Call for RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSALS 

Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research (DCMR) 
Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) 
P20GM139760, PI: Dawn M Elliott

The Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research (DCMR) is an NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).

This announcement is requesting Research Project Proposals for new Research Project Leads (RPL). RPLs will be funded for $150,000 direct/year for up to 3 years or until NIH R01- equivalent funding is obtained. Proposal are due December 19, 2025. 

We will select 2 new Research Project Leads for the Phase II COBRE proposal (expected start tbd). Faculty are strongly encouraged to contact Dawn Elliott for guidance about alignment of research with DCMR, mentor selection, and Research Core use. 

The Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research (DCMR) supports basic and preclinical research on the central theme of musculoskeletal health—from the level of the entire body to the actions of key cells and molecules—with emphasis on understanding the mechanisms by which physical and biological cues influence tissue structure and normal function and dysfunction, and identifying potential therapeutic interventions. 

The Delaware Center for Musculoskeletal Research (DCMR) includes a Multiscale Assessments Research Core to maximize the success and impact of researchers by providing state-of-the-art equipment and support to apply and assess physical cues and biological signals. The Research Core supports multimodal and live animal imaging, mechanical loading and measurement, preclinical biophysical models, and histological assessment. We have multiple partnering research cores and centers, including Bioimaging, MRI, Flow Cytometry, Biostatistics, and others.

Eligibility: The Research Project Lead must qualify either as an NIH Early Stage Investigator (ESI) or New Investigator (NI), hold a faculty appointment, and be leading their own independent research program. They must commit 6 person-months effort annually. The RPL cannot receive simultaneous research support as a project lead from any other IDeA parent award (e.g., COBRE, INBRE, CTR) 

Deadline: Proposals should be submitted electronically as a single file PDF upload through the RFx system: RFP Link: https://rfx.research.udel.edu/opportunities/all/rfp/371 by 11:59 PM EST, December 19, 2025. 

Instructions: Submit a single PDF with the components described below. The proposal format (11-point, Ariel) is similar to that for an NIH R21 proposal. Proposal should use the PHS 398 forms.

• NIH Title Page (PHS 398 Page 1) 
• NIH Project Summary, Relevance, and Location (PHS 398 Page 2) 
• NIH Key Personnel (PHS 398 Page 3) 
  • A senior faculty member should be selected as a mentor to guide the RPL's research and professional development. The mentor should be included as key personnel 
• Budget (PHS 398 Pages 4 & 5): Start Date 2/1/26 Annual Direct Amount $150,000 
• Budget Excel Spreadsheet (UD Template)
• Budget Justification (UD Template) 6 months effort required
• Biographical Sketch for PI and key personnel (NIH Template updated 2023) 
• Updated Other Support document listing active grants and pending grant applications for PI, must include electronic signature (NIH Template updated 2023) 
• Research Plan: 
  • Specific Aims (1 page) 
  • Research Strategy (up to 5 pages). 
    • The Research Strategy (Significance, Innovation, Approach) should delineate the scientific questions to be answered and/or the design principles of the project but does not need to provide extensive experimental details, as it is expected these will be developed and evolve over time with appropriate mentorship provided by the Center. 
    • The Research Strategy should include a critical assessment of existing knowledge and approaches relevant to the project and provide possible strategies to address the key goals/questions proposed, while emphasizing how the anticipated outcomes of the Research Project will advance the field and concisely stating the importance of the proposed research. 
    • The proposal should be appropriate for the RPL’s research team to complete within the time frame of 2-3 years. Projects that carefully address a small but significant part of a bigger question are encouraged. 
    • Preliminary data are not required but, if present, will be evaluated. 
    • The Research Strategy should describe how the DCMR and the proposed Research Project will advance their independent career. It should describe how the DCMR will impact the long-term goals for their research program will help advance their career goals. 
    • The Research Strategy should describe the roles of the Research Cores in helping them accomplish the project’s Specific Aims. 
    • The Research Strategy should describe how the mentoring provided by the Center will be used and how it will benefit their career goals. 
• Success from prior IDeA Awards (if applicable) 
• Checklist Format Page with F&A cost breakdown 
• Letters of Support: Each RPL must provide a Letter of Institutional Support from an institutional leader such as a Department Head, Dean, or Provost from the RPL's home institution. The letter must demonstrate a clear commitment to support a multi-year faculty-level appointment for the proposed RPL independent of the outcome of the COBRE grant application. Examples of strong institutional commitment include a start-up package provided by the institution, salary support, and/or independent research space within the institution. 
• PHS Forms F – Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information Form, IRB approval and documentations of the human subjects education for those involved in the design and conduct of human subject research and submission of new enrollment report in HSS (if applicable) 
• IACUC approval and Vertebrate Animal Section (if applicable)

Evaluation: The Proposals will be evaluated according to NIH criteria for scientific merit by a review panel established by the DCMR Executive Committee and including the DCMR External Advisory Committee. Proposal will be given scores based on Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, and Environment, and an Overall Impact Score to reflect the assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved. Proposals will also be evaluated based on how the investigator and scope of work fit within the mission of the DCMR Program, use of the DCMR Research Core, and the potential of investigators to use the funding to obtain major, independent funding. Scores are on a 1 (exceptional) through 9 (poor) scale, following the standard NIH guidelines for reviews of individual R-type research grants. 

Expectations: Awardees are required to attend the DCMR scientific events and meetings of the Advisory Committee. They are required to cite the DCMR COBRE grant (NIH P20 GM139760) on all publications and to submit bi-annual progress reports. Active participation in the mentoring process is required for both mentor and mentee, which includes completion of mentor reports. All Research Project Leaders must submit R01-equivalent grant applications by the end of two years of COBRE support. Awardees will be responsible for reporting on any outcomes at the end of the award and up to three years post award end.

Contacts: For questions, contact Dawn Elliott, DCMR Director at delliott@udel.edu or Lori May, DCMR Business Administrator at lorimay@udel.edu