Due Date: October 1

Progress and financial reports are required of all BWF grants.  Advisory Committee and staff depend heavily upon progress and financial reports to evaluate progress.  Late reports inconvenience advisory committee reviewers and impede the Fund's evaluation of its programs.  Failure to submit progress or financial reports in a timely fashion will result in termination of funding.

BWF has provided Progress Report Guidelines to assist in the preparation and submission of Progress Reports in an acceptable manner.  Awardees must provide BWF with an annual progress report detailing scientific progress.  Institutions must provide an annual financial report.  Both reports must be submitted by the due date on forms that will be provided and according to the instructions below.  All PDF on-line forms and instructions referenced on this page can be accessed below.

No-Cost Extensions

No-cost extensions allow awardees to carry over unused funds beyond the original end date of the award through tenure review.  Progress and financial reports are required during the no-cost extension.  The same standards required during the award for progress and financial reports apply to the no-cost extension period.  BWF will request a return of all no-cost extension funds if progress report requirements and deadlines are not met.

Sections of the Progress Report

I.  Cover Sheet

The Cover Sheet for your Progress Report must be completed on-line (see below), and should contain the following information:

1. Your name
2. Your institution
3. The title of your project
4. The BWF request ID number for your grant
5. Year grant awarded
6. The progress report period
7. The grant year this report covers (i.e. first, second, final, no cost extension, etc.)
8. Date report submitted
9. Size of your research group (in number of technicians, graduate and undergraduate students, post docs, etc.) Please indicate if any of your trainees are women or members of underrepresented minority groups.

II.  Scientific Abstract

Include the one-page abstract and list of specific aims from your original proposal. Convert these documents to a PDF file for submission with your report.

III.  Research Progress

In no more than three pages, describe the progress made toward each specific aim listed in your original application. Describe any changes in the focus or direction of your research, as well as surprises, discoveries, or innovations since your last report. Explain how close you are to achieving the goals of your proposal. If the original goals are no longer possible, describe which new questions you will address and your new goals. Any apparent drops in productivity should be explained.

IV.  Plans for Translation

Describe how you have launched the translational aspect of your work, as well as any activities to promote translational research within your institution. Indicate whether you have submitted any IND or patent applications.

V.  Mentoring/Institutional Environment

List the names, degrees, and positions for all trainees in your laboratory, and indicate which (if any) are funded through this award. In one paragraph, describe the training plan for each BWF-supported trainee and of the trainee’s own professional development during the reported year. The financial report should indicate the total support provided to any BWF-funded trainees.

For final reports: List all trainees who were in your group during the award period (whether BWF-supported or not). Provide their names, degrees, training levels, current position titles, and institutions.

VI.   Career Impact/Comments/Concerns

Briefly comment on the most important accomplishment that has occurred in the past year, as well as any shifts in your responsibilities. Please also list the names of any companies for which you have consulted during the past year and briefly describe the extent of that commitment if any. Also, please address any issues or concerns regarding career development or mentoring of translational investigators to which BWF might respond.

The Fund sometimes highlights awardees’ work in our publications. Is there any specific part of your BWF-supported work you would like to bring to our attention for this purpose?

VII.  Other Funding Sources

Include a list of all sources of current and future committed grant support (from for-profit as well as not-for-profit sources). Indicate source of funds, principal investigator, title of project, direct costs, grant period, and your percent effort.

VIII.  Verifying Research Effort

Include a letter from your Dean or Department Chair verifying that you are spending 75 percent effort on research, as stipulated in the original terms for the award. This letter should also highlight any institutional initiatives to facilitate translation, as well as the awardees role, if any, via these initiatives. The letter is due on the same day as the Progress Report. Convert the letter to a PDF and submit it with your report.

IX. Curriculum Vitae

Include a current Curriculum Vitae, using the NIH-four-page biographical information format.

X.  BWF-Supported Publications (if applicable)

Provide a list of all BWF-supported publications, and submit as PDF files, copies of published papers, submitted papers or papers in-press, or other publications specifically associated with research supported by your award during this reporting period. BWF-supported publications should be submitted as separate PDF files. The program Advisory Committee will read these papers, in the context of reviewing your report. Please specify your role on any jointly-authored or study group papers. BWF support must be acknowledged on all BWF-funded publications.

XI. Financial Report

The Financial Report (see below) must be completed on line, using the form provided,  by the institutional financial officer. The report should contain the typed name of both the awardee and the institutional officer completing the report.  Original signatures are not required, only typed names.  The Financial Report may be submitted under separate cover, according to the instructions below.

• If you submitted a Financial Report last year, the information provided in that report should be used to calculate the Cumulative to Date figures.
• The subtotal fields in both columns will automatically calculate as you enter the relevant numerical data.
• The "Balance" in both the Current Reporting Period and Cumulative to Date columns should be equal.

It is no longer necessary to list the names of the trainees who received BWF funds for their work on this project.  Enter the total amount of BWF funds used during the report period for trainee salaries and benefits in the "Current Reporting Period" column.  The total cumulative amount should be entered in the "Cumulative to Date" column.

The Financial Report may be submitted under separate cover, as a PDF file, to trans.progress@bwfund.org.

Instructions for Completing the On-Line Forms:

Determine your system software. Adobe Reader is widely used because it is free software (easily downloadable from http://www.adobe.com) which allows you to complete the form on line, print the form, convert it to PDF format, and email it to BWF. Adobe Acrobat is purchased software required to save PDF files. “Acrobat” allows you to complete the form on line, save the form and data to your system, and immediately email the PDF form to BWF.

• With "Reader" software, print the form you just completed (do not use the Email button on the form). Convert the paper form to a PDF file by some electronic means and submit the PDF file to BWF via email to trans.progress@bwfund.org.
• With "Acrobat" software, after completing the form, click the Email button and you will be prompted to save your file to your system. If you are not prompted, it is likely that you do not have the required software, must print the form and follow bullet one above. If you email this form without Acrobat software, it will email a blank form and you will lose your data.

To complete the on line forms, click on the first blank line and begin typing. To advance to the next line, press the keyboard "Tab" key until the form is completely filled out. Be sure to press the return key after the last entry to complete the process.  The subtotal fields will automatically calculate as you enter the relevant numerical data.

Report Format

Combine all subsections, including the cover sheet, into one PDF file. Submit publications, by the due date, as separate PDF files.  The Financial Report may also be submitted as a separate PDF file.

Report Submission

Submit your entire Progress and Financial Report as PDF files via email to trans.progress@bwfund.org by October 1. If you have questions, please contact Kendra Tucker at 919-991-5115 or Melanie Scott at 919-991-5107.