Research Proposal Requirements

Your research proposal will be developed in CTSC 5010: Clinical Research Proposal Development with a deadline based on the academic cycle listed below.

Early submission of your proposal is allowed. Your research proposal will then be reviewed by the CCaTS Postdoctoral Programs Executive Committee for approval.

Enrollment in CTSC 5010: Proposal Development Proposal submission
Fall quarter February 1
Spring quarter August 1

Please include these items in your proposal packet:

  • Research Proposal Packet Cover Page (PDF).
  • The proposal. Use the format developed in CTSC 5010. Please note the proposal review criteria listed below when writing your proposal.
  • Research Proposal Project Timeline form.

  • Verification statement from your department or division. This must document that peer review of the proposal has taken place, as well as that the proposed work is scientifically sound and clinically meaningful. The minute excerpt from your department or division research committee or minute excerpt used for submission to the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board (IRB) may be used.

    Note: If your project is considered nontherapeutic and minimal risk (for example, a retrospective chart review), the IRB does not require divisional review and the CCaTS Minimal Risk Study (PDF) form is used in lieu of department or division verification.

  • Notification from the IRB. This documents that IRB approval has been granted for your project.

Research proposal review criteria

Proposals are reviewed by the CCaTS Postdoctoral Programs Executive Committee using these criteria:

  • Clinical or translational research. Does the project meet the definition of clinical or translational research? If an animal model is being studied, has the scholar justified its significance to human disease?
  • Scientific peer review. Is the hypothesis significant? Is the study design valid? Is the data collection and analysis plan consistent with the study goal? Is there statistical justification?
  • IRB review. Has IRB approval for the project been obtained, or is it pending? If the scholar's project is part of a larger project, has documentation been provided showing IRB approval for the larger project?
  • Authorship. Will the scholar be the first author on publications resulting from this project? If the scholar's project is part of a larger, multiauthor study, has the scholar explained how he or she will contribute to authorship? Will the project result in at least one publication?
  • Feasibility. Is there sufficient funding for the project? Is there sufficient time to collect data and recruit participants? Does the project align with the scholar's research interests?
  • Recruitment plan. Has a satisfactory subject recruitment plan, including a timeline, been provided?
  • Current status. Has the status of the project been provided? (For example, "Fifty percent of the data is collected, with data collection expected to be complete in six months.")

Contact

The CCaTS Education Contacts page contains a listing of team members who can assist you with questions.