Frequently Asked Questions

What are the ASPIRE research awards?
The Advancing Science through Pfizer - Investigator Research Exchange (ASPIRE) program is a competitive grants program sponsored by Pfizer. ASPIRE seeks to support that advances medical knowledge of vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases.(top)

Who is eligible to apply for ASPIRE Research awards?
Each ASPIRE research award program has established its own eligibility & research criteria. Check with the specific ASPIRE Vaccine Research award program for more information.(top)

Define “junior investigator” and what is meant by “post-terminal training?
To be eligible for a junior investigator award, applicants must have a professional degree (e.g. MD, PhD, PharmD), reside in the United States and be enrolled in a residency, fellowship, or post-doc program, or be no more than 5 years post-terminal training and identify an experienced research mentor for the project.

Post-terminal training attempts to better define that the applicant is in the early stages (≤5 yrs) of his/her practice or research career. (top)

What is the role of Pfizer in the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine awards?
Pfizer is fully funding the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research awards. Additionally, Pfizer is providing the infrastructure and administrative support required to facilitate the application process. (top)

Who reviews, awards the research proposals?
The ASPIRE applications will be reviewed by an independent, external review committee comprised of medical and scientific experts. (top)

What are the funding amounts for an ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research award?
In 2012, Pfizer is funding research awards up to a maximum of $40,000 USD each for one year, inclusive of overhead costs. (top)

When will the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research awards for 2012 be announced?
The successful awardees will be notified in September 2012. (top)

Is the funding a per-annum or per-study amount?
Each award funds the entire research period, and is not a sum paid per year. (top)

Does the funding include institutional overhead costs and indirect costs?
Yes, the maximum funding for each type of award ($40,000 USD) includes indirect costs, and institutional overhead costs. Final budgets of those studies awarded a grant will be reviewed for fair market value before the contracting process begins.(top)

What are indirect costs?
Indirect costs are additional study expenses such as costs for publication, IRB/IEC review fees, supplies, software license fees, and travel. (top)

What are institutional overhead costs?
Institutional overhead costs, are costs to the institution for the support of your study. They are not easily identifiable in an economically feasible way as exclusively related to a particular project but are necessary to conduct the grant. Some examples of these costs are human resources department costs, payroll processing and accounting costs, janitorial services, utilities, property taxes, property and liability insurance, and building maintenance. (top)

How are the funds dispersed?
The awards will be paid in milestones. Initial payment will be up to 50% of the total grant and there will be payments made based on enrollment or other milestones depending on study type. Final payment will be 15% upon receipt of study results. (top)

How may the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research funding be used?
Funds may be used to cover the awardees’ salary and fringe benefits, as well as other direct expenses incurred during the research project. Direct expenses may include the salary of technical associates; the purchase of relevant laboratory supplies; direct expenses necessary for proper conduct of research (e.g. subject-related costs, study-related personnel costs, diagnostic fees/services, data management expenses). Indirect costs may include travel expenses to scientific meetings, software licensing fees, publication costs etc.

No other government, non-governmental, or industry-sponsored projects may cover the same work scope as the grant application to the ASPIRE Program. However, an ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research Program grant may be related to other funding from foundations or government agencies, as long as there is no direct overlap. It is the responsibility of the applicant to justify the novelty of the proposal and provide evidence that the application does not overlap with any current or pending funding. (top)

Are the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research awards renewable?
No. Each ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research award is a one-time, non-renewable research grant. (top)

Are the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research awards open to researchers working outside the United States?
The 2012 ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research awards are open only to researchers from the United States and the proposed research should evaluate the epidemiology of IPD and/ or otitis media in children less than 6 years of age living in the US since the introduction of Prevnar 13 (PCV13) in early 2010. (top)

What areas of research meet the criteria for ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research funding?
The 2012 ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research Program seeks to evaluate the current epidemiology of IPD and/or otitis media in children less than 6 years of age living in the US since the introduction of Prevnar 13 (PCV13) in early 2010. (top)

Are there any specific research areas that are excluded from ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research funding?
The following topics fall outside of the scope of the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research Program:

What project deliverables are required?
Projects are expected to yield results that will advance the medical knowledge of current epidemiology of IPD and/ or otitis media (OM) in children <6 years in the US and risk factors associated with an increase risk of IPD or OM. It is expected that results will be presented at scientific meetings and/or published in peer reviewed journals. (top)

If the study uses a Pfizer drug, what are Pfizer’s procedures for reporting of Serious Adverse Events?
For All Studies Using a Pfizer Product and/or Device: Pfizer requires that, within 24 hours of first awareness of the event (or immediately if the event is fatal or life-threatening), the principal investigator will report to Pfizer by facsimile any Serious Adverse Event (SAE) that occurs during the SAE reporting period in a study subject assigned to receive the Pfizer Product. In addition, for studies using a Pfizer device or Pfizer product packaged with a device, reportable events include not only SAEs but also Device Incidents and Device Near-Incidents.

Can an exception be made for certain applicants regarding the eligibility criteria to the ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research awards?
The eligibility requirements — junior investigator, academic, scientific, etc. — are designed and maintained by the Grant Review Committee. These criteria have been carefully designed to attract appropriate candidates at a certain level in their professional development. In keeping with the purpose and intention of the ASPIRE awards, applicants must meet all the criteria in order to be considered for an award. Submissions outside these parameters will not be considered. (top)

I’m still not sure if my proposed research topic meets the criteria, how can I find out?
Please contact the ASPIRE coordinator with a brief description of your proposed research area.
Email: questions.aspireresearch-Vaccines@pfizer.com (top)

Is there a time limit for conducting the funded research?
Study results are expected before December 31, 2013. (top)

How do I apply for a ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccine Research award?
Applications are to be submitted to Pfizer through an online submission website. Please click on the link below to be routed to Pfizer’s global investigator-initiated research website. Click on “Submit an IIR Request” and follow the online instructions. If this is your first time visiting the portal you must first “Create an Account”.

Applicants must select “2012 ASPIRE Pediatric Vaccines-US” from the dropdown list of Competitive Grants Programs

Completed application forms must be accompanied by the following documents:

What if I don’t fully understand the ASPIRE application process?
Please refer to the application guide. If you still have questions, please e-mail the coordinator questions.aspireresearch-Vaccines@pfizer.com (top)

I’m having difficulty submitting my application online, who do I contact for assistance?
Receive assistance by contacting iir@pfizer.com or call the IIR Hotline in US: 877-IIR-5670/877-447-5670 (Mon – Fri 9:30am to 3:30pm EST). (top)

What is the deadline for application?
Applications must be received by 11:59pm EST on July 9, 2012. (top)

When will I hear whether my application has been successful?
Successful applicants will be notified in September 2012. (top)

If my application is successful, when will the funding commence?
Awards will commence on or around November/December, 2012, pending receipt of all required documents noted on the application form. Contracts that are unable to be executed by the end of the calendar year are subject to loss of funding. (top)

Will I receive a copy of the review committee’s evaluation of my grant proposal?
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide applicants with comments by the ASPIRE External Review Committee. Our objective is to keep our administrative costs as low as possible, preserving the bulk of our budget for actual grants. (top)

I have a question that is not covered here?
If you require clarification on an issue not addressed here, please contact the ASPIRE Coordinator,
email: questions.aspireresearch-Vaccines@pfizer.com (top)

Does Pfizer sponsor other competitive grants programs?
Yes. Therapeutic areas, application dates, deadlines and eligibility vary between programs. Please visit www.aspireresearch.org for more information. (top)

Can I be notified when future ASPIRE competitive grants program become available?
Visit www.aspireresearch.org and complete the contact information section to receive future program notifications. (top)