Research Project Awards (RPA)
Research Project Awards (RPA) support early-stage faculty in developing research programs involving undergraduates, funding research and faculty release time to help secure independent NIH R15 or R16 funding.
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Funder: Kentucky IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence
Due Dates: December 1, 2026 (Letter of intent) | December 18, 2026 (Completed proposal) | January 15, 2027 (Annual progress report)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 in direct costs annually for two years ($100,000 total), plus F&A costs
Summary: Supports early-stage faculty developing undergraduate research programs competitive for independent NIH R15 or R16 funding.
Key Information: Institutions must provide 50% teaching release; PIs may teach no more than two courses or six credit hours per semester.
Description
KY INBRE Research Project Awards support promising early-stage investigators in building research programs involving undergraduate students, with the central goal of securing independent NIH R15 or R16 funding. The two-year mechanism targets junior faculty who have established a research laboratory, collected preliminary data, and gained experience mentoring undergraduate researchers. New faculty previously supported by KY INBRE Start-Up or Pilot Project awards are encouraged to apply.
The program connects research development with student participation, peer-reviewed publication, and presentation at the KY INBRE Annual Research Conference. Awards support research expenses and partial faculty release time while investigators develop competitive NIH proposals. Funding decisions emphasize scientific merit, relevance to NIH programs, and the likelihood that support will lead to a successful R15 or R16 application.
