Independence Support Award
The UCSF Independence Support Award provides bridge funding for researchers to address reviewer critiques and strengthen resubmissions of previously unfunded NIH R01 or equivalent grant applications.
Funder: University of California San Francisco
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 for a one-year, non-renewable project; direct costs only.
Summary: Provides bridge funding to UCSF investigators to address critiques from an unfunded NIH R01 or equivalent application and strengthen resubmission.
Key Information: For UCSF faculty and eligible appointees who have completed a career development award and submitted an unfunded R01.
Description
The Independence Support Award is designed to help UCSF investigators who have completed an NIH K-series or equivalent extramural career development award and have submitted, but not received, funding for an NIH R01 (or equivalent) application. The award provides up to $50,000 in direct costs for a one-year, non-renewable project. The primary objective is to enable researchers to address reviewer criticisms from their unfunded R01-like proposal—such as insufficient preliminary data—so they can strengthen and resubmit a more competitive application for future extramural funding.
