| Funding Opportunities: Medical School FAST TRACK Bridging Grant Program |
New Program Released: July 1, 2012
Revised and Effective: August 16, 2012
Deadlines: The 15th of February, April, June, August, October, and December.
The Fast Track Bridging program for UMMS faculty, administered through the Medical School Office of Research, provides support to prepare A1 submissions of biomedical research projects that demonstrate a likelihood of successfully competing for NIH R series funding (excluding R03 applications). To be eligible for funding, the A0 impact score must be within 5 percentile points of the Institute payline.
Based on this evidence, statement of financial need, and a complete Fast track application, the PI will receive bridging funds without internal scientific review and within a condensed approval period.
It is expected that the A1 application will be prepared and submitted during the bridging period. The purpose of FAST TRACK is to fund the preparation of the resubmission, not to fund the interim time before a decision or an approved award. The PI must submit the date of the planned resubmission and brief plans for revision.
Funding:
The funding is for 2 – 12 months at the rate of up to $4,166/month (annual $50,000) to be matched 1:1 by the PI’s department. Up to 10% of PI’s salary is eligible to be covered only by department matching funds. The PI must demonstrate the financial need for the support and the lack of other available funds for this purpose (e.g., other internal bridging grant programs, other grants, start-up funds, department hardship funds, interim NIH funding for the same project). The budget period may go up to the anticipated start date of the new grant if the PI shows that funds are needed to maintain the integrity of a research program.
Eligibility:
- All full-time, on-campus instructional, clinical, and research track faculty with primary appointments in the Medical School are eligible to apply.
- Applications from the following are not accepted: postdoctoral fellows, projects to be performed while the PI is away on sabbatical, visiting or adjunct professors, lecturers, emeritus faculty, and faculty members whose future work will not continue at the University. Grants to be bridged must reside in the Medical School.
- Financial need must be verified: PI has no more than $225,000 in combined funds available to the lab from (a) internal discretionary accounts, gifts, pilot projects, center bridging, and (b) other appropriate external resources.
- Investigators cannot receive funding in the same 12 month period from more than one of any of the following UMMS programs: BMRC Bridging, Extended Bridging, FAST TRACK bridging.
Grants Allowed by This Bridging Program:
NIH R series grants excluding R03 applications and those that relate to resource acquisition or dissemination, e.g., R24, R25. These may be new or competitive renewals with A0 results and summary statements available.
Grants Not Eligible for Bridging by This Program:
- NIH T, K, F, or P series grants.
- Grants funded by Foundations. Example: The American Heart Association.
Grant Application:
Required application materials are specified on the Downloadable Application Form. These materials should be submitted electronically to FASTTRACKbridging@umich.edu in a single PDF document in the order listed on application form.
Administrative Review
Approval for funding will be based on the following criteria:
- Medical School eligibility.
- Verification of A0 score that is within 5 percentile points of the NIH Institute’s payline (documentation of payline required) .
- Completion of FAST TRACK application, including Introduction draft that is responsive to NIH reviewers’ comments.
- Financial need to prepare a resubmission and maintain a defined research project until A1 award date, and no overlap with other current support, internal resources, and start-up funds.
The PI will receive written confirmation of approval for funding within 2 – 3 weeks of deadline.
Questions?
Please feel free to contact Camille Mrozowski at cmrozow@umich.edu (734-615-8802).
Frequently Asked Quesions
- Can I have a no cost time extension with FAST TRACK funds? No, the funds must be spent within the timeframe of the original bridging budget period (not to exceed 12 months).
- Can UMMS program staff call NIH to verify paylines? No, paylines must be documented in writing from NIH program staff or as posted on Institute websites. This information is required in the application.
- Do NIH T, K, F, or P grants qualify? No.
- What if my score is 6 points away from cutoff? You will not qualify for FAST TRACK Bridging.
- Is there an alternative to FAST TRACK? Yes, you may apply to the BMRC bridging program.
- Can the funded period be retroactive to the date of the A0 review? No, the funding period starts at the FAST TRACK application deadline at the earliest.
- How do I show financial need? The Chair’s signature in the cover sheet verifies that no funds from any other sources are available to conduct the work required to prepare the A1 application.
- Are new NIH R series grants covered by this program? Yes, new and competitive renewals are allowed. Note: The A0 must have already been submitted and summary statements must be available.
- Will FAST TRACK funds ever need to be returned? Yes, when federal funding starts for grant being bridged. NIH and FAST TRACK Bridging funds cannot overlap. The balance of funds is calculated by month.
- Can I receive FAST TRACK funding in the same 12 month period that I also receive BMRC or Extended Bridging? No
