It is required that each Supplemental Methodological Study (SMS) have a designated National Children’s Study Co-Investigator. The National Children’s Study Co-Investigator is identified by the applicant and is distinct from the co-investigator(s) on the team proposing the SMS, but may be a Study Center Principal Investigator, or other named Study Center senior investigator (named in the Study Center/location contract), or may be a member of the Program Office. The person selected must be in a position to be able to objectively oversee the implementation of the SMS.
If more than one Study Center or location is involved with a given SMS, the SMS applicant must designate a National Children’s Study Facilitator from each additional location to work with the Study Co-Investigator in carrying out the assigned functions at their respective location(s).
The Co-investigator and Facilitators for SMS cannot charge their time for this effort to the National Children’s Study contract. These costs must be covered by the SMS funding source.
It is to the SMS applicant’s advantage to communicate early with a National Children’s Study Co-Investigator/Facilitator(s). However, if the National Children’s Study Co-Investigator is not known at the time of application, the Program Office SMS Team can assist in identifying a National Children’s Study Co-Investigator or Facilitator(s) as indicated.
Inclusion of the National Children’s Study Co-Investigator and/or Facilitator(s) in the authorship of any publications pertaining to the SMS is a matter of negotiation between the parties.