RUSH to Progress: Accelerating Research through Pilot Awards

Option #1: One-Year $50,000 Pilot Award

• This pilot funding program awards grants of up to $50,000 for one year.
• Projects must be appropriate in scope for completion of study aims within one year.
• Faculty salary support is allowable up to 20%.
• No Cost Extensions (NCE) will not be allowed. 

Option #2: Two-Year $100,000 Pilot Award

• This pilot funding program awards up to $50,000 per year for two years (totaling $100,000).
• Projects must require two years for completion of study aims.
• Faculty salary support is allowable up to 20%.
• No Cost Extensions (NCE) will not be allowed.
• Awardees will be evaluated after Year 1 to assess project progress for Year 2 of funding.

• The PI must hold an active faculty appointment at Rush University at the rank of assistant professor or higher.
• Early career investigators, women and members of groups underrepresented in research are encouraged to apply.
• There are no citizen or residency requirements.

• Proposals must be for basic, translational/clinical, health services or community-focused research. Interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged.
• One application per award cycle as PI or multiple PI (MPI).
• The project must be feasible within the applicable project period, unless otherwise specified.
• Applicants are encouraged to identify funding mechanisms (federal, non-federal, or other specific grant mechanisms) to support continued progress.

A submission link will be emailed to PIs who submit an RSVP.  Proposals should be submitted in 2 files and include the following components:

File 1 in PDF format

• Cover Page
  • Project title
  • Names of MPIs, highest degree, position title, department/division, phone number, and email
  • Total funding amount requested
  • Statement indicating whether the proposed research overlaps, in whole or part, with any ongoing or previously submitted projects
  • List of current Rush collaborators with whom MPIs have published or submitted grant applications within the past three years
• Budget
  • Internal non-federal budget form (required). This file should be uploaded as File 2 in original format.  
  • NIH PHS 398 forms, pages 4 and 5  (required)
  • Allowable costs: Faculty salary support (up to 20%), fringe benefits (22%), Rush nonfaculty/student salary support, and publication costs
  • Not allowable: indirect costs or capital expenses
• Biographical Sketches
  • Required for MPIs only
  • Must follow the current NIH format
• Body of Application
  • Formatting: 11-point Arial font with 0.5-inch margins
  • Project summary/abstract in plain language (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. 
   

File 2

Internal non-federal budget form (required) in original format.  

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

• Anticipated Award Letter: October 2026.
• Anticipated Funding Period: Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2027.