FAQs

Multi-PI applications are allowed. However, SIR Foundation’s ability to approve a multi-PI grant will be dependent upon the applicants’ institutional policy to execute a multi-PI agreement with SIR Foundation. A contact PI must also be established and identified at the time of application submission.

Yes, applicants can apply for more than one grant, but not in one grant cycle. Previous SIR Foundation grant awardees are also eligible and encouraged for the Reviewer-in-training Program.

If you are an SIR member, you can access the Mentor Match Program where you can request a mentor that matches your specific interests in IR.

Please review the guidelines for letters of recommendation requirements. Depending on the grant mechanism and if a letter of recommendation is required, a letter of support should be submitted from the institution’s program director or department chair. Typically, if that individual is not an SIR member, an additional letter of endorsement will be required to be submitted by an individual who is an SIR member. Again, please review the guidelines to ensure what is required for letters of recommendation. 

Academic institutions typically have an Office of Sponsored Programs (institutions have different names but can also include Office of Sponsored Projects, Office of Sponsored Research or another title indicating grants management). Once you identify the appropriate grants administrator, please secure their contact information, which you will need for your application. Then inform them that you will be applying for an SIR Foundation grant. If your institution does not have a grant administrator, please contact SIR Foundation’s research and grants team at grants@sirweb.org.

Once you select the final submit button or the deadline has passed, the application is final and you will not be able to go back to your application to edit.

If your application was denied funding during the review process but you wish to resubmit your application after addressing the reviewers’ concerns, you can do so in preparation for the next grant cycle. You must submit a proposal development form in order for your application to be eligible. However, funding for resubmission of a previously reviewed application is not guaranteed. 

For a transfer of institution, the PI will need to obtain prior approval from SIR Foundation by contacting SIR Foundation at grants@sirweb.org. Please refer to your specific guidelines. However, generally speaking, the PI should work with both the original and new institution grant office to submit an official notice and request to SIR Foundation indicating the following:

• The institution to which the PI will be transferring
• A statement indicating whether the overall research plans or aims have changed from the original submission. If so, indicate the impact of any proposed changes in the scope of the project
• Budget—the amount of non-disbursed funds remaining
• Desired new project period dates
• Facilities and resources at the new organization/institution that will allow for the successful performance of the project
• If the project includes any human subjects, animal subjects, radioisotopes or use of biohazards, proper documentation from the new institution must be submitted to SIR Foundation (e.g., IRB approval, IACUC approval or institutional review committee)
• Additionally, a new agreement will have to be signed by the new institution and the original institution should send SIR Foundation a relinquishing statement

For a change in PI, the institutional grant/business official and PI will have to email an official letter to SIR Foundation Research and Grants team at grants@sirweb.org for prior approval. The letter from the institutional office should indicate the following:

• A statement endorsing the new PI 
• Confirmation from the original PI 
• The current funds used and remaining 

The letter from the current PI should indicate the following:

• Any proposed changes in scope or specific aims
• A biographical sketch (in NIH format) for the new PI
• The new PI’s qualifications and if they have had any previous involvement in the current grant
• Any budget changes due to the proposed change

Under special circumstances, recipients may be permitted to extend the project period, but please review the specific guidelines for the maximum allowable extension. If no additional funds are required to complete the project, the PI and grants administrator should submit a formal request. If you received a grant from 2020 and beyond you will submit your formal request in your Survey Monkey Apply account. If you are requesting a no-cost extension for a grant from 2019 or older you will need to email grants@sirweb.org. In the email you will need to provide the following information for a no-cost extension: the number of months needed, a justification for why an extension is requested and a brief progress report, including to-date findings and problems encountered.

Every year in March, SIR Foundation announces a list of our top research priorities. To access the current research priorities, please visit the research priorities page.

Physicians who are interested in starting a registry or a research trial should complete a letter of intent. For more information, please visit the culture of research letter of intent process page.

SIR Foundation has partnered with MAPI Research Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving patient quality of life by facilitating access to patient-centered outcomes. MAPI Research Trust is now responsible for the distribution of the UFS-QOL. This partnership will improve the process of requesting this questionnaire. With this partnership, the UFS-QOL is protected worldwide by international copyright laws in all languages, with all rights reserved to the Society of International Radiology (SIR) Foundation, USA. Do not use without permission. For permission to use the UFS-QOL in a study please contact the Mapi Research Trust.