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Funding Opportunities: BMRC Bridging Support Program for Biomedical Research

Program Updated July 1, 2012

Deadlines:  The 15th of February, April, June, August, October, and December.

The Bridging Support program provides funding to continue federally funded biomedical research programs that demonstrate a likelihood of successfully competing for federal funding. Bridging applications must demonstrate continuity with current research efforts in the PI’s laboratory and must contain efforts to address current NIH grant critiques or other sponsor’s (e.g., NSF, VA Merit) written comments in preparation for allowable grants noted below. Priority will focus on financial need to maintain a defined research project and retain key research personnel.  Amounts of other support, internal resources, and start-up funds will be considered.

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, emeritus faculty, faculty members without evidence of investigative independence, and faculty members whose future work will not continue at the University. Grants to be bridged must reside in the Medical School.

Investigators can not receive funding in the same 12 month period from more than one of any of the following UMMS programs:  BMRC Bridging, Extended Bridging, or FAST TRACK Bridging.

Grants Allowed by This Bridging Program:

1. FOR COMPETITIVE RENEWAL GRANT – Bridging a competitive R01 renewal for period between A0 and A1. The A0 summary statement and scores, and the PI’s response to summary statement must be supplied along with all other required documents itemized below.

2. FOR NEW R01 – Bridging a new R01 between the A0 and A1 that demonstrates continuity with current research efforts in the PI’s laboratory (including the continuation of research from non-funded competitive renewal projects).  The A0 summary statement and scores, and the PI’s response to summary statement must be supplied along with required documents itemized below.

3. FOR P01/CENTER PROJECTS TO R01 – Bridging from a project component of a failed Program Project or Center grant to an R01 A0 application.  The Program Project or Center Project summary statement, scores, and the PI’s response to summary statement must be supplied along with required documents itemized below.

Grants Not Eligible for Bridging by This Program:

1. Bridging from non-renewable NIH grants (e.g. R21, K awards) to an R01 A0.
2. Grants funded by Foundations. Example: The American Heart Association.
3. Internally Awarded Pilot Projects.
4. Career Awards.
5. Fellowship Awards.
6. R03s or grants under $100K/year.

Funding Amounts:

• BMRC:  Up to $50,000 is available to maintain projects over a short duration (one year or less). The length of a BMRC bridging period can be up to one year or up to the start date of a new federal grant. Investigators anticipating awards with clearly fundable scores are expected to use NIH pre-award mechanisms available through ORSP (e.g. hardship funding) that can provide funding up to 3 months prior to the grant start date.
  http://orsp.umich.edu/projects/accounting/hardships.html

• PI's Department:  An equal amount of matching funds (up to $50,000) is REQUIRED from the PI's department. These matching funds may include up to 10% of the PI's salary effort and corresponding fringe benefits within the NIH cap.

• OVPR:  A concurrent proposal may also be submitted to the OVPR's Research Maintenance for Sponsored Projects Funding Program for items covered by their guidelines. Please note that the OVPR program only accepts applications twice a year, January 15 and September 15. BMRC funding is considered as matching for the OVPR grants. Please refer to:
  http://orsp.umich.edu/funding/um_sources/OVPR_bridging_rm.html

• No Cost Extensions:  BMRC bridging period will not cover months when federal funds are available.

Grant Application:

Application materials should be submitted in a single PDF document in the order listed below.

1. Application Form including completed signature pages and budget.
   Download the Application Form (Word)
   
   • Requests should be limited to the minimum funding necessary to maintain a defined project over a short duration and are not expected to cover maintenance of an entire lab.
   • Awards may not cover budget reductions in existing awards from external sponsors, cost overruns, or travel.
   • Total budgets may cover up to 10% of the PI's salary effort and corresponding fringe benefits within the NIH cap.  These 10% PI salary costs can only be included in the department's matching; not the BMRC budget.

2. Budget Justification (one page)
   
   1. Explain rationale for this budget. Define what bridge funding will accomplish to lead to external funding, preserve capabilities of key personnel, or impact science in this field.
   2. Explain and itemizes the costs for the proposed research project and the basis for cost estimates. If salaries are included, please itemize the salary and fringe benefits for each person.

3. FOR COMPETITIVE RENEWAL GRANT

   Abstract (Both from A0 and intended resubmission)
   Specific Aims (Both from A0 and intended resubmission)
   Summary of previous work related to proposal (1 page maximum)

   FOR NEW R01

   Abstract (Both from A0 and intended resubmission)
   Specific Aims (Both from A0 and intended resubmission)
   Summary of previous work related to proposal (1 page maximum)
   Statement of continuity with lab research program (1 page maximum) – Explain how the new grant continues previous research of the lab and cite relevant publications from the lab that establish this continuity. Please also explain need to alter research directions if necessary.

   FOR P01/CENTER PROJECTS TO R01

   Abstract (Both from PI section of P01 and intended R01)
   Specific Aims (Both from PI Section of P01 and intended R01)
   Summary of previous work related to proposal (1 page maximum)
   Statement of continuity with lab research program (1 page maximum) – Explain how the new grant continues previous research of the lab and cite relevant publications from the lab that establishes this continuity. Please also explain need to alter research directions if necessary.

4. Summary Statement from the recent Study Section review, including score and percentile.

5. Response to the Summary Statement, indicating how the resubmission will address the criticisms of the study section (2 pages maximum). This should be equivalent to the "Introduction to a Revised Application," which directly addresses the critiques of the prior review.

6. Approach (experimental plan) for use of the requested funds (2 pages maximum)

7. Biosketch

8. Other support pages (NIH style) listing all current and pending research support to the PI’s laboratory. Also list current access to discretionary funds, start-up funds, and support from internal resources.

Submission Process:

Please submit the following materials electronically to (BMRCsubmit@umich.edu). Please note that e-mail submissions are not error-proof.  We acknowledge receipt of all electronic submissions. If you do not receive a response from us by the end of the next business day, please call us at 734-615-8802.

BMRC Review:

Funding decisions will be made based on the following criteria:

1. Scientific merit of proposal and impact on the field.
2. Likelihood that bridging will result in the continuation of the research program.
3. Overall impact that the funding will have on capacity to maintain productive research activity.
4. Financial need to maintain a defined research project and / or to retain key research personnel.
5. Other current support, internal resources, start-up funds.
6. Applications received two months prior to NIH due date will be given priority.

The PI will receive a summarized written review regardless of funding decision. Decisions and reviews are completed within 6 – 8 weeks.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact Camille Mrozowski at cmrozow@umich.edu (734-615-8802).