News & Research

Houston ADA Research Proposal Advisory Committee

Vision: We would like to increase the funding success of research proposals submitted to the ADA by providing investigators the option for a group of experienced diabetes investigator to pre-review and provide critique and feedback prior to the submission to the ADA.

Charge: On a voluntary basis, review ADA research proposals for investigators who desire such review and feedback prior to the submission of their proposals.

Advisory Panel:

Primary Reviewers and Steering Committee:
Mandeep Bajaj, M.D.
Lawrence Chan, M.D.
Dale Hamilton, M.D.
Morey W. Haymond, M.D.
Jake Kushner, M.D.
Victor Lavis, M.D.
Philip R. Orlander, M.D.
Ralston Creswell, CAE, Administrative support for the Committee

Adhoc Reviewers (as of Aug. 7, 2012):
Fida Bacha, M.D.
Dennis M. Bier, M.D.
Ashok Balasubramanyan, M.D.
Willa Hsueh, M.D.

Requirements of the Reviewers: Reviewers must have research experience and have been funded independent investigators in their own right. They must be familiar with the review criteria used by the ADA. All materials submitted for review will be kept confidential and destroyed once the review has been completed and provided to the investigator. Individuals serving on the review committee for the ADA (National) can review only proposals from their own institution as they will not be involved with the review at the national level. Reviewers will be required to identify whether they have any conflicts with any proposals or investigators that they asked to review. Should a conflict be identified the reviewer would not be permitted to critique the proposal. Reviewers commit to the time line outlined below.

Procedure:

1. Investigators planning to submit proposals to the ADA for funding can on a voluntary basis (i.e. there is no requirement by the Houston or National ADA) request a review from the Research Proposal Advisory Committee.
2. All proposals for review must be submitted to the Steering Committee four (4) weeks prior to the deadline.
3. Materials submitted as a single PDF
4. The materials to be submitted would include:
   1. PIs Biosketch
   2. Hypotheses and Specific Aims page
   3. Abstract
   4. Complete proposal
   Budgetary information will not be accepted as part of the review submission.
5. The proposals will be assigned for review by the Steering Committee.
6. Reviewers will make a commitment at the time of request of turning the review around in 7 working days. Reviewers will remain anonymous unless they chose to identify themselves.
7. The Reviews will be in keeping with the format of the ADA and will be distributed back to the investigator by the Houston ADA by 14 days from initial submission.

Outcomes: In exchange for the review, the PIs are requested to inform the Steering committee if the proposal is actually submitted to the ADA. The Steering Committee can obtain from the ADA the names of the funded investigators. In this way we hopefully can determine whether this pre-review is of benefit to the investigator and whether it increases the percentage of grants funded in our area.