The Brinson Foundation

Rush University is requesting applications from Early Career Investigators for a Brinson Medical Research Fellowship opportunity. These fellowship awards favor creative and innovative research that has the potential to lead to additional studies. The Foundation is open to supporting research in a wide range of specialties but less interested in the following areas: Psychiatry/Behavioral Health, Food Sciences, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s Disease, and qualitative research. Laboratory science preferred. These pilot awards are intended to provide resources to enable research projects that may be tangential to a major research focus or to expand the scope of a major project. Funding will be for one year with the possibility of an additional year based on the progress attained during the first funding period.

Funding amounts and availability

One proposal with a budget of up to $100,000 will be awarded for one year, with the possibility of an additional year of funding based on the progress achieved during the first year.

Eligible investigators 

• Limited to Early Career Investigators with no previous RO1-level or equivalent funding.
• The principal investigator of the proposal must hold an active faculty appointment at Rush University at the rank of assistant professor or higher.
• There are no citizenship or residency requirements.

Criteria 

• Applicants may submit only one application as principal investigator/multiple PI per award cycle.
• Awards will be made for impactful and innovative projects in biomedical sciences
• The project must be feasible within the initial year-long project period
• Applicants are encouraged to identify funding mechanisms (e.g., federal, non-federal, or other specific grant mechanisms) for future funding opportunities that will allow further progress on the proposed project
• Creative interdisciplinary applications are encouraged
• Applications from diverse candidates are encouraged

How to apply 

Submit your proposal using the online application form. The submission link will be emailed to PIs who submit an RSVP. 

Your proposal should consist of 1 PDF file:

• A cover page, containing the following:
  • Grant proposal title
  • MPIs names, highest degree, position title, department/division, phone number, and email
  • Funding amount requesting
  • A statement of whether the proposal research overlaps in whole or part with any ongoing efforts or any submitted proposals
  • Conflict of Interest list for multiple PIs: Please list current RUSH collaborators with whom you have published or written grants in the past three years (no more than 1 page)
• Budget in NIH PHS398 forms
  • Allowable: Faculty salary support is limited to 20%, fringe benefits 22%, Rush non-faculty/student salary support, and publication costs
  • Not allowable: indirect costs or capital expenses
• Biographical sketches in current NIH format for MPIs only
• Body of application
  • Formatting: 11-point Arial font with at least 1/2-inch margins
  • Project summary/abstract in layman’s terms (1 page)
  • Specific aims (1 page)
  • Research Strategy
    • Significance, innovation, and approach (6 pages)
    • Plan for Future Funding (1 page)
  • Literature Cited (no limit)
  • A form for the Department Chair/Division to acknowledge support of the application will be sent to the PI upon complete submission of the application. 

Review process

• A panel of non-competing researchers will review applications based on the new NIH simplified peer review framework.
• Applications that demonstrate potential for future funding will be prioritized.

Award timeline

• Internal decision by Friday, October 31, 2025
• Final approval from The Brinson Foundation and release of grant funds in early 2026