Opportunities for Fellows

OPSD offers concept reviews only to physician-scientist trainees and junior faculty registered in OPSD Scholars who do not have access to a department-run research development or concept review program. If the scholar is unsure about whether they have access to departmental resources, they should inquire with their OPSD Scholars Coordinator and Master Mentor. Participants must commit to providing a draft specific aims page (pre-vetted by a research mentor) at least one week in advance of the scheduled concept review meeting.

The purpose is to identify weaknesses in the scientific concepts early on that can be fixed via changes in strategies, presentation, new collaborations, or improved use of available resources.  This program can be used to vet grants of any size (e.g., K01, K23, R03, R01) and is most useful in the early stages of grant planning, before expending much time writing.

What is a “Concept Review”?

Investigators present their proposed scientific grant idea to a small group of established investigators with relevant expertise and participate in an open discussion with their specific aims page as the starting point

 Process for Concept Review Set-Up:

1.  At least 2-3 months before the submission due date, the investigator contacts OPSD with the following information:
   •  Whether their research is basic, clinical, or translational
   •  The name and submission date of the award they are applying for
   •  The title of their proposal
   •  The name of their mentor(s) and 5-6 investigators from anywhere within Duke University who have expertise relevant to the subject matter: investigators are encouraged to think outside of the box here.
   •  What days and times the investigator is available for a 90-minute review within the next 3-4 weeks
2.  The senior basic or clinical faculty lead looks over the suggested SOM reviewers and adds suggestions as needed
3.  OPSD contacts reviewers to set a date/time for the review session
4.  Reviewers receive the Specific Aims page of the investigator one week prior to the review session
5.  The overall format for this 90-minute concept review session is as follows:
   • The investigator presents an outline of the grant (including the background, preliminary data, and research plan) via PowerPoint to a small group of Duke investigators whose expertise aligns with the proposed research (3-5 reviewers total)
   •  Following the presentation, the group provides feedback through an open discussion focused on identifying possible problems and offering suggestions to improve the planned proposal
   •  The OPSD Scholars Coordinator will complete a concept review outcome form to provide notes and feedback after the review session

For more information on the concept review process, including eligibility and program requirements, please email opsd@dm.duke.edu .

THE APPLICATION PORTAL IS OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 24th, 2025

The Duke Office of Physician-Scientist Development (OPSD) is pleased to announce a request for applications for funding to support a laboratory technician or research assistant.

 I. Purpose

Early career physician-scientists may face challenges with research productivity as they navigate both clinical and research training and responsibilities. This challenge may be ameliorated with the support of a laboratory technician or research assistant who can continue research activities while the physician-scientist is engaged in clinical activities. The intent of this RFA is to promote early career research productivity and continuity by providing funding to cover a portion of effort of a laboratory technician or research assistant to be dedicated to the applicant’s research project.

Each award provides $25,000 for one year to cover a portion of the salary and associated fringe benefits of a laboratory technician or research assistant. Up to $5,000 of this award may be allocated for research supplies. This award is non-renewable; however, awardees may apply for a second cycle. Applicants can hold the award for a maximum of two years.

This RFA is open to early-career physician-scientists, including residents, medical subspecialty fellows, and junior faculty who are conducting basic or translational research (laboratory or big data/computational biology).

Proposals should include:

• Applicant’s Biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Research Summary (1- 2 pages)
  • Statement of need including a description of the impact technical support would have on the applicant’s ability to move their research forward
  • An overview of the applicant’s research plans
  • A timeline for research activities
• Mentor statement including current support for the applicant’s project (1 page)
• Mentor’s Biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Plan for Technical Assistance (1/2 - 3/4 page)
  • Description of the technician’s responsibilities within the project
  • Supervision plan, such as regular reports, meetings, etc., as well as plans for technical, safety, and regulatory training
• A Memorandum of Understanding (using MOU form below) signed by the applicant, Mentor/PI (who will cover the remainder of the technician’s effort), and a Department Business Manager or CAO. Financial resources that will be used to cover the technician’s effort must be indicated.
• If the applicant intends to use $5,000 for research supplies, include a budget using the template provided at the link below

The MOU form can be accessed HERE.

The budget template can be accessed HERE.

II. Key Dates

Application Submission Deadline: January 24, 2025

Final Selection: April 11, 2025

Funding Period: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

III. Eligibility

Applicants:

Only applicants who are conducting basic or translational (laboratory or big data/computational biology) research in the following categories are eligible to apply:

• Duke School of Medicine trainees (resident or fellow) in any clinical training program who have set aside research time during their clinical training
• Duke junior faculty who are within the first five years of a faculty appointment and are physician scientists

The following are not eligible to apply:

• Medical students
• Resident or fellow trainees who do not have research time during their clinical training
• Faculty members with an R01 or equivalent funding
• Faculty members who do not have clinical responsibilities

Technician:

The proposed technical support must be provided by a single person.  Such support may be provided by individuals in a number of job categories as long as it is appropriate to the proposed project and research environment including, but not limited to:

• Laboratory technicians
• Research assistants
• Work-study students or other undergraduate students (with appropriate experience)
• Clinical Research Specialist
• Clinical Research Coordinator

The following are not eligible to be covered as technicians via this support mechanism

• Medical students
• Other residents or fellows
• PI/Mentor or other faculty

IV. Funding

Two award options are available and must be declared at the time of application:

• Option 1: $25,000 applied directly to cover a percentage of a technician’s total effort (salary + fringe) with an expected start date of July 1, 2025 or hire/start date and ending on June 30, 2026. The technician must be hired within 3 months of the award start, pre-identification of technician during the application period is strongly encouraged.
• Option 2:  $20,000 applied directly to cover a pre-defined percentage of a technician’s total effort (salary + fringe) and $5,000 for budgeted research supplies transferred into an individual fund code for use by the applicant.

*Please note, awards may be subject to G&A.  For more information, please check with your department business manager or grant manager.

 V. Selection Process and Review Criteria

Following submission, applications are reviewed by a committee composed of OPSD leadership and affiliated faculty. The Review Committee will consider the following criteria when reviewing and scoring applications:

• Potential impact of technician support on applicant’s research trajectory
• Scientific impact and potential for success of the proposed project
• Appropriateness of timeline and Plan for Technical Assistance
• Commitment of PI/Mentor to provide funding and projects to cover the remainder of the technician’s effort

 VI. Application Procedure

The application can be accessed HERE. BEFORE completing the application, applicants MUST have the following documents ready to upload (the same record cannot be accessed again):

• Your biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Research summary (two-page limit)
• Mentor statement, including current support for the applicant’s project (one-page limit)
• Mentor’s biosketch (Current NIH Format)
• Plan for technical assistance (1/2 – 3/4 page)
• Memorandum of understanding signed by the applicant, PI, and Department Business Manager or CAO
• Budget for supplies, if appropriate

VII. Budget Guidelines

For Award Option 1, no formal budget is required.  If a technician has been identified at the time of application, an indication of the amount of effort that will be covered by the $25,000 award should be included in the “Plan for Technical Assistance” as indicated above in Section 1 and should be determined by your departmental business manager to include both salary and non-federal fringe for FY 2025. This award will be applied directly to the technician’s effort. Please note, if a technician has not been hired by the award date of July 1, 2025, the $25,000 must be distributed across the remaining months prior to June 30, 2026. No-cost extensions are not permitted and award money not spent by June 30, 2026 must be returned to the OPSD.

We encourage applicants to connect their business managers with the OPSD at opsd@dm.eduke.edu to discuss preferences for receiving the award.

 For Award Option 2, a budget totaling $25,000 must be submitted using the template provided and uploaded as a pdf.

The budget period is July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. No indirect or overhead costs may be included; the awardees receive direct costs only.
Grant funds may only be budgeted for:

• Salary support of the technician, including fringe benefits
• Up to $5,000 may be used for small equipment, research supplies, or core lab costs. A detailed budget, including per item cost and catalog numbers, must be provided for any funds requested for research supplies.

Grant funds may not be used for:

• salary support for the PI or faculty collaborators
• office supplies or communication costs, including printing
• meals or travel, including to conferences
• professional education or training
• computers or audiovisual equipment
• manuscript preparation and submission

All applicants and their mentors must provide documentation via the MOU showing that the remainder of the technician salary is supported. Research supply money that is unspent as of July 1, 2026 will be returned to the OPSD.

IX. Terms of the Award

Project Execution

Investigators agree to submit a detailed written report 12 months after the conclusion of the funding period as described below. Technician support must complete in the 12-month period; no-cost extensions are not permitted. 

OPSD will require each awardee’s department to open a new fund code to receive the transfer of funds from OPSD.

Post-Award Reporting

OPSD will track significant events resulting from the funding. Any significant events should be included in the final report. Investigators will be responsible for providing an annual report to OPSD detailing any achievements linked to this award. Examples include (but art not limited to):

• Abstracts/presentations, manuscripts, published guidelines
• Follow-on funding (e.g., grants from government or foundation sources, SBIR/STTR, angel and venture capital investment)
• Milestones achieved in animal models or manufacturing
• Patents
• Translation of models to other geographical areas
• Translation of models to other therapeutic areas
• Agreements with partners and strategic collaborators to translate the research
• Commercialization (e.g. new intellectual property, license, commercial partnerships, start-up company)
• Translation to clinical studies
• Direct-to-consumer interactions (e.g. apps) 

When requested, all awardees will be expected to provide updates of publications and other successes that originated from the award.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information on this funding opportunity, please contact opsd@dm.duke.edu.