UCSF EaRTH Center Seedling Awards Program
The UCSF Environmental Research and Translation for Health (EaRTH) Center (NIEHS P30ES030284) is excited to announce the EaRTH Seedling Awards Program in Environmental Health Sciences. These awards are designed to enhance current research projects with an environmental health focus or to collect preliminary research data to support a NIH/NIEHS grant submission. These funds are intended to support activities that can commence upon disbursement of funds. These funds can be used toward specific EaRTH Core Services:
High-throughput Chemical Screening
Environmental Chemical Laboratory Biomonitoring Services
Integrated Health Sciences Facility Core Services
Proteomics
It is HIGHLY advised to discuss the proposed use of Seedling funds with the requested Core service prior to submitting the application. Please use the consultation request form or email [email protected] to discuss options with the director of the interested service.
Seedling Awards support any research in the environmental health sciences that aligns with the theme of the EaRTH Center, which is to understand how exposure to environmental pollutants and/or environmental chemicals during development influence disease and to intervene and prevent exposures to improve health throughout the lifespan, especially among vulnerable and underserved populations. Exposures may include relevant environmental chemicals and food additives as well as factors that may affect biological responses to chemical/pollutant exposures such as psychosocial stress.
Eligibility
EaRTH Center members and affiliate members are eligible.
Deadline
Apply at any time. Decisions will be made by the Executive Committee on an ongoing basis.
Funding amount will be determined based on project need and core funding availability. The requesting member and the Core service provider will determine an estimated project period if Seedling is awarded.
Budget
Budgets vary based on core service requested. These awards are for specific EaRTH Center core services and are not cash awards.
Application
The Application must include:
- A completed EaRTH Center application (link below)
- PI’s Biosketch (uploaded in Qualtrics) - you may reuse a biosketch from your last grant submission
- Projects that require institutional approvals (e.g. IRB, IACUC) must provide a copy of those approvals if funding is awarded
Reporting Requirements
IRB/IACUC approval letters must be received as soon as possible to avoid any delays in funding. Funded projects will be expected to submit initial IRB applications immediately following the notice of award. All funded projects, along with IRB approval, must be reviewed and approved by NIEHS prior to the funding start date.
In addition, all Seedling Fund Awardees are required to submit a report at the end of the project. The final report will contain updates on the project, publications directly related to findings from the project, and grants directly associated with project results. Grantees may be asked to present a short oral presentation on progress at an EaRTH Center webinar, meeting or at the annual EaRTH Center Research Forum. Grantees will also understand they may be contacted after the service is complete for updates related to publications, grants, etc. that resulted from the service awarded.
All publications resulting from funding must include the following acknowledgement: "Support for this research was provided by core center grant P30-ES030284 from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health."
Application Review and Selection
Applications will be reviewed by P30 EaRTH Center Executive Committee. Funding decisions are based on several factors – scientific review score, alignment of proposal with the EaRTH Center’s strategic goals, proposal research area of focus, conformity to stated guidelines, and potential for to lead to future successful NIEHS grant applications. Information on the EaRTH Center goals are available at earth.ucsf.edu. Applicants may be asked to consult with EaRTH Center Core Directors prior to funding decision.