Research funding opportunity for nonhuman primate models of human disease
The Pilot Program at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) provides specialized research facilities, expertise and limited support to investigators
Ignition Awards
The Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) is pleased to sponsor the Ignition Award pilot study program, focusing on the use of nonhuman primate (NHP) models of human disease. The purpose of this award is to explore innovative areas of NHP research and generate preliminary data to serve as a basis for submission of new research grant applications (e.g., R01-type grant to NIH or other funding agency) and/or subsequent clinical studies. We anticipate funding two awards. Proposals should focus on translational applications or development or enhancement of the use of NHPs as animal models.
All pilot research projects must be planned, conducted, and carried out under the supervision of at least one Core Scientist at WaNPRC. A list of scientific units, including Core Scientists and their expertise, can be found on the WaNPRC website here. Core Scientists must agree to take on this role. If assistance is needed in identifying a Core Scientist, please contact pcgrants@uw.edu as early as possible.
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The WaNPRC intends to award two awards of up to $75,000 each. The awards will be administered by the Primate Center and must be used for Primate Center study costs, including animal costs, per diem, procedures, supplies, and salaries. Although this award is not intended to support outgoing subcontracts, exceptions could be considered on a case-by-case basis with collaborating institutions.
Purpose
This program is designed to support innovative studies utilizing resources within the WaNPRC. This award program will facilitate the use of NHP models and services of the WaNPRC and the ITHS to provide information applicable to subsequent grant proposals and/or clinical studies. This program will provide an opportunity to advance research programs developing and expanding the use of NHPs in research of human diseases, and also, by operating jointly with the ITHS, advance the translational process of development and use of therapeutics, diagnostics, or devices.
Examples of potential projects include, but are not limited to:
- Development of clinical tests/diagnostics/therapeutics that have the potential to:
- accelerate translational research
- improve clinical treatments (i.e., new therapeutics or new indications for approved drugs)
- Studies that advance neuroscience applications or surgical techniques
- Development and/or validation of a new disease model using nonhuman primates
- Reproductive and/or developmental studies that may have direct clinical applications
- Cellular and humoral immunotherapies for which nonhuman primate studies chart a path to the clinic.
- Studies that increase/promote our understanding of the natural environment of NHPs, potential zoonotic concerns, and how this is being impacted by human-animal interactions.
- Studies enhancing the care, welfare, surgical techniques, or husbandry of NHPs.
Application process details: The LOI should be submitted using the online form here. The application form can be requested by emailing pcgrants@uw.edu or downloaded from the WaNPRC website.
Application Process Details
Eligibility:
Research faculty and early-stage investigators (ESI), including post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty who are eligible to apply for independent external funding or career transition award (e.g. R01, K01, or similar) from NIH or similar funding agencies. An ESI is a Program Director/Principal Investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. Applicants affiliated within an academic or nonprofit institute can apply except for those who have received a WaNPRC Ignition Award within the previous three (3) years.
The Center particularly encourages applications from new and early-stage investigators (ESI), including post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty. The Center also encourages applications from faculty or senior scientists from external institutes and/or collaborations with external investigators. Applications from established investigators pursuing a new area or direction in their research or those who have not worked with NHPs before are also encouraged. This is an opportunity to pursue innovative research projects or collect preliminary data that can provide proof of concept and lead to future funding. Please see https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm for more information.
Budget: Applicants are required to contact the WaNPRC at: pcgrants@uw.edu to discuss the scientific components of their projects, WaNPRC resources that are available, and general costs of the services to be provided. Complete budgets are required for the applications. Applicants are strongly advised to develop their budgets in collaboration with the WaNPRC.
Applications with budget requests insufficient to complete the Specific Aims or budgets that were not developed with assistance from the WaNPRC will not be advanced to scientific review. Applications from PIs that do not meet the criteria for eligibility will not be forwarded for review.
Budgets for the NHP studies will be administered by WaNPRC. All financial activity will be overseen by the WaNPRC Administration.
- It is the PI’s responsibility to clearly demonstrate how the proposed research has the potential to positively impact the quality or the conduct of clinical and translational research or how the planned experiment impacts or expands the use of nonhuman primates as an animal model in the context of the proposal.
- The PI should clearly describe how the proposed evaluation methodology provides an innovative approach to conducting the proposed research.
- Up to $75,000 per selected applicant will be directly applied to the costs at WaNPRC.
- No additional funds are necessary for indirect costs.
- No UW eGC1 is required.
Application process
Step 1 – ***Submit a Letter of Intent to WaNPRC by November 20, 2024.*** Please include proposal title, abstract (250-word max), key personnel, WaNPRC Core or Affiliate Scientists involved, WaNPRC Core Scientist who serve as mentor, and at least 4 potential reviewers (one UW reviewer and 3 external to UW). Letters of Intent will be used to identify potential reviewers and the competitiveness of projects. Only Letters of Intent with projects deemed to be competitive for funding will be invited to submit full proposals.
Applicants should refrain from identifying close collaborators as potential reviewers. It is strongly recommended that applicants identify at least two (2) reviewers who are external to UW/WaNPRC.
***2025 Y64 WaNPRC Ignition Pilot Program Letter of Intent (FILL OUT THIS FORM)***
Step 1 – Submit a Letter of Intent to WaNPRC by November 20, 2024. Please include proposal title, abstract (250-word max), key personnel, WaNPRC Core or Affiliate Scientists involved, WaNPRC Core Scientist who serve as mentor, and at least 3 potential reviewers (one UW reviewer and 2 external to UW). Letters of FOA WaNPRC Pilot Announce Y63 Intent will be used to identify potential reviewers and competitiveness of projects. Only Letters of Intent with projects deemed competitive for funding will be invited to submit full proposals.
Applicants should refrain from identifying close collaborators as potential reviewers. It is strongly recommended that applicants identify at least three (3) reviewers who are external to UW/WaNPRC.
Step 2 –Submit the application to WaNPRC by December 20, 2024 – (email to pcgrants@uw.edu).
- No applications time-stamped after 12/20/2024, 5:00 PM PST will be considered
Step 3 –Review of Applications
The Review Committee will score the applications and applicants will be notified of their status by February 13, 2025. All applicants will receive reviewers’ comments. Scoring is not provided. Detailed review criteria are listed below.
NOTE: The PIs receiving awards are responsible for securing approval from the UW Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee before a new project can begin.
Step 4 – 2025 Award recipients
The budget period is anticipated to begin May 1, 2025, and must be spent by April 30, 2026. No-cost extensions or carry-forwards are not allowed.
Unsuccessful applicants may resubmit their applications up to a total of two (2) times. The Review Committee may deny the opportunity to resubmit an application if the reviewers determine that the application does not meet the intent of the program. Resubmitted applications should include a 1-page Introduction to address previous reviewers’ comments and outline changes since the last submission. Letters of Intent will be required for resubmission as well as new applications.
Review Criteria and Committee Details
The combined review committee for the Ignition Award applications will consist of members of the WaNPRC Research Advisory Committee, the ITHS Drug and Device Advisory Committee (DDAC), and others as identified by the WaNPRC Associate Director for Research or designee as appropriate. Members of the committee are selected to provide interdisciplinary insight into the proposed research. The committee is composed of Core and Affiliate Scientists along with reviewers external to the WaNPRC.
Reviews are performed according to the following criteria:
- Scientific merit
- Status of the applicant as an Early-Stage Investigator or as an established investigator entering a new field or proposing new work in NHPs.
- Innovation
- Potential impact on human health and/or the use of nonhuman primate models
- Probability of future grant funding and/or clinical studies
Proposals that use existing NHP samples or that utilize animals already assigned to projects are also encouraged.
Reporting requirements
The WaNPRC requires an interim and annual report from all award recipients. The dates and specifications for these reports will be stated in the WaNPRC Notice of Award.
Quarterly in-person meetings with a WaNPRC representative may be requested to track the progress of funded activities.
Publicity
The WaNPRC reserves the right to publicly disclose information about its granting activities. WaNPRC communications to the public may include lists of funded applications, the names of principal investigators and applicant institutions and departments, titles of proposed activities, and reports about progress and outcomes. Please note that records produced at the University of Washington are subject to the Washington State Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.
Form to Receive Full Application
