Once the application is complete and submitted to the Office of Research Development, the ORD staff will initially review the documents to assure compliance with the application instructions (i.e. page limits, margins, etc.). The projects will then be reviewed by the EARDA Pilot Project Advisory Committee for merit including NIH mission relevance, compliance with human subjects/animal protection requirements, and inclusion of women and minorities. The committee will rate each proposal on a scale of 1.0-5.0 (the lower the score the better), as is done during NIH review panels.

The proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria, as is done in NIH reviews:

• Significance: How much will this study and the proposed follow-up studies contribute to advancing scientific knowledge and health? The review will compare the significance of the proposal as it relates to the NIH and its various institutes. The cover page should explain how this pilot study will help the investigator in their follow up application to an NIH grant. A specific Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) should be referenced.
• Approach: Will the proposed methods adequately answer the specific aims? It is imperative that the project clearly lists the specific aims and that the methods are appropriate to answer these. In addition, appropriate statistical analysis is essential.
• Innovation: Is this a novel approach to the project, or is this a repeat of work that has already been adequately studied? The investigator should demonstrate that this is something that NIH would be interested in funding. The study should advance the current state of knowledge, or at least answer questions that will allow a follow-up study that will advance the state of knowledge and be something that the NIH would consider funding.
  
• Investigator: Does the Principle Investigator (and possibly other researchers) have the experience and training to adequately carry out the project? There should be evidence that the research techniques can be adequately performed by the Principle Investigator. For instance, it should be shown that the investigator has used this equipment and/or tools for previous research, and preferably published using similar equipment and/or tools.
• Environment: Is there evidence of institutional (departmental) support that will allow this project to succeed? This will primarily be demonstrated by the signature of the department chair on the cover letter.

Before a final decision on funding is made, the chosen applications will be transferred onto corresponding PHS 398 forms and forwarded to the NICHD program and grants management staff. Applications will go through a final review for scientific and technical merit by an NICHD internal review committee. The EARDA principal investigator and business official will be notified upon clearance by NICHD. Upon notification by NICHD, the PI can utilize the pilot funds to begin the project.

EARLIEST ANTICIPATED START DATE:
JULY 1, 2008

Note: Use of pilot funds prior to NICHD clearance is prohibited.