Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research -- Request for Proposals

By Editorial Staff

The Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research (CCCR) provides an infrastructure for the development of research that can examine the potential effectiveness and validity of chiropractic health care. The CCCR is mandated to prioritize research topics related to chiropractic, provide scientific and technical merit review, and implement selected projects.

Eligibility

Institutions are eligible; private individuals are not. Preference will be given to applicant institutions that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a).

Funds Available

Up to $250,000 in total costs (direct plus indirect) will be committed in the 1998-99 fiscal year of the Center's operation to fund two or more one-year projects from qualified applicants. The number of total awards and the level of project funding will depend upon the volume and quality of proposals. Proposals with budgets in excess of $100,000 may not be considered.

Kind of Projects and Topics Funded

Proposals will be judged for topic priority on their ability to address one or more of the following criteria:

Patient need -- prevalence of condition, degree of presence/absence of effective care, public health impact

Chiropractic need and relevance -- relationship to practice, practice variation, chiropractic theory and significance for policy-making

Clinical capabilities -- impact of the proposed study on available clinical resources

Capability of topic to build research infrastructure -- within the chiropractic profession, external to the profession

Development of research methods and designs -- new or better ways to study questions relevant to chiropractic

Potential for additional funding -- relevance to additional public and private research funding goals

The CCCR's funding program supports clinical and basic science projects that impact chiropractic health care. The center is interested in projects that demonstrate the potential to strengthen the infrastructure and methods necessary for the conduct of high-quality research projects. Formal collaborations and informal linkages with appropriate non-chiropractic institutions are encouraged. Other characteristics that will strengthen proposals include demonstrating institutional commitment, sound management and highly qualified investigators. Applicants are encouraged to explore additional sources of external support and to fashion a well-reasoned and realistic funding plan that shows support from internal sources as well.

Deadlines
Concept proposal receipt date: February 4, 1999 Approved full proposal receipt date: March 29, 1999

How Proposals are Submitted, Reviewed and Decided

There are three stages or levels of consideration:

Submission and approval of a concept proposal.
Submission and approval of a full proposal for scientific merit.
Programmatic approval by the CCCR Advisory Committee and NIH Program Officers.

The first step is to submit a concept proposal. Full proposals will not be accepted for consideration unless proceeded by an approved concept proposal. The concept proposal must not exceed five double-spaced pages only, including references (no additional materials, please), typed on the applicant institution's letterhead. Five copies (no faxes or e-mail) should be received by the deadline of February 4, 1999. Send to:

Lori Byrd, Program Coordinator
Consortial Center for Chiropractic Research
741 Brady Street
Davenport, IA 52803
Tel: (319) 884-5150

The concept proposal should contain the following information about the proposed project:

a brief description of the topic to be addressed and its significance, including a rationale addressing the previously mentioned priority criteria;
statement of the project's principal objectives;
description of the research methods to be used;
description of how the project findings would complement work already completed or underway;
estimated timetable and budget for completion of the project;
brief qualifications of the applicant and key project staff;
name, address, fax, phone and e-mail address of the primary contact person.

Upon approval of the concept proposal, the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal. Applicants will be notified by February 12, 1999 as to the status of their concept proposals. Please contact Lori Byrd at the CCCR if you have additional questions or would like to receive instructions for a full proposal submission.