How do you define a "beginning investigator?"
Beginning investigators are faculty or staff within six years of their first independent faculty appointment (or equivalent). They must be eligible to apply as principal investigator for grant support from national agencies, but have no such support at the time of the IRG award. The investigator must be independent and have a commitment from the institution for salary and space customary for an independent investigator. Senior postdoctoral fellows are not eligible.
I have an NIH R29 (FIRST) award. Am I eligible for an individual IRG allocation on the same or a different topic?
No. The NIH R29 is a nationally competitive research grant.
What about personnel grants that are primarily intended for the junior investigator's salary, such as the NIH K series?
As long as the applicant meets all other criteria, holders of personnel awards are eligible to receive seed money from the IRG.
I am an assistant professor with an R01 award, but want to initiate a project in a totally different area. May I apply for an individual IRG Award?
No. The IRG is intended for new investigators without an active (i.e., NIH, NSF, ACS) national competitive research grant, no matter what the topic. However, you are eligible and welcomed to apply for a Cancer Center Pilot Project grant.
I have a small grant from the local Division of the American Cancer Society, or a small foundation grant. Am I eligible for an individual IRG award?
As long as the grant is not the result of a national peer-reviewed competition and is for support of a different project, you may still apply for an IRG award.