Concept Paper Format-Early Career Awards

Early Career Award concept papers should be e-mailed as a Microsoft Word attachment to martinezaf@thrasherresearch.org with the words "Early Career Award" in the subject line.

The concept paper enables the Fund to assess how well the proposed research fits with the organization’s interests. Beginning in June 2008, the Fund is also requiring a biosketch to be included with the concept paper to help assess eligibility.  Download a template for the concept paper here.

Page One: Administrative Information

1. Title of the Study
2. Principal Investigator (Include email address) 
3. Mentor  (Include email address)
4. Length of Study (Maximum 2 years)
5. Estimated Total Budget (Not to exceed $25,000 direct costs plus no more than 7% of direct costs as overhead. Does not need to be itemized.) 
6. Supervising Institution
7. Project Site(s)

Page Two: Structured Scientific Summary
The scientific summary should be no longer than one page using no smaller than 11-point font (Arial, Helvetica, Palatino Linotype or Georgia) one-inch margins all around and single line spacing. The following information should be incorporated in the scientific summary:

1. Background: Describe the significance of the medical problem under study. Include information on incidence or prevalence and severity of the problem in children. Describe what is not known about the problem that the proposal intends to address. Include any preliminary data or additional background information indicating the rationale for the proposed research.
   

2. Hypotheses and Specific Aims:  State the specific hypotheses to be tested. Describe precisely the specific aims of the proposed research.
   

3. Design: Describe the basic design of the study. As applicable, include information about study subjects, sample size, enrollment criteria, or other sample material to be used in the study. Indicate the primary outcomes and how they will be measured.
   

4. Potential Impact: Discuss where the research is leading and in what ways and in how many years the findings might potentially influence the prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of the particular medical problem in children.

Page Three: Structured Lay Summary
The lay summary should be 250 words or less and is intended as a brief, simplified summary for those who may not have scientific training. It should include three sections:

1. Background: Provide a lay summary of the "Background" Section from the Structured Scientific Summary.
   

2. Hypotheses and Specific Aims: State the specific hypotheses in a single sentence (one sentence per hypothesis). Briefly describe the specific aims.
   

3. Potential Impact: Provide a lay summary of the "Potential Impact" Section from the Scientific Summary.

Biosketch: Include a four-page NIH style biosketch or use the form attached to the concept paper template.