BRI NextGen Awards

Overview:

In order to catalyze the BWH research community’s ability to better and more quickly respond to a constantly evolving scientific landscape and to help them keep pace with rapid developments in technology, the Brigham Research Institute (BRI) has made funds (up to $220,000) available in 2018 for the following types of requests.

 

Track A (“Affinity groups”): Requests for funding and BRI staffing support (limited) to convene a group of researchers with common exploratory interests. Requests should reflect goals with a broader perspective than just the research interests of the individuals in the concerned group

 

Track B (“Collaboratives”): Requests for funding and BRI staffing support (limited) for activities where a collaborative response is critical. Collaboration in this case may be defined internal (inter departmental/divisional (for department of medicine)) or external (interinstitutional). Requests must outline a timeline with discrete milestones including a specific start date

 

Process:

  • Applicant must indicate whether they are applying to Track A or B. An applicant can apply to only one track at a time; it is conceivable that an applicant could apply to track A funding and then sequentially apply for track B funding or another suitable BRI funding opportunity
  • Track A requests will be capped at $5000 and administered by the BRI. Track B requests for up to $50,000 will be considered
  • Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis for both Track A and B
  • Funds will be awarded on a competitive basis
  • Applications will be evaluated and prioritized by an internal faculty review committee and BRI leadership
  • The BRI is under no obligation to spend any or all the funds available to this mechanism and projects may be partially funded
  • No-cost extensions may be permitted under extenuating circumstances; unused funds will be returned to the BRI
timeline

  • RFA Issued

    • Jan 2018

  • Applications due

    • Wed, June 2nd
    • Wed, July 25th
    • Fri, Sept. 7th
    • Wed, Oct. 24th
    • Fri, Nov. 30th
    • Mon, Dec. 17th

  • Decision notices issued

    • Within 3 months of application

  • Decision notices issued

    • Earliest possible from the date of notice

Track A Eligibility/Application/Review Criteria
  • Applications can request funding for convening meetings, hosting workshops/seminars, inviting speakers etc with the goal of convening a group of researchers with common exploratory interests
  • BWH researchers at the postdoctoral level and above are eligible to apply. Individuals may serve as the PI of only one proposal but may be co-Is on multiple proposals
  • Only requests from BWH researchers will be considered. However, external members (from other institutions, industry, government etc.) are welcome to be part of the group
  • Recipient must remain at BWH for duration of the award, award will otherwise be forfeited
  • Applications will be evaluated based on:
  • The motivation(s)/rationale for convening said group
  • The potential for such goals/motivations to be beneficial in the short or long term at the departmental, institutional, national or international level
  • Allowable expenses include (but are not limited to) catering and venue costs, travel and accommodation reimbursements for external speakers etc
  • Collaborations are encouraged but subcontracts will not be allowed
  • Awards must be utilized within 6 months or forfeited unless recipient has been approved for a no-cost extension
Track B Eligibility/Application/Review Criteria
  • Applications can request funding for any activity where a collaborative response is critical
  • BWH researchers with a faculty rank of Instructor and above are eligible to apply. Individuals may serve as the PI of only one proposal but may be co-Is on multiple proposals
  • PIs can only be from BWH. However, external collaborators (from other institutions, industry, government etc.) are welcomed
  • Recipients must remain at BWH for duration of the award, award will otherwise be forfeited
  • Applications will be evaluated based on:
  • The stated motivation(s)/rationale for the proposed collaborative response
  • The urgency of the response
  • The potential for such a response to be beneficial in the short or long term at the departmental, institutional, national or international level
Reciprocity
  • Recipients must report on activity to the BRI at the end of the activity/funding
  • Recipients must acknowledge the BRI in meetings, publications (posters, journal articles and grants) resulting from this support and must notify the BRI when such papers have been submitted
Application Format

Full Applications (rolling basis) should be submitted electronically here for Track A “Affinity Groups” and here for Track B “Collaboratives” and must include the following:

  1. Basic information, including:
  • Applicant’s Name, Department and Division, BWH and HMS professional appointments, telephone number and e-mail address
  • Title of project
  • Proposal summary (only for Track B) of 300 words
  1. Proposal (1-page limit for Track A and 2-page limit for Track B, excluding references) detailing the following:
  • Introduction/Background/Rationale
  • Approach/Strategy
  • Timeline of activity with discrete milestones including a specific start date
  • Composition of existing/proposed team
  • Description of short-term/long-term benefit to the institution – financial/cost savings/visibility/patient satisfaction/ researcher or clinician well being etc
  • Letters of support (optional)

 

  1. Biosketches of Principal Investigator, co-investigators and significant key personnel in NIH format

 

  1. Detailed 1-year budget for a maximum of $5,000 (Track A); detailed 1-year budget for a maximum of up to $50,000 and 15% indirect costs (Track B). Subcontracts not allowed.
Questions

Questions about eligibility, format, review criteria and process may be sent to Anu Swaminathan, PhD, BRI Director for Scientific Programs & Partnerships, at aswaminathan@partners.org or 617.525.8380