Development Research Projects

The next Development Research Project funding application process will take place in fall 2025 and project funding for April 2025 to March 2027 will be dependent on successful renewal of the next five years of the Nevada INBRE grant.

The Development Research Projects (DRP) provide mentored career development intended to advance the careers of Nevada researchers in biomedical sciences. The program provides research funding and a mentored pathway of milestones leading to publication submission of an National Institutes of Health (NIH) R-type grant proposal or equivalent proposal (National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, etc.). The project duration is two years, with the second year of funding contingent on the completion of all year-one milestones. Direct costs up to $125,000 per year may be requested. For detailed information and application information, please see the DRP funding announcement.

Development Research Projects pre-proposal application

• A concise summary describing the goals of the proposed research and expected outcome(s), including the impact that the results of the proposed research will exert on the research field(s) involved.
• Specific aims page: a succinct list of two to three specific objectives of the research proposed (e.g. to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, etc.).
• A letter of support completed by the applicant's supervisor approving 50% effort to career development and research activities if awarded.

Please note that the summary and specific aims page may not exceed two pages combined.

Project duration

Two years, with second year of funding contingent on completion of all milestones and renewed Nevada INBRE funding.

Funding level and allowable expenses

Direct costs up to $125,000 per year may be requested. Permitted expenses include salaries for the Principal Investigator (PI) and research personnel, as well as research supplies that are allowable NIH expenses. Travel expenses are allowed for conducting fieldwork as part of the project, accessing experts or other resources, or giving invited presentations on INBRE-related research at a national, regional or international meeting. Equipment is generally not allowable.  DRP awardees are required to attend the Nevada INBRE annual statewide meeting and must budget travel funds accordingly.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a tenure-track, full-time appointment at a Nevada INBRE partner institution at the assistant professor level or higher. Awardees must devote 50% effort (6 person months) to career development and research activities. The investigator may not be the PI or Co-PI of an NIH research grant or have research funding from another IDeA program (COBRE, CTR-IN) at the time of an award. The PI may not be awarded more than one DRP grant at a time, and previous DRP recipients are not eligible.

Applicants from Nevada INBRE partner institutions are eligible to apply:

• University of Nevada, Reno
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Nevada State University
• College of Southern Nevada
• Great Basin College
• Truckee Meadows Community College
• Western Nevada College
• Desert Research Institute

Mentors

DRP awards are mentored career development awards. Each awardee will identify a mentor as part of the application process. The mentor must be an established scientist with expertise relevant to the proposed research willing to commit substantial time and effort as described in a formal memo of understanding. The mentors will receive a consulting fee upon completion of the following milestones.

Milestones

• Meet with mentor face to face or by teleconference at least three times each year
• Report to Nevada INBRE via the tracking database upon requested (twice a year)
• Present progress at the Nevada INBRE annual statewide meeting (years one and two)
• Present progress and research results to the External Advisory Committee (EAC) (years one and two)
• Attend the NISBRE Conference in 2024 (year one)
• Attend the Western Regional Conference in 2025 (year two)
• Attend an approved grant writing workshop (e.g., a workshop based on The Grant Application Writer's Workbook by S.W. Russell and D.C. Morrison) in the first year
• Submit a manuscript based on the DRP research to a peer-reviewed journal before the end of the second year of funding
• Submit a draft R-type proposal (or equivalent) to the Nevada INBRE administrative core for pre-review early in the second year of funding
• Submit an R-type proposal (or equivalent) by the middle of the second year of funding
• Submit a summary statement to the Nevada INBRE administrative core with plans for revision and resubmission if necessary

Additional information

Please note that you may only submit one proposal to the DRP.

Funding of Developmental Research Projects depends upon the timely arrival of NIH funds.

Other important dates

Expected invitation for full application: October 2025

Required pre-proposal workshops (via Zoom): expected late October to early November 2025

Full application due:  December 2025

Earliest possible start date: April 1, 2024

Contact Jessica Garfield at garfieldj@ unr.edu or (775) 784-6544 for further information.