Recent Study Section Comment for a Faculty Member ’ s NIH Application

1. Recent Study Section Comment for a Faculty Member’s NIH Application “The University of Pittsburgh is an outstanding research institution with an excellent research environment within the context of the Department of Pharmacology & Chemical Biology” We are going to further enhance our research environment Why? How?

2. University of Pittsburgh School of MedicineDepartment of Pharmacology and Chemical BiologyFaculty Development ProgramOverall Goals • Designed to enhance faculty professional development and funding of research objectives • Advance the conduct of high quality research • Improve the student training environment • Provide specific goals for successful promotion • Increase competitiveness in current economy • Protect overall departmental/institute budgets Reduce stress, enhance success during difficult times

3. Faculty Development Plan – Key Elements • All faculty will participate • Managed by senior faculty, colleagues • Workshops on grantsmanship, teaching, promotion • Individualized internal advisory team of 2-3 people • Individualized external advisory team of 2-3 people One week turnaround times for all grant-related input Also – Feel Free to Seek Advice From: Current P&CB NIH Study Section/Foundation Peer Review Committee Members Van Houten Oesterreich Zhang Friedman Palladino DeFranco Levitan Schopfer Pagano Lee Freeman Wang

4. Faculty Development PlanPromoting Excellence in Scholarship Periodically review CV and annual faculty evaluation: provide rank, promotion, and tenure-related advice Develop strategies for research advancement: resource needs, seed new collaborations, lab and time management strategies Advise on teaching portfolio: classroom, lab, student mentoring Provide advice regarding service commitments: more is not always good Review drafts of research and review articles Identify intramural 2-3 person mentorship team and other helpful mentors Peter Friedman, PhD, Vice Chair for Academics will provide guidance in many of these areas

5. Faculty Development PlanPromoting Research Excellence Internal evaluation/support • 2 page pre-proposal for planned submissions (hypothesis, specific aims, significance, innovation, key experimental approaches/reagents, overall impact) 1 week review • Advice on CSR/Study Section assignment • Guidance for revised resubmissions (Introduction) • Department support for a colleague to give a local seminar and foster interactions with PI’s lab team: identify thought leaders, potential collaborators • Each faculty member must deliver a departmental or UPCI seminar every 2 yr, attended by department faculty, fellows and students

6. Faculty Development PlanPromoting Research Excellence External evaluation/support • Optional for A0, required for A1 submissions • High quality external advisors will be identified with faculty member’s input • Written critique of final draft will be provided to faculty member and internal mentorship team by external consultant using specific NIH or foundation guidelines 1 week external review, immediate internal feedback • $500 honorarium given to external consultants that show effort and quick responses. This program is more than self sustaining if we as dept are successful with one more grant in a calendar year

7. Faculty Development PlanPromoting Research Excellence Timeline • Pre-proposal (2 pg) submission to internal advisors 2 mo before P&CB/UPCI “science” upload deadline • Final draft submission to external advisors 1 mo before P&CB/UPCI “science” upload deadline • This gives 3 weeks for final revisions before upload • Compliance and success will be incentivized!