Bridge Funding Program

The Bridge Funding Program is designed to support short-term faculty funding gaps in recently funded projects. These funds act as a bridge when a grant renewal is rejected, and there is a gap in funding until the investigator resubmits an application. New projects or long-term unfunded projects are not eligible for the Bridge Funding Program. If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please contact our office to discuss further.

Bridge Funds are provided by the Office of the Dean and distributed through a review process based on perceived need, potential return and strong support from the investigator's chair. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Submit Your Application

Eligibility Requirements

• Faculty whose funding has recently ended who are looking to continue and maintain a project with a clear strategy for securing additional funding in the near future (resubmission of grant or other grant submissions to continue the current project).
• Applicants must show evidence of an independent research program, an application for renewal funding in support of this proposed project or continued funding for the current project through a new proposal, and a likelihood to continue such funding pending resubmission.
• Faculty whose indirect costs are reported and kept in full through the School of Medicine.
• All submissions must be made by the chair of the investigator's department. The chair shall provide a cover letter outlining the benefits of bridge funding to the department and institution. No individual applications will be accepted.
• The cover letter must also specify departmental resources that will be committed to support all or part of the request (departments are expected to match funds 1:1).
• If the investigator is looking for support for a new project, does not have a recently ended grant, or does not have a resubmission pending, they are not eligible for the Bridge Funding Program. If this is the case, please visit the Clinical and Translational Science Collaborative (CTSC) for information on pilot grants.

Evaluation Requirements

• Review of investigator's current research, including recent publications and manuscripts submitted or in press.
• History of external and recent internal support.
• History of recent grant application activity.
• Priority scores and funding cutoffs of recent unfunded grant applications.
• External review sheets (aka summary statements or pink sheets).
• One page statement of how the investigator will respond to critique.
• Statement of expected resubmission date.
• Statement of how bridge funding will be applied and how it will lead to extramural funding.
• Remaining funding sources in the laboratory.
• Consequences to the research program because of lack of bridge funding.

Awards

• All expenses that support the research enterprise, including personnel, supplies, animals, services, etc., are allowable.
• Faculty salaries are NOT allowable expenses, but may be used as match.
• The maximum award is not to exceed $60,000 for one year (with a possible additional $60,000 coming from department matching funds). Only one award per investigator will be provided within four years. The total number of awards will depend on resources available.
• If the investigator misses the deadline for grant resubmission as stated in the application, funding may be withdrawn, and a written explanation will be required.
• If the investigator receives outside funding from any source (non-NIH federal, state, foundation, etc.), bridge funding will be returned to the pool immediately so future requests can be funded.
• The investigator agrees that the Bridge Fund is for a period of 12 months only, and if the investigator has funds left after the 12-month period ends, all remaining funds will be returned to the Bridge Funding Program pool.