Emergency Grant Program
The purpose of these awards is to provide essential support when funding for an ongoing project has been interrupted.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility for the Emergency Grants Program is restricted to peer reviewed, extramurally funded research and research training grants that have been continuously funded for a period of 3 years or
more by the same agency, specifically:
- applicants who are the principal investigators on research grants that have, or will, sustain a funding interruption;
- applicants who are project directors of components of multi project (Program Project or Center) grants that have, or will, sustain a funding interruption;
- applicants who are program directors of research training grants (which support students pursuing Ph.D. degrees) that have, or will, sustain a funding interruption;
Excluded from eligibility are professional development awards such as a Research Career Development Awards, established investigator awards and administrative core components of multi-project
(Program Project or Center) grants.
CONDITIONS OF THE AWARD
- Awards from this Program will not exceed $37,500 for a six month period, with a renewal possible for up to three (3) additional six month periods upon further application. See below for
conditions required for continued support beyond the first six month period
- If extramural grant funds (for the project in question) become available to the investigator during the period of the emergency award, any balance in the emergency grant will be returned.
- Funds may be used for personnel, fringe benefits, supplies, and contractual services. Faculty salaries cannot be paid with these funds.
- Applicants must provide assurance that they will reapply for extramural support at the earliest possible time.
- All applications for emergency grant support must first be approved by the department chair or center director. The chair/center director should examine all financial resources available to
the applicant as well as personnel, equipment, and supplies. For example, if the investigator has discretionary funds available, then HCRAC expects the investigator to exhaust those funds before
seeking emergency grant support. The role of the chair/center director is to render his/her best judgment regarding the applicant's need for emergency funds in the context of the applicant's
other support and departmental resources.
If the chair/center director does not endorse the emergency grant request, then the investigator may appeal the negative decision to the Emergency Grant Subcommittee of HCRAC. In such an
instance, the chair/center director and investigator should both submit letters to Ms. Stephanie Holden describing the justifications for their different opinions.
Departmental Contributions to Emergency Grants
The applicant's department will be expected to provide 20% (maximum = $7500 per 6-month installment) of the dollars awarded. HCRAC will fund the remainder. If departmental funds are insufficient
to support the 20% contribution, then an exception can be negotiated in which HCRAC assumes a greater proportion or the full cost of the award. Departmental contributions may not be met with
General Fund dollars.
Faculty Salary Support on Emergency Grants
Faculty salaries may not be supported with Emergency Grant funds.
DEADLINES
There are no deadlines for this program. Applicants may request support as needed. The Emergency Grants Subcommittee will meet whenever a need arises.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
1st Six Month Period
Formal applications to this program must be made on the accompanying form. In addition, it will be necessary to provide three (3) copies of the grant application which was not funded, three copies
of the evaluation provided by the agency, and three copies of the department's approval letter (see Conditions of the Award).
2nd Six Month Period
Beyond the first six-month award, each subsequent six-month award is conditional upon the demonstration of adequate progress toward the goal of obtaining continued funding for the project. HCRAC
reserves the right to make this determination. Prior to the disbursal of the 2nd and subsequent awards (assuming that the other conditions specified below have been met), the emergency grant
applicant must provide HCRAC with the following materials: (1) a full list of publications and presentations authored or coauthored by the applicant during the previous 6 month period; (2) a
complete list of expenses charged against the emergency grant to date; (3) a description of progress to date, including a narrative describing how previous critiques have been addressed and
outlining a concrete strategy for obtaining continued funding for this project; and (4) copies of all grant submissions and summary statements during the previous 6 month period. If no proposal
was submitted in the previous 6 month period, the applicant must provide a compelling scientific rationale for this. Unobligated funds may not be carried over from one 6-month period to the
next.
Three copies of these materials must be provided along with a budget proposal for this period.
3rd Six Month Period
The application which was submitted to qualify for the 2nd Six Month Period of Emergency Grant support must have been reviewed by a peer review group at the sponsoring agency. The applicant must
provide quantitative evidence of the quality of the application and provide HCRAC with items (1) through (4) listed under 2nd Six Month Period.
4th Six Month Period
A revised application must have been submitted which deals with the criticisms of the external review committee. Additionally, an explanation of how the earlier critiques were addressed must be
provided. The applicant must provide quantitative evidence of the quality of the application and provide HCRAC with items (1) through (4) listed under 2nd Six Month Period.
REVIEW PROCEDURE
Applications will be reviewed either administratively or by a subcommittee of HCRAC. Decisions will be based upon the following criteria:
- Need;
- Scientific merit, based primarily on the original peer review group evaluations;
- Availability of funds.
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