PRE-APPLICATION GUIDELINES The documents below should be submitted as a single pdf file in the indicated order by 5 pm on March 31, 2026. Pre-application should consist of: 1. descriptive title 2. project description of two pages in length with • significance of this research to the field of SPM • brief description of hypothesis • specific aims • brief explanation of the plans for submission of an R01 application • a statement regarding IACUC/IRB approvals, if needed • any figures and essential references (optional) 3. an NIH Biosketch 4. if applicable, a summary statement for a reviewed R01 application (related to SPM), along with one page explaining how the proposed pilot project will address the critique ADDITIONAL RESOURCE Consultation with the Sex-based Precision Medicine Research Core (SPMRC, contact Research Core Director, Dr. David Crosslin at spmrc@tulane.edu (mailto:spmrc@tulane.edu)for inquiries) is required. Schedule your appointment with the SPMRC here.(https://cobre-spm.tulane.edu/service-page/free-30-min-introductory-consultation-1?referral=service_list_widget) Utilization of the SPMRC and cohorts available to Tulane (e.g., BHS, REACHNet, All of Us, NC3, RECOVER, and eMERGE) is highly encouraged. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA Priority will be given to proposals that: 1. strongly align with the COBRE-SPM focus 2. demonstrate strong potential by the ESI/NI to generate preliminary data for new federal grant applications or developed into a future COBRE Research Project SELECTION PROCESS An internal COBRE Executive Committee will review and score the pre-applications. Applicants will be notified by email of the review results within approximately 2 weeks after pre-application submission. Please note that we are not able to provide a critique. A subset of selected applicants will be invited to provide a full proposal within three weeks of notification. The full proposal should be prepared according to NIH R21 instructions using PHS398 format pages. No institutional routing is necessary. The full application will be reviewed by the Pilot Project Review Committee. The awards will be made following the COBRE External Advisory Committee and NIGMS approval. Applicants whose work involves vertebrate animals and/or human subjects should begin the IACUC/IRB approval concurrently with the preparation of the full proposal to assure a timely start of funding, as NIGMS requires all approvals to be in place. IRB and IACUC protocol approval letters must bear the title of the pilot project proposal or a statement that indicates that the proposed pilot project research falls under the scope of the IRB approval. All other things being equal, preference may be given to junior faculty applicants gathering additional data for an R01 re-submission that was previously scored. TIMELINE Pre-application deadline: March 31, 2026 Results pre-application review: Mid- to late-April 2026 Deadline full application: 4 weeks after the full application invitation Award Announcement: July 2026 Award Start Date: August 2026

FULL APPLICATION GUIDELINES Please submit all documents below as a single PDF file in the indicated order by 5 pm CDT on June 16, 2025. Applicants are required to use the NIH398 forms (Instructions and Form Files for PHS 398 (nih.gov))(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html). Application documents include: 1. COBRE-SPM Pilot Project Program Application Checklist (https://tulane.box.com/s/b3k3ohkg57vseqvjuk32edh8k08plc2t) 2. NIH Form Page 1: Face Page 3. NIH Form Page 2: Project Summary, Relevance, Project/Performance Sites, Key Personnel, etc. 4. NIH Form Page 4: Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period 5. NIH Form Page 5: Initial Budget Period, Total Direct Cost, Justification 6. NIH Biosketch of PI (please include a list of all grants you have applied for and/or been awarded within the past three years) and Co-investigators 7. Research Plan (6-page maximum excluding references, Arial 11, single-spaced): • Specific Aims • Research Strategy: Significance, Innovation, and Approach (briefly describe key aspects of the research environment) • Future funding plans • Timeline for project completion • Bibliography and References Cited (do not count towards the page limit) 8. Vertebrate Animals: when vertebrate animals are included, please also provide a Vertebrate Animals Section in accordance with NIH (Vertebrate Animals Section | OLAW (nih.gov))(https://olaw.nih.gov/guidance/vertebrate-animal-section.htm): • Description of Procedures • Justifications • Minimization of Pain and Distress • Method of Euthanasia 9. Human Subjects: When human subjects are involved, include a Human Subjects Protection Plan in accordance with NIH (G.500 - PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information (nih.gov))(https://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/forms-e/general/g.500-phs-human-subjects-and-clinical-trials-information.htm#3.1): • Protection of Human Subjects • Inclusion of Women and Minorities • Inclusion of Children • Targeted/Planned Enrollment Table 10. Letters of Support 11. COBRE-SPM Pilot Project Program Project Data Form (https://tulane.box.com/s/c9m484s5kavct5bbcvzjl36cvv67618r) 12. Sex-Based Precision Medicine Research Core Planned Usage Form.(https://tulane.box.com/s/zzmtt7d8z3gobh59hvxwufnqmmt0spmd) A consultation meeting with the SPMRC is required. If you have not yet met with the Core Team during the pre-application phase, please schedule your appointment here(https://cobre-spm.tulane.edu/service-page/free-30-min-introductory-consultation-1?referral=service_list_widget) 13. Abstract of purposed work (200 words or less) for dissemination purposes if awarded (COBRE-SPM website, COBRE-SPM annual symposium, etc.) EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS Expenditures Allowed: • Limited technical and clinical staff salary support (do not request more than 25% salary for a research associate) • Subject stipends • Research supplies and animal maintenance costs directly related to the project • Special fees (pathology, photography, etc.) • Consulting costs directly related to the project • Publication costs, including reprints Expenditures NOT Allowed: • Principal Investigator or Co-investigator salary support • Secretarial/administrative personnel salary support • Office equipment and supplies • Computers • Tuition • Domestic or Foreign Travel • Dues and membership fees in scientific societies • Honoraria and travel expenses for visiting lecturers • Equipment costing more than $5,000 • Rental of office or laboratory space • Construction or building maintenance • Recruiting and relocation expense SELECTION PROCESS Selected applicants will provide a full proposal within four weeks of successful letter of intent notification. The full application will be reviewed by the Pilot Project Review Committee. The awards will be made following the COBRE External Advisory Committee and NIGMS approval. All other things being equal, preference may be given to junior faculty applicants gathering additional data for an R01 re-submission that was scored. If the project involves human or animal subjects, submission to IRB or IACUC must be within two months after receipt of notice of grant award. TIMELINE Announcement for Full Application Submission: May 14, 2025 Full Application Deadline: June 16, 2025 Award Announcement: August 2025 Award Start Date: September 2025