Developmental Research ProjectProgram

P20 DRPP Core Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section PROJECT SUMMARY - Developmental Research Project Plan The Developmental Research Project Plan (DRPP) is our primary mechanism to promote the scholarship and professional growth of faculty at our network of Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs). Our multi-tiered approach includes providing PUI faculty access to a suite of funding awards, individualized mentoring, research skill and grant writing development, data analysis support, and peer engagement via membership in Thematic Interest Groups. The funding awards will serve as the backbone of our DRPP in INBRE 5. Faculty will have access to a range of awards, including Exploratory ($10K), Pilot ($25K), and Project ($150K) awards. Our previous DRPP experience has shown these awards are key to strengthening the research productivity of PUI faculty. Specifically, they enable supported faculty to build strong, independent research programs that yield impactful scientific discoveries, high quality manuscripts, and the receipt of competitive extramural funding. We will fund established investigators who have already received VBRN funding previously but are now seeking to generate preliminary data and expertise needed to support new directions in their research programs. Complementary to the funding awards, we will provide PUI faculty with a multi-component training program to enhance their research and grant writing skillsets. Key components will include pairing funded faculty with several layers of direct research and career mentorship, grant writing workshops that simulate NIH review panels, individualized support and training in advanced data science and data management, and expert advice on a variety of topics relevant to our faculty (i.e. intellectual property and entrepreneurship, IACUC or IBC protocols, etc). VBRN leadership, including the PI, Associate Director, Program Coordinator, and PUI Coordinators will have frequent interactions with VBRN-funded PUI faculty to ensure they are meeting their expected milestones and to provide real-time, dynamic support for the unique needs of each faculty member. In summary, VBRN’s DRPP will enable PUI faculty to be more competitive for extramural funding, provide PUI students with robust biomedical research opportunities in the labs of VBRN-funded faculty, and strengthen the cultures of research at the PUIs. Importantly, for INBRE 5, we will expand our PUI network by including additional campuses in the Vermont State University system and Landmark College.