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PCCSDP provides value added to the training of pediatric critical care scientists by acting in a complementary manner to the local institution. Activities of value to the PCCSDP Scholar include the following:
- Assistance with original application, by the Program Director
- Interviews and interactions with National Advisory Committee members
- Assignment of personal advisory committee for each scholar
- Assistance with preparation of extramural grant proposals
- Site visits of Phase I Scholar training instituions to verify training environment
- Participation at the annual PCCSDP retreat
Applicants may contact the Program Director, who can provide assistance in contacting potential mentors, and provide helpful input into career development ideas and research proposals. The Program Director will not assist with writing applications, but can provide helpful advice to applicants because he does not play a role in selection of PCCSDP Scholars. Selection of scholars is the responsibility of the National Advisory Committee.
Interaction with the leaders and outstanding scientists who comprise the National Advisory Committee is a major benefit to participants in the PCCSDP. These interactions will include interviews of applicants during the selection process, scientific interaction at the annual retreat, discussion of the applicants and scholars academic and research development plans, and presentation of selected faculty development topics by committee faculty and guest speakers. In addition, the committee will convey expectations to each applicant and scholar, particularly with respect to the timeline for seeking the next level of research funding.
Each scholar will have two individuals on the National Advisory Committee specifically assigned to monitor their progress and act, with the Program Director, as their personal advisory committee. The scholar will maintain contact with these advocate committee members throughout the year, may seek advice from these individuals, and will obtain input into the refinement of their faculty development plan as the program proceeds. The scholars personal advisory committee, acting as the scholars advocate, can provide a reality check for the Scholars and their mentors throughout the program.
Phase I scholars will begin early preparation of K08 or K23 proposals for submission to the NIH. The PCCSDP will help provide structure to this timeline by interactions between the National Advisory Committee and the scholar, both at the annual retreat and throughout the year. Phase I scholars will write a two to three page draft outline of a K08 or K23 proposal or, in rare instances, an R01 proposal, by the end of the first 12 to 15 months in the program. This draft will be submitted to the PCCSDP and will be disseminated to National Advisory Commmittee members for constructive feedback.
The personal advisory comittee assigned to each scholar will provide a written critique of the proposal concept, though any committee member may provide input to the scholar. The scholar will develop the application for submission to the NIH by 18 months into the PCCSDP, with the goal of obtaining funding by the end of Phase I.
At least six weeks prior to the NIH submission deadline, the Scholar will send a nearly complete draft and the PCCSDP will do a mock review, providing pink sheets back to the scholar and mentor in ample time for the scholar to improve the proposal based on those comments. If the National Advisory Committee does not have appropriate expertise to provide this review. In this manner, the Scholar will have an opportunity to obtain an initial, external, rigorous scientific evaluation for their proposal in time to not waste a cycle in the NIH peer review process. If a scholar acieves K award funding on the first cycle (without a resubmission), then the scholar will automatically transfer into Phase II.
The Program Director or a designee from the National Advisory Committee will site visit each training institution on an annual basis during Phase I training. During these site visits, the Program Director will meet with the Scholar, the training mentor, the critical care Division Chief, and the Pediatric Department Chairman. The Program Director will verify that the institution is meeting its obligations to the Scholar as outlined in the original application submitted by the Scholar.
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