Hardship Awards
The UCSF Hardship Awards offer temporary funding to sustain essential research activities for investigators facing short-term funding gaps.
Funder: University of California San Francisco
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Full application deadline, Fall cycle) | May 2027 (Full application deadline, Spring cycle)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 for a one-year, non-renewable project; direct costs only.
Summary: Temporary funding for UCSF investigators to sustain research during short-term funding gaps.
Key Information: Priority to applicants who have not previously received a Hardship Award; only one application per PI per cycle.
Description
The Hardship Awards are designed to provide temporary, stop-gap funding for UCSF investigators who are facing a short-term interruption in research funding. The goal is to maintain essential research activities during a funding gap, supporting ongoing projects, extensions of current research, or the initiation of new research aims. Appropriate uses for the award include maintenance of animal colonies, patient cohorts, partial support of research personnel, or critical supplies needed to sustain research momentum and acquire preliminary data for future grants. Applicants must clearly explain the cause and impact of the funding interruption and detail how the award will help sustain their research program. The award is intended as a temporary measure, and applicants should outline steps being taken to secure future funding.
