Research Enhancement Assistance Program (REAP)
Developed by The President’s Research Council and the VPR’s Research Advisory Committee, a series of new research enhancement programs will soon roll out. The programs described below will be managed by the Faculty Research Support Team (FRST) with reviews conducted by the Research Advisory Committee (RAC). Detailed information about each program can be found at the main Division of Research and Innovation website.
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Early Stage Investigator (ESI)
The Early Stage Investigator (ESI) Pilot Grants Program awards are intended to assist early-stage faculty investigators launch their independent research careers in an HSC mission-oriented research program. The awards may be used for the collection of preliminary data, equipment, or research assistance necessary to strengthen an extramural grant application. Applications for both clinical and basic science research are encouraged. Applicants must be early-stage investigators, as defined by the NIH. An ESI is a principal investigator who has completed their terminal degree or post-graduate clinical training within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as PI for a major NIH independent research award.
Applicants can request up to $50,000 for one year. A faculty member can submit only one application per funding cycle; unfunded proposals may be resubmitted one time with revisions. The maximum project period is 12 months.
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Bridge Funding Program (BFP)
The Bridge Funding Program (BFP) provides up to 12 months of support for full-time faculty members to maintain their HSC mission-oriented research activities during a lapse in funding and resubmit more competitive grant applications for successful funding. Typically, applicants have been unsuccessful in a recent attempt to renew or replace a major federal grant (e.g., R01) but are likely to be funded upon resubmission of a revised application based on the overall impact score and summary statement/critiques of the previously unsuccessful application.
Applications are evaluated by an ad hoc review committee formed for each application. Applicants must demonstrate that their research program is jeopardized by the lack of extramural funding, that they have one or more rounds of unfunded extramural applications, and that they will contribute a significant portion of their available discretionary or start-up funds to maintain their lab. The number of proposals funded will depend on available funds and the number of meritorious, qualified applications received. Awards will be for up to $75,000 for up to one year.
Support of the Department/School/Administrative Unit(s), including documentation of the financial commitment to the applicant and a statement that the Unit(s) will provide a significant amount (e.g., one-third) of the BFP award.
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Team Science (TS)
The Team Science program is designed to encourage and financially support applications for individual investigative teams to address HSC mission-oriented research programs with a goal of submitting a new NIH application for a federally-funded long-term Program/Center grant or Cooperative Agreement Program award. Using start-up resources from Departments, Colleges and the Office of the VPR to coordinate and develop a multi-year program application, these efforts can have a higher success rate and encourage further expansion of mission-oriented team-based research areas at HSC.
Since this Team Science initiative is designed as a semi-annual program, there is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted for consideration. Applications will be reviewed twice a year (exact dates to be announced, typically mid-December, mid-April). A maximum of up to $200,000 inclusive of any unit match funds over a two-year period per application; special attention will be given to the fiduciary credibility of the proposed Team Science budget and research plan. Funding will be released as major components of the project are completed (by meeting SMART goals). Up to three awards per year may be made. The Team Science Program will have internal review by PRC and RAC members as well as external content experts, if needed.
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The President’s Research Council (PRC) and the HSC Research Advisory Committee (RAC) have worked diligently to design these internal support programs to enhance the research enterprise at HSC. The ongoing commitment of these colleagues speaks well to our Be Visionary and Collaborative Values at HSC.
On their behalf, I invite you to consider how any one of these opportunities can expand your discovery involvement with our One University strategic research missions. I wish you well with this and all of your other journeys of Transformative Research.
Brian A. Gladue, PhD
Executive Vice President for Research and Innovation