Research Enrichment and Collaboration Help (REACH)

The ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú Research Enrichment and Collaboration Help (REACH) program supports research projects that were previously submitted, but did not receive, external funding from federal, state, international, or private nonprofit entities and whose likelihood of funding on resubmission would increase with the acquisition of additional data or proof of concept.

Eligibility

  1. Full-time faculty in the ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú College of Medicine holding a degree of MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent clinical degree (e.g. DO, MBBS., etc.).
  2. Eligible projects must be innovative, highly rated, and be targeted for resubmission within one year of the start of REACH program funding. Agency reviews of the submitted proposal must indicate that the project is sound and close to funding.
  3. Department chair or relevant vice-chair support, including details and confirmation of matching funds (see Funding Information).
  4. Applicant’s affiliated department, multi-disciplinary research center, Alliance, RPA, or other unit is expected to match funds awarded (1:1).
  5. Faculty members with substantial funding from other sources are not eligible.
  6. Ineligibility
    1. Visiting and adjunct faculty, staff scientists, postdoctoral research associates, and PIs with outstanding final grant reports from previous College of Medicine-funded projects are not eligible to apply. Other ineligible items include renewals and continuation projects, proposals that provide less than 10% PI effort support, proposals focused on development of teaching or academic programs, and proposals from commercial, industrial, and other for-profit entities.

Funding Information

  1. The amount of support is based on the College of Medicine Office of Research available funds.
  2. The total maximum possible funding for one year is $35,000; $17,500 from the ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú COM Office of Research and $17,500 from the affiliated area.
    1. The total maximum possible funding for one project is $35,000.
    2. Previous REACH awardees can apply for REACH funding again for a different project.
    3. The same project may not be funded by both the Bridge and REACH programs.
  3. REACH does not provide multi-year awards or renewals.
  4. Funding recommendations will be based on the likelihood of eventual funding (using evidence such as priority score, the nature of the critiques, how well criticisms were addressed, publication record, and research productivity) and committed support from the PI unit. Applicants must be the PIs of grants to be resubmitted.
  5. Funding Distribution
    1. Funding will be distributed on the start date and must be expended over a maximum of 12 months. Funding may be impacted due to the following circumstances:
      1. Funding will be released upon receipt of applicable IRB/IACUC approval as appropriate.
      2. If required IRB/IACUC approval is not provided within a period of 90-days after the notification of the award, THE SUPPLEMENTAL AWARD MAY BE CANCELLED.
      3. All regulatory approvals must be active at the time of application and must be kept active during the project period.  Lapse or suspension of required regulatory approvals may result in the immediate termination of bridge funding support.
  6. Return of Funds
    1. If a positive funding decision on the originally submitted external proposal is made during the period of REACH funding, the amount of the remaining award must be returned when external funding commences.
  7. If the final progress report is not submitted, no future funding applications will be considered.

Allowable Costs

  1. Any research costs with the exception of faculty salary support and graduate student stipends or tuition.

Awardee Responsibilities

  1. A final report is required at the end of the 12-month funding period.
  2. ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉú College of Medicine support must be acknowledged in publications, presentations, etc. 

Review Process and Notification of Awards

  1. The dean will appoint a committee to perform an in-depth review of the submitted material. This committee may suggest alternative or additional approaches.
  2. The review process will involve faculty peers in the evaluation of the project and in the development of a successful resubmission.
  3. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered. 
  4. At the time of external resubmission, a copy of the resubmitted proposal must be sent to the REACH program.

REACH Application Requirements

To apply, click on the link at the bottom of the page and complete the application. You will be asked to attach the supporting documents as a single combined PDF. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered.

  1. REACH Program Funding Form.
    1. Download and complete the .
    2. The budget must be reviewed and approved by the lead department administrator with their signature at the bottom
  2. Letter of Support from Department Chair
    1. Department Chair or relevant Vice-Chair letter of support that includes details and confirmation of matching funds and staff salary coverage.
  3. Current NIH Biosketch
  4. Original External Application
    1. The original external application, including original unedited priority scores, agency comments, and pay line information.
  5. Resubmission Justification
    1. A two-page description of the research necessary to address the agency reviewers’ concerns and strengthen the planned resubmission, as well as how your use of REACH funding will lead to funding success.

REACH Final Report Requirements

Awardees will receive a request to complete a final report one month prior to the due date. If the final progress report is not submitted, no future funding applications will be considered.

  1. Research Progress
    1. One-page highlight of research progress in the format of an NIH final report addressing specifically B1 and B2 of the Accomplishments section.
  2. Publications
    1. Publications in preparation, submission, or published during the funded period.
  3. Grants
    1. Grants in preparation, grants submitted, and scores for any grant that has been reviewed during the funded period.
  4. Research Presentations
    1. Research presentations given during the funded period.
  5. Funding Expenditure Report
    1. Itemized expenditure report for both the REACH funding account and the departmental matched funds.
    2. The department is required to produce an expenditure report monthly for all faculty members receiving REACH funding.  The report needs to detail both the COM REACH funding account and the matched account(s).