Purpose
The Heersink School of Medicine (HSOM) has set aside a fixed amount of funding to partner with individual faculty and their department in recognition that investigators have proposals that have been reviewed and have received a “fundable score” but are awaiting the Advisory Council meeting. The purpose of the HSOM bridge funding is:
- To improve the success of research faculty by providing some continuing research support.
- To offer a transition plan that would allow research faculty to manage uncertainty related to funding gaps, mitigate impacts to staff.
- To strengthen the morale of research faculty.
- To enhance confidence in HSOM administration as “research supportive”.
Duration: 6 months
Funds available from the HSOM: $37,500
Eligibility
This program is intended for independent research faculty who serve as a contact Principal Investigator (PI) for an extramurally funded grant or contract. To be eligible to receive bridge funding, the following criteria must be met:
- Proposals were reviewed and received a “fundable score” but are awaiting the Advisory Council meeting.
- The PI must have less than $25,000 in discretionary accounts.
Eligible Expenses
Funding is intended to provide resources for research faculty actively experiencing a funding delay due to Advisory Council meetings not being held.
HSOM Bridge Funding can be used to:
- Support salaries and benefits (excluding PI), supplies, and other needed direct research related expenses for employees and trainees (MD/PhD, PhD students) who cannot be reassigned to other work. Please note that support for trainees is the first priority for use of bridge funds.
Application Process
Research faculty that has experienced a funding delay should connect with their Chair to determine the best path forward for their unique situation, including potentially seeking access to this bridge funding program.
Please provide the following information:
- A copy of the NIH study section critiques.
- A copy of the original RFA/RFP announcement.
- A 1-page letter co-signed by the faculty and Chair indicating:
- The specific consequences to the research program and laboratory personnel of loss of research support.
- If applicable, the timeline including when federal funding is expected to stop and when it is expected to restart. This should include the termination date of the current grant, if applicable.
- Identification of other salary and research support sources.
- Budget justification outlining the use of requested bridge funds.
Submission Process
- All applications, approved and supported by the Chair, will be submitted using the “Upload Application Documents” link located at the top and bottom of this page.
- Applications must be submitted by the Department Chair or Department Administrator.
Awards
- Bridge awards depend on the availability of funds and are made at the discretion of the Senior Vice Dean, up to a maximum of $37,500.
- If bridge funding is approved, the department will create an account specifically titled “HSOM Bridge Award-Under Extended Review [Faculty Last Name, First Name]” and the HSOM funds will be transferred into this account.
- The Bridge Award setup form should be submitted to initiate the Bridge Award.
- If grant is funded, any unused funds committed by the HSOM must be returned.
- If funding occurs and is retroactive, repayment of funds is required.
For questions related to the Bridge Award process, please email
SOMresearch@uab.edu.
FAQs
What types of delay in funding are eligible under the modifications to the bridge funding program?
This modification of HSOM Bridge Funding includes faculty whose proposals have been reviewed and have a fundable score but are awaiting Advisory Council approval.
What is the role of the Chair under this new program?
Chairs determine if a project merits bridge funding and verify that the PI has less than $25,000 in discretionary accounts.
Are there certain criteria the department must meet to access funds?
- Funding requests must be made at the Chair’s discretion.
- Researchers will need to demonstrate the direct, eligible cost that would be incurred over the duration of the support.
- Funding requests must come with a timeline, if applicable, including when funding is expected to restart or when the funding source was initially expected to end.
- If funding is restored and is retroactive, repayment of funds will be required. This includes any unused funds committed by the HSOM.
How are funding determinations made?
The HSOM Senior Vice Dean will approve funding based on recommendations from HSOM senior leadership.
How long will the program provide support?
The program will provide up to six months of support.
What expenses does the funding cover?
Bridge funding can be used to:
- Support salaries and benefits (excluding PI), supplies, and other needed direct research expenses for employees and PhD and MD/PhD students who cannot be reassigned to other work and have lost salary coverage due to the delay of the federal grant.
Would departments be required to repay if funding is ultimately restored?
If retroactive funding is restored, departments will be required to repay the funding provided by the HSOM.
When do these program modifications go into effect?
It is effective immediately.
