RPG Retreats help investigators refine competitive research proposals

RPG Retreats help investigators refine competitive research proposals

The Office of Research Development (ORD) is offering new and established investigators the opportunity to participate in Research Project Grant Retreats (RPG Retreats). Investigators who want constructive criticism on a research proposal should present. Researchers at any phase of career development—from in-training to senior scientist—are encouraged to attend as audience participants.

ORD offers RPG Retreats at least quarterly. The upcoming dates are:

Saturday, September 16th, 2006
Saturday, December 2nd, 2006

Each session will start with breakfast at 8:15 AM and formally convene at 8:45 AM in the Gazes Institute Conference Room (Rm. 125), and end at mid-afternoon (the exact time will depend on number of confirmed presenters). Presenters should plan to attend the full day, if at all possible, while audience members and other colleagues may be more flexible. Breakfast, lunch and breaks will be provided. The RPG Retreats are an institutional service to investigators, and do not involve any fees or charges.

The format for each presentation involves a 20-min. presentation of the research concept (e.g., hypothesis and specific aims) and a brief summary of approaches, anticipated results and potential problems, followed by 25 min. of critique and discussion from review panelists and audience participants. Review panelists will be 3-5 senior investigator-mentors with extensive peer review experience and a broad grasp of contemporary basic, translational and clinical biomedical research.

A maximum of 7 presenters will be scheduled for the September 16 and December 2 dates, respectively. For more information or to sign up as a presenter OR audience participant, please contact Peggy Schachte, Director, MUSC Office of Research Development, 792-0868, e-mail schachte@musc.edu. Additional information and on-line registration are available at http://research.musc.edu/rpgretreat.html.