TBI BRAC

All applications are submitted through an online webform. Within the webform, applicants are required to upload the following files (in pdf, gif, jpg, jpeg, or png file formats):

    •     Biosketch
    •     Research Strategy (4 page limit)
    •     Table Summary of Samples of Interest (This should include information on sample availability.)

What to expect

The first page of the webform requires the investigator to fill in basic information (e.g. name, institution, address) and to upload the biosketch. The second page of the webform requires the investigator to upload the application files (e.g. Research Strategy and Table Summary) and provide information about funding support for the study.

Applications for biospecimen access will be received on a rolling submission basis and reviewed during the following cycles:

Please note that your application will be shared with Program Staff from NINDS, Sapient, and BioSEND/IU. Our TBI BRAC subscribes to the ethical requirements, as described within the Conflict of Interest document and Confidentiality Agreement.

The TBI BRAC committee will assess the applications based on experimental rationale, feasibility/reproducibility of the assays, expertise of the investigator, availability of institutional resources to support the study, and the statistical analysis of the number of samples required for the hypothesis testing. Investigators will be notified by email the outcome of the review (i.e. approve, approve upon revisions, or deny) within a week after the review meeting. Summary statements are released within 2-3 weeks after review. For applications that were ‘approved upon revision’, investigators will be notified about concerns that would need to be addressed before the application could move forward. Please note that the TBI BRAC does not provide funding. If sample access is approved by the TBI BRAC, the two possible outcomes are:

    1.     If the study has funding, the samples are distributed to the investigator following a virtual meeting to introduce the sample distribution process ("onboarding") and after fulfillment by the investigator of the additional requirements specified by the selected repository (i.e. MTA, Data Use Agreement, fees, data analysis and sharing plan). This post-TBI BRAC process for biosample distribution is outlined in these documents (FITBIR). For questions, please contact Christine Swanson-Fischer, Ph.D. and Adele Doperalski, Ph.D
    2.     If the investigator has yet to obtain funding for the study, the TBI BRAC will issue a letter to the applicant documenting provisional access to the samples requested. This letter can be used to support an application for funding opportunities from the NIH or other organizations. Conditional approvals will be valid for a period of up to 12 months.

Questions about the review process should be directed to Christine Swanson-Fischer, Ph.D. and Adele Doperalski, Ph.D

Funding

For NINDS funding opportunities, the investigator is encouraged to contact Nsini Umoh, Ph.D., for more information. TBI BRAC reviewers are required to avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest. The TBI BRAC subscribes to the ethical requirements for NIH reviewers, as described within the Conflict of Interest document.

BRAC Membership

Dr. Christine Swanson-Fischer is the NINDS TBI BRAC Liason and can be contacted at ninds-tbi-brac@ninds.nih.gov. The complete TBI BRAC roster is listed here.