The Medical Research Grants program awards grants of up to $25,000 each. There are two funding opportunities:

• To provide support to new investigators as seed money or for pilot projects;
• To provide support to improve already highly rated NIH research proposals for re-submission

The Foundation encourages biomedical researchers throughout Rhode Island to apply for grant support for laboratory, clinical and population-based research. In addition to limited funding for general medical research, areas of interest with designated funding include infectious diseases, cardiac research, coronary artery disease, cerebral accidents, cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, diabetes, allergies, and performance enhancing substances.

Seed Grants

Seed Grants are provided to Assistant and Associate Professors at Rhode Island academic or hospital institutions. Grants are generally targeted to faculty who have received faculty level appointments within the past five years and are one-time awards. Only under unusual circumstances will a proposal for second-year funding be considered.

Funding may be used for supplies, research animals, support personnel, and other operating costs. The Foundation generally does not provide funds for permanent equipment, equipment maintenance, travel, or printing unless it is part of the research itself. In most cases, this program does not provide funds for salary support of the principal investigator. Due to the limited funds available, the Foundation does not cover charges for overhead by the applicant hospitals and universities.

The proposed grant period for a Seed Grant is 18 months from the time funds are disbursed.

Resubmission Grants

Resubmission Grants are to help bridge research and help improve already highly rated NIH research proposals for re-submission. The applicant must have already applied for an NIH grant within the last 24 months that was discussed by the relevant study section, scored in the top 50th percentile, but was not funded. Applicants cannot have an active RO1 grant that extends beyond 12 months from the time of application

Strong preference for Resubmission Grants will be given to more junior faculty at Rhode Island academic or hospital institutions. Grants are limited to individuals with faculty level appointments and are not awarded to individuals holding training positions, such as clinical specialty fellows or postdoctoral fellows, at the time of initiation of the proposed research.

Funding may support activities including data gathering, travel, equipment time, purchase of supplies or other activities that are expected to improve the competitiveness of a planned resubmitted research proposal. In most cases, this program does not provide funds for salary support of the principal investigator. Due to the limited funds available, the Foundation does not cover charges for overhead by the applicant hospitals and universities.

The proposed grant period for a Resubmission Grant is 12 months from the time funds are disbursed.

Proposal review criteria

A review panel made up of scientists and physicians assists the Foundation in its review of Medical Research proposals. Criteria used to evaluate proposals include:

• Significance of the research
• Soundness of the methodology
• Feasibility of the research project
• Demonstration of independent research program
• If an applicant identifies as a member of an Underrepresented Population using the NIH categorization (Click here for more information on NIH categories)
• For Seed Grants only: Likelihood of applicant successfully pursuing future awards
• For Seed Grants only: Likelihood of the project transitioning to external funding (e.g. NIH RO1 funds)
• For Resubmission Grants only: Likelihood that the project will receive funding after resubmission for NIH funding
• Awards are contingent on IRB/IACUC written approval. If IRB/IACUC approval is not required, an institutional letter of exception is required.

Important dates

Applications will open in August 2025.

Awards will be available between April 1 and July 1, subject to receipt of all documents (i.e. IRB/IACUC approval, if required).

To apply

When applying, please create or use an account affiliated with your sponsoring institution. 

A complete application package (all submitted through our online system) includes:

• Completed application form;
• Project description;
• Completed budget form;
• A curriculum vitae "biosketch" of the Principal Investigator;
• Letter of support from the investigator's division director or department chair*;
• Letter of support from significant collaborators*;
• Letter from the office of research administration of the sponsoring agency*;
• IRB or IACUC Approval Letter. If you do not have your approval letter, please upload a letter of exception or a statement detailing the status of your approval letter in its place.*
• For Resubmission Grants only: the relevant NIH summary statement;
• For Resubmission Grants only: Rough estimate of the total budget for resubmission: direct and indirect costs for each budget year of the project and the total for full project period.

*Letters must be in Word, Excel, PDF, or JPG formats and must be submitted through our online system.