist:
Please note – Applications that are incomplete or improperly assembled may not be reviewed.
1.
Completed Standard MGH Research Proposal Coversheet with signatures. The form is available at the following
address: https://resadmin.partners.org/RM_Home/Forms/Alphabet/FTR-FormsAlpha.aspx
Click on “Partners Research Proposal Coversheet” (PDF version). Insert the following information on the
coversheet:
 Immediate Sponsor: MGH Institute for Heart, Vascular and Stroke Care
 Proposal Due Date: January 10, 2014
 Originating Sponsor: MGH Institute for Heart, Vascular and Stroke Care
 Agreement Type: Grant
 Proposal Type: New
 Total Project Costs: $50,000 - $100,000
2.
Title page, including:
 Applicant(s) name, department, division or unit, office or laboratory address, telephone, and e-mail
 Academic Rank; list the effective start date of your HMS faculty appointment
 Project Title
 Name, phone number and e-mail address
3.
Research plan (A maximum of 5 pages is permitted): The minimum font size for this section is 11 with single or
double spacing within paragraphs and double spacing between paragraphs; margins must be one inch on all four
sides. Figures, legends and tables may use a 9-10 point type. At the top of each page, include the Applicant’s full
name and degree(s). Please include:
 Specific aims
 Significance
 Innovation, potential scientific impact, and how the project will catalyze interactions within the Institute
 Approach (including Preliminary Studies if available and Research Design and Methods)
 Project timeline: A key component of the timeline will be a discussion of anticipated future grant applications
and a detailed rationale for how the proposed investigation will catalyze the future grant application. The aims,
background, preliminary studies, research design, and timeline/future application sections are all included in the
5 page limit.
 Include all figures, graphs, tables, images and related to the project within the 5 pages.
 Bibliography of references is not included in the 5 page limit.
 One page Budget/Justification not included in the 5 page limit.
4.
Biosketch of applicant and her/his team of collaborators in NIH format
5.
Listing of current and pending Other Support of applicant in NIH format
Submission Process
1. Generate a single PDF of the entire completed application, including the proposal cover sheet with signatures and with
information provided in the order listed above.
2. Submit the PDF via email to Ms. Kiely Turgeon (kturgeon@partners.org) administrative assistant to Dr. Robert
Gerszten
3. Deadline: 5:00 pm on Friday, January 10, 2014.
Questions can be emailed to Kiely Turgeon (kturgeon@partners.org)