The Office of Research and Economic Development is sponsoring an internal competition to identify the next UNL team that will develop an institutional proposal for NIH’s Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence program.
NIH allows one application per institution per fiscal year, and UNL expects to submit a new COBRE grant application during 2016. Faculty interested in developing a new COBRE proposal must submit an expression of interest by Sept. 25 and an internal pre-proposal by Oct. 23. Submission instructions are available online in the COBRE internal call for proposals.
The COBRE program aims to strengthen an institution’s biomedical research infrastructure by establishing an interdisciplinary, sometimes multi-institutional, center and enhancing the ability of early-career investigators to secure external research funding. This program currently funds UNL’s Nebraska Center for Virology, Redox Biology Center and Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules.
COBRE applications must have a thematic scientific focus supported by basic, clinical and/or translational research approaches, including community-based participatory research. Proposed centers also must be led by an established biomedical or behavioral investigator with an active research laboratory, a record of peer-reviewed funding related to the proposed center’s scientific theme and a history of administrative leadership and mentoring. Additional information is available on the NIH website and in the COBRE program announcement.
By Nov. 6, the vice chancellor for research and economic development, with assistance from a team of external reviewers, will select the next center concept to be developed into a full COBRE proposal and submitted to NIH.
For more information regarding the internal competition contact Nathan Meier, director of research strategy, at nlm@unl.edu or 402-472-3902.
