• Through the end of the METACyt grant, funding will focus almost entirely on collaborative projects intended to serve as a springboard for large scale federally funded initiatives such as program project grants, and centers of excellence. Such initiatives should be clearly delineated in the proposal.  Collaborators from IUSM may be eligible for funding if the PI is from IUB. The Neuroscience Node will also consider single investigator proposals on an equal basis. Single investigator proposals for other nodes will still be entertained, but will be given an extremely low priority . Such projects must be deemed exceptionally competitive and will be considered only if there is funding remaining after all multi-user proposals are evaluated.
• Continuation support for previously supported METACyt work that appears to be highly promising and is nearing fruition.  Evidence of strong progress in the previous grant period is essential, as is a specific target for independent funding.
• Exceptionally exciting and novel ideas that require modest seed funding to generate sufficient results for federal funding.  These projects must fit into one of the previously described research node areas of interest. (METACyt nodes include: Analytical Technology Development; Cell Signaling and Differentiation; Microbial Systems; Molecular Evolutionary and Development Biology; and Neuroscience.)
• Seed projects that can translate in the near term into important and commercially viable IP in the life sciences.

Any researcher may submit a brief preproposal to any Node Director at any time. We ask that those involved in the creation of such preproposals speak directly with Node Directors about the suitability of their ideas for consideration. There is no deadline for preproposal submission, and the dialogue may take as long as necessary. Development of a successful preproposal will lead to a request for a full proposal.

Preproposals due	Ongoing
Request for full proposals	Contingent on preproposal acceptance
Full proposals due	To be determined

Additional proposal review and solicitation considerations

The METACyt initiative has been an important source of research support and funding for IU Bloomington since 2005.  We are mindful that the overriding goal of the initiative is to create sustainable research structures that will last long past the expiration of the initiative.  To that end, the decision has been made to focus on areas that may lead to larger scale multidisciplinary research initiatives capable of achieving long term funding.  We acknowledge that some excellent science will not be funded because of project scope.  Those who have questions about whether or where their projects will fall under the node structure are encouraged to speak with the relevant Node Directors. A list of the Directors and their contact information may be found at METACyte.