Competitive Renewal Application – GCO

An application requesting additional funding for a period subsequent to that provided by a current award. A renewal application competes with all other applications and must be developed as fully as though the applicant is applying for the first time.

Example: Your award, which was funded for 5 years is coming to an end. You are applying for 5 additional years to continue the research.

Other Terms: Renewal (NIH), Competing Continuation

Mentor – GCO

An individual who guides, advises, and provides feedback on the applicant’s research and professional development. The NIH sometimes refers to mentors as sponsors.

Other Term: Sponsor

Multiple Principal Investigator/Project Director (NIH) – GCO

A term only used by the NIH and other funding agencies in which it is explicitly stated in their policy. Multiple PI/PD awards are an opportunity for multidisciplinary efforts and collaboration through a team of scientists under a single grant award. All PI/PDs share equally the authority and responsibility for leading and directing the project, intellectually and logistically. Each PI/PD is responsible and accountable to the applicant organization, or as appropriate to a collaborating organization, for the proper conduct of the project or program, including the submission of all required reports. The presence of more than one PI/PD on an application or award diminishes neither the responsibility nor the accountability of any individual PI/PD.

Other Terms: MPI, MPD

New Application – GCO

An application that is being submitted to an agency, or if unfunded, to the GCO for the first time.

Example: You are submitting a brand new project to the NIH or other funding agency.

Co-Principal Investigator (NSF) – GCO

A term only used by the NSF and other funding agencies in which it is explicitly stated in their policy. NIH does not allow use of this term or recognize this status. The NSF definition is as follows: “… the individual(s) designated by the proposer, and approved by NSF, who will be responsible for the scientific or technical direction of the project. NSF does not infer any distinction in scientific stature among multiple PIs, whether referred to as PI or co-PI. If more than one, the first one listed will serve as the contact PI, with whom all communications between NSF program officials and the project relating to the scientific, technical, and budgetary aspects of the project should take place. The PI and any identified co-PIs, however, will be jointly responsible for submission of the requisite project reports.

Other Term: Co-PI

Principal Investigator (PI)/Project Director (PD) – GCO

The individual designated by ISMMS to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project. All full-time, part-time, emeritus, and voluntary faculty of ISMMS and its affiliates are eligible to serve as PIs. Other professional staff, who hold titles typically associated with independent work, and whose appointments are subject to a rigorous review of credentials, may also serve as a PI. All PIs must have the approval of their departments indicated by the Chair’s and/or Departmental Administrator’s electronic signature via InfoEd.

Other Terms: PI, PD

Consultant – GCO

An individual who provides professional advice or services for a fee. On NIH and other Federal grants, consultants are typically “Key Personnel.” A Mount Sinai employee cannot be a paid consultant on a sponsored project conducted at Mount Sinai. Example: Dr. Smith in Pediatrics has an NIH grant and would like to pay Dr. Howell in Neurology as a consultant. This is not allowed. For the policy on faculty as consultants for an external entity (e.g., consultant on a NIH grant that is not conducted at Mount Sinai), please click on link below and go to Section E.
http://icahn.mssm.edu/about-us/services-and-resources/faculty-resources/handbooks-and-policies/faculty-handbook/faculty/full-time-faculty

A Mount Sinai employee can be an unpaid consultant on a sponsored project conducted at Mount Sinai. Example: Dr. Smith in Pediatrics is applying to the American Cancer Society and would like to include Dr. Kim in Oncological Sciences as an unpaid consultant. Assuming that the time commitment is minimal (i.e., less than 1%), this is allowable.

Collaborator – GCO

The NIH uses the term “Collaborator” to mean “Investigator,” “Consultant,” or “Other significant contributor.” On NIH and other sponsored projects, it may also refer to an individual who provides technical advise or a necessary supply (e.g. reagents) but is not involved in the day to day execution of the project.

Other Significant Contributor (NIH) – GCO

A term only used by the NIH and other funding agencies in which it is explicitly stated in their policy. Individuals who have committed to contribute to the scientific development or execution of the project, but are not committing any specified measurable effort (i.e., person months) to the project. These individuals are typically presented at “effort of zero person months” or “as needed.” Individuals with measurable effort may not be listed as Other Significant Contributors (OSCs). Consultants should be included if they meet this definition.

Other Terms: OSC, Collaborator, Consultant

Investigator (FCOIR) – GCO

Refer to this definition when determining which personnel complete the COI form each year for your InfoEd application. An individual responsible for the design, conduct or reporting of the study. Since Federal Conflict of Interest regulations require that all investigators complete Conflict of Interest Forms, the definition of who meets this criteria is of special importance. ISMMS’ policy is that the following personnel always meet this definition:

  • PI
  • Key Personnel
  • Anyone with a role that includes the word Investigator (Example: Sub-Investigator)
  • Primary Mentor on a Fellowship or Mentored Career Development Award
  • Faculty Personnel, either key or non-key (with some very limited and well documented exceptions where the non-key faculty is not engaged in the research)

Other ISMMS personnel may meet the Investigator definition. ISMMS leaves the following to the discretion of the PI:

  • Other Significant Contributor
  • Consultant
  • Non-faculty, non-key personnel

Please consider the role, rather than the title, of those involved in research and the degree of independence with which those individuals work. When the definition of investigator is limited to titles or designations (e.g., to principal investigators, key personnel, faculty), the risk increases of an unidentified FCOI that may compromise the research enterprise.