Swim Across America

• Accepting $50,000 and $100,000 applications.
• Anticipates funding up to $300,000.
• Special consideration for early-stage investigators.
• Those funded may apply for a 2nd year of support on a competitive basis during the next funding cycle, and will submit the full package plus a progress report.
• Capital equipment not allowed.

• The PI must hold an active faculty appointment at Rush University at the rank of assistant professor or higher.
• Instructors may apply if the department chair submits a letter indicating that they will be promoted to assistant professor by the award date.
• Applicants can be early career or established investigators.
• No citizenship or residency requirements. 

• One application per award cycle as PI or multiple PI (MPI)
• The award recipient must commit at least 10% of their research effort to the research contained in their proposal.
• 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.

Applicants for these pilot grants are strongly encouraged to develop a robust study design and statistical analysis plan. Development of an award-budget that includes resources for appropriate statistical or data analytics consultation or collaboration expected. 

The 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 PDF

• 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 (no more than 1 page)

• Budget 

  • Internal non-federal budget form. This file should be uploaded as File 2 in original format.

  • NIH PHS 398 forms (required)

  • Allowable costs: Faculty salary support at instructor level only, fringe benefits rate 22%, materials, supplies and publication 

  • 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 at least 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 in original format.   

• 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.

• Internal decision by October 2026.
• Final approval from Swim Across America required.
• Anticipated funding period Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2027.