University Research Committee is accepting proposals

University Research Committee is accepting proposals

Although the University Research Committee (URC) program was suspended for the August deadline, the intramural grants program is accepting applications for the December cycle of deadlines. The URC funds three types of grants: Institutional Applications, Interim Funding and Clinician Trainee Research.

Institutional Applications are the most common type of proposal, typically supporting a “starter grant” for new investigators or a pilot project. New investigators may be junior faculty at the start of their research career, or more senior faculty who are new to MUSC. Pilot projects provide seed funds to investigators to explore an idea or area for which they do not have current grant support. Institutional Applications may also provide limited support for shared equipment or central facilities. For Institutional Applications of all types, awards exceeding $25,000 are uncommon. The upcoming deadline for Institutional Applications is December 1.

Interim Funding provides short-term support to extramurally funded investigators who plan to resubmit a competing continuation proposal and need “bridge funds” to maintain a productive research operation. The deadline for these requests is January 2.

The third category offers small grants of $2,000 or less clinical trainees who wish to gain experience in writing and conducting a research protocol with supervision and mentoring by an established investigator. Previously termed “Resident Research Grants,” the scope was expanded at the start of the 2002-03 year to include non-physician trainees on clinical tracks. The Clinician Research Trainee program is the only URC mechanism that does not require the applicant to have a faculty appointment. The deadline for this category is December 15.

You may find detailed information on guidelines and forms at the URC website: research.musc.edu/urc/home.htm. The primary contact is Jackie Middleton in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.