2021 Blue Sky Award Program

Key Dates

• Feb 03, 2022              MUSC Internal Deadline for Applications
• Feb 07, 2022              Application Review Period Begins
• Mar 14, 2022              Invited Chalk Talk Begins
• Apr 27, 2022               Blue Sky Award Announcement During Innovation Week
• May 02, 2022              Anticipated Funding Start Date

 

Program Description

 

The MUSC Office of the Vice President for Research in partnership with the Office of Innovation invites applications for promising high-risk research that tackles big problems in medicine and science. This inaugural Blue Sky Award Program will provide support for highly creative faculty with a track record of outstanding success with the opportunity to test the feasibility of their “grand idea” and prepare that idea for an application for extramural funding. The goal is to foster high-payoff work that promises to be transformational but for which other funding sources are limited.

Successful proposals should include:

• At least two NIH-funded MUSC principal investigators (PIs), from different colleges to work at the interface of disciplines.
• Creative thinking and innovative processes are needed to address complex problems with the potential for high-impact findings.
• All types of research-basic, translational, and/or clinical- from investigators at all faculty ranks are eligible.
• Incorporation of Artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning in the research plan is encouraged.

Budget Information

• Blue Sky awards up to $100,000 per year for two years to support the development of innovative, interdisciplinary, and impactful projects.
• Allowable expenses include laboratory supplies, animal costs, patient recruitment costs, and support pre/postdoctoral students, technicians, or research assistants. Non-MUSC faculty can participate in the research as a consultant.
• Unallowable expenses include 1) faculty salaries & fringe, 2) facilities and administrative (F&A) costs, and 3) subcontracts/subawards.

Award & Review Information

• Up to two applications will be awarded depending upon the research excellence proposed. The second year of funding may be available contingent on progress made during the first year of funding.
• Submission of a large Multi-PI (MPI) federal grant application (e.g., P, U, or MPI R01) is required prior to the end of year two.
• All applications will be reviewed by an internal review panel selected by the Vice President for Research and the Chief Innovation Officer.

Learn More and Apply

• To apply visit the InfoReady System and to learn more about the Blue Sky Award Program please contact Dr. Lori McMahon or Dr. Jesse Goodwin.