Deadline:  September 15, 2019
Link to RFA

The Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules (NPOD) seeks to identify a new cohort of project leaders, effective June 1, 2020. The NPOD is funded by a Center for Biomedical Research Excellence Phase II grant (award number P20GM104320) from the NIH, and builds research infrastructure in obesity research and nutrient signaling at UNL and UNMC.

Both pre-tenure (junior investigators) and established investigators are invited to apply. Established investigators are expected to have a track record of competitive external funding.

Project leader funding is the highest level of support provided by NPOD. Pre-tenure project leaders will be paired with mentors to guide them to success, defined as securing independent external funding. Established investigators will be matched with mentors if so desired.

Eligibility:

• UNL or UNMC faculty at all ranks are eligible to apply
• The proposed research must focus on obesity-related metabolic diseases, or signaling by nutrients or bioactive food compounds
• Project leaders will devote six person-months for junior investigators and three person-months for established investigators to their NPOD project
• Previous project leaders are not eligible to apply

Time line:

• Letters of intent must be received by NPOD no later than September 15, 2019, 5:00 p.m. CDST (see Instructions, below)
• Select applicants will be invited in late September to submit a full proposal
• Full proposals (NIH R01 style) will be due no later than November 15 2019, 5:00 p.m. CST
• NPOD reviewers will review applications throughout November using NIH review criteria and make recommendations for funding to the center’s external advisory committee (EAC)
• NPOD’s EAC will review and approve/disapprove proposals (December of 2019)
• NIH will review for compliance and approve/disapprove proposals for funding in January or February of 2020
• Funding will start June 1, 2020

Instructions:

• Letters of intent must be received by NPOD no later than September 15, 2019, 5:00 p.m. CDST
• Letters must provide the following information:

~        Cover letter with contact information (no more than one page)

~        Brief outline of the proposed (one page, Arial 11, 0.5” margins): at a minimum state the central hypothesis, specific aims, a short description of methods, and plans for future funding. Note that NPOD will provide funding of up to $150,000 per year for up to three years (no F&A, no equipment); the proposed research must be appropriate for the level of funding.

~        NIH-style biosketch (no more than five pages)

• Submit letters of intent to Dr. Janos Zempleni and/or Ms. Sarah Gibson (see below for contact information)

Next steps:

• NPOD will contact select applicants with additional information

Additional information:

• NPOD project leaders will become members of the center (see http://npod.unl.edu for benefits)
• Project leaders are expected to participate in monthly NPOD meeting, spring retreats, fall research symposia, and provide written progress reports in preparation for annual renewals with NIH (typically in February/March), and oral reports to the EAC (typically in September)

Contact information:

• Janos Zempleni, Ph.D., NPOD Director (jzempleni2@unl.edu)
• Sarah Gibson, Administrative Coordinator, phone 402.472.3862, e-mail:  sgibson@unl.edu