LETTER OF INTENT: Montana INBRE 2025-2026 Faculty RFP

Deadline: November 1st, 2024 11:59 PM EDT

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Issue Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Letters of Intent Due: Friday, November 1, 2024

Letters of Intent Overview

Montana INBRE is requesting letters of intent in advance of its annual Faculty Research RFP. Letters of intent are required for any proposal involving collaborations between multiple institutions and/or significant community engagement aspects. For all other project types, LOIs are highly encouraged but not necessarily required prior to submitting a proposal for Montana INBRE funding. Signaling intent allows Montana INBRE staff to plan follow-up meetings, identify and contact appropriate proposal reviewers in advance, and estimate the upcoming workload for reviewers and staff. 

Letters are due no later than Friday, November 1, 2024.

Eligibility

Faculty in the biomedical, social/behavioral, economic, agriculture, and engineering sciences may apply for Montana INBRE Funding. Most successful applicants will not have independently funded programs and priority is given to new, junior, and/or early-stage investigators. Research proposals may include contributions from established investigators; however, new/junior investigators should always have the lead role in any project, and compensation for established investigators should be minimal, if any.

Per NIH rules, project leaders of major awards are expected to contribute six month's effort towards research during the grant year. Project leaders of Pilot-level awards are expected to contribute three months towards research. Contact Montana INBRE Director, Brian Bothner, or Program Coordinator, Sarah Codd, for more information on investigator effort.

Funding and Priority Areas

Montana INBRE funding areas include basic biomedical science, environmental health, public health, infectious diseases, rural and/or Native American health disparities, and food security/sovereignty. Montana INBRE strives to develop a diversified research portfolio that spans bench science, social science, and community engagement spheres and seeks to include every academic institution in the Montana INBRE network. Within these general areas, proposals must address at least one of Montana INBRE’s research priority areas:

  • Social and behavioral aspects of rural and/or Native American health                          
  • Infectious diseases 
  • Public Health                                     
  • Environmental health                            
  • Access to healthy food

Projects can be developed within a single discipline (e.g., social sciences), but collaborative projects between biomedical and social and behavioral health investigators are also possible and encouraged. Student involvement in research is important and strongly encouraged. Projects should have a high likelihood of leading to independent funding.

Letters of Intent Should Include

Letters of Intent should briefly explain the proposed research and discuss the ways in which Montana INBRE / IDeA Cores and facilities have been consulted and are collaborating in the development of the proposed research. Letters should also identify the proposed Project Leader's primary mentor and briefly discuss the mentor's anticipated role in supporting the project scientifically and/or furthering the PL's career trajectory.

Prior to submitting a letter of intent, prospective and returning investigators should briefly consult with appropriate Montana INBRE Core staff and/or facility managers in the development of their research proposal. Investigators are strongly encouraged to take advantage of research resources available through the Montana INBRE Cores and Programs. Core/Facility names and contacts for these resources include:                                      

If human subjects are involved in the proposed research, applicants should consult with the IRB of record (at their own institutions or the institution to which protocols are deferred) regarding application requirements and due dates. The IRB of record in collaborative research between MSU investigators and researchers at partner intuitions is generally the IRB at the partner institution, though MSU investigators must submit the protocol to MSU’s IRB for review as well. For guidance, contact:       

Pre-Proposal Checklist

☐ Discuss project idea(s) with Montana INBRE PI, PC, DRPP Director
☐ Discuss proposal with appropriate/relevant INBRE Core(s), Programs and/or Facilities
☐ Identify and secure a primary mentor for the project
☐ Begin seeking IRB and/or IACUC approval (if applicable)
☐ Begin seeking letters of support (if applicable)
☐ Submit Letter of Intent by November 1, 2024

Contacts

Complete RFP Details