Through this grant, the MRF supports established investigators who are in need of bridge funding. The grant provides funding for research programs that have lost national grant funding, enabling investigators to develop data supporting application renewals. The application must contain a clear explanation of current grant funding and the status of grants in revision. A letter of support from the department chair or the institute director must accompany each application describing the commitment of the unit to that investigator and their research program

The maximum award for Emergency Interim Support is $50,000.

In addition, OHSU investigators can apply with the same proposal for OHSU Presidential Bridge Funding. Through this award, the OHSU Office of the Vice President for Research supports established investigators at OHSU who are in need of bridge funding.

The maximum award for OHSU Bridge Funding is $50,000.

In general, those who have never had major federal funding — e.g. R01-level funding — are not considered eligible.

Guidelines

1. Emergency Interim Support grants may be made to support ongoing research when an investigator with a well-established record of research funding as a PI is between grants, and a hiatus would jeopardize their research program. Financial need as well as merit will be considered for this category of funding.
2. Basic and applied studies must directly relate to human health. Proposals to develop or perfect a technology are generally given below average priority scores unless that technology can be used to answer basic questions and unless the technology can be the basis for further research.
3. Particular emphasis should be given on how the proposed work fits into the applicant's research program and long-range goals and how the award may enable the investigator to regain national funding in the future.
4. Grants are not made for expensive items of equipment. However, requests will be considered when such equipment will enjoy wide use by a number of investigators or when it will make possible research of unique value. All equipment becomes the property of the grantee institution.
5. The research facility with which the applicant is affiliated must be fully prepared to accommodate the project in terms of the PI’s salary and space.
6. A letter from the applicant’s Department Chair that describes department commitment, including institutional salary and research support during the interim period, is to be submitted separately using the InfoReady competitive application portal within seven days of the application deadline.
7. Research involving human subjects, animals or recombinant DNA must be approved by the appropriate institutional review board (IRB/IACUC/IBC). Investigators are encouraged to submit this application simultaneously, but it is not a requirement. Note, however, that no funds will be distributed until IRB/IACUC/IBC approval is obtained.

For OHSU applicants only: You do not need institutional approval from OPAM to apply for Emergency Interim Support. If you are awarded funds, you will be required to undergo a compliance check with OPAM, and, depending on the source of the award, your funds may be managed by OPAM. Your award letter will tell you what to do.

Preparation of Proposal

There are two components of an MRF grant application: the InfoReady form and the PDF application packet.

Applicant’s name, appointment, address, fiscal contact and grants and contracts coordinator are entered into the InfoReady online form, as well as well as the email addresses for the Department Chair’s reference letter.

Applicants must also answer a number of questions regarding their project and a 250-word (maximum) abstract.

All other required components of the applications must be combined into a single PDF and uploaded to the InfoReady competitive application portal. The type font should be no smaller than 11 point, and side margins of at least one inch should be used for the body of the grant. (NIH- style biosketches can be submitted with NIH font and margin guidelines). Please supply all information requested. Failure to do so may cause the application to be administratively withdrawn.

An institutional approval letter signed by the "Responsible Official" for the institution should be included in the application indicating name, title, phone number, and signature. The person signing for the institution is a matter of institutional preference. This is generally the Vice President of Research. However, contact OPAM (OHSU) or your Research Office to determine your institution’s preference.

The order of the required documents combined in the single PDF is as follows:

1. Cover letter in which the applicant explains the fiscal emergency, as well as their role at their institution. If the application is a resubmission, the cover letter should also include a concise response to previous reviews.
2. Previous MRF written reviews (required for resubmission only)
3. Specific Aims (one page)
4. Research plan (six pages)
5. Literature cited
6. PI's biosketch in current NIH format
7. Budget explanation and justification
8. Previous, current, and pending support: List all major funding you have received for the past 10 years. For each category (current, previous, pending), list the following: Type of award, project title, PI, amount of annual budget, number of years, dates, one-sentence description of the project, and role in the project if you are not the PI. For current and pending projects, please note any scientific overlap with the proposed project. Append summary budget pages and abstracts for all current and pending support for all research projects for which you are the principal investigator or a co- investigator. If you do not have any current, previous, or pending support, please include the document and write NONE. (This is so we know the document has not been omitted.)
9. Critiques and scores from recently reviewed unfunded applications to national funding agencies 
10. Other information as needed (e.g., collaborative letters of support, biosketches, abstracts, appendices).
11. Institutional approval letter

A letter addressing the items listed in guideline 6 above is to be submitted separately by the Department Chair through the InfoReady competitive application portal.

When resubmitting, any materials associated with the original application, including support letters and forms, must be updated and resubmitted. No previously submitted materials or previous reviews will be transferred to a resubmission.

Only applications received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date will be accepted for the related review meeting. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.