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School of Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Medical Center

Funding Opportunities

Finding Funding

Physician experimenting

School of Medicine Bridge Grant Award

Objectives

To provide funds to principal investigators under two scenarios:

  1. Faculty who have had sustained support and productivity through NIH RO1, R21, K23/K08/K01, P01/U19 or comparable awards whose funding has lapsed and who are judged to be competitive to renew funding for their established research through such awards in the future.
  2. Faculty who have a new A1 NIH application for one of the awards listed above that is unfunded but scored, and are judged to be competitive to obtain such an award for this line of research in the future.

In both cases, these funds will serve as “bridge grants” to facilitate successful applications that secure future external funding.

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Eligibility

Under scenario 1, applicants must be members of the faculty of the School of Medicine of VCU who have had an NIH RO1, R21, K08/K01, P01/U19 or comparable award and must be eligible for such an award at the time of the bridge grant application. Bridge funding will be for up to one year and can begin anytime after the current/previous funding has lapsed.

Under scenario 2, applicants must be members of the faculty of the School of Medicine of VCU who have applied for an A1 NIH RO1, R21, K08/K01, P01/U19 or comparable award that was scored but not funded, and must be eligible for such an award at the time of the bridge grant application. Bridge funding will be for up to one year and can begin at any time.

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Directions

An application should consist of the following components:

  1. Letter of Endorsement from the Department Chair indicating that the applicant's salary and research time will be protected by the department and detailing any other investment the department will make toward this research to support key laboratory personnel, animals or supplies is required.
  2. Letter from the PI that details his/her current situation, plans for future funding, a budget indicating the amount of funds requested along with how they will be used (as in an NIH application), a budget justification (two-page limit) and explanation as to how these funds will help secure external support. Funds should support supplies, animals or key personnel. Funds may not support the principal investigator's salary or indirect costs. Budgets up to $50,000 will be considered by the review committee. Under special circumstances, expanded budgets will be considered.
  3. Complete CV of applicant, including current and pending grants
  4. Copy of current or most recent grant application(s) of the applicant
  5. Copy of critique(s) of applicant’s most recently reviewed grant submission(s)
  6. Copies of any other pertinent correspondence relating to the grant application

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Submission

The application materials should be submitted electronically (PDF files preferred) to:
Lawrence B. Schwartz at lbschwar@vcu.edu

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Selection

Award selections are made by the Dean of the School of Medicine based in part on recommendations made by the Sponsored Research Advisory Committee.

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Submission Deadline

Applications are accepted at any time by the Sponsored Research Advisory Committee.

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Announcement of Awards to Applicants

Immediately after the Dean’s decision.

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Award Payment to Recipients

As specified in the Dean’s decision letter.

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Terms

This award will fund a research project for which previous funding has lapsed or a new revised proposal was scored but not funded as detailed above. The grant is intended to help an investigator secure future funding for this line of research. Awards may be used for services, animals, supplies and salary for key personnel associated with the research project. Indirect costs are not provided. The salary of the principal investigator should be supported by the department.  The department also is expected to protect the research time of the applicant. If NIH or comparable funding is renewed or awarded prior to or during the period of this Bridge Grant, the Research Advisory Committee should be notified immediately such that unused bridge award funds can be awarded to another applicant.

Funding is restricted to a maximum term of one year.

For additional information, contact Lawrence Schwartz (Chair, Sponsored Research Advisory Committee) at 828-9685 or lbschwar@vcu.edu or Gordon Archer (Associate Dean for Research) 828-0678 or garcher@vcu.edu.

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VCU Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award

The VCU Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award is a unique three-year postdoctoral program designed to train fellows in biomedical research and in teaching. IRACDA is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and combines a traditional mentored postdoctoral research experience with an opportunity to develop teaching skills through formal pedagogic training and mentored assignments at minority-serving institutions. The program facilitates the progress of postdoctoral candidates toward research and teaching careers in academia. Other goals are to provide a resource to motivate the next generation of scientists at minority-serving institutions, and to promote linkages between research-intensive institutions and minority-serving institutions that can lead to further collaborations in research and teaching.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must hold a Ph.D. or M.D. and must complete the degree before starting the program. IRACDA trainees must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents or non-citizen nationals. Proof of citizenship status or resident status will be required before the start of the program.

Application process

Interested applicants should complete the IRACDA application form. [PDF]
Applicants should submit their curriculum vitae, a statement of career goals, graduate transcripts and three letters of reference. Applications open on November 15. The priority deadline is April 1, but applications will be accepted at any time. A successful candidate must demonstrate an interest in teaching, excellence in research and an interest in increasing diversity in the biomedical sciences workforce.
IRACDA fellows will have a research mentor at VCU and a teaching mentor at a partner university: Virginia Union University, Virginia State University or Elizabeth City State University.

For questions or inquiries, please contact COHDTraining@vcu.edu

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