Office of Research & Innovation
Info For:

Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement 2021 Formula Grant Program – Deadline Extended

October 5, 2020

PURPOSE

This RFP invites Drexel University interdisciplinary program initiatives involving clinical, health services, and/or biomedical research. These funds will be used to promote hypothesis-driven research projects that will lead to high quality scholarship (i.e., publications), technology commercialization, submissions for extramural support and ultimately awards from the NIH, DOD, NSF, and other governmental agencies and foundations. Details are provided in the RFP.

The application requires collaboration of multiple investigators and must address a central hypothesis rather than be a collection of studies. This year's program places a high priority on the value of collaboration across academic units (i.e., schools and colleges) within Drexel University. A full-time Drexel University employed faculty member must be the principal investigator (P.I.) on each application.

The maximum budget allowed for direct costs is $75,000 direct costs. The funding period for awarded grants is 6/1/2021 to 5/31/2022.

We anticipate that the PA Dept. of Health will release the official announcement over the next few weeks. We are launching our internal competition in order to have Drexel's CURE projects ready for submission to the PA Dept. of Health by the Commonwealth's deadline.

ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY FOR FUNDS

Principal Investigators for the CURE grants must hold a full-time, primary faculty appointment (assistant professor or above) at Drexel University. Faculty members may submit only one CURE proposal as PI. Each proposal must have at least one co-investigator. Collaborations across Drexel's schools or colleges are strongly encouraged.

PIs with currently active CURE Formula Grant Projects are NOT eligible to apply as PI but may serve as Co-PI on a new project.

DEADLINE

Completed CURE applications are due in the Drexel University Funding Portal no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, October 19, 2020. Emailed applications will not be accepted.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents in the Drexel University Funding Portal: 

  • CURE Formula Funding Application

  • PHS 398 Budget Form

  • Budget Justification

  • Biosketches

  • Human Subjects Protection document (if necessary)

  • Departmental Approval Form

If the project requires the use of human subjects, human samples or human cells you MUST submit to the HRPP office for IRB review by Wednesday October 14, 2020. Visit the HRPP office's website for more information. For IRB related questions please contact Gabrielle Rebillard, Director, Human Research Protection, gmr59@drexel.edu. 

REVIEW PROCESS AND AWARD NOTIFICATION
The applications will be reviewed by the process used by standard NIH-type study sections. The panel will include faculty members from across the University, as determined by the scientific expertise required to conduct a fair and thorough review. Decisions for funding will be based upon scientific merit, as evaluated by the review panel, and programmatic need.

APPLICATION FORM

The RFP and application forms may be found on the Drexel University Funding Portal.

CONTACT

Principal Investigators — especially those who have not previously been awarded a CURE grant — should contact Dr. Noreen Robertson at nmr26@drexel.edu with any questions related to grant requirements or the application process.