Bridges

Each program will feature CIRM-funded Research Internships in which  trainees participate in stem cell related research projects in internship-host laboratories. Internship-host labs can be at California non-profit doctorate granting research universities, (as defined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching) or research institutes; or at California for-profit organizations. Internships cannot occur at the home institution. Internship-host labs must be engaged in stem cell or related research and provide a research intensive environment.

CIRM will fund internships for a minimum of six months and a maximum of one year. Applicants should determine the optimal internship period for their particular program. Programs are permitted to have up to two types or tiers of internship (e.g. undergraduate-level internships and Master’s level internships), and all internships within a tier must be of the same duration in each funded year. An individual student can be appointed to an internship for a maximum of one year.

Internship research is expected to be a full-time activity for which the trainee is compensated with a stipend and appropriate academic credit (determined by the home institution). Interns are expected to be enrolled as full-time students during the internship; the awards will fund tuition and educational fees during this period. CIRM will fund up to 10 internships per applicant per year. Applicants are encouraged to expand student participation and the size of their programs by involving additional trainees supported from other sources, if funding is available.

Programs will develop auxiliary educational activities to prepare students for internships and to augment the internship experience. Examples of such enhancements include seminar series, supplementary courses, and tissue culture training and specialized workshops. CIRM Bridges Awards will also support the development and delivery of a general education course (targeted to the general student population) in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine to be offered at the home institution.

All trainees must participate in a stem cell laboratory techniques course given at a CIRM-funded Shared Research Laboratory or appropriate, equivalent facility in addition to their internship. Applicants should arrange for their students to enroll in an established course, or, in association with personnel from a Shared Research Laboratory, they may organize and coordinate a course specialized for their trainees.

Each program will have a Program Director who leads and coordinates the CIRM Bridges Awards Program. This individual must be an experienced faculty member at the home institution. The Program Director will have primary responsibility for all programmatic and administrative aspects of the Bridges Award Program, including adherence to budgetary, policy, and reporting requirements.

Each program will have an Advisory Committee that establishes policies and guides ongoing planning and performance of the program. The Advisory Committee should include appropriate faculty from the home institution and must include at least one member who is a faculty member (or industry equivalent) from a partnering, internship-host institution.

Programs must provide a Trainee Mentoring Plan that specifically describes how trainees will be advised and their progress assessed. Such a plan might include individual faculty sponsors at the home institution, individual mentoring committees with participation of the internship-host advisor, or other arrangements that provide for support and guidance of the trainees. The Trainee Mentoring Plan should also describe the frequency and nature of student assessment and plans for advising trainees on career and further educational opportunities.

1. Trainee Expenses

1. 1. Stipends – up to $2500/month for each trainee engaged in full time research during an internship of up to one year duration.
   2. Tuition and fees – up to $5000 per year to the home institution for actual educational expenses for each trainee during the internship period.
   3. Research-related funds – up to $3000 per year for each trainee for costs to the internship-host laboratory.
   4. Training course fees – up to $2500 for each intern for fees and expenses (including travel) to a CIRM-funded Shared Research Laboratory or equivalent facility.

2. Program Administration and Educational Enhancement                                                       Up to $125,000 per year may be used for administrative support salaries, costs of developing or delivering new courses, seminar speakers, outside speakers for courses, audio-visual equipment or supplies, activities to enhance partnering between home and host institutions, or other activities that enhance the educational value of the program. Up to $12,500 (of the $125,000) may be used for salary support for the Program Director. Up to $6,250 may be used for salary support of a faculty advisor or internship coordinator at internship-host institutions. Up to $25,000 may be used to develop and deliver a general education course on Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine. Justification for all Program Administration and Educational Enhancement expenses must be provided.                                                                                   
3. Indirect Costs                                                                                                                      Indirect costs will be 10% of the total direct costs (Trainee Expenses and Program Administration and Educational Enhancement) less the costs for tuition and fees.

1. Training Program

1. Internships

• Appropriate and ample internship opportunities in stem cell labs will be readily available for trainees.

• Internship activities allow direct participation of trainees in stem cell and/or regenerative medicine research.

• Internship activities allow direct participation of trainees in stem cell and/or regenerative medicine research.

• Internships provide hands-on training in relevant laboratory techniques and approaches.

• Internships will have sufficient duration and oversight to achieve desired and stated educational objectives.

• The Trainee Mentoring Plan outlines beneficial and appropriate mechanisms to guide and support internship activities.

2. Educational Enhancement

• Educational enhancement activities support and complement internship experiences.

• Auxiliary activities will expand knowledge of stem cell science and regenerative medicine.

• The stem cell techniques course provides appropriate and beneficial training.

3. Educational Integration

• Internships, the requisite stem cell techniques course and educational enhancement activities are integrated effectively into a comprehensive degree or certificate program.

• Educational programs provide trainees with adequate and appropriate preparation for internships.

2. Institutional Commitment and Partnering Arrangements

1. Institutional Commitment

•  Home institution is committed to the success of the training program.

• Home institution has a track-record of training in cell biology or biotechnology.

• Home institution and/or home department provides a supportive environment for preparing students for internships.

2. Partnering Arrangements

• Appropriate partnering (internship-host) institutions are identified and committed to participation in the training program and/or there is a well thought out plan in place for identifying such partners and evidence of progress in developing partnerships.
• Arrangements are established or planned for trainee enrollment in stem cell techniques course at CIRM-funded Shared Research Laboratory or appropriate equivalent facility.

3. Program Administration

• Program Director has appropriate experience in education and administration.
• Composition and duties of program Advisory Committee are well defined and beneficial to the program.
• Mechanisms are established for recruitment of qualified and diverse program participants.
• Procedures for tracking of trainee accomplishment are developed.
• Mechanisms are established for recruitment of qualified and diverse program participants.
• Procedures for tracking of trainee accomplishment are developed.

1. Abstract (up to 3000 characters in Part A)

Describe the proposed program of training including the level of training, the numbers of trainees, the nature of the educational program with which the internships will be integrated, nature and scope of courses and ancillary activities, and the range of research opportunities available to interns in the program.

2. Public Abstract (up to 3000 characters in Part A)

Briefly describe the proposed training program and how it will directly or indirectly contribute to the training of laboratory personnel and bolster stem cell research. This Public Abstract will become public information; therefore, do not include confidential information or information that could identify the applicant institution.

3. Statement of Benefit to California (up to 1500 characters in Part A)

Describe in a few sentences how the proposed program will benefit the state of California and its citizens. This Statement of Benefit will become public information; therefore, do not include proprietary or confidential information or information that could identify the applicant institution.   

    4.  Key Personnel (included in Part A)

List the Program Director and key administrative personnel. A minimum of one percent effort is required for each key person. Do not include internship-host mentors, Advisory Committee members, or internship host coordinators in this section. For Program Director provide a 2 page biographical sketch using the template provided (included in Part D). The biosketch should highlight prior experience and/or special skills related to the proposed program.

   5. Internship-host and Techniques Course-host Institutions (included in Part A)

List Internship-host and Techniques Course-host institutions with which agreements or arrangements for trainee placement and training have been established. Programs may partner with up to 4 nonprofit institutions and with an unlimited number of for-profit organizations. Identify a contact individual for each internship-host and techniques course-host institution and indicate in what role they   will serve (e.g. Internship-host Faculty Advisor/Internship Coordinator,Course Director, etc.).

6. Advisory Committee Members (included in Part A)

List each member of the Advisory Committee for the proposed program. The Advisory Committee must contain at least one member who is a faculty member (or industry equivalent) from a partnering, internship-host institution. For each individual listed, provide a biographical sketch in Part D.

7. Budget (included in Part A)

Provide all budget information requested in the budget section of the application form. Allowable costs under this RFA are described above

 (Section IV.B.). 

8. Overall Program Design (up to 4 pages in Part B)

1. Describe the specific focus and purpose of the training program including the level(s) of proposed trainees. 
2. Describe the training to be offered as part of the program including:
   1. internship duration and scope
   2. required courses (describe briefly the material to be covered in each course)
   3. auxiliary training activities
   4. Stem Cell techniques course at a CIRM-funded Shared Research Laboratory or appropriate equivalent facility(include a brief description of planned course content and arrangements that are planned or in place for coordinating this activity)
3. Describe how the internships and other proposed training activities will be integrated into a comprehensive educational program.
4. Describe any plans to collaborate with other institutions that will supply trainees participating in the program; include a letter of agreement from each collaborating institution describing the nature of the collaboration.

9. Trainee Selection and Placement (up to 2 pages)

   1. Describe how trainees will be recruited to the program and selected for participation.

   2. Summarize the internship opportunities available to trainees. If specific internship host mentors have committed to participation in the program, supply information about these individuals in Part C of the application. If specific opportunities are not yet in place, summarize plans for and status of establishing internship opportunities. Include any letters or agreements from candidate internship-host institutions indicative of their commitment to or interest in participation as a host institution.
   3. Describe the process by which trainees will be placed in internships.

10. Mentoring and Trainee Assessment (up to 1 page in Part B)

1. 1. Provide the Trainee Mentoring Plan that describes how trainees will be mentored.
   2. Describe how trainee progress and accomplishment will be assessed.

11. Program Leadership and Administration (up to 1 page in Part B)

1. 1. Describe plans for the educational and administrative leadership and oversight of the program.
   2. Describe the composition, duties, and meeting frequency of the program Advisory Committee. Include in section C biosketches for all committee membe

12. Internship-host Lab Summary (included in Part C)

    List prospective internship host mentors. List only those individualswho have agreed to accept trainees for internships and are committed to participate in the proposed program. Note: applicants are not required to complete this section; complete this form only for specific internship opportunities that are in place at time of application.

13. Institutional Commitment (up to 2 pages in Part E)

    The applicant institution must provide a letter of support, signed by a senior organizational official who has the authority, or who has been delegated the authority, to commit the applicant institution to support the proposed program. This letter should document in specific terms the nature of the institution’s current and future commitment to the proposed program during the period of the award and should include a description of facilities and resources available to the program. A discussion of the institution’s track record and future plans for expanding educational activities relevant to the proposed program should also be included.