Funding Opportunities
Funding for university research is essential for innovation and discovery. Key sources include federal and state grants from agencies like the NSF, NIH, and DOE, as well as private industry partnerships that sponsor research aligned with their interests. Philanthropic donations from alumni, foundations, and corporate sponsors also support specific initiatives. Internal university grants, including seed funding and fellowships, help researchers start new projects. Additionally, collaborative research consortia allow universities to pool resources with other institutions to address complex global challenges. These varied funding sources help maintain a vibrant research environment that drives scientific progress and societal benefits.
UK College of Medicine, Office of Research Funding Mechanisms
The Dean's Office of Research offers the following internal funding opportunities with the goal of supporting faculty research and scholarship. Visit the linked websites to view complete details.
Alliance Research Initiative
The Alliance Initiative capitalizes on collaboration and the transdisciplinary strategy built from the best practices and metrics across the nation in developing programmatic research. It is designed to provide seed funding and support for multidisciplinary teams of scientists, from colleges and centers across the University’s campus, to find answers to the health challenges that disproportionately affect Kentuckians.
Bridge Program 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.
MAINS Program Funding
The UK College of Medicine Office of Research aims to support the success of early-career clinician-scientists and non-clinician researchers who receive career development awards, such as NIH K-Awards or similar society-based mentored career development awards, which come with limited research funding. To facilitate this, the College is introducing the MAINS Program, designed to assist both physician-scientist and Ph.D. scientist awardees in their transition from mentored junior investigators to independent researchers.
REACH Program Funding
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine Research Enrichment and Collaboration Help (REACH) program supports research projects that were previously submitted, but did not receive, external funding from federal, state, international, or private nonprofit entities and whose likelihood of funding on resubmission would increase with the acquisition of additional data or proof of concept.
Other Internal and External Funding Mechanisms
CCTS Funding
The UK CCTS pilot funding program aims to catalyze collaborative, translational research. We prioritize multidisciplinary research and projects that focus on health disparities, particularly in Appalachia.
Proposal Development Office (PDO) Funding Opportunities
As a support unit focused on the pre-award stage of extramural funding, PDO staff members conduct funding searches, assist in the preparation of competitive proposals by reviewing and critiquing proposal drafts, providing descriptive material on UK resources, and writing sections of proposal where appropriate.
UK Innovate
By placing a greater emphasis on UK’s innovation culture and promoting the innovative and entrepreneurial activity of UK’s faculty, staff, students and community, UK Innovate will help sustain increased momentum related to the university’s innovation and entrepreneurism and foster economic and societal impact.
UK Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy
The Foundation and Corporate Philanthropy department at fosters relationships between corporations and foundations and the UK community. The staff promotes funding opportunities for UK’s academic, research, and public outreach initiatives, helping faculty and staff connect with resources to secure private support for their work.
VPR Internal Research Support Programs
Each year, the Office of the Vice President for Research hosts a series of workshops on various topics designed to help faculty accelerate their research activities.