Background and Purpose
The Foundation's Research Awards Program provides funding for preclinical research projects and pilot clinical trials related to the application or use of MR-guided focused ultrasound technology that have high potential for rapidly leading to the development of clinical indications. The goals of the program are four-fold:
- To develop new applications for MR-guided focused ultrasound
- To increase awareness of focused ultrasound technology and techniques
- To facilitate the regulatory approval of focused ultrasound procedures
- To facilitate reimbursement for focused ultrasound procedures
As a general rule, this program does not fund basic science or discovery-stage research projects. Nor is it intended to fund projects aimed at developing new technologies.
Selection
Applications are evaluated on the quality of the research plan, the speed with which meaningful results will be produced, relevance to the Foundation's goals, the applicant’s qualifications, and the adequacy of the environment in which the research will be conducted. Preference will be given to projects with the most potential for clinical impact.
Support
Successful applicants will normally be funded up to $100,000 for one year. Larger projects and longer funding periods may be considered for exceptional proposals. Awards are made contingent upon the availability of funds.
Award funds may only be used to support the direct costs of research. Award funds MAY NOT be used for indirect costs or institutional overhead. Allowable uses of award funds include salary for the principal investigator and for scientific and/or clinical research personnel directly engaged in the research project, consumable supplies and animals, costs associated with data collection and analysis, IRB review fees, and travel related to the conduct of the research or for the purpose of presenting the results of the research at scientific or medical meetings.
It is considered advantageous if institutional/departmental support and/or support from other sources—such as the NIH, foundations, or other philanthropic organizations—is available for the research project for which Focused Ultrasound Surgery Foundation funding is requested.
Application Procedures
The research award application process consists of two stages. Applicants must first submit a project abstract. If the abstract is appropriately aligned with the mission and research priorities of the Foundation and is consistent with the goals of the Research Award Program, the investigator will be invited to submit a full project proposal. Abstracts and full proposals should both be submitted via the Foundation’s online application submission system.
Abstracts
To begin the application process, applicants should submit a completed abstract application form via the Foundation’s online application submission system. Please be sure to pay close attention to the page and word limits specified in the application instructions, as abstract submissions that fail to adhere to the application guidelines will be returned to the applicant for revision.
Full Proposals
Applicants who are invited by the Foundation to submit a full research proposal should submit a completed proposal application form via the Foundation’s online application submission system. Again, please pay close attention to the page and word limits specified in the application instructions.
Each applicant must certify that no investigator identified in the Application is on the FDA’s debarment list.
Review
A panel of scientists selected by the Foundation, including members of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC), will review all of the proposals. The proposals will be scored based on scientific merit and how well the proposed project is aligned with the Foundation's mission and scientific priorities. Funding decisions are normally made on a quarterly basis but can be accelerated if required.
Click here to see the list of criteria that reviewers consider in evaluating and scoring proposals.
Award Acceptance and Funds Distribution
Upon acceptance of the award, the principal investigator and an authorized official of the affiliated institution will be required to sign an award letter indicating acceptance of the Foundation's funding guidelines. Where applicable, a signed disclosure of Human Subjects/Animal Care Assurance must be submitted to the Foundation prior to the transfer of funds.
Research Results
Award recipients are required to submit a brief (1-2 pages) progress report to the Foundation at both the midpoint and endpoint of the funding period. Progress reports should reference progress toward achieving quarterly goals and should be written with the understanding that they may be posted on the Foundation's website. Publications, abstracts, and/or other disseminations or summaries of the data from the research project should be appended to the final progress report. Award recipients are expected to present the results of their projects at the Foundation's annual symposium should one occur during the funding period, and are required to cite the Foundation as the source of funding in all publications of the results of their research projects.
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