Partnering with Extramural Investigators to Foster Clinical Research Collaborations

Thursday, November 07, 2013 — Poster Session II
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	FAES Academic Center (Upper-Level Terrace)	CC	RSCHSUPP-13

Authors

C.A. Fisher
P Piringer
C Bell
J Simmons
E Hayunga
F.P. Ognibene

Abstract

For 60 years, the Clinical Center (CC) has served as a model institution for transforming scientific advances into innovative clinical therapies for a wide range of patients. Following a 2010 Scientific Management Review Board’s Report to expedite collaborations, a new NIH grant was created utilizing a U01 grant mechanism. After two years of intense planning, a number of NIH institutes along with the CC tested a new competitive funding program to solicit interest in such possibilities. The pilot consisted of 12 institutes which agreed to support partnerships with extramural investigators on collaborative research efforts aligned with their missions. A total of 74 letters of intent (LOI) were submitted with 52 grants ultimately submitted for consideration. Lessons learned from the pilot included the need for more time from LOI submission to grant submission and that enhanced communications with both intramural and extramural investigators were essential. Investigators required support and guidance especially regarding budget development and other elements of the grant application. Program modifications will ideally include more ICs funding the program, refinements in the CC and institute resources available to outside investigators, and an improved website, as one mode of enhancing communications.