Intramural Grant Opportunities

Funding opportunities

Rapid Research Microgrants for New Investigators

Overview

Investigators, especially those early in their careers, have shared difficulties associated with collecting and analyzing the requisite pilot data needed to compete for external research funding. To address these needs, we offer rapid research microgrants on a monthly basis to support research activities which will improve the competitiveness of proposals for external funding.

Who Is Eligible?

Any faculty / attending (i.e., no longer in a training program) who is in the first five years of joining MedStar Health.

Applicants must be eligible to serve as principal investigator of a future NIH (or similar federal or foundation) grant who do not have current or previous federally-funded research as a PI.

Applicants must be employed by MedStar Health.

Award

Varies; The typical maximum is approximately $2,000.

Applications Open

Monthly

Application available here.
New Investigator – Associate Giving Grant Fund

Overview

Funded by Associate Giving, the New Investigator Fund provides seed funding for investigators early in their career to do pilot studies that lead to sustainable external funding as an independent investigator. Past funding awardees have gone on to get NIH grants, become scientific directors and/or become leaders in other areas such as quality and safety. The proposed research will provide pilot data or demonstrate feasibility crucial to a planned, subsequent extramural research or career development proposal.

Who Is Eligible?

Any faculty / attending (i.e., no longer in a training program) who is in the first five years of joining MedStar Health.

Applicants must be eligible to serve as principal investigator of a future NIH (or similar federal or foundation) grant who do not have current or previous federally-funded research as a PI.

Applicants must be employed by MedStar Health.

Award

$20,000/1 year

Applications Open

Spring and Fall

For more information, contact MHRI-Submissions@medstar.net.
MedStar Diabetes Research Fund

Overview

To support investigators in the field of diabetes research who are interested in developing pilot data that can lead to additional, externally funded studies. This award is intended to support particularly innovative and transformational ideas that have the potential to have an exceptional impact on diabetes.

Award

$25,000/1 year

Applications Open

Spring

For more information, contact MHRI-Submissions@medstar.net.
CTSA – Pilot Awards for Translational and Clinical Studies

Overview

Offered through the CTSA, these grants focus on health disparities, community engaged research, novel translational methods, and interdisciplinary team science. Proposals that involve collaborations with MHRI-CTSA partners at Howard University, Georgetown University, VA Medical Center, and ORNL are generally favored.

Award

Up to $40,000 (includes Institutional cost share)

Applications Open

Spring

For more information, contact becky.k.montalvo@medstar.net.
Charles and Mary Latham Fund

Overview

MHRI coordinates with The Latham Fund to support research in the greater Washington, D.C., community. The goal is to support novel research projects that advance the health of our Washington, D.C., patients.

Award

1-3 proposals will be funded; approx $10,000-$15,000/1 year

Applications Open

August / September

For more information, contact MHRI-Submissions@medstar.net.
Medical Education Research Grants

Overview

This grant fund benefits MedStar investigators and the important educational research they are conducting to advance health and create new knowledge.

Award

Pilot Studies- $10,000 Research Studies- $25,000

Applications Open

TBD

For more information, contact allison.selman-lovell@medstar.net.

These are anticipated funding opportunities and can be subject to change. Please contact MHRI-Submissions@medstar.net for the current status of offerings.

Rapid research microgrants for new investigators

Investigators, especially those early in their careers, have shared difficulties associated with collecting and analyzing the requisite pilot data needed to compete for external research funding. Examples include demonstration of feasibility for a grant application or obtaining data to respond to grant review critiques. To address these needs, the MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI) is making funds available to early-stage investigators to support research activities which will improve the competitiveness of proposals for external funding. This funding opportunity prioritizes new investigators, defined as any faculty or attendings who have joined MedStar Health within the last five years and are eligible to serve as a principal investigator for federally-funded grants.

Funding Details:

The typical maximum is approximately $2,000.
Funding requests must directly support limited, short-term efforts that will contribute to likelihood of future funding.
Below are examples of funding requests. Please note this list is not exhaustive.
- MHRI core services such as statistics, informatics, data science, laboratory.
- Journal open access fees for publication (must be a reputable journal)
- Conference travel for defined research development purpose (not covered by professional development or other resources from any clinical entity or program)
- Research materials (tablets, audio recorders)
- Transcription/translation services
- Cloud services (e.g., REDCap etc.)
These funds are not intended to cover an investigator’s effort on a project.

Application Process:

Complete the Rapid Research Microgrants Application
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis the last week of the month. If there is a more pressing need for urgent review, please indicate this on the application in the “additional comments” section.
You will receive a notification about your application whether it is funded or not.

New investigator – associate giving grant fund

2024 Cycle 1 applications open through May 31

Funded by associate giving, the New Investigator Fund provides seed funding for investigators early in their careers to do pilot studies that lead to sustainable external funding as an independent investigator. Since 2015, we have supported dozens of MedStar Health investigators on their research journeys and many have now progressed to become independent investigators with their own body of research and robust research teams. Prior recipients have gone on to get NIH funding, become scientific directors and/or become other leaders at MedStar Health such as in quality and safety.

Eligibility criteria:

Any faculty/attending (i.e., no longer in a training program) within their first 5 years of joining MedStar Health.
Applicants must be eligible to serve as principal investigator of a future federal, foundation, or investigator-initiated commercial research grant. Priority will be given to applicants who have not already received substantial external funding.