So, when I give us 2 minutes to get us, started off at about 103 to give a little more time but again. Logistics on this 1st, slide here with using Webex and then the closed caption links available. Oh, right everyone for your patients and for logging in welcome to the application or 20 5. 4, this is collaborative for. To engineer biology for cancer applications. So, the webinar and logistics are shown on this 1st, slide here. When you come into the webinar, you should be on mute and please remain on mute at all times. That'd be a large number of people on this. Webinar.
And I don't think it gives you an option, but please do keep your cameras off. So we don't draw too heavily on the bandwidth. And then this webinar is being recorded, and you'll be able to access both the slides and the recording at a later date. And that indicated that. Location that web link below where you can access that information.
And there are closed captions available if you would like to use them, you can access them through the link, shown on the slide. And the same link is also shown in the chat. And I believe you can also access that through the multimedia panel in Webex. So, with those logistics, we'll get started with 1 more slide of logistics before we go into the meat of the presentation. So, we really want us to be an opportunity to both walk through important features of the RFA. And to have all of you be able to get questions answered that you might have. So, at any time throughout this presentation, you are welcome to submit questions using the chat function.
You can submit those to everyone, and they will be broadly available for everyone to view, or you can send them directly to me. And there's a little tidbit on how to use the Webex chat panels to find the right boxes to submit those chat questions. So, leave it here on this page for a 2nd, just to make sure you have the orientation, but feel free to submit something in the chat box at any time.
And then we'll go through those questions together at the end of the webinar. So, as something comes to, you just feel free to put it in the chat box and we'll get to it at the end of the presentation. Okay, so thank you for joining this Pre application webinar today to talk through this view 1 funding opportunity. I wanted to just quickly show you who our presenters will be. I'm Michelle burney Lang from emcs center for strategic scientific initiative joined with my colleague. Dr David from and I'd be I'd be. And the 2 of us are the scientific contacts for this funding opportunity. So we wanted to show you our smiling faces and let you know that we are here to help as you're considering this funding opportunity. So please. Reach out to us if anything that you maybe may be able to assist us with.
As you're considering an application to this funding opportunity. So, what we're going to go through today is just some quick background on the opportunity really focusing in on the specific details of the RFA and this is important. Because this isn't a standard funding opportunity. There are some unique features that are really tailored to this research area. This funding opportunity. And then we'll have time for questions. I think our content will only take maybe 25 minutes or so. So we should have plenty of time to go through questions. But we won't be able to answer anything about your particular project, or your specific games. We really encourage you to reach out to us directly.
So we can have a more detailed conversation about the specific research and specific science that you're interested in pursuing. So, with that, I'll go ahead and get started so the background behind this funding opportunity, the National Cancer Institute, and the National Institute of biomedical imaging and bio engineering and and. We're really interested in doing something collaboratively and had these standard goals of wanting to bring more engineering approaches and more technology into cancer research.
And to bring about more collaborations between engineers and cancer researchers. And so we focused on the use of synthetic biology. And how that can be applied to advance our understanding and management of cancer.
And really collectively we have developed and will support this lending opportunity. Collaborative approaches to engineer biology for cancer applications. So, diving into the funding and opportunity in detail. What this funding opportunity is doing is we're inviting your applications to both develop and apply innovative synthetic biology approaches. That are really going to be targeting challenges that run across the spectrum of cancer research.
And importantly, we're looking for projects that come in with a technology that they're ready to apply. Technology that's based on an engineered biological system, and I'll give a more detailed example and definition of that in the next slides, and then use that to address an important and well defined cancer research question. And because of the breadth of research, and the different disciplines that are anticipated were expecting trans disciplinary teams that will represent expertise and cancer research in engineering and other disciplines that are relevant to synthetic biology. The research objectives are to support these collaborative trans disciplinary projects.
Where we're advancing synthetic biology approaches to tackle these cancer research questions. And importantly, the applications should really balance why a cancer research question is so significant. And then the unique potential of the technology to specifically address that question. So, we're really looking for the fit of this important cancer question that can be uniquely addressed by a synthetic biology technology. And the opportunities that we're looking to explore really run the full spectrum, the full continuum of cancer research. So. Looking for possibilities and cancer, biology, prevention, early detection and Therapeutics.
If you take a look at the funding opportunity, announcement, part, 2 section line within the research objective section, there are some sample research areas is they're not exhaustive, but can just give you an idea of the types of research that we would consider and be interested for this funding opportunity, but of course, we know your creativity is vast so you may be coming in with research that is outside of those examples that we're providing. This funding opportunity has some very specific project requirements, and it's very important that you read these in detail and ensure that you're meeting all of the criteria that we're listing. So, I'll go through these in detail and then go through the converse where, if you're not meeting those criteria, then you may not be responsive to the funding opportunity.
So going through these project requirements, there needs to be a clear focus on a significant and challenging a cancer question. So this needs to be a clear part of the application. And if you think of review panel, that's going to have a diversity of expertise from cancer research, technology, synthetic biology just make sure the cancer question that you were addressing is really clear to anyone on the panel. And then we're going to be applying a synthetic biology technology and this definition here is really important. This is the unique definition for this RFA where it's an engineered or re, engineered biological system. That has sense compute and response capability. So, please really keep that in mind as you're developing your funding opportunity is that's a really important way that we're determining that to this to this.
And then we are also looking for technologies or methodologies that have demonstrated early feasibility. So, this means that you can include supportive, preliminary data that shows how the technology has overcome early feasibility gaps. And this may be the 1st time with the technology being deployed in a cancer setting. So there's not a need for technology development previously within a cancer setting, or within a cancer model. And then, as many of these technologies have been developed in vitro or in microbial systems, we're requesting the projects are deploying the technologies in the mellion tissue or the model systems. So, like, I was mentioning the converse of these will really serve for our responsiveness criteria. That's a cold that you and show your project is fully aligned with the responsiveness criteria because non responsive projects will be with John and will not go on to review and it's really not worth the full development of the proposal.
If it's not going to go on to review. So, for project does not have a focus on undefined cancer research question if it's not applying the synthetic biology technology, using the definition that's utilized in the RFA, this engineered biological system with sense compute and response capability. If a project is it an exploratory or early stage and cannot yet demonstrate technical feasibility? Or if the project does not have a component in a 1M tissue or a 1M model system. And these are really critical to ensure that your project will pass forward to the next step. So if you have any questions about responsiveness, I highly encourage you to reach out to me and today to talk through your project and talk through the funding opportunity.
We really want to do what we can to avoid projects being viewed as not responsive and really have all of these continue on to the next step. So please reach out to us. So, we can go through this together and share that your project is going to be considered responsive. In terms of the mechanism of support and the, I mean, these are being supported through you'll ones which are research projects, Walker agreements. And the unique distinction with the ones, and the cooperative agreement is, it means that there's going to be an enhanced involvement from a federal individual. So, this is someone from.
At a scientific or programmatic level. So this is the distinction between and so There'll be substantial involvement during the award period to assist with projects to guide to coordinate activities and to participate in project activities. The budget is limited to less than 500 K per year indirect costs.
With the maximum project, period of 5 years. We allow foreign institutions and foreign components, but clinical trials are not allowed. We are anticipating there'll be 4 to 6 awards made through this 1. it's just a single receipt date and we're anticipating those warrants. And both institutes are contributing for a total of 4.2M dollars in 1st, year awards and fiscal 21 to support this. Because of the unique, cooperative agreement activities, and the will 1 feature, there will be collaborative activities that occur post award. So, we're envisioning a group of you will ones that will really work as a collective and have collaborations across the individual awards and really to focus, or be functioning as a holistic program.
So the requirements for these collaborative activities include participation in annual investigator meetings, There'll be additional meetings across the program, unique data, sharing requirements to share across the awarded components. And then There'll be a component for technology development projects for synthetic biology tools, components, or models that could be applicable to multiple funded projects. And I'll talk through that a little bit more when we get to the budget section. And again, with this cooperative agreement activity will really encourage that engagement with other and age supported networks and consortium as they're scientifically appropriate and we'll help to make connections and to encourage those interactions. So, this program will be part of many other programs at age.
In terms of leadership for the project, we're strongly encouraging the use of the option. And these are open to teams that have formal training with expertise in both cancer research and engineering, or other fields relevant to synthetic biology. So those 2 parts are very important and really critical to the funding opportunity. We're looking to bring those types of expertise together. The demonstration of that expertise can be through degrees or through a body of work that demonstrates that contribution. And we fully recognize that in some cases, a Pi will encompass all of that expertise may not need to use the option.
Letters of intent are quickly coming due. They're due next Wednesday, December 16th. While they're not required, they are highly encouraged and whatever you put into that is not binding and it's not going to enter into the review of your application. You can email those to me. What you need to include are a descriptive title of the work information about the and other key personnel. And of course, that what's funny and opportunity you're coming in to. In addition to what's listed in the funding opportunity announcement, it's also helpful to include a brief description of your project. That can help us have an initial conversation about fit to the RFA and responsiveness and make sure you're checking the right boxes before you go up and develop the full proposal.
Going back to budget these are limited, as I said, less than 500 K and direct cost per year and really focus in, on ensuring that your budget is aligning with the actual needs of the proposed project. There are 2 unique features in the budget that you should definitely call attention to and the funding opportunity announcement. 1st of which are these trans programmed collaborative funds so please include a line item under the other direct cost category, using the header collaborative funds and this is for 20000 dollars indirect costs. These will be used annually for collaborative program or trans program synthetic biology, technology development projects. So, these will be developed post award and will depend on the makeup of awardees that come in. And these would be for collaborative projects where you may be able to develop something that can serve the purpose of multiple, you, all wines those funds are restricted. And so they'll only be released upon the approval and the advice of a steering committee.
I'll talk about that a little bit more later. And the authorization by NCI, and I'd be. So, make sure to put that within your budget and just know that these are money that's restricted except for the use for these collaborative technology development projects. That will be developed after the program is put into place. There's also a need to budget for travel expenses. This would be to travel to at least 1 annual investigator meeting each year.
Or, for, at least 1, Pi to travel to the annual investigator meeting. I know this is a very unique time to be talking about traveled meetings, but in the future, we're really hoping to bring the together and this is to continue the collaborative activities. Us defended you a 1 awardees and with other components as well. When you're developing your research plan, please follow the general guidelines in the application guide and there are 2 additional components to consider and please ensure that you include within your research plan. 1st, for the research strategy, we need to clearly describe the cancer research question to be addressed.
And it's broader significance within cancer research, so delineate question and then why it's so significant to cancer research overall. Then you'll need to clearly describe the synthetic biology technology that's been included. Describing in particular, it sends compute and response capability and and how this is representing an engineered biological system.
And then finally include the level of innovation and the technology and focus on why it's uniquely suited to address the cancer research question. Again, focusing on the fit of the technology to uniquely answer the cancer research question. There are also some f. F, specific modifications to the resource sharing plan. Every application will need to address a data sharing plan.
The data models software should be shared and an easily accessible format. You should describe the types of data tools, model and software that are expected to be generated and stared over the course of the program. And then address how these can be shared within the other authorities across the program. In terms of review, this would be assessed by a special emphasis panel that will be convened by NCI. So it'll be convened specifically for the applications that are coming in for this program.
And in addition to the standard review criteria. Several of the questions have additional specific criteria that are related to the spending opportunity. So, looking at significance, there's a focus on the compelling nature of the cancer research question. Determining if it's well defined and how it will make an impact across cancer research Bradley.
Keep there that's a focus on how the combined expertise and synthetic biology and cancer can address the important question to be answered. And innovation it's looking again, at the bit of the technology is how they're novel and uniquely suited to adjust the cancer research question. And then the approach focusing on a engineered biological system that again, has that sense compute and response capability and ensuring that it's overcome the early feasibility gaps. And then again, how does this approach really answer the cancer research question being studied? So, in each of these cases, you'll have the standard review criteria under significance, investigator, innovation, and approach.
And then these additional questions that are unique to this RFA. And then the environment question is left, is that typically is. So, please carefully consider these specific questions and do what you can to make the answers to them very clear through viewers know right away how to answer those questions and where to look for those particular answers.
Because this is a cooperative cooperative agreement warranty is will have specialized terms and conditions that detail the specific features of how this program, and how this award will be managed. So there are several different features that are unique to this funding opportunity. So, war days will be expected to participate and program activities. This means investigator meetings, additional teleconferences, unique workshops for the program and collaborative program activities. There will be a goal to serve on the steering committee. So the contact Pi for the application, and then 1 key personnel and sharing that.
This represents both cancer and synthetic biology expertise will serve on the steering committee for the program. And this can guide overall directions of the program help to determine data sharing policies, help to determine how to share tools and model systems and to provide input on the technology development projects. So 1, last component of that, that I'm calling out today. There'll be a responsibility to establish and conduct these collaborative program, synthetic biology, technology development projects.
And that really is each group drawing from the expertise and technologies of the other group to find collaborative efforts where they can develop something that's beneficial to multiple projects. And these are really called out in more detail in the cooperative agreement terms, and conditions of the board section of the funding opportunity. And if you read through those in detail, you can see exactly what the are responsible for and exactly what and I H, program officials will be responsible for and what the 2 entities will do together. So, we are today at the Pre application on December 10th. We're less than a week away from the letter of intent due date and please do consider submitting 1 of those. That's really helpful for our review team to get a handle on what applications are coming in and what expertise is needed to review those.
And then we have a little bit over a month and to tell the full applications are due on January, 15. We anticipate they'll be reviewed and about April, or may. With projects to start as early as October 2021. So, just to finish up the walk through the RFA, please take the time to read through it very carefully. There are unique features that are different from standard funding opportunities and we really want to make sure you catch those and don't miss anything because an administrative hurdle for your application. Today's webinar and slides we posted on this website shown here.
And Dave, and I really here to help with questions specific to your application. We really hope to hear from you please reach out with anything. We can help to make sure you're. Really fitting into the RFA appropriately and any other questions that we can help to address. So, in just a 2nd, I'll get into your questions, as I mentioned, you can submit them through the chat box. You can submit them either directly to me, or submit them. To everyone through the chat functions, so please go ahead and submit questions anytime that you're ready. And then I have a couple questions that we've received in advance so I'll go through those before I answer the individual questions. So, a 1st, topic that has come up a few times are related research areas that may not fit finding an opportunity.
So, I'm going to walk through some examples that may not be a fit. And last day is incorporated synthetic biology or synthetic biology is advanced to a particular stage. So, I'll go through those and give some relevant opportunities that could fit instead. So, if you are developing a new technology, and are not able to demonstrate feasibility or have some supportive preliminary data, your technology may be too early stage for this funding opportunity.
If that's the case, I'd encourage you to look at the innovative molecular analysis technologies program that that program, they have an r21 opportunity that is looking for brand new technologies even in the absence of preliminary. Did I really testing new approaches? And then, perhaps Dave can jump in here, too, as there are many and vial engineering programs that can support new technology development. Dave. Do you want to jump in. Yeah, hi thanks, Michelle. Yeah, I'll just take a minute here but and so, um. And then I'd be a big part of our mission is developing modular platform technologies of all kinds and certainly synthetic biology. And the, the idea of engineering biology as a, an engineering substrate. Is something that we do support in many different programs. So, you know, if you're not quite the right fit fish.
But you do have a lot of, um, technology development to be done. You know, you might want to take a look at these programs you can reach out to the program directors who are listed. Or you can always reach out to me directly and I can also help you shuttle that around to. Thank you. All right. Thank thanks. So, then, other approaches, that may not fit. If it's strictly a nanotechnology approach and not nanotechnology couple to synthetic biology, it may be appropriate to consider an alternative funding opportunity.
We have 2 current directed opportunities through NCI and the fit of those can depend on the stage. And direction, if your approach, so some more for innovative technology development, and then some more Translational, nano technology development, and for any of these that we're talking about Dave, and I can also help to direct you to the program draft, due to the program official. If these are things that you may want to pursue, and as an alternative to this funding opportunity. Some approaches with tissue engineering, so developing cancer models, or organized models may not fit this funding opportunity.
We do have a alternative that for a cancer tissue engineering, collaborative for bamboo medic tissue engineer technologies. And then if it's molecular biology or genetic engineering, that's not quite fitting that synthetic biology definition coming into the parent or 1 could be a good. And then, of course, just to put back in front other age resources, if you're looking for a program officials, if you're looking for related projects. At any time, feel free to use the reporter matchmaker function, you can type in Ames or some.
Some brief descriptions of your projects, and it can pull up program officials who hold similar work and their portfolio projects. So, you can get an idea of what's being funded in that space and then you can back out to see which funding opportunities are supporting those. In case you're looking for alternatives for funding. In terms of the mechanism of support we've received quite a few questions 1, that comes up a lot is what is a usual 1? I think this is a very common and a question. So, they are just like an 1 they're actually considered by H2 B and 1 equivalent. So, they're the single prototype that consists of multiple specific games to achieve the goals of the project. And the important distinction for this, you versus our designation is the cooperative agreement function.
And so that you would anticipate programmatic involvement beyond the normal stewardship roles. So, in addition to someone who's monitoring your grant progress through your regular progress reports, you'll have additional involvement through someone like, and they could be helping to make connections to the other providing more scientific input. They can be helping to make connections through other. This is just a different level of involvement than the standard assessment that you see with normal stewardship and our goal. And you can read more about exactly what the Pi responsibilities and age staff responsibilities are in the classroom for that section of the funding opportunity. And then those would be clearly delineated in the terms and conditions of the award.
If you are an early stage investigator, and you are awarded as 1 of the eyes of, you will 1, you will lose your status. So that is something to consider. But on the other hand, you will have also been imported a major award if you receive this 1. And then, in this case, there is not any special consideration given for applications that have with status.
So, unlike the parent research project grants, these will not have a special consideration. And then 1 last question that has come up regarding expertise for review and potential conflicts of interest. You can submit a assignment request form. This is optional and that can provide information about potential conflicts of interest. What expertise may be needed for the review of your application. And this was previously done through a cover letter.
But in the last couple years has been changed to this optional assignment request form. And then finally about 30 days in advance, you'll be able to see the review panel roster. And if you do have any conflicts or concerns, you're welcome to contact the scientific review officer with those concerns. And so with that, I'm going to turn this over to your chat questions and go through them and. Really would like to use this time to answer as many questions as we can about the funding opportunity and. We missed your question today, or if you have more specific questions about your particular project, please reach out to us.
I think I, I, I'm not sure if there's. I think I may skip over it, but I'll go back to the slide that has our. Contact information there you go. So please do reach out to us for any additional questions.
So, I'll start going through with and I can see them. Okay. Hey, Michelle also, just for your own workflow there are a couple of questions in the Q and a section as well. Oh, that is really good. I am grateful to hear that. Webex has so many features. Okay so the 1st question. Which section of the grant will be Pre screened for responsiveness. Should we address the 4 categories in the specific aims page?
So, I think the more clearly, you include the 4 categories, the better so if they fit within your specific games, that's great. But we will be able to review the full. Research plans, so, if they do get beyond your specific games, that's fine. As long as it's going to be within your research strategy section, we'll be able to find those aspects, but the most clarity that you can provide really the better just to ensure there are no questions of responsiveness. There's a question about the, and if the title needs to be the same, is that on the final application and why it is not binding it you do not have to submit 1, but if you do, you're welcome to make changes from the, to the final application. So feel free to put in a temporary title for your and then change that when you submit your final application.
There's a question that I might direct over to Dave, I can take a 1st pass, but I think he's really the technology expert for this. How would you define synthetic biology? Do you have any examples? And so we've been defining it in the funding opportunity is this engineered or re, engineered biological system with sense compute and response capability but I think I'll pass this over to Dave for more of a definition. Sure, so yeah, synthetic biology is definitely 1 of those terms that has no short definitions. But we have constricted too. We have confined it to what Michelle just described as a biological substrate. Uh, that, uh, that sense cute, uh, capabilities, um, you know, when you're engineering. Closed loop system you typically look for those capabilities and a feedback loop and something that can modulate itself.
And, um, you know, we want to bring those capabilities to biological systems as well. And so that is. I think a more confined definition of synthetic biology than if you went ahead and went on the Wikipedia page. So that is where you want to be when you're thinking about this it's not just. Plugging a gene into something and seeing what happens next.
It's part of a control aspect to this biological substrate. Perfect, thank you. Dave. Yeah, I think that was right on. Really the, the complexity and the control, our key features for our definition. And again, this is a definition that's really specific to this funding opportunity. So, there's a question about the deadline in January yes, we recognize. This is a short turnaround. We did try to get out an announcement. This was coming in October, but this still is a short timeframe. At this point, we are not expecting another deadline. So if this is something of interest, please do try to put together your application for that January 15th deadline. There's a question about that, I just wanted to circle back to what you just said, maybe 5 minutes ago. There are a lot of other opportunities out there. Um, and if you can't make this deadline, there may be.
Some other way out there that is close enough and worth worth a conversation with another program director. Yeah, and that's another good reason to reach out to us to feel free to let us know if you can't make it. And we can also help to make those connections to another program. Another opportunity another program director. A question about standing study section members and getting a submission extension deadline.
Dave, do you know for sure on that? I'm nervous to say that I'm not looking at the policy at the moment, but I don't believe. Typically follow that policy. I think it's. I'm going to point to 2 things at the moment 1 is there is no AIDS deadline for this RFA. It is just the deadline and then usually there are aged application deadlines that are slightly different. Uh, non AIDS application deadline. There isn't 1 for this and the 2nd, is that when later applications come in.
Standing study sections are more able to absorb them, because there's many places for them to go. I think when it comes to creating a special emphasis. For this moment of 1 time.
I think we really for the review officer who manage coming in a week later. Yep, and yeah, that was my same same sense. And I, in the funding opportunity, it does say that no late applications will be accepted. Uh, if you do send us an email, we can look into it in case. There's any unique features of your particular case. So, it's a little hard for me to go through the, the questions there.
Technical difficulties is this grant renewable like 1. Typically, this wouldn't be renewable as the usual 1. Dave, is that aligned with your thinking. Um, well, it wouldn't be renewable, um, under this RFA, unless the RFA were released in 5 years or something like that. Right? Yeah, um, but, uh, if I'm not mistaken, you'll ones can be renewed as ones. As long as they are aligned with whatever.
Opportunity they're being put into. Yeah, exactly. So not in this exact same format, but to renew this into 1. A lot of benefit case here, I mean, you would have to then, uh, obviously the next iteration of your award would have to be aligned with and Karen 1 and and the mission or or or whatever right? It it would then. You know, have to be, um, uh, uh. Appropriate for whatever the funding opportunity is that you're applying to. Oh, good question. And I think this is really relevant corporate agreements. This is asking if there's a requirement to have an, a staff member be listed to the Pi or key personnel on the application.
So, no, I think what you may be thinking about, we frequently have applications that are then turned into cooperative agreements because there is an a staff personnel involved. So you might have someone from the research lab. That's part of your program and 1 application will get converted to a, you will 1. This is a different situation where you just need to come in with the research team from the external community that you plan on having and then after that award is made, There'll be someone assigned as a project scientist to your grant. I believe that's going to be someone from that will provide that additional programmatic and scientific input. So no reason to do something in advance that will happen after the award.
Right there's a next question on a focus on the stuff where aspects of synthetic biology, but. What about the hardware aspect? So vector selection and optimization. So, my thought is that would absolutely be welcome to focus on those aspects as long as the technology is in place. And then you're doing some optimization or improvement of the technology. Any other thoughts there, Dave, I mean, certainly, you know, the, the whole package is important, right? Depending on whatever project is your, uh, creating but, yeah, I wouldn't want to lose sight of the control aspects cause that that does tend to be the.
Primary focus of this project. And if if a project were submitted, that were to be really different than all the other projects, it might not do very well in review. Um, so, uh, other. Aspects to make a viable, a cancer related technology, um, to definitely be included, but I wouldn't want this to, um, kind of lose sight of what's in the RFA cause that will be the criteria by which you're judged. Yep, exactly. So considering the hardware in addition to the software aspects that are the critical part of the thing.
Okay question on examples of the 1M tissues or mammalian in vitro models are these including tissue engineering models with synthetic biology components. Yeah, I think there's a lot of openness to what types of 1M tissues or millions model systems that you'll work with and. I think we'll see a lot of proposals come in with a variety of mouse models. I think organized tissue engineered models would be appropriate as well. I think some of these may be so early stage that they're focused on cell lines. So, we are broadly open to the mammalian tissues and the model systems. I think the more that you can do to start to bring these into tissue engineered organized models or mouse models, that I think those will go a long way towards. You know, helping us show more impact of synthetic biology and cancer, but there's really broad definitions of what.
mellion tissues and model systems are considered here. What would not work would be strictly. Approaches that are only in microbial systems. You can certainly engineer microbes with those would then need to be brought into a 1M system. So, I technically, I have a hard time going through the questions so I'm not 100% sure that I've gone through them all Dave. Are you catching any others that I may have missed? Yeah, it's, um, I had this very narrow window it seems, but I think, um, I think we got them all. I think that was the last. Uh, no, I have also Jonathan Lou wants to ask a question. So, I think, yes, you can ask a question. So perhaps 1 is coming in entirely.
But, yes, I think you hit all the questions that I've seen. Yeah, and again, this is just a broad presentation of more general questions, general RFA information, but please do reach out to us for any specific questions that you have, or anything that we weren't able. Oh, so I'm so sorry, we do not have the audio capability right? Now, we don't have the capacity to have people on mute. So, if possible can you type your question into the chat box? And that functionality is really not working our, our technical support may be able to help, but if you could try to type it in the chat, that would be perfect.
Oh, can we help an individual Pi to form a team for this grant? We might be able to weight you in some directions of potential collaborators, but would really. I want you to be able to pick a team that. You know, you have some good likelihood of success working together that you have a nice complementary skill sets. So you can reach out. We may have ideas, but. I think it's really better for you to start developing a team that. Really compliment each other and that has a good likelihood of working together because we'd hate to kind of put your team together and it may not be the ideal team. So I pushed that back onto you as much as possible.
Uh, but do let us know we might be able to help with particular aspects of your team that you might be missing. It looks like the question I was going to say, looks like you might be getting into some specifics about your own project and I don't think this would be the forum in which to discuss specifics of your project. And again, you know what Michelle was saying, we can help.
Uh, maybe direct you in some fashion, but we certainly don't want to assemble your team for you. See, another question on proposals and whether or not, they should be 5 years. So kind of answer that in 2 ways, if you have a project that is gonna take less than 5 years, and that's going to be cleared to reviewers I think that's important to consider. But 1, concern for that is that we are having this cooperative agreement aspects. So we're anticipating 5 years of strong interactions of the awardees together for these collaborative projects. So, I do think there's a loss for your project, and for the other projects, if you're not able to continue that interaction piece with an H and with the other awardees.
So I would balance the times that your project needs with. What can be beneficial from the cooperative agreement activities? Silence. I think, um, the thing is asking about sending a project summary and I think that that's a great way to probably get more specific guidance on your project is to send a summary to Michelle. And me. Convenience? Yep, exactly. That's perfect.
For these questions, it really helps us to have a project summary to have your draft specific games. So we can really wrap our head around what you're planning to do and give you the best recommendations on how this matches. So, I think we're slowing down on the questions. I'll hang on for a couple more minutes just in case there's anything else coming in the chat, or in the the Q and a.
But again, I encourage you to read the RFA in detail. All of the slides and of recording will be available on the website shown on this page here. And then here is again, our contact information or contact information is also in the RFA itself. So definitely reach out to us. Oh, good 1 other question on cooperative agreement. So, if I'm understanding this is asking, if the costs are covered within the direct class, or if they're in addition to the direct cost, so I'll stay the total limit for the program is less than 500 K indirect cost.
And those would include the cooperative agreement activities so that 20000 dollars for that collaborative technology development projects. Each year. And then the travel amount budgeted for travel to Pi meetings each year. So you'll need to when you're building up your budget, need to include those within your total direct costs, and keep that all under 500000 dollars. And please feel free to follow up. I think I had your question, but if there's anything else that I missed, and that, I think there's a bit of the text that I can't quite read. So feel free to add additional clarification. Yeah, would you share the slides? Absolutely. So the slides will be made available shortly. On hopefully you can see it in the Webex on the dot cancer dot Gov slash SYN bio again dot cancer dot Gov slash thin bio.
There's a small site that has information about the funding opportunity. And then this webinar and slides will be made available there. So. Within a few days after we get the recording and get the slides in the appropriate government compliance, they have to be in a different format to be compliant. We'll get those posted. Okay, I'm just letting the awkward silence go for a little bit more, but I.
I think we're probably pretty close to our questions. I've not seen anything else come in. So I think we can go ahead. And and this meeting really grateful for your offer spending the time with us today, to learn more about the funding opportunity. Again, please read through it in more detail to prepare for the deadline next week on the 16th and then the.
Full funding opportunity deadline next month on January 15th. So we hope to see many of you coming in to apply and please follow up with us and send us any additional questions or any questions specific to your individual projects. All right, thank you. All I'm going to go ahead and stop sharing and close this meeting. Thank you for joining.
2021-01-16