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OFFICE OF CLINICAL RESEARCH EDUCATION AND COLLABORATION OUTREACH

Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB)

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the criteria for judging a proposal?
  2. What do I do if I have problems with proposalCentral?
  3. How should I cite publications that result from my funded Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) award?
  4. Can a small business serve as the extramural partner on a Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) project?
  5. Are international collaborators allowed?
  6. Is it possible for an extramural collaborator to receive funds for a project submitted in the General category?
  7. What is the average number of Co-Investigators on an awarded project?
  8. How important is it that my extramural partner's active NIH grant to relevant to our Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) proposal?
  9. Can intramural and/or extramural collaborators collect salary on Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) awards?

1. What are the criteria for judging a proposal?

  • High quality of science (to be evaluated as described in the NIH Enhanced Review Criteria for Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements) with the potential to result in understanding an important disease process or lead to new therapeutic intervention;
  • Strong translational science, with the bedside and bench components clearly related; one should lead logically to the next, and both should be strongly developed;
  • The proposed translational work has the promise to evolve into an active clinical protocol with patient involvement in the future*;
  • Level of collaboration and diversity of the team. projects can be exclusively among intramural investigators preferably from more than one IC, collaborations between intramural and extramural are also encouraged. Description of the role and efforts of the collaborators plays a critical role in scoring applications in this criteria;
  • The work should be a truly new initiative, not a funding request for work in progress.

*Translational component section: Applicants will be required to explain how their proposed project will involve clinical work with direct patient contact, OR how the results of their proposal will lead to next steps involving clinical work (ultimately with direct patient contact), with involvement at the Clinical Center a preference but not a requirement. Projects can include studies of patients, then laboratory studies, and then back to patient studies.

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2. What do I do if I have problems with proposalCentral?

If you have any questions about proposalCentral, contact Altum's customer support hotline at:

**ProposalCentral Customer Service Contact Information:

  • E-mail: pcsupport@altum.com
  • Phone: 800 875 2562 (toll-free) or +1 703 964 5840 (direct dial international)
  • Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm Eastern Time

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3. How should I cite publications that result from my funded Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) award?

We ask that awardees acknowledge support in publications that may result from Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) projects as follows:

"Please refer to your Term and Condition of the awards sent along your Notice of Award"

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4. Can a small business serve as the extramural partner on a Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) project?

Perhaps. SBIR awards are generally not eligible to receive Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) supplements due to their short project period. For awards involving extramural partners, award funds will be directed to the extramural co-investigator/PI as an administrative supplement to an existing NIH grant, which must meet the stipulations described in "Bench to Bedside Policy for Funding the Extramural Investigators"

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5. Are international collaborators allowed?

Yes, the partner for translational research can be international. Funds are provided to extramural investigators as administrative supplements to current NIH grants, so the international partner must hold an existing NIH grant in order to receive Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) funds. Existing requirements for Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) supplements listed in FAQ #4 also apply to international collaborators.

Keep in mind that all Bench-to-Bedside projects must have an NIH intramural collaborator who will facilitate the application submission in proposalCentral.

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6. Is it possible for an extramural collaborator to receive funds for a project submitted in the General category?

Yes, it is possible for an extramural collaborator to receive funds for a project submitted in the General category.

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7. What is the average number of Co-Investigators on an awarded project?

There is no limit to the number of collaborators who can be included. Historically, the range is about 2-10 collaborators on awarded projects, with the average being 6-8.

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8. How important is it that my extramural partner's active NIH grant be relevant to our Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) proposal?

It is very important. NIH policy requires that a supplement to an existing award be aligned with the scientific content of the parent grant. In the past, grants management and program staff have questioned the scientific alignment of Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) supplements. If you or your extramural collaborator have questions about the content of your project as it pertains to the extramural award, we encourage a preliminary conversation with the Program Officer for the NIH award.

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9. Can intramural and/or extramural collaborators collect salary on Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) awards?

NIH policy prohibits full-time federal employees from drawing salary from awards. Per the NIH Grants Policy Statement, "Salaries of federal employees...are unallowable except in certain circumstances..." Please consult with Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) staff if you feel your proposal includes a rare exception to this policy. Extramural collaborators may draw salaries from Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) supplements in keeping with NIH policy. Extramural collaborators are required to follow all NIH policy requirements pertaining to budget requests and use of federal funds.

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Note: Any questions not covered here may be addressed to our Bench-to-Bedside and Back Program (BtB) team by contacting any team member or by emailing us at BenchtoBedside@cc.nih.gov Email Icon.

 

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