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  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. Research and Innovation
  3. Grants and Funding
  4. Intramural Funding
  5. VCRI Pioneer Award

VCRI Pioneer Award

The VCRI Pioneer Award is designed to promote the development of pioneering research. It is intended for early- or conceptual-stage projects that lead to the development of highly innovative, untested and potentially groundbreaking concepts. Development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications with a profound impact on biomedical, clinical, behavioral, or community health research will also be considered. The VCRI Pioneer Awards are open to all active UAMS investigators. Initial grant period is 12 months with opportunities for renewed support in subsequent years.

No preliminary data are required but may be included if available. Reviews will focus on the concept, innovation level, and potential to significantly advance scientific knowledge resulting in a high-quality publication and extramural funding.

Justification for the proposed work can be provided through literature citations, data from other sources, or, when available, from investigator-generated data.

Investigators may apply as one of the following:

Early-Stage Investigator (up to $20,000)

  • Eligibility: An early-stage investigator at or above the level of postdoctoral or clinical fellow (or equivalent)
  • Must commit at least 30% effort toward the proposed research project
  • Verification of effort commitment from the chair/division head, and a Mentor-Mentee Agreement that states the research project is a critical step for the early-stage investigator to attain independence, are required before funding is released

For this internal mechanism, an early-stage investigator is an investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or medical residency—whichever date is later—within the past seven years.

Established Investigator (up to $30,000)

  • Eligibility: An established independent investigator at the rank of associate professor or professor venturing into a new research area or expanding into a related, but distinct direction with high funding potential
  • Support letters from collaborators (i.e., experts in the new field) must be attached
  • Must commit at least 15% effort toward the proposed research project

Investigator seeking a second or third grant (up to $50,000)

  • Eligibility: An established independent investigator, of any academic rank, who has just (within the first 18 months of new funding period) received or renewed an R01 or equivalent multi-year grant and is planning to submit a second or third multi-year grant proposal in an area related to or different from that of the funded proposal
  • If the research will be in a new field, support letters from collaborators in the new field must be attached
  • Must commit at least 15% effort toward the proposed research project

Expectations of Output from a Successful Pioneer Award Recipient

  • A manuscript accepted for publication within 18 months of award
  • A funding proposal (e.g., proposal for an R01, R21, R03, a DoD award, a NSF grant, or a multi-year foundation grant) submitted within 12 months of award; Resubmissions may be supported by additional funding.
  • Acknowledgment of this funding in all publications resulting from VCRI Pioneer Award funding
  • Annual year-end report required for three consecutive years (written reports submitted at this link); the first annual report will be presented to the UAMS community in person or via Zoom.

Submission Form

  • Please select an appropriate category.
  • Max. file size: 15 MB.
    Early-Stage Investigator (must upload mentor/chair/div. head verification); Established Investigator and Investigator seeking a 2nd or 3rd grant (must upload support letters from collaborators/experts in new field).
  • The application should be comprised of a) NIH Biosketches of key personnel, b) Specific Aims, c) Detailed Narrative, d) Budget, and e) Budget Justification. Please provide a one page Specific Aims and Detailed Narrative (not to exceed 3 pages). (Note: PI salary not allowed in budget.) Pioneer requests with STRONG budget justifications may request up to $20,000, $30,000, or $50,000 respectively. Submission deadline is April 5, 2022.
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    Max. file size: 15 MB.
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