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ITHS Early Investigator Voucher Awards

SUPPORTING RESEARCH EFFORTS OF JUNIOR INVESTIGATORS

ITHS EARLY INVESTIGATOR VOUCHER AWARDS – SUPPORTING RESEARCH EFFORTS OF JUNIOR INVESTIGATORS

The ITHS is offering Voucher Awards as “in-kind” service vouchers in support of outstanding translational research. Our goal is to provide translational research studies with critical support needed for a project. Most facilities/resources that provide services on a fee-for service basis are eligible for participation in this program (see table below). These services are tailored to meet the specific needs of each investigator and can include assistance with biostatistics, bioethics, research coordination, data and safety monitoring, regulatory monitoring, biomedical informatics, or clinical support. Research involving human subjects or animals must have their IRB and/or IACUC protocols approved or have proof of exemption in order to be eligible for this award.

Submission Deadlines

  • January 1, 2025
  • April 1, 2025
  • July 1, 2025
  • October 1, 2025
Key Dates
Key Dates

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Awardees will be notified of the funding decision about 2 weeks after the application deadline. The period of performance begins 2 months after the application deadline and lasts for 6 months.

Application DeadlineAwardees NotifiedPeriod of Performance
January 1January 15March 1-August 30
April 1April 15June 1-November 30
July 1July 15September 1-February 28
October 1October 15December 1-May 30

Focus of RFA
Focus of the RFA

In your proposal, please describe:

  • Which service voucher you are requesting from the table below;
  • How this service voucher would assist your project;
  • How this work will address a critical transition anywhere along the translational path from basic laboratory research to a disseminated diagnostic or therapeutic use;
  • How this voucher is a timely opportunity that will help you achieve a research goal that might otherwise not be possible.

Eligible Investigators
Eligible Investigators

Early Stage Investigators at ITHS Partner Institutions, including the University of Washington, Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, and other academic institutions affiliated with the University of Washington through the ITHS in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) region and who meet NIH’s definition of an Early Stage Investigator are eligible to apply for this Early Investigator Catalyst Award. Post- doctoral Associates, Fellows, Research Scientists are also eligible to apply. Applications are limited to one per investigator.

All Investigators on the research team must be ITHS Members to apply. To become a member, please complete the ITHS Membership Form.

Services
Services

ITHS OFFERS A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF RESEARCHERS, INCLUDING:

  • BIOSTATISTICS

    • Grant Preparation / Study Design
    • Choosing Statistical Methods
    • Sample Size Determination
    • Randomization & Blinding
    • Data Analysis, including Secondary Data Analysis Multicenter Study Coordination
    • Data Monitoring Plans
    • Analytic Dataset Preparation
    • Manuscript Collaboration

    Voucher for services up to: $2,000.
  • BIOETHICS

    • In-Depth Conversation & Analysis Related to Development, Implementation, or Scrutiny of Clinical & Translational Research

    Voucher for services up to: $1,000.
  • RESEARCH COORDINATION

    • Human Subjects Protection
    • Regulatory Document Organization & Monitoring
    • Protocol Development & Budgeting
    • IRB Application & Compliance Support
    • Study Implementation
    • Interviewing Services
    • Research Nurse
    • Staff Training
    • Lost-To-Follow-Up Tracking Service

    Voucher for services up to: $1,000.
  • DATA AND SAFETY MONITORING

    • Ensure Continuing Participant Safety
    • Evaluate Continued Validity & Scientific Merit of a Trial
    • Assure Protocol Compliance & Data Accuracy

    Voucher for services up to: $1,000.
  • REGULATORY MONITORING

    • Auditing Services
    • Quality Assurance Monitoring Services

    Voucher for services up to: $1,000.
  • BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS

    • Accessing Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Data
    • Biospecimen Acquisition and Management Tools
    • Computing and IT Support
    • Study Data Management Tools

    Voucher for services up to: $1,000.
  • ADULT CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER

    • Immunotherapy Studies
    • High-Volume and/or Serial, Closely-Spaced Blood Draws
    • Pharmacokinetic Studies

    Voucher for services up to: $3,000.

Application Process
Application Process
Application

The application must be submitted through the ITHS website.

Applications will follow National Institutes of Health (NIH) formatting guidelines (see FAQ) and include:

121 KB1) Cover Page
2) Project Title and Abstract (250 word maximum)
3) Research Plan, 2-pages (references do not count toward page limit)
35 KB5) NIH format Biosketches for all investigators (senior/key personnel)
Timeline

Service voucher grants will be awarded on a quarterly basis from a set amount of funding per quarter. Applications will remain open year round but submissions will close for consideration by 5 pm Pacific Daylight Time for that quarter on submission deadline days. Applications will be reviewed and awardees notified within 2 weeks of the submission deadline. Vouchers will expire within 6 months of award notification.

Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs

University of Washington specific question: Does this award have to go through the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)? Is an eGC1 required?

No, this is an internal grant and does not need to be routed through OSP and does not require an eGC1.

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Do figures and references count toward the 2-page Research Plan limit?

Figures DO count toward the 2-page limit but references can be in addition to the 2-page Research Plan.

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Are there any formatting requirements?

Applications will follow National Institutes of Health (NIH) formatting guidelines (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/format-and-write/format-attachments.htm), including the following:

Font (size, color, type density) and Line Spacing

  • Font size: must be 11 points or larger (smaller text in figures, graphs, diagrams and charts is acceptable as long as it is legible when the page is viewed at 100%).
  • Type density: must be no more than 15 characters per linear inch (including characters and spaces)
  • Line spacing: must be no more than six lines per vertical inch.
  • Text color: must be black (color text in figures, graphs, diagrams, charts, tables, footnotes and headings is acceptable).
  • We recommended the following fonts, although other fonts (both serif and non-serif) are acceptable if they meet the above requirements:
    • Arial
    • Garamond
    • Georgia
    • Helvetica
    • Palatino Linotype
    • Times New Roman
    • Verdana

Citations

  • We do not require a specific citation format.

Paper Size and Margins

  • Use paper size no larger than standard letter paper size (8 ½” x 11”).
  • Provide at least one-half inch margins (top, bottom, left, and right) for all pages. No applicant-supplied information can appear in the margins.

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Are supplemental documents allowed?

No, supplemental documents are not allowed.

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I have previously been awarded funds by the ITHS. Am I still eligible to receive this award?

Yes, previous ITHS awardees are eligible to receive additional funding.

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Can vouchers be dispersed prior to IRB/IACUC approval to aid the application process?

No, vouchers cannot be awarded until IRB/IACUC approval is confirmed.

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