OCDF Research Awards :: Guidelines for Grant Reviewers

Guidance For Reviewing Grant Proposals

When evaluating the scientific and clinical merits of the grant proposals, please consider the following criteria:

Clinical, scientific and public health significance (i.e. the likelihood that this proposal will provide useful knowledge).
Quality of scientific method (study design, methods utilized)
Feasibility (e.g. recruitment, participation, retention)
Data analysis (e.g. appropriate statistical tests, power considerations)
Qualifications of Investigator/Mentor
Cost (relative to data generated, knowleged gain and so on)

Guidance For Reviewing Grant Budgets

The following paragraphs cover the International OCDF Foundation's guidelines for Grant Applicants concerning expenses covered by the OCDF Research Grants. When reviewing the grant applications, please consider whether or not the requested funds appear to comply with OCDF guidelines.

Expenses Covered By OCDF Research Grants:
Guidelines For Project Budget Requests

General Information

Please note that because of limited funds, the OCDF prefers to fund only a project's direct costs; however, indirect costs totaling no more that 10% of the requested funds will be considered if justified within the proposal. Other exceptions may be made under extenuating circumstances. Additionally, fringe benefits will be considered for salaries.

OCDF would prefer not to fund capital equipment. However, equipment that is required solely for the purposes of this project and future projects will be considered. Equipment that is commonly available to researchers such as laptop computers, TV monitors, and digital cameras must be specifically justified in the Budget Request. If equipment is requested, please include information as to how the item(s) will be utilized after the completion of this study.

The OCDF does not generally fund travel expenses for personnel. Only attendance at a professional meeting where information concerning this project will be presented will be considered. Please provide specific details relating to the meeting, location, lodging, etc. Travel expenses for study subjects, i.e. parking, bus fare, etc., may be included in the budget request.

If funding from other sources is supporting this project in any way, please detail that support, including personnel whose salaries may be shared.

Personnel

Name(s): List all personnel who will be involved on the project during the budget period, regardless of whether salary is requested; include principal investigator.

Role in Project & Percent of Effort: Identify the role of each individual listed on the project. Describe his or her specific functions. For each person note the percent of time to be spent on this project.

Funds Requested

Please total each section.

Salaries Enter the salary requested for each position. The salary requested is calculated by multiplying the individual's base salary by the percent on this project. A lesser amount may be requested. Fringe benefits may be requested in accordance with your institution's rate.

Supplies Itemize supplies as separate categories, such as lab ware, office supplies, chemical, etc. If total for a category is over $500, please list examples of items to be purchased. Any single item over $300 should be itemized individually. For particularly expensive items (i.e., certain medications) please indicate purchasing methods to obtain least expensive price.

Equipment Any single item requested that is $1,000 or more shall be considered equipment.

Travel Identify specifics (i.e., cost of “coach” airfare) of travel and the reason for the travel for both study subjects and/or study personnel. Note items mentioned above in General Information.

Subject Recruitment and Advertising Types of costs for recruitment should be specific, i.e., radio advertising, # of advertisements, types of advertising, etc. Payments to study subjects should be described.

Consultants Justify the use of consultant(s) with specifics as to their role in the project, relationship to investigators, expertise in the field, etc., as well as their estimated hours on the project.

Institutional Review Board While it is expected that IRB approval will be pursued through your institution and that no funding is necessary, it is recognized that occasionally research may require IRB approval from an independent agency that charges for this service. In these cases, funding will be considered if appropriately documented.