Research and Development Service - VA Portland HCS

Career Development Program

Career Development Program Overview
Laboratory and Clinical Sciences Program Requirements
Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Program Requirements
Career Development Submission Calendar (12KB, MSExcel)

Career Development Program Overview
VA Career Development applications are submitted to one of the 4 major branches of VA Research. Basic science applications are submitted to Biomedical Laboratory Research & Development (*note BLR&D and CSR&D are no longer accepting any LOIs for entry level award, CDA-1). Clinical research is submitted to Clinical Science Research & Development. Applications involving rehabilitation or health services are submitted to Rehabilitation Research & Development and Health Services Research & Development, respectively. Links to Letter of Intent (LOI) and application instructions are found below.

Each service offers the *Career Development Award level 1 (CDA-1), the Career Development Award level 2 (CDA-2), the Career Development Transition Award (CDTA) and the Career Development Enhancement Award (CDEA). There are specific eligibility requirements for each.

*NOTE: The CDA-1 award is a mechanism to provide salary support for very junior investigators who propose research on their mentor’s funded programs. No research support is provided, but the Letter of Intent and the Application should clearly describe the strong research integration between the applicant and the mentor(s). We encourage any applicant considering the CDA-1 to contact our office regarding the research plan to determine whether there would be a sufficient enthusiasm prior to submitting an LOI (Letter of Intent).

Visit the VA Career Development Program homepage (VA web site) to view the Research Career Development Handbook, Letter of Intent instructions, specific eligibility requirements, Career Development application instructions, forms and other informational documents.

Laboratory and Clinical Sciences Program Information

Letter of Intent (LOI):
An approved Letter of Intent (LOI) must be obtained prior to submission of a Career Development grant application.

Please follow the LOI instructions on the VA Career Development Program homepage (VA web site).

Note the Local Research Service Deadlines for LOIs:
Completed BLR&D and CSR&D LOIs are due in the Research Service Office by June 1 or December 1.

Information for Completing a Career Development Application:
The PVAMC Research Service office will assist with obtaining the Director’s letter, ACOS support letter and R&D Committee letter. We will also prepare the table of contents and submit the grant application.

Career Development Program Handbook (VA web site)
Career Development Instructions (VA web site)
Career Development Forms
VACO Addresses for BLR&D and CSR&D Letters of Support (24KB, MSWord)
Note: All support letters should be given to the Research Service office and addressed to the appropriate VACO service to which you are submitting.

For the Application Checklist, contact Robb White (contact information below)

Rehabilitation and Health Sciences Program Information

Letter of Intent (LOI):
An approved Letter of Intent (LOI) must be obtained prior to submission of a Career Development grant application.

Please follow the LOI instructions on the VA Career Development Program homepage (VA web site).

Note the Local Research Service Deadlines for LOIs:
Completed RR&D and HSR&D LOIs are due in the Research Service Office by April 8 or October 8.

Information for Completing a Career Development Application:
The PVAMC Research Service office will assist with obtaining the Director’s letter, ACOS support letter and R&D Committee letter. We will also prepare the table of contents and submit the grant application.
Career Development Program Handbook (VA web site, PDF)
Career Development Instructions (VA web site)

For the RR&D / HSR&D Submission Calendar, contact Robb White (contact information below)
Career Development Forms
VACO Addresses for RR&D and HSR&D Letters of Support (24KB, MSWord)
Note: All support letters should be given to the Research Service office and addressed to the appropriate VACO service to which you are submitting.

For the Application Checklist, please contact Robb White (contact information below)

Career Scientist Program

Research Career Scientist Submission Calendar (12KB, MSExcel)

1. Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development (BLR&D)/Clinical Science Research and Development (CSR&D) Career Scientist
VHA Handbook 1202.04 (VA Web Site, PDF)

2. Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Career Scientist
VA HSR&D Web Site

3. Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Career Scientist
VA RR&D Web Site

If you have questions regarding the Career Scientist Program, contact:

Merit Review Program

Merit Review Submission Calendar (All Services) (22KB, MSWord)
BLR&D/CSR&D (Biomedical Laboratory/Clinical Science Research & Development)
HSR&D (Health Services Research & Development)
RR&D (Rehabilitation Research & Development)

The VA Medical Research Service's primary grant funding mechanism is called the Merit Review. Merit Review funds both M.D. and Ph.D. investigators who have been approved for submission by VA Central Office. Merit Review awards are generally funded for 3 or 4 years and fund up to $150,000/year, not including money for Ph.D. PI salary and equipment.

Biomedical Laboratory/Clinical Science Research & Development (BLR&D/CSR&D) Program Information

Applications for BLR&D and CSR&D Merit Review awards are submitted annually during the first week of March (Spring round) and September (Fall round), and funding begins approximately six months later on October 1st and April 1st, respectively. The research office has put in place local deadlines to assure that all components are complete and in place prior to submission. Please contact the research office at Danielle.Beaudry@va.gov for the current deadline calendar.

Please note that VA Central Office has instituted a just-in-time review procedure for proposals including animal and human studies, resulting in the PI submitting the paperwork for obtaining Safety Subcommittee, IACUC and IRB approval after the proposal is submitted to VA Central Office. However, specific points need to be addressed in the original application with regard to animal and human studies when applicable. These points are noted in the instructions.

A PI interested in submitting a BLR&D or CSR&D Merit Review should complete the BLR&D and CSR&D Merit Review Submission Questionnaire (53KB, MSWord) and submit it to the Research Service office.

Letter of Intent (LOI)
An approved Letter of Intent (LOI) must be obtained prior to submission of a CSR&D Merit Review grant application that proposes a clinical trial. The deadline for submitting a CSR&D LOI is at least 90 days prior to the grant application deadline. Please contact the research office at Danielle.Beaudry@va.gov for the current deadline calendar. For instructions, please refer to the CSR&D LOI Guidance document (75KB, MSWord). The LOI documents should be emailed to Danielle.Beaudry@va.gov.

For more information on Biomedical Laboratory Research and Development funding, see the national BLR&D home page. (VA Web Site)

For more information on Clinical Science Research and Development funding, see the national VA CSR&D home page. (VA Web Site)

Instructions for BLR&D, CSR&D Merit Review Proposal

Submissions are made electronically via grants.gov, followed by processing and review using NIH’s eRA Commons/IMPACII systems. Please contact Danielle Beaudry for application instructions.

Questions
Please direct all inquiries to Danielle Beaudry at extension 57524 or by email at Danielle.Beaudry@va.gov.

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Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Program Information

For more information, see the national VA HSR&D home page. (VA Web Site).

What is Health Services Research? (VA Web Site)

HSR&D Merit Review applications are submitted the first week of June (Summer round) and the first week of December (Winter round) each year. A PI interested in submitting an HSR&D Merit Review application should complete the HSR&D, RR&D Merit Review Submission Questionnaire (46KB, MSWord) and submit it to the Research Service Office.

All R&D Services Submission Calendar (VA Web Site)

Intent to Submit (ITS)
HSR&D requires notification of an investigator’s intent to submit a proposal for merit review. The ITS deadlines are May 1st (Summer round) and November 1st (Winter round). The ITS is submitted online through the ART program, which is a VA HSR&D reporting tool that gathers, tracks, and organizes data from all HSR&D Centers. The Research Service Staff will submit the ITS information for you through this website.

Instructions for HSR&D Merit Review Proposal

Submissions are made electronically via grants.gov, followed by processing and review using NIH’s eRA Commons/IMPACII systems. Please contact Danielle Beaudry for application instructions.

Questions
Please direct all inquiries to Danielle Beaudry at extension 57524 or by email at Danielle.Beaudry@va.gov.

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Rehabilitation Research and Development (RR&D) Program Information

For more information, see the national VA RR&D home page. (VA Web Site).

RR&D Merit Review applications are submitted the first week of June (Summer round) and teh first week of December (Winter round). A PI interested in submitting an RR&D Merit Review application should complete the HSR&D, RR&D Merit Review Submission Questionnaire (46KB, MSWord) and submit it to the Research Office.

Letter of Intent (LOI)
An approved Letter of Intent (LOI) must be obtained prior to submission of a RR&D Merit Review grant application. The LOI deadlines are May 1st (Summer round) and November 1st (Winter round). For instructions, please refer to Appendix A of the Handbook (listed below). Please submit the LOI to the Research Office prior to the May 1st or November 1st deadline. The LOI documents should be emailed to Danielle.Beaudry@va.gov.

Instructions for RR&D Merit Review Proposal

Submissions are made electronically via grants.gov, followed by processing and review using NIH’s eRA Commons/IMPACII systems. Please contact Danielle Beaudry for application instructions.

Questions
Please direct all inquiries to Danielle Beaudry at extension 57524 or by email at Danielle.Beaudry@va.gov.

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