Purpose
The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) Interdisciplinary Research Seed Grant program is designed to foster interdisciplinary collaborative efforts among Ohio State faculty and affiliated faculty and to enhance competitiveness for extramural funding by supporting innovative, well-defined research projects. Given that the primary goal of seed grant funding is to grow the interdisciplinary research enterprise in infectious diseases, it is important that proposals provide sufficient evidence that an award will lead to a high probability of success in near-future extramural funding applications. IDI seed grants are not intended to provide bridge funding or resources for projects that have stalled due to lack of funding.
Eligibility
The lead faculty must be a member of the IDI and hold a faculty or affiliated faculty appointment with The Ohio State University. To become a member of IDI, fill out our membership survey here. The team of investigators must include at least two faculty members and be interdisciplinary, defined as involving at least two disciplines. Although interdisciplinary research typically spans multiple departments/colleges, it is possible that a team from a single college could still make a case for interdisciplinarity. As the seed grant program is intended to facilitate collaborations among Ohio State investigators, inclusion of researchers outside of Ohio State is allowed, but such inclusion cannot be the sole basis for interdisciplinarity. Personnel from core facilities or services similarly do not fulfill the requirement for faculty representing different disciplines. A faculty member may submit only one application per cycle as PI or co-PI and resubmissions are limited to one. PIs and/or co-PIs who have received IDI Interdisciplinary Seed Grant awards are not eligible for additional awards for two years after the award date. For example, if you received an IDI Interdisciplinary Seed Grant award in the spring 2023 round, you are not eligible to submit a proposal until the fall 2025 round.
Proposal Evaluation
Seed grant applications will be evaluated by a panel of reviewers representing various disciplines and areas of specialization within the IDI thematic areas, using an NIH-style review format and scoring system. As such, it is the responsibility of the PI and the proposal team to draft the proposal for a panel of reviewers of diverse expertise. Review panel results will be provided to the IDI Executive Committee for final funding decisions based on availability of funds and strategic investment decisions. All requests for funding will be evaluated using the following criteria:
- Significance/Scope and Impact:
The research project should address an important problem or critical barrier in the field of infectious diseases or microbiology and further the goals of IDI by contributing to meaningful advancements in one (or more) of the following thematic programs:- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Ecology, Epidemiology & Population Health
- Host Defense & Microbial Biology
- Microbial Communities
- Viruses & Emerging Pathogen
- Investigator(s)/Interdisciplinarity:
Proposals must be clearly interdisciplinary in nature, representing two or more areas. The team members should be well suited for the project and bring complementary expertise. The individual roles of faculty leads should be explained and how they will be integrated into the project. - Innovation/Extramural Potential:
Specific aims and proposed work should be novel and innovative. The potential for return on investment for the research project in the form of subsequent extramural funding is critical, and any commercialization activities related to this seed grant must be reported to the IDI. Applicants should identify clear plans to apply for external funding that are based upon the proposed work. Applicants should address why IDI funding is critical to this effort. - Approach/Feasibility:
The overall strategy and methods to achieve the specific aims should be sound and well-reasoned. Potential problems and alternative approaches should be addressed. Human subject and vertebrate animal considerations should be briefly described.
Funding Process and Expectations
Funding decisions will be communicated via email following discussion of meritorious awards with the IDI Executive Committee (typically within 60 days of the proposal due date). Proposals that are not selected for funding may be revised according to feedback and resubmitted once in a subsequent round. A formal award letter requiring the PI(s) signature(s) will be sent prior to the release of funds. IDI staff will work with the applicant’s college/departmental fiscal professional to coordinate a funds transfer. Funds may not be used to cover prior period expenses and may not be subsequently transferred to other funds.
By accepting an IDI Interdisciplinary Seed Grant, the PI must agree to the following:
- Serve as an IDI Interdisciplinary Seed Grant reviewer for the cycle following the cycle in which the proposal was awarded.
- Any commercialization activities related to this seed grant must be reported to the IDI.
- The IDI financial support will be acknowledged in all materials or publications arising from the work.
- A final progress report summarizing results and their use in extramural funding plans will be submitted as required.
- Annual updates up to 5 years after award date regarding outcomes of the seed grant (e.g., publications, presentations, grant submissions, grant awards, intellectual property) will be submitted within two weeks of the request date.
- The IDI cost center CC10995 must be listed on the ePA-005 (at 0% award credit) for any extramural proposals that arise from this award.