FULL GRANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

I. APPLICATION PROCEDURES

A. Full grant applications are considered only by invitation from the NOCSAE Board after submission of a Preliminary Proposal.

B. Due date: October 1, 2008.

C. Submitted Materials

• ONE electronic abstract (MS WORD) using the provided abstract page.
• SIX paper copies of the complete application.
• ONE electronic complete application (PDF format. Appendix not required for electronic version).

D. Submission. Electronic material must be submitted via email in MS Word Format or mailed as a hard copy with CD Rom included by the above date to the Research Director.

II. THE SCOPE OF THE APPLICATIONS

A. Applications should describe projects based upon basic and/or applied research bearing a rational relationship towards increasing our understanding of sports injury mechanisms and injury prevention through the use of protective sports equipment. Projects related specifically to equipment design are not appropriate. Projects analyzing athletic performance are not appropriate.

B. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate evidence of recurring injury where the injury is either "catastrophic," "serious," or "costly". Catastrophic injury is a life threatening injury or an injury that often leads to permanent disability. Serious injury is less than catastrophic but is sufficiently serious to require immediate medical attention and a lengthy healing or recovery period. Costly injury is an injury that because of its nature or location may incur a significant health care or institutional cost.

C. The primary focus of NOCSAE research has been and will continue to be head and neck injury.

D. All academic institutions and any organization in North America are eligible. All applications regardless of origin will be evaluated by the same strict scientific guidelines.

III. FISCAL PROCEDURES AND POLICES

A. Grants are designed to provide partial support for research projects. Therefore, grantee institutions are expected to provide all necessary basic facilities and services that normally could be expected to exist in any institution qualified to undertake such research. Overhead or indirect costs will be supported to a maximum of 20% of direct cost (minus equipment). See Section 6 of the Contents of Grant Application for more details.

B. At the conclusion of the first year a progress report must be submitted to the Research Director by December 15th. The progress report must include:

1. Proposal Summary
2. Research Completed
3. Preliminary Findings
4. Budget as of that Date
5. Plans for Year Two

C. An annual report of expenditures must be submitted with the progress report.

D. Separate accounts must be maintained for each grant. These,accounts, with supporting documentation such as invoices and payroll receipts, must be available at all times to representatives of NOCSAE.

E. Any balance of more that $200 must be refunded to NOCSAE within sixty days of completion of the project.

F. The review process is modeled after that used by the National Institute of Health. The NOCSAE study section consists of clinical and research faculty with demonstrated record in research. Some of these faculty are previous NOCSAE grantees. The study section scores each grant proposal solely on scientific content. The study section's critiques and scores are then presented to the NOCSAE Board of Directors at their Annual Summer Meeting, usually in June. To receive funding, a grant proposal must be of sufficient scientific quality. In addition, the NOCSAE Board of Directors will rank the proposal by priority (See Section II.B and II.C of the Instructions for Grant Application). For example, if a proposal to study brain injury and a proposal to study muscle strains were of identical scientific quality, the study on brain injury is more likely to receive funding due to the priorities of the NOCSAE Board of Directors.

IV. PUBLICATION

A. NOCSAE encourages and expects free publication of research findings by the grantee.

B. All publications resulting in whole or in part from the grant must include a statement similar to: "Funded in part by a grant from THE NATIONAL OPERATING COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS FOR ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the COMMITTEE."

C. All presentations and posters must include the same acknowledgment as in B.

D. NOCSAE is to receive reprints of all papers and publications resulting from work done under a grant, even those that are published after the grant has been terminated.

E. NOCSAE imposes no restrictions on copyrighting publications by the grantees.

The complete proposal should include the following sections:

1. Cover Page using the provided form. Include all requested information.

2. Abstract Page using the provide form. Abstract of the project must include the project's objectives and specific aims. State how the project relates to the goals of NOCSAE. Describe concisely the research design and methods for achieving these goals. Avoid summaries of past accomplishments and the use of the first person. This abstract is meant to serve as a succinct and accurate description, in laymen's terms, of the proposed work when separated from the application. See form for limits and other information.

3. Table of Contents (Page 3).

4. Detailed budget. Provide detailed budget for each year itemized by expense categories.  There is no set limit to funding.  The maximum term of the proposal is two years.  Competitive renewals are acceptable.Institutional overhead costs may be covered to a maximum of 20% of direct costs minus equipment and tuition.  The budget should list the names and roles of all personnel to be involved in the project during the twelve-month period.  In cases where an individual cannot be identified at the time of submission, providing the proposed position title and role are sufficient. The budget should indicate whether the appointment at the applicable organization is full-time or part- time for each individual and the percentage of that appointment that is to be devoted to this project/program. Funds may be used to support investigators, technicians, research assistants, students, and fellows. Fringe benefit costs for these personnel may be included. If graduate student support is included, indicate the amount of tuition and the amount of the stipend. If equipment is purchased, each item of equipment with a unit acquisition cost of $500 or more must be listed. Please give the justification for travel costs, significant items of equipment, and any unusual costs. Travel costs should not exceed $750 in any year and is limited to domestic travel. Do not include secretarial, telephone, or other administrative costs.

5. Biographical Sketch using the provided form. Provide biographical sketches for all key personnel. See form for instructions.

6. Resources. Demonstrate that the resources are in place to conduct the proposed work. List the facilities to be used and their capacities, pertinent capabilities, relative proximity and extent of availability. List also the major equipment items already available, including the location and present pertinent capabilities of each.

7. Research Plan. Sections 7.1. through 7.5. are limited to a total of 10 double spaced pages. All figures must be included in these 10 pages.

7.1. Specific Aims. List the broad, long-term objectives and the goal of the specific research proposed, e.g., to test a stated hypothesis, create a novel design, solve a specific problem, challenge an existing paradigm or clinical practice, address a critical barrier to progress in the field, or develop new technology.
7.2. Background and Significance. Briefly sketch the background leading to the present application, critically evaluate existing knowledge, and specifically identify the gaps that the project is intended to fill. State concisely the importance and health relevance of the research described in this application by relating the specific aims to the broad, long-term objectives. If the aims of the application are achieved, state how scientific knowledge or clinical practice will be advanced. Describe the effect of these studies on the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services or preventative interventions that drive this field.
7.3. Preliminary Studies. Provide an account of the principal investigator preliminary studies pertinent to this application. This information will also help to establish the experience and competence of the investigator to pursue the proposed project. Preliminary data often aid the reviewers in assessing the likelihood of the success of the proposed project.
7.4. Research Design and Methods. Describe the research design, methods, and statistical analyses to be used to accomplish the specific aims of the project. Include how the data will be collected, analyzed, and interpreted as well as the data-sharing plan as appropriate. Describe any new methodology and its advantage over existing methodologies. Describe any novel concepts, approaches, tools, or technologies for the proposed studies. Statistical analysis should include a power calculation that justifies the number of subjects, or specimens, or other samples. Discuss the potential difficulties and limitations of the proposed procedures and alternative approaches to achieve the aims. Point out any procedures, situations, or materials that may be hazardous to personnel and the precautions to be exercised.
7.5. Time Table. Provide a tentative sequence or timetable for the project.
7.6. Human Subjects and Vertebrate Animals. State whether or not human or animal subjects are to be involved in the research. It is the sole responsibility of the Principal Investigator and their Institution to ensure the work is carried out with the required approval and within the appropriate guidelines.
7.7. Literature Cited.

8. Intellectual Property. State whether or not you expect the project to result in the development of anything deemed patentable.

9. Appendix. Copies of publications (not to exceed three) pertinent to the proposed research by the principal investigator may be included. They must be published or in press.