Brief Description:

Description:

The Brain Research Foundation (BRF) Annual Scientific Innovations Award supports innovative discovery science in both basic and clinical neuroscience. This funding mechanism is designed to support creative, cutting-edge research in well-established research laboratories, under the direction of established investigators.

This funding opportunity is for projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings in a very short time frame. It is expected that investigations supported by these grants will yield high impact findings and result in major grant applications and significant publications in high impact journals.

NOTE: HMS faculty at the affiliated hospitals must apply through the Foundation Funds program. Harvard university is the official nominating institution and HMS nominees will move on to the Harvard-wide competition offered through the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.

Application Information:

Please fill out the online form and attach the following documents as a single PDF:

Summary of proposed research (limit 2 pages including images. A third page may be used for references)
Statement of resources/facilities available for the project as is standard for NIH grants. (limit 1 page)
Nominating letter signed by your department or division head.
NIH Biosketch, including past and pending sources of funding. For current funding include abstract and specific aims and indicate if there is any overlap with your proposal. (Limit 7 pages).

Style Requirements:

11pt font or larger.
No more than 6 lines per inch.
Color images are allowed, however any copies will be printed in Black and White.

Eligibility Criteria:

The nominated candidate must be a full-time associate professor or full professor at an invited US academic institution, working in the area of studies of brain function in health and disease.
Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential.
Studies should be related to either normal human brain development or specifically identified disease states. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease.
The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. This grant is not to be used as bridge funding.

Review Criteria:

The HMS Foundation Funds Committee advises department heads, mentors, and candidates to be particularly aware of the committee's selection criteria when making nominations:

A technically feasible research proposal
Applicants with the potential to successfully carry out the research described in the proposal
Relevance of the proposal to the mission of the foundation award
Career trajectory
Letter of support and institutional commitment to the applicant
Publications
Current funding

Additional Information, Related Websites, and Proxy Instructions:

HMS faculty at the affiliated hospitals must apply through the Foundation Funds program. Harvard University is the official nominating institution for these awards. The Foundation Funds Committee will select nominees for HMS and these nominees will then submit applications to the Office of the Vice Provost for Research. A committee appointed by the Provost's Office will review the applications and select the university nominee.

100% of this award must be utilized for direct costs.

Contact Information:

For questions about this application, please contact Clare Lamont at clare_lamont@hms.harvard.edu

Search Filters:

Institution

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Children’s Hospital Boston
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Massachusetts General Hospital
McLean Hospital
Harvard Medical School (Quad)
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM)
Mount Auburn Hospital
Schepens Eye Research Institute
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Position

Associate Professor
Professor

Type of Competition

Limited Submission

Discipline

Basic Science
Clinical Science
Translational Science

Type of Award

Prize/Award
Research