Grants Bulletin

March 27, 2013

Limited Submissions

• U.S. Department of State – Promoting Religious Freedom and the Protection of the Rights of Religious Minorities in Egypt – March 28
• U.S. Department of State – Democracy, Human Rights, and Citizen Engagement in Ukraine – March 29
• U.S. Department of State – Strengthening Political Leadership & Reducing Economic Barriers for Women in the MENA Region – April 2
• U.S. Department of State – Creative Arts Exchange – April 4
• William T. Grant Foundation – Scholars Program – Individuals interested in submitting an application should contact their Associate Dean for Research for information on their college’s internal deadline and procedure.

To view these and other limited submission competitions, visit the Proposal Development Office site.

News for Researchers: Major Changes to Patent Law Effective March 16, 2013
The America Invents Act (“AIA”) became fully effective March 16, 2013, bringing major changes to American patent law. Many of these changes will substantially impact the way universities pursue patents. A summary of the major changes most likely to affect you include the following:

• CHANGE TO “FIRST TO FILE” RULE
  The U.S. will change from the prior “first to invent” rule to a “first to file” rule. While the “first to file” rule has been the norm for most foreign countries, since inception of the patent office, the U.S. had followed the “first to invent” rule. An applicant still must be an inventor, but the first inventor to the patent office will “win.”
  
  

• GRACE PERIOD SUBSTANTIALLY CURTAILED
  Previously, university researchers relied on the provisions of U.S. patent law that allowed a relatively broad one-year grace period for essentially any publication. Now, only the inventor’s own publication (or publications derived from the inventor) will be permissible. Any other publication, anywhere in the world, will destroy patentability. Researchers should note that the term “publication” is very broad, and includes all public disclosures of every nature, whether a publication, poster, presentation, foreign patent application, or offer for sale.
  
  

• COLLABORATIONS OUTSIDE OF UNIVERSITY REQUIRE WRITTEN AGREEMENT
  Without a joint research agreement, publications by collaborators at different institutions are considered prior art (potentially destroying patentability). Not so if an appropriate joint research agreement exists. A joint research agreement must be a written agreement that clearly describes the joint research and the inventions claimed, and researchers should have such written agreements for both funded and unfunded collaborative work. Such an agreement should be reviewed before a patent application is filed, and if needed be updated to ensure all claimed inventions are described.   
     

• PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATIONS WILL REQUIRE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE DETAIL
  Previously, U.S. patent law permitted the filing of so-called “cover page provisional applications,” which could essentially be the text of journal manuscripts with cover pages added.  Under the new law, provisional applications must contain a complete disclosure of the entire invention.
  
  

• CHALLENGES TO PATENT APPLICATIONS WILL BE MUCH EASIER
  The new patent law introduces several new ways for challenging both pending and granted patents.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?

Not everyone is in agreement about what the AIA will mean to universities and inventors. How the changes to the scope of the one-year grace period will affect publications is not yet clear. Some labs are advising researchers to publish as soon as possible in an attempt to cut off others’ patent claims. Some are suggesting holding publications and filing patent applications as soon as possible. What to do might vary, depending on the nature of the research, the level of completion, and future use or development plans. 

However, some best practice suggestions are clear: 

• DO disclose inventions early. It is clear that even provisional patent applications must be detailed, so if you have a publication pending, be sure to give the University’s Office of Intellectual Property Development ample time to consider your disclosure. Both provisional applications and utility applications are apt to cost more, so more careful thought will have to be given to all types of filings.    
  
  
• DO ensure you have written joint research agreements, and that the University’s Office of Intellectual Property Development is made aware of both external collaborators and joint research agreements.
  
  
• DO carefully use Confidential Disclosure Agreements before discussing your research or research results with anyone outside the university.
  
  
• DO ensure that everyone in the lab is aware of the need for a written agreement before sharing research plans or results outside of the university.

For more information see:

• http://techtransfer.jhu.edu/faculty/patents/aia/aia_5changes.html (five general tips)
• https://www.aamc.org/advocacy/washhigh/highlights2013/328944/newpatentrulessubstantiallyweakengraceperiod.html (more on publications and the grace period)

• http://www.princeton.edu/ogc/whats-new/americainventsact.pdf (fairly detailed, familiarity with patent concepts suggested)
  

Questions? Contact:

Don Keach, Intellectual Property Development Office
Contact for information on unfunded research collaborations
859.218.6556
dkeach@uky.edu

Katherine Adams, Office of Legal Counsel
859.257.2936
kadams@email.uky.edu

David Erem, Office of Sponsored Projects Administration
Contact for funded collaborative agreements
859 257-8311
dlerem2@uky.edu

NIH Requires Use of RPPR for All SNAP and Fellowship Progress Reports, and Expands RPPR Functionality

Notice Number: NOT-OD-13-035

Purpose:

The use of the eRA Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) Module for submitting Streamlined Noncompeting Award Process (SNAP) and Fellowship progress reports will be required for awards with start dates on or after July 1, 2013 (i.e., due dates on or after May 15, 2013, for SNAP awards and May 1, 2013, for Fellowships). The functionality of the RPPR is also expanding on April 18, 2013 to include requests from the awarding Institutes and Centers (ICs) for additional materials following submission of an RPPR and electronic submission of the additional materials by the grantee.

Background

In October 2012 NIH provided all institutions with the option to use the era Commons RPPR module when submitting a progress report for SNAP and Individual Fellowship awards. A training webinar was held October 17, 2012, for grantees, and is archived on the RPPR webpage under Resources. Grantees were encouraged to use that opportunity to train their investigators and administrative staff, and to gain experience with the system.

NIH continues development of the RPPR for non-SNAP awards, including complex and training awards, and will update the community as progress is made in that regard.

Mandatory Use of the RPPR for SNAP and Fellowship Awards

Progress reports submitted for SNAP and Fellowship Awards with budget start dates on or after July 1, 2013, must be submitted using the eRA RPPR Commons Module. 

At this time, if a progress report has been initiated as either an RPPR or an eSNAP, the only way to change the progress report format is with the assistance of the eRA Help Desk at Commons Support (1-866-504-9552 or commons@od.nih.gov). It may take eRA up to two business days to reset the progress report so the user can initiate a progress report in a different format.  

Progress Report Additional Materials (PRAM) Functionality Available for RPPRs

The Progress Report Additional Materials (PRAM) feature allows the grantee to electronically enter, review, and submit information in response to specific requests(s) from NIH for additional materials following the submission of an RPPR. Since October 2012 the PRAM has been available for the grantee to respond to the automated email sent upon submission of an RPPR with publications that are not in compliance with the public access policy. Beginning April 18, 2013, the PRAM functionality will include the ability for the funding Institute/Center to send a request for additional material, information or clarification concerning a submitted RPPR, and the grantee to submit a response to that request through the eRA Commons.

If PRAM has been requested, the Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) may access the PRAM link from the Action column on the eRA Commons Status page. The PRAM link will provide either the public access compliance option, the Additional Materials Requested by IC option, or both, depending on which is applicable to the particular RPPR. The grantee may provide the requested information, route the response to a Signing Official (SO), or, if the PD/PI has been delegated Submit Progress Report authority by the Signing Official, submit the materials to the agency. The materials may be viewed from the status information screen in Commons.

Grantee use of the PRAM link to respond to PRAM requests is not mandatory at this time; the grantee may respond via email to the Grants Management Specialist. However, NIH expects to mandate use of the electronic PRAM feature in the future.

Reminders

SNAP progress reports are due the 15th of the month preceding the month in which the budget period ends (e.g., if the budget period ends 11/30, the due date is 10/15). If the 15th falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the due date is automatically extended to the next business day. Fellowship progress reports are due two months before the beginning date of the next budget period. Occasionally the Notice of Award (NoA) will indicate a different due date which will supersede these dates. Grantees should consult the NoA to determine when SNAP provisions apply.

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March 20, 2013

Limited Submissions

• Planning Grants for the NIH National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) (P20) – March 28
• William T. Grant Foundation – Scholars Program – June 3

To view these and other limited submission competitions, visit the Proposal Development Office site.

UK Site Provides Sequestration Notices

For the latest sequestration information, categorized by federal agency, visit http://www.research.uky.edu/vpresearch/sequestration.html.

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March 13, 2013

Limited Submissions

• U.S. Department of Labor – Serving Adult and Youth Ex-Offenders through Strategies Targeted to Characteristics Common to Female Ex-Offenders – March 19
• U.S. Department of Labor – Serving Juvenile Offenders in High-Poverty, High-Crime Communities – March 19
• HRSA – Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems: Building Health Through Integration – March 20
• U.S. Department of State – Libya: Supporting a Successful Democratic Transition – March 21
• U.S. Department of State – Maghreb Higher Education Delegation – March 21
• NSF – Scalable Nanomanufacturing (SNM) – March 26
• NIH Director’s Biomedical Research Workforce Innovation Award: Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training (BEST) – March 27
• The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation - 2014 Beckman Scholars Program Award – March 29

To view these and other limited submission competitions, visit the Proposal Development Office site.

Drug Discovery and Development RFA - April 5

The Center for Clinical and Translational Science Drug Discovery and Development Core is calling for applications. Applications will be accepted and reviewed according to the following schedule:

• Call for Applications: March 15, 2013
• Letter of Intent due: April 5, 2013
• PI selected for Full Application Notification: May 1, 2013
• Full Application Receipt Deadline: July 1, 2013
• Funding Decision: July 31, 2013
  

The primary objective of this RFA is to provide funding to support new drug discovery and development research with the goal of augmenting the translation of scientific discoveries to therapeutic development. Specifically, the purpose is to assist in the transition from biology and target identification to clinical targets and to facilitate the transition of discovery through development and delivery to all phases of clinical trials and subsequent commercialization.

REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS:

• Eligibility is limited to full-time regular, special and clinical title faculty as well as full time research faculty of the University of Kentucky and affiliated institutions.
• Investigators in training including residents, post-doctoral fellows, and clinical fellows are not eligible to serve as PIs but may be co-investigators.

Note: Faculty submitting proposals to the CCTS Drug Discovery and Development RFA are not eligible to submit a proposal to the CCTS Pilot Studies RFA in the
same cycle.

In order to qualify for this round of funding the CCTS must receive a Letter of Intent (LOI) and biosketch. Please forward the LOI and biosketch to Charolette Garland via email (cawgarland@uky.edu) no later than Friday, 5:00 pm, April 5, 2013. Questions please call 257-5265.

2013 CCTS Spring Conference “Building Teams for Translational Science” – April 8

For more information on the 2013 Center for Clinical and Translational Science Spring Conference, April 8, 2013, at the Lexington Convention Center go to: http://www.ccts.uky.edu/Events/CCTSConference_ahs.aspx

Deadlines:

• Abstract Submission (March 15)
• Poster Submission (March 22)
• Conference Registration (March 29)
  
  

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March 6, 2013

Limited Submissions

• USDA – Extension Integrated Pest Management – Coordination and Support Program (EIPM-CS) – March 12
• USDA – Woody Biomass Utilization Grant – March 13

To view these and other limited submission competitions, visit the Proposal Development Office site.

New Site Provides Sequestration Notices

For the latest sequestration information, categorized by federal agency, visit http://www.research.uky.edu/vpresearch/sequestration.html.

Automated Compliance Checking of Fastlane Proposal Submissions – March 18

Beginning March 18, 2013, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will enhance the FastLane system to begin automated compliance checking of all required sections of proposals. This will bring NSF systems in line with long-standing proposal preparation requirements as outlined in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter II.C.2 of the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG).

The GPG-required sections of a proposal include:

• Project Summary *
• Project Description
• References Cited
• Biographical Sketch(es)
• Budget
• Budget Justification
• Current and Pending Support
• Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources
• Data Management Plan *
• Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (if applicable)*
* These proposal sections are already being auto-compliance checked by FastLane.

Proposal submission instructions for conferences, symposia or workshops; international travel grants; or program solicitations may deviate from the GPG instructions. If the submission instructions do not require one of the above sections to be provided, proposers will need to insert text or upload a document in that section of the proposal that states, “Not Applicable.” Doing so will enable FastLane to accept the proposal.

Additionally, proposers providing Biographical Sketches and/or Current and Pending Support information for Principal Investigators (PIs), co-PI(s) or Senior Personnel in a single PDF file associated with the PI, must insert text or upload a document in that section of the proposal that states, “Not Applicable,” for any co-PI or Senior Personnel so that FastLane will accept the proposal.

For separately submitted collaborative proposals, the non-lead organization must include the following GPG-required proposal sections: Biographical Sketch(es); Budget; Budget Justification; Current and Pending Support; Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources.

PIs will receive a warning message if any of the GPG-required sections is missing, however, Fastlane will still allow the PI to release the proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration (OSPA). But, when OSPA attempts to submit a proposal that is missing any of the GPG-required sections, they will receive an error message, and FastLane will prevent submission to NSF until all required sections are included.

Proposals submitted through Grants.gov must also include all GPG-required sections or include a document stating that the section is “Not Applicable.” Additional information is posted on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/autocompliance.jsp.

2013 CCTS Spring Conference “Building Teams for Translational Science” – April 8

Now accepting registrations and abstracts for the 2013 Center for Clinical and Translational Science Spring Conference on Monday, April 8, 2013, at the Lexington Convention Center.

Held in conjunction with:

• Community Faculty / Kentucky Practice-Based Research Networks Collaborative
• 29th Annual Spring Neuroscience Research Day (BGSFN)
• College of Dentistry Research Day
• College of Public Health Research Day

For more information go to: http://www.ccts.uky.edu/Events/CCTSConference_ahs.aspx

Deadlines:

• Abstract Submission (March 15)
• Conference Registration (March 29)