The School of Medicine has reinstated the bridge funding program that it has offered three times a year to help investigators who have a lapse in R0l-or P0l-level support.
The following outlines a bridge funding plan to help investigators in the SoM who have had a lapse in R0l-or P0l-level support. U-level awards and R21s will not be considered at this time. Up to $100,000 per lapsed R0l grant or up to $200,000 per lapsed P0l grant will be provided by the Dean's Office and the Chair’s Office (combined total) following application by the affected individual's chair, anonymous review of merit by two Duke referees, and a positive recommendation by the Bridge Funding Committee. Following a positive recommendation by the Bridge Funding Committee, the dollar amount awarded by the Dean will take into consideration discretionary balances at the unit/department level as well as at the individual level. Individuals with significant discretionary balances will not be considered for bridge funds; units/departments with large discretionary balances will be required to match funds provided by the SoM.
Applications may be submitted for 2025 deadlines of October 27 and December 15, 2025. 2026 deadlines will be announced early next year.
- Candidates include SoM faculty members who were unsuccessful with a first submission of a competitive renewal of an independent investigator award (NIH R01 or equivalent) or a program project grant.
- Applications that were unsuccessful but received a priority score will be most competitive, and the applicant must effectively address the concerns outlined in the summary statement.
- Applications for bridge funding of an unsuccessful (A1) resubmission of a competitive renewal will be considered if:
- the applicant received a strong priority score, and
- the applicant effectively describes how the summary statement will guide development of a new application.
- Applications for bridge funding of an unsuccessful first submission of a new R0l proposal will be considered only if:
- the new proposal represents replacement funding for a previous R01-level, NIH-funded line of investigation that has run its course within the last 2 years, or
- the applicant has completed a K08, K23, K12, or K0l grant, or an equivalent NIH K grant intended for transition to independence and has received a priority score on the subsequent R0l submission.
- An application will not be considered by the Committee if the expired grant to which it is linked has already received bridge funds.
- A revised bridge application will not be considered unless the linked proposal is accompanied by a new summary statement.
- Two separate applications by co-PIs on the same R01 will not be reviewed.
- If the investigator has discretionary funds more than $100,000 they should contact Dr. David MacAlpine prior to submitting their application.
Questions regarding eligibility prior to submission of an application can be addressed to Dr. David MacAlpine at david.macalpine@duke.edu.