(CLOSED) NIH Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program - PAR-18-599

Sponsor Name: 
NIH
Amount: 
$6,000,000.00
Description of the Award: 

Awards Details: One item of the requested instrumentation must cost at least $50,000. No instrument in a cluster can cost less than $20,000. There is no maximum price requirement; however, the maximum award is $750,000.

In summary, this FOA solicits requests to purchase state-of-the-art commercially available instruments that are to be used on a shared basis and are needed by NIH-funded investigators engaged in biomedical research using animals or related materials such as animal tissues, cells or germplasm.

For example, applicants may request integrated systems to support animal research in all fields of biomedical research, such as neurophysiology, cardiac physiology, immunology, developmental biology or neurobehavioral sciences. Similarly relevant are series of instruments for high-throughput experiments in research areas such as genomics, phenotyping, or metabolomics. Clusters of instruments may improve surgical approaches by incorporating robotics and real-time decision-making procedures based on imaging or molecular characterizations of tissue. A combination of microfluidics-related technologies with high-throughput and high-content screening may advance phenotyping procedures. Likewise, a combination of optical imaging, flow-cytometry, and mass spectrometry may improve and speed up molecular profiling. Also appropriate are integrated systems for cognitive-behavioral studies or advanced monitoring set-ups for comprehensive physiological and metabolic assessment. Of special interest are unique instrumentation systems that enhance experimental protocols by incorporating best practices, to improve reliability and reproducibility in biomedical sciences.

Applicants may also request single research instruments (such as sequencers, microscopes, or imagers) to be placed in animal barrier facilities to support research activities which cannot be taken outside of the barrier; for example, longitudinal studies or research in a specific pathogen-free environment. For single instruments not intended to be used in a barrier facility, applicants should consider applying to the Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program or High-End Instrumentation (HEI) Grant Program. Concurrent submissions to the SIFAR, SIG, and HEI Programs can be made only under conditions described in Section III.

The SIFAR Program will not support requests for:

  • A single instrument whose individual cost is less than $50,000 (Similarly, a series/cluster of instruments must include at least one instrument whose individual cost is at least $50,000.);
  • Any instrument in a cluster/series with a base cost of less than $20,000;
  • Software, unless it is integral to the operation of the instrument(s);
  • Purely instructional equipment, institutional administrative management systems, clinical management systems;
  • Instruments to be used for clinical (billable) care;
  • General purpose equipment or an assortment of instruments to furnish a research facility and equipment for routine sustaining infrastructure (such as standard machine shop equipment, standard computer networks, autoclaves, hoods, ventilated cages, and other equipment to upgrade animal facilities);
  • Disposable devices, office furniture, and supplies;
  • Alteration or renovation of space to house the instrument(s).
  • Instruments must be used for research purposes only. Foreign-made equipment is allowable.

Eligibility: Meet Major User Group eligibility requirements (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-18-599.html#_3._Additional_Information)

Limit (Number of applicants permitted per institution): 
1
Sponsor Final Deadline: 
May 31, 2018
OSVPR Application or NOI Instructions: 

Materials Required for the Penn State Downselect:

  • Description of the proposed instrumentation, including justification of need (2 page)
  • List of the major user group (must meet the Major User Group), including: (2 pages)
  • Include the names, college and department of each of the 3 Major Users who have substantial need for the entire instrumentation request.
  • Include the names of the Active NIH grants for each Major User (each major user must be PI/PD on a distinct active NIH research award in an area of biomedical research using animals or animal tissue.)
  • Estimate of the cost and the amount to be requested in the grant proposal. If the cost exceeds the request, a description of the source(s) of funding for the balance. (1 page)
  • Explanation of how the costs of installation, maintenance, support personnel, and service will be met. (1 page)

Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.

To be considered as a Penn State institutional nominee, please submit a notice of intent by the date provided directly below.
This limited submission is in downselect: 
Penn State may only submit a specific number of proposals to this funding opportunity. The number of NOIs received require that an internal competition take place, thus, a downselect process has commenced. No Penn State researchers may apply to this opportunity outside of this downselect process. To apply for this limited submission, please use this link:
OSVPR Downselect Deadline: 
Friday, March 2, 2018 - 4:00pm