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SFAz Grant Programs

  

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Grant Programs
Competitive Advantage Award

Competitive Advantage Award Investments -CAA

The CAA investments support outstanding Arizona researchers in three strategic areas: Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Sustainable Systems (SUS) and Biosciences (BIO). >> 

 

- These investments provide bridge financing to research projects identified by an independent review panel as having the greatest potential to secure significant federal funding within 18-24 months following a the award. The investment focuses on exceptionally meritorious proposals recognized by an expert, extramural federal review, but not funded due to lack of funds in the relevant federal agency.

  • The program was been expanded to provide new opportunity investments to impact exceptional ideas at an early stage of development.
  • The first year CAA investments provided “gap” funding for highly-competitive proposals that had already been deemed meritorious in expert federal reviews, but were unsuccessful for lack of sufficient monies within the particular federal agency.  

Of the 96 proposals received in 2007, 26 (25% of the total) were funded for a total of $4.1 million

 

The $4.1 million went on to leverage an additional $10.9 million in outside capital.  An additional $24 million in investment monies is still currently pending approval with outside organizations.

 

- Below are just a sampling of some of the successes achieved in one year. 
 
- Further below, please see full listing of first year CAA investment grants and CAA Questions and Answers.

“The infant Immune Study: Investigations into Immunologic, Genetic and Exposure-related Pathways to Childhood asthma”

Dr. Anne L. Wright
Department of Pediatrics UofA School of Medicine

SFAz Award Amount:  $400,000

The SFAz investment of $400K enabled the researcher to apply for continuation of a decade-long NIH-funded research project devoted to one of the most devastating and debilitating chronic childhood disease –asthma. Dr. Wright’s studies map the impacts of early environmental exposures, genetic variables, and immune system responses, to synergistic mechanisms in understanding the epidemiology and treatment of what often requires life-long intervention at great personal and public cost.  The prevalence of childhood asthma in Arizona is among the nation’s highest.

Dr. Wright had applied to NIH to renew the project in 2006; with a score in the 20th percentile a one-year funding gap was anticipated, as the project was scheduled to expire in December 2007. 

The provision of CAA monies allowed the research team to continue their investigations during the gap.  Without the SFAz monies it would have been exceedingly difficult to sustain the project until a revised and improved funding proposal was re-submitted to NIH.  SFAz’s gap funding and the researcher’s revised proposal led to a five-year extension of the project.  The continuation of the research may succeed in identifying targets for the prevention of asthma, thereby enhancing the state’s competitiveness in prevention of the disease.

Leveraged Funding: Federal $3,766,800 (NIH- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

“ Thermal Circulation in Complex Terrain: Upslope, Downslope and Transitional Flows.”

Professor Harindara J.S. Fernando
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, ASU

SFAz Award Amount:  $107,000

With the aid of the SFAz investment, Dr. Fernando worked on developing predictive models of air circulation patterns that will benefit city planning and reconcile management issues related to air pollution and urban heating, particularly the urban heat island of Greater Phoenix. With better understanding produced by computer models of atmospheric (fluid) dynamics drivers that determine the conduction and ventilation of thermal energy due to natural heating and cooling and anthropomorphic activity, it becomes possible to modify and control environmental patterns that affect urban growth and development and the quality of life in Central Arizona.  The study of fluid dynamics and air flow has commercial applications as well.

Among other projects under SFAz sponsorship, Dr. Fernando carried out an urban heat island study in April 2007 with instrumented vehicles, pedicabs and helicopters (provided courtesy of a local television station) to map urban-rural differences in temperatures in the Phoenix Metro Area.   His work has been carried in state newspapers and television programs in the state and has informed Valley communities and municipal governments on sustainable development.

Leveraged Funding: Industry $164,600 (Honeywell and Raytheon Missile Systems), State $504,200 (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality)

Pending Funding: Federal $2,000,000 (NSF) “Resilient Infrastructures for Sustainable Urban Systems.”

“The Neural Mechanisms Underlying Flicker Fusion”

Dr. Stephen Macknik
Barrows Neurological Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

SFAz Award Amount:  $121,500

Dr. Macknik addresses one of the most ubiquitous and universally encountered physiological manifestations of modern technology, the apparent stability of the flickering light signals the eye receives from movies, TV monitors, and artificial lighting. This study by one of the recognized world leaders in the field brings with it a greater understanding of normal and abnormal neural response, filling one of the great gaps in medical knowledge – the perceived coherent response to flickering photonic (light) signals.  A patent application was filed during the course of the SFAz-sponsored research pertaining to method and measurements of light source characteristics and flicker fusion threshold value.

Leveraged Funding: Federal $450,000 (NSF); 1 Patent Application

“Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness in Undergraduate Geology Education Through the Use of Pen-Tablet Computers

Dr. Thomas Hoisch
Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University

SFAz Award Amount:  $110,000

The purpose of this project is to investigate and evaluate ways in which pen-based computing can be used to enhance undergraduate geoscience education.  Pen-tablet computers were used by 200 undergraduate students in a variety of ways to support learning in Geology classes at NAU, to include lectures, labs, and field exercises.  Students used the tablet PCs to take notes on photomicrographs taken in real time during lectures as well as record and work with images taken by them on their microscopes during labs.  During field exercises the students’ locations were displayed in real-time on a digital base map and the tablet PCs assisted with learning both Geographic Information Systems and geologic mapping.

The immediate effect of the project is to expose NAU undergraduates to pen-based computing and applications.  The longer-term impact will be to understand the full advantages of pen-based computing, and utilize it in ways to enhance learning in the geoscience classroom, lab, and field, and thereby enhancing the odds of securing federal research funding.

Leveraged Funding: Private/Non-Profit $18,000 (Hewlett-Packard Global Philanthropy)

Pending Funding: Federal $200,000 (NSF) Collaborative project involving NAU, Coconino Community College, Glendale Community College, and Magnolia Consulting LLC

SFAz First Year CAA Investments - Full Listing 

The listing of CAA Invesment is as follows:  
 
Principal Investigators (PI or lead researcher) First & Last Name /  Institution / Scope of Investment Research/ Initial Monies Invested/ Monies Leveraged from other sources/Pending Grant Submissions to other organizations for funding approval  

1.  John Crittenden, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $399,280  /  Environmental and Economic Impacts of Material Used in Future Urban Development / $22,737,400 / $0 / $2,341,500
2.  Harindra Fernando, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $106,663  / Thermal Circulation in Complex Terrain; Upslope, Downslope and Transitional Flows / $2,668,000 / $668,800 / $2,000,000
3.  Pat Langley, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $257,800  / *Hypothesis-Centered Biological Knowledge Bases / $0 / $0 / $0
4.  Sudhir Kumar, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $142,122  / *Bioinformatics of Assembling the Timescale of Life / $0 / $0 / $0
5.  Willem Vermaas, D.Sc. / Arizona State University / $126,701  / *Function and Metabolism of Carotenoids in Cyanobacteria / $0 / $0 / $0
6.  Neal Woodbury, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $234,279  / Factor Binding Dynamics on Promoters / $3,219,700 / $0 / $2,400,000
7.  Valerie Stout, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $98,691  / Toxin Regulation in a Mushroom Pathogen / $0 / $0 / $0
8.  Sandeep Gupta, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $299,737  / Building Greener Datacenters in Arizona / $1,221,400 / $50,000 / $1,171,400
9.  Chitta Baral, Ph.D. / Arizona State University / $138,749  / Generalized Text Extraction from Life Science and Biomedicine Abstracts:  Empowering the CBioC Mass Collaborative Curation and Reasoning Systems / $2,983,500 / $0 / $2,983,500
10.  Thomas Hoisch, Ph.D. / Northern Arizona University / $109,515  / Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness in Undergraduate Geology Education Through the Use of Apen-tablet Computers / $218,000 / $18,000 / $200,000
11.  Matthew Gage, Ph.D. / Northern Arizona University / $111,900  / Developing Techniques to Measure the Structural State of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Vivo / $1,477,600 / $0 / $172,600
12.  Kiisa Nishikawa, Ph.D. / Northern Arizona University / $143,487  / Motor Primitives in Voluntary Frog Behavior:  Neural and Mechanical Bases / $577,200 / $108,300 / $468,900
13.  Alice Gibb, Ph.D. / Northern Arizona University / $105,929  / Collaborative Research:  Development, Performance & Evolutionary Implications of Premaxillary Protrusion in Teleosts:  a Hierarchial Approach to Understanding Convergent Evolution / $276,600 / $276,600 / $0
14.  Stephen Macknik, Ph.D. / St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Barrows Neurological Institute / $121,514  / The Neural Mechanisms Underlying Flicker Fusion / $450,000 / $450,000 / $0
15.  Douglas Walker, Ph.D. / Sun Health Research Institute / $165,000  / Interactions of Human Brain Vascular and Glial  Cells (PPG Project 3) / $2,760,000 / $0 / $2,760,000
16.  Alex Roher, Ph.D. / Sun Health Research Institute / $165,000  / Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease in Alzheimer's Dementia (PPG Project 1) / $500,000 / $0 / $500,000
17.  LihFen Lue, Ph.D. / Sun Health Research Institute / $165,000  / Inflammation, AB and Angiogenesis (PPG Project 4) / $2,000,000 / $0 / $2,000,000
18.  Thomas Beach, Ph.D. / Sun Health Research Institute / $165,000  / In Vivo Vascular Inflammation Effects on Vascular AB handling (PPG Project 2) / $324,500 / $0 / $324,500
19.  Eugene Gerner, Ph.D.  / The University of Arizona / $100,000  / Translational Research in GL Cancers / $3,334,500 / $1,434,500 / $1,900,000
20.  Scott Going, Ph.D. / The University of Arizona / $107,977  / Exercise and Bone Development in Young Girls / $4,207,700 / $3,207,700 / $1,000,000
21.  Anne Wright Ph.D. / The University of Arizona / $400,000  / The Infant Immunce Study:  Investigations into Immunologic, Genetic and Exposure-related Pathways to Childhood Asthma / $3,766,800 / $3,766,800 / $0
22.  Urs Utzinger, Ph.D. & Jennifer Barton, Ph.D.  / The University of Arizona / $45,752  / Advanced Intravital Microscope / $1,449,800 / $517,800 / $932,000
23.  Connie Woodhouse, Ph.D. / The University of Arizona / $71,195  / *Decision Support for Defining Historical Fire Regimes:  The International Multiproxy Paleofire Database /  / $0 / 
24.  Theodore Trouard, Ph.D. / The University of Arizona / $48,250  / Non-Invasive Monitoring of NPC Disease Progression & Therapy / $1,874,000 / $700,000 /
25.  Theresa Markow, Ph.D. / The University of Arizona / $148,355  / Functional Genomics of Host Shifts in Drosophila Mojavensis / $800,000 / $0 / $800,000
 26.  Travis Dunckley, Ph.D. / Translational Genomics Research Institute / $125,948  / Neurofibriallary Tangle-induced Dementia in Alzheimer's Disease / $2,850,000 / $350,000 / $2,500,000

Detailed Competitive Advantage Award (CAA) Investment Program Questions

 Q:  What is the Competitive Advantage Award Program?  

A: There are two areas to the CAA program. The PI grant is to provide gap funding for proposals that have been previously submitted and recognized by federal agencies as meritorious, but did not receive funding. The PI should plan to resubmit to the federal agency within 18 months.

The New Opportunities is for potentially transformational early research from AZ scientist who plans to submit a proposal to federal agencies within the next 18 months.

Q:  Can I apply to the CAA program? 

A: The VP for research must validate and screen the proposals and PIs who intend to submit. The original proposals must be recognized as meritorious by federal agencies in order to be reviewed by SFAz.

Q:  How will my proposal be reviewed?

A:  A panel comprised of experts outside AZ will be reviewing the proposals.  SFAz will select these reviewers and will ask them for recommendations based upon the research and competitiveness of the proposal.

Q:  If I do not receive federal funding after the SFAz grant can I resubmit a proposal again?

A:  If you have received reviews from the federal agency recognizing your proposal as highly meritorious again, and the VP of Research validates the  potential again; SFAz has no restrictions on resubmitting for the CAA program.

Q:  If a piece of equipment is all that I am lacking in my research to be funded by a federal agency, can I submit for a grant amounting in the cost of the equipment?

A:  It is reasonable to request only equipment funding if this equipment is necessary for potential approval by a federal agency.   Information and documentation would need to support the need for the equipment.

Q:  If my Co-PI is out of the state of Arizona will I be eligible for this program?
 
A:  All the funds granted from SFAz must stay in the state of Arizona. However, if there is a special circumstance where a partner or consultant is needed and can only be found or utilized outside the state, exceptions may be made.
  
Q:  If an awardee receives the money expected from the federal agency half way through the term of the SFAz grant will the second installment be issued? 

A:  The CAA funding will not be discontinued and this situation will be handled on a case by case basis.  However, if the funding comes within the first quarter, SFAz may terminate the grant, providing only the first-quarter payment.