1-2-3 GO is a seed funding program designed to support new multi-disciplinary research initiatives. Three faculty from at least two different academic units (departments, colleges, UA campuses) form a multi-disciplinary collaborative trio to pursue innovative research ideas. 1-2-3 GO provides seed funding to develop preliminary data, and to demonstrate the success of the collaborative team, prior to competing for more traditional funding. Proposals developed for 1-2-3 GO are not evaluated through the traditional peer-review process, which tends to be biased against novel, interdisciplinary research. Rather, the review of the project comes from peers agreeing to invest their expertise and time in the collaborative team.
Eligibility: All UAMS faculty, have a virtual voucher of $25,000 in value, redeemable upon project funding. Faculty from other UA System universities can join 1-2-3 GO teams if vouchers are available from their institutions. Only full-time UAMS College of Medicine faculty can propose a project and serve as project leader. Projects must be comprised of three faculty members from at least two different units (research team). A unit is defined as an UAMS department, division, or college, or a UA System university. Research teams must be interdisciplinary, and consist of faculty who have not collaborated previously (as evidenced by joint publications, grants, etc.). Faculty can only participate in a single project (once you agree to be part of a project team, your voucher is committed).
1. Create a Profile/ Register: All investigators must create a profile to participate in the program. Select the Create Profile link, and populate the fields as indicated. Upload an up-to-date NIH style biosketch. Pay particular attention to the Personal Statement contained in the biosketch. It is important that you use that paragraph to describe your expertise and how that expertise will impact the success of the project.
2. Propose a Project: The Project Leader, a UAMS COM faculty member, should complete the Project Information page by selecting the Propose a Project Link. The individual proposing a project (Project Leader) commits their voucher to the project and is unavailable to participate in other projects. The proposed project description is limited to 500 words (either in a Summary or a Specific Aims page format). The majority of funding to support this program is derived from intellectual property sources. To access those funds, investigators must provide a brief statement (<150 words) describing how the research may generate intellectual property leading to the filing of patent or copyright applications, and the potential for commercialization. The Project Leader also must attest that the proposal represents a new line of investigation (not previously funded) and is a new collaborative effort (none of the three faculty participants have collaborated previously).
The Project Leader must also indicate if the project involves human subjects, vertebrate animals, or biohazards. If so, approval must be received by the appropriate committee(s) prior to project funding.
3. Join a Project: Project teams will consist of four members, three faculty and one trainee. The faculty member proposing the project serves as the Project/Team leader. The Team can be completed by one of two mechanisms. First, the Team Leader may recruit faculty to join the project. Alternatively, faculty with uncommitted vouchers can view the proposed projects, and if they find a project that interests them and fits with their scientific expertise, they can elect to join the project and commit their voucher. Faculty wishing to join a project will create a profile and visit the Projects. Once the faculty member decides which project to participate in, he or she will contact the PI to be added to their project. A trainee can join the project using the same process as faculty. Once a team is completed (three faculty and a trainee), the project moves on for possible funding.
Other Menu Links Include:
4. Collaborator Profiles, where the profiles of all faculty and trainees registered on the 1-2-3 GO Website are listed.
5. Dashboard, where the user can see which project they have proposed or joined.
6. My Account, which allows users to make updates to username, password, etc.
7. My Profile, which shows user information (i.e. NIH biosketch) that was used to register for 1-2-3-GO and where a profile picture can be added.
For any questions, please contact Ashley Gregory (agregory@uams.edu)