USASP-MAYDAY Clinical/Translational Research Award

Detailed Application Process

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1. A signature page signed by the Applicant/PI and the Institutional Official responsible for submitting applications for extramural support.

2. An abstract (no more than 3,000 characters/300 words).

3. A Personal Statement summarizing the candidate's vision for their career and their contributions as a leader in the field of pain research (no more than 3,000 characters/300 words).

4. An NIH Biosketch (no more than 5 pages; see template).

5. A list of current and pending research support from all sources, as well as clarification as to whether there is any overlap between projects funded/submitted elsewhere and the current proposal (overlap should be avoided).

6. A Research Proposal that is no more than 6 pages, with no less than 11-point Arial font and 0.5-inch margins. A timeline for completion of the project is required.  Applicants may include a 7th page for references. 

7. An Environment section that is no more than 2 pages that describes subject populations, collaborative arrangements, institutional support, equipment and other physical resources available to the investigator for the proposed research

8. One page describing the Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Individuals Across the Lifespan: How the proposed research will include (or exclude) individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults). 

9. Budget requests should not exceed $50,000. The budget should include a detailed request and justification for all study-related expenses. This grant does not allow indirect costs.

10. Three letters supporting the candidate’s application; names and addresses (including email) of these individuals should be included in the application.  Only one letter will be included in the application and USASP will solicit two letters:

    1. One letter appended to the application from the candidate’s Department Chair or Division Chief that demonstrates strong support for the candidate’s proposed research and career development (start-up funds, lab space, and a tenure-track position), and the acknowledgment that other sources of funds will cover indirect costs associated with this grant. 

11. Name, mailing address, and email addresses for two individuals: the candidate’s post-doctoral advisor (or influential advisor) and/or mentor(s) who have impacted the candidate’s research. When completing the application, candidates will provide email contact information for two individuals. Once your application is submitted, these individuals will be contacted by a representative of USASP about the submission process for these letters. 

Completing The Application, Step-By-Step Guide

USASP Login/Sign-Up
If you are already a USASP member, you may log into the site using your USASP member credentials. If you are not a USASP member, please follow the new user prompt to gain prospective membership status to log into the site. 

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Applicant/PI Profile Information
If you are already a member of USASP, the majority of this section is populated from the USASP database. If there are fields that contain incorrect or missing information, the applicant should complete/update the requested information. All non-members will have to fill out each question accordingly (completing this section will save your credentials for the possibility of purchasing full membership access later). Please note that items marked with a red asterisk are required fields.

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Application Submission Details
Please select the "Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award In Pain Grant Application" option. Then proceed to name your submission title following the example given: "John Doe - RAF 2024". Next, you will be prompted to write down the title of your intended research project. Finally, you will be asked to answer questions regarding your eligibility for the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain. Please note that items marked with a red asterisk are required fields.

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Lead Institution
The applicant should complete the requested information regarding their primary/lead institution. These details will involve the lead institution's name, address, phone number, and fax number. Please note that items marked with a red asterisk are required fields.

Organization Assurances
The applicant should complete the requested information regarding their proposed research project. These details will involve the type of research your project involves and/or approval status. Please note that items marked with a red asterisk are required fields.

Letters of Support
Completed applications will require three letters of support. These must include one letter from the candidate’s Department Chair/Division Chief that demonstrates strong support for the candidate’s proposed research and career development. The other two letters should come from the candidate’s Ph.D./fellowship advisor, influential advisor, or mentor who has impacted the candidate’s research. In this section, the applicant will provide contact information pertaining to each of the letter providers. Upon submission, these two individuals listed to provide letters of support will be contacted directly by a representative of USASP requesting that their letters be sent by Friday, December 15.

Attachments

The Applicant will upload all required documents as a single PDF in the following order: 

1) Signed Signature pages, 

2) Abstract, 

3) Leadership/vision statement, 

4) NIH Biosketch, 

5) Research proposal narrative, 

6) Letter of support from the Department Chair/Division Chief, 

7) Summary of Current and Pending Funding

Signed Signature Pages
All applications must be signed by the Applicant/PI and the Institutional Official responsible for submitting applications for extramural support. The signature page may either be printed out, signed and scanned, or electronic signatures may be used on the PDF.

Abstract
The abstract should be limited to 300 words or up to 3,000 characters. Applicants are advised to check spelling, word, and character count before pasting their abstract within this section.

Leadership in Pain Research
The applicant will provide a personal statement detailing his/her vision for a career in pain research and provide information and/or examples of leadership in pain-related activities. The statement should be limited to 300 words or up to 3,000 characters.

NIH Biosketch
The applicant will provide an NIH Biosketch that should be no more than 5 pages long (see template)

Research Proposal Narrative
The applicant will append a research proposal narrative that is limited to six pages in 11-point Arial font and 0.5-inch margins. A 7th page may be included for references.

Letter of Support from a Department Chair/Division Chief
Completed applications will require one letter from the candidate’s Department Chair/Division Chief demonstrating strong support for the candidate’s proposed research and career development.

Research Support
The applicant will provide information about all current and pending research support. The research plan should include something other than a project already funded or for consideration for funding elsewhere. Suppose the applicant has received or has pending research support. In that case, the applicant should explain how the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain will enhance the applicant’s pain research and how the project submitted for the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award in Pain differs from other funded or pending projects.

Summary
It is necessary for applicants to review their completed application in this section. The summary function is a way to ensure that all of the required application fields are completed and accurate. Please review all questions and inputs before submitting.

Submit
The Applicant/PI can submit their completed application in this section. 

Applications with missing sections, that do not meet eligibility requirements, or do not adhere to the application instructions, including required formats (font size and page lengths) and use of signature pages, are considered ineligible.

Assistance with Applications 

For technical support (including questions about trouble logging in and technical issues completing an application) or questions regarding eligibility, please contact us.