FAQs: Applying for a CORE Grant

Which CORE grant should I apply for?

There is not just one "CORE grant." Your choice of which grant to pursue will be shaped by three factors:

• Your subspecialty or research area interest;
• your career stage; and
• the kind of grant mechanism you are seeking (research project, research training, or career development).

Some grant mechanisms permit applications focused in any area of otolaryngology, while others seek to support research exclusively in otology/neurotology, laryngology, rhinology, head and neck surgery, etc. Some grants are meant for residents, others for fellows or junior faculty. Research training grants require a program of study and a mentor (and some require a preceptor); career development grants require a preceptor and description of career plans. We suggest you review the 2009 CORE Funding Opportunity Announcements At-A-Glance table to see which grants might be appropriate for you.

Can I apply for more than one CORE grant with the same project?

We ask that you select a primary grant for which you would like to apply. Applications become eligible for funding based on their final review score. While some grants may received several high scoring applications, we may accept one for funding under the initial funding source grant, and move the other high scoring applications over to another grant for consideration. If your application is moved to a different grant for funding, you may be asked to adjust your budget at a later date.

Of course, you may apply in more than one category with different projects.

What information should be included in the letter of intent?

The letter of intent should include:

Title Page

• Project Title
• Is this a resubmission? If so, you will be prompted to describe what has been changed since the last submission.
• Other sources of funding?
• Project budget (total amount being requested for the entire project)
• Project period (start and end date for project)

Project Summary/Abstract

• (2,000 characters max, including spaces. Text only. No special characters or formatting)

The letters help us anticipate our review requirements but are non-binding. The letter must be submitted on-line at ProposalCENTRAL by December 15.

Is the letter of intent binding?

No

If I am a resident who will have 3-month of 100% dedicated research time, can I still apply for a 1-year grant?

Yes, you are eligible to apply.

I am resident interested in applying for a CORE grant. If my project is in the area of Rhinology, am I better off applying for one the AAO-HNSF Resident Research Grants because up to eight grants are awarded each year or should I applying for one of the ARS Resident Research Grants? I see the CORE Study Section considers alternate funding sources for applications, what does this mean?

DO NOT COMPLETE MULTIPLE LOIs for the same project. The final decision is up to you. It is not a decision we can make for you, however we suggest you consider that during the 2008 grant cycle:

• 46 applications were received for the AAO-HNSF Resident Research Grants and 9 were awarded
• 5 applications were received for the ARS Resident Research Grant and 2 were awarded

The Study Section has tried to move toward only awarding grants to the most meritorious applications, so technically it is up to the final score of your application and then ultimately the decision of the funding organization. For the past two years, if no applications received for a certain grant were considered meritorious, we have looked at other grant mechanisms that have multiple high scoring applications and moved one of those applications over to the grant not being used. In this way, a grant may be moved to a different funding source than what had originally been applied for.

I live outside the U.S. and Canada (i.e. Australia, Brazil, UK, etc), are there any grants that I would be eligible to apply for?

Yes, we have three grants from two sister societies (ASPO and AAOA) which you would be eligible for. They are:

American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO)

• ASPO Research Grant
  Up to $15,000; 1 year
• ASPO Daiichi Innovative Technology Grant
  Up to $5,000; 1 year

American Academy of Otolaryngologis Allergy (AAOA) Foundation

• AAOA Foundation/AAO-HNSF Research Grant
  Up to $10,000; 1 year

If I was a grant recipient last year and have another project to apply for a grant this year, will my chances be less because I was awarded a grant last year?

No, the applications are reviewed independently. We do not look at who received funding the prior year; it is currently based on the merits or the application.

I will add an additional caveat to this: the Study Section has had discussions about tracking who did and did not complete all of the appropriate documentation for the grants that have been awarded. Those that are not in good standing or have traditionally been late or requested extensions, would be consider ‘high risk’ applicants or would become ineligible for a certain number of years. This has not yet been formalized; it is simply a reminder to be sure that you submit your mid-year progress reports, final reports and final financial statements in a timely manor to illustrate that you have a proven track record.

Can an organization that brings physicians together (i.e. CISEPO) apply for a CORE grant?

The organization could not apply for the grant; however, one of their members could apply for the grant as the PI. Where the PI resides would determine which grants they would be eligible for.

If I am awarded a grant to test a new device and a patent results, who retains the patent?   My institution or the funding organzation?

Full patent and copyright control must be retained by the applicant and the applicant’s institution. If patented innovations funded by the award generate more than the amount of the grant, the applicant may be required to return the grant funds to the funding Society.