ITHS Visiting Scholars Program

The ITHS is pleased to announce a Visiting Scholars Program opportunity designed to increase translational research capacity and facilitate collaborative research programs across the WWAMI states – Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.

Purpose

The goal of the ITHS Visiting Scholars Program (VSP) grants, funded by a two-year supplement to the ITHS, is to build capacity for translational science across the WWAMI states and to develop new collaborations between translation scientists at institutions in the Puget Sound area and in the WWAMI states. To this end, the VSP supports investigators in developing collaborative scientific partnerships, accessing translational technologies and resources, and participating in educational programs and other activities that support translational research collaborations across programs, institutions, and states.

Scope of VSP Awards

The VSP awards are designed to allow a variety of activities that enhance the capacity of the Visiting Scholars to form collaborations, receive needed training, plan and conduct translational research, apply for funding, and build programs at their home institution to further promote collaborative translational research. Through the VSP award, Scholars can connect with an appropriate translational research environment (e.g., colleagues with a particular research expertise, laboratories, reagents, instrumentation). The Scholars’ experience may consist of educational components, laboratory time and training, and development of mentorships and collaborations. Although the VSP is primarily designed for investigators in the WWAMI region, at least one Visiting Scholar award will be available for an investigator in the Puget Sound region to develop a new collaboration with investigators at a WWAMI regional institution.

The VSP’s expected outcomes include enhancing the capacity of the Visiting Scholar to seek research funding and to perform translation research through acquiring expertise, accessing new research tools, and developing collaborations between Puget Sound and WWAMI region investigators. An expected product of the VSP is a collaborative grant proposal between investigators in the WWAMI and Puget Sound regions.

Award details

The awards include travel and lodging costs, as well as a stipend if needed to offset time away from the Scholar’s home institution, for a period of up to four weeks (in a one year timeframe). The awards include flexible timing. The Scholar can spend the four weeks in one-week segments or a concentrated full month. At least one scholar from each of the five WWAMI states will spend one month at an academic institution in the Puget Sound region and one scholar from the Puget Sound region will spend one month at a an academic institution in the WWAMI region.

Funding is available for at least six scholars . Two scholars from Idaho and Montana were recruited as part of the initial grant proposal. At least three more Scholars will be recruited -- one each from Alaska, Wyoming, and Eastern Washington, and one Scholar from the Puget Sound region. Investigators from Idaho and Montana are also encouraged to apply, as additional funds may be available, depending on the stipend needs of applicants.

Eligibility

Those eligible to apply for these funds include any researcher, with faculty title or equivalent, who is an ITHS member within the 5 state WWAMI region.

Review criteria

Priority will be given to proposals with a high level of promise for ongoing collaboration between Puget Sound and WWAMI region investigators, and proposals demonstrating strong potential to build capacity for translational research across the WWAMI region.

Special priority will be given to junior faculty with limited funding, senior faculty who are beginning a new area of translational research, and new collaborative teams.

Reporting requirements

The Scholars are required to provide a mid-point progress report plus a final progress report, using a one-page template that will be provided. Reports should describe your accomplishments, challenges experienced, and how the funding supports future collaborative translational research. If there are any changes to the scope of work funded, awardees are required to request pre-approval to make any changes.

Application process and schedule

Complete the ITHS Visiting Scholars Application Word document. Convert the file to pdf format, and e-mail the completed pdf file to ithsapps@uw.edu.

  • By April 1, 2010 – Submit your application to ithsapps@uw.edu.
  • By May 24, 2010 – Applications are reviewed
  • Week of June 7, 2010 – Notification of award
  • Week of June 7, 2010 – Funding will be available

Contact

For more information about the Visiting Scholars Program, contact Josh Allen, ITHS Regional Liaison.

For more information about the application process, contact ithsapps.

Last modified: February 3, 2010