Research Grants

Applications must be completed by the applicant, not by the mentor. 

Background Information

• Applicant’s title and institution (both applicant’s current institution and institution where proposed research will be conducted)
• Title of the proposed research
• Current research (project title, source, years, and amount funded)
• Other funding that has been secured or applied for to support this research activity 
• Abstract (brief description)
• Whether applicant is an established or early-career investigator (early-career investigators are defined as those having no prior independent NIH funding of R01 or equivalent within 10 years of finishing their training). If applicant is an established investigator, to be eligible for a Discovery grant, include plan of engagement of early-career investigator in the study.
• Administrative official to be notified if award is made (official’s title, address, and phone number)
• Documentation and attestation of disclosures of the investigator(s)

Required PDF Attachments 

1. Research application (not to exceed six pages, Arial font, size 11 pt or larger):

• Study purpose and specific aims
• Background and significance
• Preliminary data, if any
• Research design and methods, to include:
  • Design
  • Setting
  • Sample (size, size justification, inclusion and exclusion criteria)
  • Methods to achieve each specific aim
  • Evaluation plan
• Institutional review board (IRB) status

2. Curriculum vitae or biographical sketch (not to exceed three pages), to include:

• Education and training
• Research experience
• Publications written by both applicant and mentor that are relevant to the proposed research
• Personal statement (why your experience and qualifications make you well suited to your role in the proposed research)
• Positions and honors
• Selected peer-reviewed publications relevant to the proposed research (published or in press only, no more than 15 publications)

3. Justified budget: Use the budget template available for download from the application portal. Include budget requirements.

4. Bibliography (not to exceed 75 sources).

Overview of modifications: If you are resubmitting a previous grant application, submit a one-page overview of the recommended modifications made to the original grant proposal.

Additional PDF Attachments (some required, some optional)

Required:

• Early-career investigator letter of support from mentor
  • Letter from mentor indicating that the mentor is prepared to provide adequate time to personally train applicant in the methods of scientific research (if applicable), that the mentor has prior experience with research fellows, and that the mentor has subsequent achievements as an independent investigator (if possible)
• Early-career investigator letter of support from institution
  • Statement from department or division head indicating that sufficient time to perform the proposed work will be protected from other clinical or administrative responsibilities
• Early-career investigator letter of recommendation
  • Two to four letters of recommendation from current or prior mentors, research advisors, or clinical professors

Required for Discovery Grant applications:

• Established investigator plan of engagement
  • Established investigators must complete plan of engagement of early-career investigator in the study (limit 250 words).
• Discovery Grant eligibility
  • Plan to apply for future extramural funding for the study (limit 250 words)
  • Statement of how this proposal would facilitate extramural funding for future multicenter studies involving Discovery (limit 250 words)

Optional:

• Publications list
  • List of up to five publications from either applicant’s or mentor’s previous work
• IRB letter (include if applicable)
  • Letter of IRB approval from your institution’s review board

Resubmission of Previously Submitted Grant Applications

Any grant proposal that was previously submitted for any SCCM grant and not selected may be resubmitted twice. Indicate with your resubmission that the proposal is a resubmission. Any grant that was not selected may be submitted two additional cycles. A one-page overview of the recommended modifications to the original proposal must precede the body of the proposal. This one-page overview does not count as part of the body of the proposal.

Applications will be reviewed and scored by the SCCM Review Committee. Each application will be assigned to a group of reviewers. Proposals will be scored based on scientific merit and the potential to positively impact patient care in the ICU. No special consideration will be given to applicants based on faculty rank or research experience; however, demonstration of an appropriate research environment and strong mentorship is essential for the less-experienced applicant. Applications that do not follow the administrative rules will be returned to the applicant without committee review.

Research Grant Scoring

The grants are scored on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being exceptional and 9 being poor.

After review and scoring are completed by the SCCM Review Committee, the recommended grant recipients are selected by the SCCM Review Committee leadership, then sent to the SCCM Executive Council for approval. All grant recipients must be approved by SCCM’s Executive Council. Grant recipients are expected to provide a summary of research progress and a financial report after the award is funded, similar to that required by NIH, as well as an update two years after the award is funded. Grant recipients are also required to submit a poster abstract within three years of the grant receipt for blind review for presentation at SCCM’s annual Congress. A second copy of the abstract must be submitted to the Review Committee via the SCCM Executive Office.

SCCM policy states that companies are not permitted to select or influence the award process or selection of recipients. SCCM will appoint independent committees to select grant recipients based on peer review of proposals.

Timeline:

• Grant recipients will be notified by November and are expected to attend Congress and the awards ceremony at Convocation.
• Grant funds will be sent after Congress.

Please contact the SCCM staff partner with any questions: Katy Abplanalp

Each application should fit into one of the following key research priority areas:

General Principles

Developing and applying rigorous methodology to basic, clinical, health services and translational research experimental design and to the evaluation of evidence. Developing better models of critical illness and incorporating novel approaches in bench research to account for variations in patients, care strategies, and therapeutic interventions. Integrating new areas of research, scientific disciplines, and technology into the study of critical illness.

Basic Science/Cellular Research

Investigating the role of the host response in initiation, transition, and resolution of critical illnesses. Defining the normal microbiome and investigating its role and transitions in critical illness. Integrating research in the biology of tissue repair with investigation into mechanisms that underlie critical illness.

Translational Research

Integration of studies of critical care mechanisms and interventions and application of rigorous, standardized methodology to study design. Investigating the reasons for treatment effects and management of disease progression.

Clinical Research

Developing methods for the rapid, early recognition of acute, severe disease in patients at high risk for imminent deterioration. Developing minimally invasive, biocompatible organ support, focusing on therapeutic manipulation of the neuroinflammatory state and exploring new approaches that enhance patient comfort while reducing the need to manipulate consciousness. Identifying the best process and outcome measurements for critical illness research and palliative and end-of-life care.

Health Service and Delivery Research

Identifying variables that affect outcomes and developing meaningful and reproducible performance metrics and improvement processes, including those related to quality improvement and patient safety. Measuring the effectiveness of interventions to measure and treat prevalent and/or distressing patient and family symptoms. Identifying strategies to improve communication and coordination of care delivery and determining which tools, processes, and programs (e.g., checklists and multidisciplinary rounds) most effectively promote knowledge transfer and implementation. Examining factors related to establishing a positive learning environment (e.g., technological advances, minimizing cognitive overload, and avoidance of burnout), strategies for preventing errors and facilitating error reporting and assessing the effects on patient outcomes.

Education Research

Incorporating cognitive psychology, systems engineering, social science, and simulations into critical care education and training. Refining team-based learning, including examining differences between high- and low-performing units and determining in which scenarios team-based learning has the greatest value.

Patients and Families

Survivorship and recovery: Investigator-initiated research to help advance and improve understanding of survivorship from critical illness, as well as support and improve the experiences of survivors and their families. Clinical interventions to improve patient experiences or outcomes, identification of modifiable mechanisms or testing of innovations that promote recovery, or explorations of cultural and educational factors among survivors to facilitate networks and improve support.

Please contact the SCCM staff partner with any questions: Katy Abplanalp