Mentored Award Internal Supplements Program (MAINS) For Non-Clinician Researchers in the UK College of Medicine

The UK College of Medicine Office of Research intends to provide the opportunity to support the success of early career scientists who receive career development awards that have limited research funds (NIH K-Awards OR similar society-based mentored career development awards) with an internal supplement from the College of Medicine. MAINS Program for non-clinician researchers is designed to assist PhD scientist extramural awardees by providing support for their successful transition from mentored junior investigators to independent researchers.

The K-Award (or similar mechanism) provides salary support and protected research time for the awardee; however, the maximum allowed funding for project-related activities (exclusive of salary, including supplies, biospecimen analysis, etc.) is often insufficient to support the level of work required to yield pilot data necessary for future R-level or equivalent proposals. The purpose of this internal supplemental funding opportunity is to support the project-related expenses (outside of PI salary) when the resources needed for this are not available through start-up funds or other sources.

Eligibility

  1. A non-clinician researcher in the UK College of Medicine, holding a full-time faculty position, with a degree of MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or an equivalent clinical degree (e.g., DO, MBBS, etc.) and holds the rank of assistant professor or higher.
    1. May not be part of the clinical compensation plan and not providing clinical services in addition to their research activities 
  2. Awarded an NIH K-Award or similar society-based career development award. Note: K99 awards are excluded from this program.
  3. Career development award must provide at least $50,000 per year toward the salary of the awardee for a minimum of 2 years.
  4. Department chair or relevant vice-chair support, including details and confirmation of matching funds (see Funding Information).
  5. Applicant’s affiliated department, multi-disciplinary research center, Alliance, RPA, or other unit is expected to match funds awarded (1:1).
  6. Faculty members with substantial funding from other sources are not eligible.
  7. Ineligibility
    1. Visiting and adjunct faculty, staff scientists, postdoctoral research associates, and PIs with outstanding final grant reports from previous College of Medicine-funded projects are not eligible to apply. Other ineligible items include renewals and continuation projects, proposals that provide less than 10% PI effort support, proposals focused on development of teaching or academic programs, and proposals from commercial, industrial, and other for-profit entities.

Funding Information

  1. The amount of support is based on the applicant’s existing start-up package, other support available, College of Medicine salary support commitment, and College of Medicine Office of Research available funds.
  2. The total maximum possible funding for up to two years is $50,000; $25,000 from the UK COM Office of Research and $25,000 from the affiliated area.
    1. Additional time will be considered for career development awards extending beyond 2 years.
    2. Awards of higher than $50,000 per year will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on demonstrated need.
    3. Amount of the award will be based on clear justification in the budget (see MAINS Program Form pg. 2).
  3. Affiliated department, center, Alliance, RPA, or other unit is expected to match funds awarded (1:1).
  4. Funding Distribution
    1. The College of Medicine will distribute 50% of the total amount on the start date. The remaining 50% will be distributed after review and approval of the one-year progress report, including the updated progress benchmarks (see MAINS Program Form pg. 1). Funding may be impacted by the following circumstances:
      1. Funding will be released upon receipt of applicable IRB/IACUC approval as appropriate.
      2. If required IRB/IACUC approval is not provided within a period of 90-days after the notification of the award, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AWARD MAY BE CANCELLED.
      3. All regulatory approvals must be active at the time of application and must be kept active during the project period.  Lapse or suspension of required regulatory approvals may result in the immediate termination of bridge funding support.
  5. If the one-year progress report is not submitted, funding will be suspended.
  6. If the final progress report is not submitted, no future funding applications will be considered.

Allowable Costs

  1. Funds are to be used for the conduct of the research project associated with the mentored award such as supplies, subject payments, assays, etc. Please note that the research conducted with these funds must align with the aims of the funded career development award.
  2. Travel funds that are needed for study conduct are allowed, if essential and clearly justified.
  3. Funds can be used for salary support for technicians, research assistants, or other laboratory personnel, but cannot be used for faculty salary support.

Awardee Responsibilities

  1. Successful applicants must provide a one-year progress report.
  2. A final written report describing project accomplishments must be submitted within 60 days of the project end date.
  3. College of Medicine support must be acknowledged in publications, presentations, etc. 

MAINS Application Requirements

To apply, click on the link at the bottom of the page and complete the application. You will be asked to attach the supporting documents as a single combined PDF. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered.

  1. MAINS Program Funding Form
    1. Download and complete the MAINS Program Funding Form, which includes the Progress Benchmarks and Year 1 and 2 Supplement Budgets.
    2. Please note that the Progress Benchmarks must be updated and included in the six-month progress reports.
    3. The Supplement Budgets on page two must be reviewed and approved by the lead department administrator with their signature at the bottom.
  2. Letter of Support from Department Chair
    1. Department Chair or relevant Vice-Chair letter of support that includes details and confirmation of matching funds and staff salary coverage.
  3. Current NIH or NSF Biosketch
  4. Specific Aims Page
    1. Specific Aims page from the extramurally-supported mentored career development award that will be supplemented.
  5. Review Summary Statement
    1. Review summary statement for the original proposal, if applicable.
  6. Progress Statement
  7. Other Support
    1. Other Support (no page limit) to include a description of other support from all external and internal funding sources including, but not limited to grants, contracts, endowments, gift accounts, departmental reserves, and departmental start-up funds and the amounts and dates covered by such support.

MAINS Progress Report Requirements

Awardees will receive a request to complete progress reports one month prior to the due date. Funding for the next period will not be awarded until after the report has been reviewed and approved.

  1. Research Progress
    1. One-paragraph highlight of research progress.
  2. Publications
    1. Publications in preparation, submission, or published during the funded period.
  3. Grants
    1. Grants in preparation, grants submitted, and scores for any grant that has been reviewed during the funded period.
  4. Research Presentations
    1. Research presentations given during the funded period.
  5. Updated Progress Benchmarks via the MAINS Program Funding Form
  6. Funding Expenditure Report