Bridge Funding

One goal of the UK College of Medicine is to support and strengthen the research capabilities of its faculty. As part of this goal, the college provides for bridge funding. This source provides funding for faculty with grant applications that have received scores and critiques that indicate a potential for funding or resubmission. Bridge funding is designed to assist faculty when all other sources of funding are exhausted.

Eligibility

  1. Full-time faculty in the UK College of Medicine holding a degree of MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent clinical degree (e.g. DO, MBBS., etc.).
  2. Tenure-track and clinical-track faculty with a history of extramural funding and/or a recent history of extensive scientific productivity (grant submissions and manuscripts).
  3. The faculty member’s submitted funding request for an NIH R01 or equivalent, NSF, or VA grant was not approved but the application did receive an encouraging score.
  4. Department chair or relevant vice-chair support, including details and confirmation of matching funds (see Funding Information).
  5. Applicant’s affiliated department, multi-disciplinary research center, Alliance, RPA, or other unit is expected to match funds awarded (1:1).
  6. Faculty members with substantial funding from other sources are not eligible.
  7. Ineligibility
    1. Visiting and adjunct faculty, staff scientists, postdoctoral research associates, and PIs with outstanding final grant reports from previous College of Medicine-funded projects are not eligible to apply. Other ineligible items include renewals and continuation projects, proposals that provide less than 10% PI effort support, proposals focused on development of teaching or academic programs, and proposals from commercial, industrial, and other for-profit entities.

Funding Information

  1. The amount of support is based on the College of Medicine Office of Research available funds.
  2. The total maximum possible funding for one year is $150,000; $75,000 from the UK COM Office of Research and $75,000 from the affiliated area.
    1. Small R type award projects will be considered but with a UK College of Medicine maximum up to $20,000 per year.
    2. Each project is eligible for two years of bridge funding with a competitive application submission required each year.
  3. Affiliated department, center, Alliance, RPA, or other unit is expected to match funds awarded (1:1).
    1. Salary support and non-Departmental accounts (i.e. grants) are not considered appropriate sources for matching funds. Use of grant funding as matching support requires prior justification and approval.
  4. Funding Distribution
    1. The College of Medicine will distribute 50% of the total awarded amount into a unique bridge funding account on the start date. The remaining 50% will be distributed into the account after review and approval of the six-month progress report. Funding may be impacted due to the following circumstances:
      1. 25% of the Bridge Funding amount can be carried over from the initial 6-month interval of support and no carryover is permissible after the 12th month of the award.
      2. Funding will be released upon receipt of applicable IRB/IACUC approval as appropriate.
      3. If required IRB/IACUC approval is not provided within a period of 90-days after the notification of the award, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AWARD MAY BE CANCELLED.
      4. All regulatory approvals must be active at the time of application and must be kept active during the project period.  Lapse or suspension of required regulatory approvals may result in the immediate termination of bridge funding support.
  5. In the event that significant funding is obtained during the bridge funding period, unexpended bridge funds will be returned to the Dean’s office at the time of activation of the award.
  6. If the six-month progress report is not submitted, funding will be suspended.
  7. If the final progress report is not submitted, no future funding applications will be considered.

Allowable Costs

  1. Bridge funding can be used for any research costs except faculty salary support and graduate stipends or tuition.
  2. Expenditures
    1. The department is required to produce an expenditure report monthly for all faculty members receiving bridge funding.  The report needs to detail both the COM Bridge funding account and the departmental matched account. 
    2. Expenditures must be directly applied to the bridge funding account.  Departmental clearing accounts should not be used to park expenses.  The expenses for the Department matching funds should not be temporarily placed on the Bridge Funding account.

Awardee Responsibilities

  1. Successful applicants must provide a six-month progress report.
  2. A final report is required at the end of the 12-month funding period.
  3. UK College of Medicine support must be acknowledged in publications, presentations, etc. 

Review Process and Notification of Awards

  1. Bridge Program applications will be reviewed by a group of the senior leadership within the College of Medicine.
  2. Award announcements are typically made within 1 month of the submission date.

Bridge Application Requirements

To apply, click on the link at the bottom of the page and complete the application. You will be asked to attach the supporting documents as a single combined PDF. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered.

  1. Bridge Program Funding Form
    1. Download and complete the BRIDGE Program Funding Form, which includes a form for the supplement budget.
    2. The Supplement Budget on page two must be reviewed and approved by the lead department administrator with their signature at the bottom.
  2. Letter of Support from Department Chair
    1. Department chair or relevant vice-chair letter of support that includes details and confirmation of matching funds and staff salary coverage.
  3. Current NIH Biosketch
  4. NIH Critique Documents
  5. Laboratory Personnel and Funds Sourced
    1. List of all laboratory personnel and the funds to which they are sourced

Bridge Progress Report Requirements

Awardees will receive a request to complete a progress report one month prior to the due date. Funding for the next period will not be awarded until after the report has been reviewed and approved.

  1. Research Progress
    1. One-paragraph highlight of research progress in the format of an NIH non-competing renewal.
  2. Publications
    1. Publications in preparation, submission, or published during the funded period.
  3. Grants
    1. Grants in preparation, grants submitted, and scores for any grant that has been reviewed during the funded period.
  4. Research Presentations
    1. Research presentations given during the funded period.
  5. Funding Expenditure Report
    1. Itemized expenditure report for both the Bridge funding account and organizational area(s) with matched funds.
    2. The area(s) that are matching funds are required to produce an expenditure report monthly for all faculty members receiving Bridge funding. The report needs to detail both the COM Bridge funding account and the matched account(s).

Bridge Final Report Requirements

Awardees will receive a request to complete a final report one month prior to the due date. If the final progress report is not submitted, no future funding applications will be considered.

  1. Research Progress
    1. One-page highlight of research progress in the format of an NIH final report addressing specifically B1 and B2 of the Accomplishments section.
  2. Publications
    1. Publications in preparation, submission, or published during the funded period.
  3. Grants
    1. Grants in preparation, grants submitted, and scores for any grant that has been reviewed during the funded period.
  4. Research Presentations
    1. Research presentations given during the funded period.
  5. Funding Expenditure Report
    1. Itemized expenditure report for both the bridge funding account and the departmental matched funds.
    2. The department is required to produce an expenditure report monthly for all faculty members receiving bridge funding.  The report needs to detail both the COM Bridge funding account and the departmental matched account.