Scroll below for FAQs about Nominations, Eligibility, Percent Effort, Other Funding, Proposals, Letters of Support, and Miscellaneous Issues (including IRB requirements, indirect costs, salary caps, preliminary animal research, and success rates).
Nomination FAQs
What is the maximum number of candidates an institution can nominate?
Each accredited, degree-granting institution in the U.S. can nominate up to two candidates. Exceptions to this limit are Harvard Medical School, which may nominate a maximum of four candidates due to its large number of affiliated research institutions and hospitals.
Does my institution qualify as an institution that can nominate candidates?
Your institution must be an accredited, degree-granting institution in the U.S.—which would encompass for that institution all affiliated graduate schools, related hospitals and research institutes. Different divisions, departments, hospitals, centers or schools of the same degree-granting institution should confer to submit one slate of nominees. Please note that to qualify, the nominating institution must meet the tax status requirements specified below.
Why are there restrictions on the tax status of the institution accepting the award?
DDCF can award grants only to institutions that have letters from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service documenting that they have been determined to be exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that they are not a private foundation or a Type III supporting organization as defined in Section 509(a) of the Code. Please contact ddcf@aibs.org if you have any questions.
Do independent research institutes and hospitals qualify as an institution that can nominate candidates?
Independent research institutes and hospitals that are not affiliated with an accredited, degree-granting institution in the U.S. are not eligible to nominate candidates. These awards are intended to support physician-scientists working in an academic environment. Investigators at research institutes and hospitals with academic appointments are encouraged to seek nomination through eligible institutions.
I have a joint appointment. Which institution should nominate me?
You should be nominated by the institution where you have a full-time appointment. If your appointment is considered full-time at both institutions, then you should be nominated by the institution that will administer your award.
Can the nomination letter be submitted after the online nomination form has been submitted?
No. The nomination letter from your institution must be uploaded to the nomination site as a .pdf file at the time of submission. It cannot be added after the fact. Institutions should not begin the Web application until they have the letter.
Can an institution replace a nominee after the online nomination form has been submitted?
No. Nominations are final upon electronic submission.
What if I don’t have an exact proposal title by the time my institution submits its nominations?
You only need a tentative title at the time of nomination.
Where do I find information about the Primary Disease Area required for the nomination? Can I pick more than one disease area?
You can select more than one disease area or specialty from the list included in the Nomination Instructions document, which is also on the main CSDA web page.
Where do I find information about the Clinical Research Type required for the nomination? Can I select more than one research type?
You can select only one research type from the list included in the Nomination Instructions document, which is also on the main CSDA web page.
Where do I find information about the Research Approach required for the nomination? Can I select more than one research approach?
You can select only one research approach from the list included in the Nomination Instructions document, which is also on the main CSDA web page.
Eligibility FAQs
Can international investigators apply to the CSDA?
Yes, as long as they are working in an accredited, degree-granting institution in the U.S. Applicants do not have to be U.S. citizens.
I work in clinical research, but I have a Ph.D. not an M.D. Am I eligible to apply?
No. Applicants must have received an M.D. or a foreign equivalent from an accredited institution.
My title is Instructor. Am I eligible to apply?
Full-time, post-fellowship Instructor positions are eligible only when recognized as full-time faculty level appointments by the nominating institution.
I was an Instructor prior to my current Assistant Professor appointment. Am I eligible to apply?
If your Instructor position was considered a full-time faculty level appointment by the institution and the date of the appointment occurred after January 1, 2007, then you are eligible to apply. To be eligible, applicants must be appointed to their first full-time faculty level position between January 1, 2007 and January 1, 2012.
I completed my fellowship in 2001, was appointed as a full-time Instructor in 2004, and was appointed as an Assistant Professor in 2006. Am I eligible to apply?
No. To be eligible, applicants must be appointed to their first full-time faculty level appointment between January 1, 2007 and January 1, 2012.
I was appointed as an Assistant Professor at my current institution in 2007, but was previously an Assistant Professor at another institution (appointed in 2005). Am I eligible to apply?
No. To be eligible, applicants must be appointed to their first full-time faculty level appointment between January 1, 2007 and January 1, 2012.
I held a Research Associate position in 2006, but was appointed as full-time faculty in March 2007. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. Research Associate positions are not considered full-time faculty level appointments.
Can fellows apply to the CSDA?
No. Fellowship-level and research associate-level awards are not offered in the 2012 competition.
Are there any limitations in terms of clinical areas you are willing to fund?
No. Clinical investigators working in any disease area are eligible to be nominated.
I have been a full-time faculty member for more than 5 years, but I took an official leave of absence during this time. Can a leave-of-absence exception be made to the condition that my first full-time faculty appointment cannot have been made prior to January 1, 2007?
The foundation will consider requests for such exceptions on a case-by-case basis. There are no guarantees that exceptions will be granted. If your institution decides that it would like to nominate you, the nomination committee must contact ddcf@aibs.org to discuss your specific case.
Are Acting Instructors or Acting Assistant Professors eligible for this award?
No. This award is intended for physician-scientists who hold a full-time academic position with a length of appointment that covers the grant period (minimum of 3 years).
Are Adjunct Instructors or Assistant Professors eligible for this award?
No. This award is intended for physician-scientists who hold a full-time academic position with a length of appointment that covers the grant period (minimum of three years).
My institution considers an Adjunct Professor position to be a full-time, faculty level position. Am I eligible to apply?
Yes. If your institution considers Adjunct Professor to be a full-time, faculty level position, you may apply for this award.
Am I ineligible if I held an Acting Instructor, Acting Assistant Professor or an Adjunct position before January 1, 2007?
If the position of Acting Instructor, Acting Assistant Professor or Adjunct Assistant Professor was considered a temporary position at your institution, then it does not count toward the 5 year restriction.
Percent Effort FAQs
I have a National Institutes of Health K series award, which requires 75% research effort. Can I still apply for the CSDA?
An awardee must devote 75% of his/her professional time to research, but there is no minimum effort requirement for the CSDA project itself. However, if the CSDA proposal requests salary support for the CSDA grantee, the percent effort committed to the CSDA project must be equal to or greater than the percent salary charged.
I am a surgeon and I have a large clinical commitment; however, I also do research. Do I have to dedicate 75% of my time doing research?
On rare occasions, exceptions have been made on a case-by-case basis. Please contact ddcf@aibs.org if you have questions.
Other Funding FAQs
I have been successful in obtaining other research funding. Will this hurt my chances in getting an award?
Candidates will not be penalized for having other career development awards, but there can be no scientific or budgetary overlap between the proposed aims of the CSDA research and those of other awards.
I am the Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator of a National Institutes of Health R01. Can I apply for this award?
No. An award will not be made if, prior to the commencement of this award, the applicant has been or becomes the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on a National Institutes of Health, peer-reviewed, R01 research grant and/or the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on a research project that is part of a P01 program project, a P50 center grant or a U01 cooperative agreement.
I have a National Institutes of Health K series award or other research support. Can I propose the same scientific aims?
No. The aims proposed on your CSDA application must be distinct from those of other awards, with no scientific or budgetary overlap.
Proposal FAQs
What is the difference between my nominating institution and the grant receiving organization?
The nominating institution is the degree-granting institution where your faculty-level appointment is located (e.g., Harvard University). If you are associated with an affiliated research hospital or research institute (e.g., Dana Farber Cancer Institute) and your grants are administered through that organization, then that institution is the grant receiving organization.
What are the formatting instructions?
Complete application instructions and a link to the online application site will be emailed to all nominees following the nomination deadline.
Letters of Support FAQs
Can my letter of support from the Chair instead be from the Head of my Division?
Applicants who are part of a Department of Medicine may have their division head write this letter. All other applicants must have their letter of support written by their department chair.
I have two mentors. Can my mentors both write a letter of support?
If you have multiple mentors, you may use one of the following options: have your mentors write a joint letter; have two mentors each write a one-page letter; or select one mentor to write a two-page letter. Whichever option you choose, the total number of pages devoted to mentor letters must not exceed two.
My mentor is the chair of my department. Do I need to find another person to write my mentor letter of support?
No. Your chair can write two separate letters or a combined letter, as long as the combined letter includes the specific information required for the institutional letter.
Miscellaneous FAQs
What is DDCF's definition of clinical research?
Clinical research involves the scientific investigation of the etiology, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of human disease using human subjects, human populations or materials of human origin. Included in the definition are studies that utilize tissues or pathogens only if they can be linked to a patient.
It is expected that the research protocols of grant applicants will require Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Occasionally, the Foundation has funded research that does not require IRB approval, such as research using de-identified patient populations. If a research project is being proposed that does not require IRB approval, applicants or their nominating institutions are strongly encouraged to contact program staff to discuss whether the proposed research falls within the Foundation’s definition of clinical research.
In keeping with the wishes expressed in Doris Duke’s will, experiments that utilize animals or primary tissues derived from animals will not be supported by this program.
When is IRB approval or submission required to be in effect? At the time of the full proposal submission or before an award is forthcoming?
IRB approval can be pending at the time of full proposal submissions; however, if you receive a grant, we expect that you will have approval by the start date (July 1, 2012) or no later than October 1, 2012.
When is IND approval required to be in effect? At the time of the full proposal submission or before an award is forthcoming?
IND approval can be pending at the time of full proposal submissions; however, if your proposal is recommended for funding, we require proof of IND approval before the award can be made.
What if IND approval cannot be obtained at the time of award notification?
The award will not be made. We encourage nominees to reapply once IND approval is in place.
Does the award provide any formal coverage of indirect costs?
The total indirect costs for the duration of the award can be up to $12,000 per year for three years.
Is there a salary cap for this award?
No. The foundation does not have a salary cap for what can be charged against this award.
Can I request salary support for my mentor in the budget?
Yes. Up to 5% of the mentor's effort can be included in the budget.
My preliminary research has included research in animal models. Can I include this in my proposal?
Yes. Preliminary research in animal models may be included in your application. However, no DDCF funds may be used for experiments that utilize animals or primary tissues derived from animals. If you are planning animal studies concurrent to your proposed CSDA research and mention these in your proposal, you must clearly state that these will be supported by other funds and include the source of these funds.
What is the success rate for applicants submitting proposals?
Although there is no way to know how many nominations we will receive this year, we can provide an estimate of the success rate based on data from previous competitions. The success rate for eligible proposals in the 2011 competition was 12%.
How many awards will be made?
DDCF plans to award up to 12 grants in 2012.