New Direction Awards

Project Award Amount $30,000

Description
This category applies to investigators who wish to embark on a new or substantially different direction of research rather than a change in methods or approach to the same study goals. This category also includes investigators who have pursued other academic interests and are now re-entering a research path.

It is the responsibility of the investigator to demonstrate that the proposed study is a distinctly new direction of research. For example, studies that are conceptually similar to those being performed in a different tissue or in a different animal model, with a different assay system, or on a different population in the investigator's current research program, would not constitute a new direction. Applicants must be advised that this category has been historically difficult to justify.  As a result we have included two examples of what is considered an appropriate and what is considered a less compelling justification.

1. An appropriate justification: An investigator working on the role of endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease discovers that the trait under study may also lead to degenerative eye disease. The investigator requests funds to develop a research project in this new area. The investigator identifies appropriate collaborating investigators who will provide training in the new skills necessary to conduct research on this new topic, and provides a strong rationale for the likelihood of external funding as a result of this work.
2. A questionable justification: An investigator conducts both human genetics research and complementary proteomics research in a mouse model of a common neurodegenerative disease. The investigator states that a genetic study in a rat model of disease would prove to be more effective in studying the disease in question, and that it qualifies as a new direction because the investigator’s group has never conducted genetics research in a rat model of disease. Applying one’s expertise (e.g., mammalian genetics, proteomics, mammalian models of disease) to a related model of disease would be less likely to be viewed as an adequately justified direction.

Each funded grant will have a maximum budget of $30,000. Projects are for one year and are not renewable. To determine what budget items are allowable please refer to the instruction form.

A progress report is required at the end of the funding period and one year later, identifying resulting publications and subsequent funding obtained to support the expanded/extended projects. Any resulting publication must directly acknowledge the funding agency.

Any resulting publications must directly cite the funding agency.

Note: For New Direction Awards, priority is given to applicants who have not received recent funding in this category.

Eligibility

Who's Eligible: UCSF Faculty at all ranks (Instructor, Assistant, Associate, and Professor) and in all series including adjunct and Professional Research Series can apply.

Who's Not Eligible: Residents, Fellows/Postdocs, Specialists.