Developmental Research Project Program

DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECT PROGRAM (DRPP) – SUMMARY The Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN) Developmental Research Project Program (DRPP) aims to bolster and broaden research endeavors at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) by funding peer-reviewed research projects. By enhancing research training for both undergraduate and graduate students and empowering PUI faculty to engage in nationally competitive biomedical research, DRPP contributes to a stronger pipeline of biomedical scientists within the state. The program oversees several types of projects, including New Faculty Start-Up Projects, Pilot Research Projects, Full Projects, and Developmental Translational Projects, each tailored to different stages of research development and collaboration. Shared Instrumentation Grants further augment research infrastructure at PUI campuses. Projects are selected based on merit, evaluated quarterly by the Administrative Core (AC) and Executive Committee (EC) and annually by the External Advisory Committee (EAC), Steering Committee (SC) and Mentoring Chair. The DRPP's Specific Aims include establishing a robust portfolio of competitive research projects across the INBRE Network, prioritizing shared equipment awards that benefit PUI infrastructure. Additionally, the program aims to cultivate mentor-leaders who support DRPs in tandem with PUI-funded investigators, ensuring mentorship aligns with specific research topics and facilitating regular interactions between mentors and mentees. Evaluation and monitoring mechanisms, including work-in-progress sessions and formal reviews during the annual LBRN conference, ensure project accountability and progression. Projects that fail to demonstrate significant progress may not advance to subsequent funding stages. Through these initiatives, DRPP strives to fortify biomedical research capabilities at PUIs and foster a collaborative research environment conducive to scientific advancement.