Department of Medicine Grant Approvals

This information is for investigators based at Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Michael E. DeBakey Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Harris Health System, or Houston Methodist Hospital.

Investigators, especially instructors and assistant professors, are strongly encouraged to begin the grant process early. All investigators should plan to have a good draft completed two months prior to submission date. Submission of applications to the various committees responsible for safety and assurances should be made two months prior to the grant submission date. Please allow 10 business days for final administrative approval. This is five additional days to the Office of Research's submission deadline.

The following procedures are for Department of Medicine investigators whose primary location is Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, or the Harris Health System. Proposals must be created under eSP2 in Baylor's online Biomedical Research and Assurance Information Network (BRAIN) system. This applies to:

• New grant and contract applications
• Revised applications
• Competing continuations
• Noncompeting renewal
• Transfers
• Supplements
• Clinical trial amendments

For help with email addresses/passwords, please call the IT Help Desk (713) 798-USER (8737). For other assistance with BRAIN, please call (713) 798-1297 or email spo@bcm.edu.

The RFA, administrative and budget pages of the grant (contract) application should be routed as an electronic attachment in BRAIN. The proposal must be approved by all sections involved before department approval can be obtained.

Additional information on BCM grant submission policy and procedures can be found on the Office of Research Sponsored Programs page.

For Human Subject or Animal Protocols

Protocols for Human Subjects or Animals are electronically routed through the Biomedical Research and Assurance Information Network (BRAIN) system. To compose and route an electronic IRB form, please log on to the Baylor BRAIN website, select eSP1.

For help with email addresses/passwords, please call the IT Help Desk (713) 798-USER (8737). For other assistance with BRAIN, please call (713) 798-6970 or email irb@bcm.edu.

For clinical research studies conducted at Houston Methodist Hospital, a Research Study Notification/Request for Rates form should be completed and submitted to the hospital. The form can be obtained at Baylor's Office of Research or the Houston Methodist Hospital Clinical Research Office, M109.

For Biosafety (Radioactive Material, Recombinant DNA, Infectious Agents, Hazardous Chemicals) Protocols

If required, the Pre-Award Research Office will sign the protocols on the behalf of the Department Chair. Your section chief or representative must sign the forms (on the PI Department Chair line) before they are brought to the department. Pre-award office contact is on the top of this page.

For assistance on protocol request, including completion of the IBC form, or status of the protocol review, please email ibc@bcm.edu, or call (713) 798-6966. Completed forms should be sent to the Office of Research - Jewish 713D, mailstop-BCM310. All other questions regarding biological, chemical, or radioactive materials should be directed to the Office of Environmental Safety: envirosafety@bcm.edu, or call (713) 798-4799.