Emerging Technology Fund

Request for Applications

The Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) program provides funds for OHSU faculty members to purchase equipment or technology needed to conduct state-of-the-art research. Technologies funded by this award could include novel instrumentation previously unavailable at OHSU, as well as upgrading high-end equipment that has become obsolete due to technical advances. Funds may be awarded to a group of investigators; a department, center, or institute or a university core facility. A requirement for successful funding will be a sound financial plan that ensures that major infrastructure elements, including space and personnel, would be provided from other sources for a minimum of 5 years.

The purpose of this program is to support emerging science by funding high-end instruments or technologies that will substantially advance OHSU research or keep it at the forefront of a particular research area. It is designed to support equipment that has few other mechanisms of support other than private philanthropy, and thus the minimum total cost of the equipment must be $400,000 or above (including necessary accessories).

Due date and other key dates 

• Short letter of interest due October 31, 2011 (to help with reviewer recruitment).
• Applications due November 30, 2011.
  
• Review will occur in December 2011, with award notification by January 1, 2012.
• Equipment must be purchased by April 30, 2012.
• Equipment must be received by June 30, 2012.
  
  

Eligibility

Any OHSU faculty member may apply.

Funding Criteria:

• Funds are for equipment/technologies only.
• Applicants must include a detailed plan for the development and financial support of the infrastructure necessary to sustain the operation of the equipment and make it widely available to OHSU investigators.
• The program must serve major funded research programs (for example, P grants) or multiple (4 or more) federally (IDC-generating) funded investigators but be available across OHSU. An annual progress report will be required.
• Equipment must support a research strength or facilitate the development of an emerging area of research emphasis at OHSU.
  
  

Application and Budget Template

OHSU Emerging Technology Fund Guidelines and Application

FAQs

How many awards will be made in FY2012?
Up to two awards: the fund size for FY2012 is $1M; applications must be for a minimum of $400,000.

How are applications reviewed?
The ETF will be awarded through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process. Applications should emphasize why the emerging technology is critical to research at OHSU (see detailed instructions below). Applications will be submitted to the office of the Vice President for Research and reviewed by the OHSU Research Council. Additional consultation with the University Shared Resources Program will be obtained as needed. Input from outside experts (e.g. OTRADI, ONAMI) with significant expertise in the new technology under consideration may be sought. The program will be reviewed annually by the OHSU Research Council and the office of the Vice President for Research to determine whether OHSU investigators have achieved access to these new tools of science and whether benchmarks such as significant publications, new grants, and collaborations have resulted from the new technologies.

The S10 mechanism is designed for equipment costing less than $500,000. Many scientists require such technologies, and institutional resources exist to help investigators apply for S10s. Sue Aicher (aichers@ohsu.edu) is available to advise interested investigators about this grant mechanism. Equipment may also be requested through the normal capital budget process—e.g., working through your departments/units or through the Vice President for Research Office if the equipment is for a University Shared Resource.

Grouping less expensive instrumentation will not be seen as responsive.

Previous Awards

OHSU's first Emerging Technology Fund award provided support for two awards:

Michael Chapman, PhD, received funding for an integrated system to measure the x-ray diffraction from crystalline samples of biological macromolecules–specifically, to measure diffraction and to elucidate atomic structures and analyze macromolecular interactions. The new instrumentation replaces obsolete equipment in the department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology with state-of-the-art technology for the next decade.

Nabil Alkayed, MD, PhD, received funding for the advanced light microscopy core - a new in-vivo imaging system available to all OHSU researchers. This new technology takes advantage of advances in microscopy, laser technology, fluorescent dyes and transgenic animals which have made possible ultra-fast, deep-tissue, high-resolution dynamic imaging in live animals.