Research & Scholarship Enhancement Program (REACH)

The bridge program provides full-time faculty with limited, interim research funds for:

1. A scored renewal (previously referred to as a competing continuation) OR
2. A new initial scored application that is intended to expand and build upon a currently funded R-level NIH grant (and scored implying that submissions fell outside of the pay line).

Specifically, these "bridge awards" are intended to support personnel (e.g., project directors, and laboratory personnel) between grant funding periods.   

Eligibility Criteria:

1. The applicant must be the Principal Investigator (PI) on an NIH (e.g., R01, R21, R34) award for which a revision of a scored application is pending (meaning the revision has been submitted to the NIH). 
2. A Bridge grant is designed to provide up to 9 months of project support and will not be expanded beyond this period (and carry-over of funds are not allowed). 
3. Bridge support cannot be used for sub awards.
4. Unrestricted funds (i.e., faculty funds) must be noted and funds exceeding $20,000 must be subtracted from the Bridge grant budget. In addition, any related "no-cost extension" funds must also be subtracted from the total bridge funding budget.
5. The funding request must be received within 9 months after the date on which the PI received the summary sheets from the grant review.
6. The PI is expected to resubmit the grant proposal for the next appropriate application cycle.

Application Cycle and Deadlines:

Final decisions regarding Bridge Funding are made by the Dean, Senior Associate Dean for Research, and VUSN Community Chairs.

Application Materials:

1. Cover Letter (signatures of both the applicant faculty member and their community chair is required on the cover letter.)
2. Budget (must use NIH-format Year 1 Budget Form)
3. Face Page and Project Resume from the scored unfunded grant
4. Review sheets from the NIH study section review (optional)

Visiting Scholar/Collaborator/Consultant

Funds are available for a visiting scholar, collaborator, or consultant visit to support a research grant that is ongoing or in preparation/progress. 

Please note there are only two (2) awards available per fiscal year.

Application Materials:

Cover Letter

Shared Equipment Grant (up to $10,000)

Equipment that can be shared by faculty conducting research will be considered for funding. This can include one piece of equipment or several related pieces of equipment (e.g., blood pressure home monitoring machines, glucose monitors, etc.).

Application Materials:

1. Cover Letter (must include details regarding where the equipment will be located)
2. Equipment Quote/Invoice

External R-equivalent Funding Achievement Award

A one-time $1,000 award is available to any full-time VUSN faculty who successfully obtain external R-equivalent or HRSA funding as the PI/PD.

Application Materials:

1. Copy of Notice of Award (NOA)

Postdoctoral (PD) Funding-Match Initiative (50% PD salary support)

The CRDS Postdoctoral (PD) Funding-Match Initiative is for tenure-track faculty members at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN) who are interested in hiring a PD fellow to assist in their funded research programs.

Associated Financial Support

• CRDS will provide 50% salary support for a 100% (1 FT) position for up to 2 years. The VUSN PD faculty mentor will be responsible for funding of the other 50%.
• During the salary support period, CRDS will also provide 50% fringe benefits support. The PD faculty mentor will be responsible for the other 50%.
• If the recruited PD fellow requires sponsorship from VU for employment authorization (i.e., H-1B visa), the potential PD faculty mentor must cover the processing fee.
• Recruitment costs (e.g., advertisements) and interview costs (e.g., flights, accommodations) that are part of the PD fellow recruitment process are the responsibility of the prospective PD faculty mentor.
  • If the prospective PD faculty mentor does not have faculty funds to support advertisement costs, CRDS will provide up to a one-time $1000 stipend for advertisements on professional or other job boards.
• CRDS will provide up to a $5,000 yearly allocation to the PD fellow. After seeking and obtaining funds from other sources to conduct their research (e.g., VICTR), the PD fellow, along with their PD faculty mentor, may apply for additional funds from CRDS, as necessary. Additional funds are not guaranteed.

For additional information including the PD candidate appointment and reappointment process, please view our CRDS Postdoctoral (PD) Funding-Match Initiative Guidelines.

Application Cycle, Deadline, and Review

The VUSN PD Committee will review faculty applications on a rolling basis (and based on program budget availability) and determine, by vote, which faculty member(s) may move forward with identifying a PD fellow for potential appointment. The PD Committee will consider factors such as faculty needs, availability of faculty funding, and prior faculty member use of the CRDS PD Initiative when making determinations.

• For selected faculty, CRDS financial support will be guaranteed for one year (with a maximum of 2 years). Year 2 of CRDS funding is contingent on reappointment of the PD fellow (see section on Reappointment Process for description of reappointment contingencies).
• Selected faculty will have 3 months to recruit a qualified PD fellow. If the appointment process is not initiated by the end of the 3-month period, the faculty member will forfeit the CRDS funding match.
  • If there are no other VUSN faculty members interested in hiring a PD fellow through the CRDS PD Funding-Match Initiative, the previously selected faculty member may be granted additional time to recruit a candidate. The duration of additional recruitment time will be determined by the VUSN PD Committee.

Application Materials:

1. Cover Letter (must include a description of the faculty member's need for a PD fellow as well as the duration of the faculty member's available funding)
2. PD Position Description (must use the VUSN PD Position Description Template)

CRDS will provide a $500 stipend for one (1) external review (up to two (2) may be requested) to support a new grant submission or resubmission.