Core faculty and staff are available for collaboration on externally funded research projects of various types. Level of participation may range from brief consultation on a grant proposal to full engagement as co-investigators. Core faculty and professional staff can contribute on topics such as study design, development of analysis plan, statistical programming, data analysis, and database development. We also can provide input on formation and operation of a proposal development team and refining study questions and measurement methods.

Funding for our core does not cover participation in funded projects. As a general rule, core members that participate in proposal development are expected to be named as key personnel in the project, with appropriate funds budgeted for participation once the project is funded. An exception is made for junior investigators applying for CFAR developmental funds.

Please give enough advance notice for grant proposals, and contact us as soon as you know you will be submitting a proposal. As a general rule, at least two months notice for a major NIH proposal is needed to ensure adequate time for discussion of the project, preparation of initial drafts, preparation of budgets and subcontracts, and collation of grant materials. Please also keep in mind that several investigators with the same deadline may be working with our core.

• Collaborator / co-investigator. Core faculty and staff will participate in proposal development, and participation in the project will be budgeted into the grant. Specific guidelines for percent effort and level of participation may vary depending on funding mechanism (e.g. R01, R21, etc.).

• Consultant. Designated core faculty and staff will be available for periodic consultations on proposal development and research activities. In a ‘consultation’ arrangement, the main role of the core member is to offer advice (e.g. review manuscripts, suggest key references, consult with statistical programmer, etc.). Core members generally will not participate in proposal writing or data analysis under consulting arrangements. Terms of a consulting arrangement (hours, fees, etc.) are negotiated in advance between the PI and one of the core Co-Directors.

• Faculty mentor. Many types of mentored research programs require significant input by a faculty statistician and/or dedicated time for data analysis (e.g. scientific programmer). Although faculty time will generally be given ‘in kind’, use of resources such as computing, database development, and professional staff time will be charged to the PI. In some cases a flat annual fee can be determined in advance; in other cases an hourly rate will apply.