Members

SIG Research Grant are small grants (<$2,500) that are awarded to research projects that further the goals of NSGC SIGs. Applications will undergo a two-step review by SIG Leaders and the Research Quality and Outcomes Committee (RQO).

SIG Research Grant Funding Timeline

General Application Requirements 

Proposals should include a cover page, conflict of interest statement, project description, timeline, budget, and biographical justification of key personnel). 

Please view an example of an exceptional application here, submitted by Audrey Rasmussen, Jodie Ingles, and Laura Hercher of the Cardiovascular SIG. The purpose of this study is to obtain a global perspective on the current practices related to Postmortem Genetic Testing after Sudden Cardiac Death. 

Step 1 - SIG Application and Review

Applicants will submit their proposals via OpenWater only once for both SIG and RQO review.

All SIG research grant funding requests must be pre-approved by the SIG using whatever approval process the SIG has in place.  SIG leaders will review the grant applications submitted to their SIG and approve applications to be reviewed in a second round by the NSGC RQO Committee. SIG leaders determine their scoring and review how relevant and beneficial the project is to the SIG’s goals.  

SIG leaders will determine which SIG grant funding requests will be moved on to Round 2 for consideration by the RQO SIG Grant Subcommittee.

Please connect with your SIGs designated contact.

Step 2 - RQO Review

Applications that pass the SIG review will undergo a standardized review process by the RQO Committee, ensuring proper disclosure and management of any potential conflicts of interest. Detailed feedback will not be provided to unsuccessful applicants. 

Details of the RQO review criteria and scoring rubric can be found here. Note: this is not the scoring rubric used by the SIGs to score applications. This rubric is used by the RQO committee after the SIG leaders have reviewed and selected your application for review by the RQO committee.

Step 3 - Award Notification Process 

SIGs will be notified about final funding decisions by the RQO SIG Grant Subcommittee and are responsible for communicating directly to applicants about their award status. 

Step 4 - Reporting Requirements 

Progress reports will be due one year after the awarding of funds to the relevant SIG, the RQO SIG Grant Subcommittee, and the RQO NSGC staff member. This report should be 2 page maximum, including tables/figures if applicable. These reports should include details on study milestones and financial reporting, including the budgeted expenses compared to actual expenses with receipts. Any unused funds at the are required to be returned to NSGC.

General Questions

Is there a cap on the total funding awarded to any given SIG?

To whom will research grant funds be awarded?

My SIG has a research project that we want to complete but the required budget is >$2,500.  Can we use this application process?