UCSF's Resource Allocation Program (RAP) Calls For Fall Cycle Applications

UCSF's Resource Allocation Program (RAP), which offers a single online application process for a wide variety of intramural grant offerings, is now inviting applications for the Fall 2015 cycle.

The electronic submission deadline is Monday, September 21, at 2 p.m.

During the Spring 2015 cycle, RAP reviewed 158 applications and made 71 awards; more than $2.5 million was distributed for UCSF researchers. Approximately 45 percent of all applicants received grants.

The relative high funding rate is largely due to the unique RAP process: Each application is considered simultaneously by multiple funding agencies, thus enhancing the likelihood of support for a proposal.

RAP is a campus-wide program with the aim of coordinating intramural research funding opportunities for the UCSF campus, while allowing the participating funding agencies to maintain full autonomy over their funding mechanisms and awardees. Through this collaborative effort, RAP facilitates the dissemination, submission, review and award of intramural research funding opportunities at UCSF. 

All programs on campus are welcome to use RAP to coordinate their funding competitions, and all faculty members are invited to become reviewers to boost the review process and improve research.

New Electronic Application and Review Portal

RAP is updating its process technology to both strengthen and ease the submission and review processes. Last cycle, the RAP electronic application form was redesigned to offers new benefits and ease of use to the applicants. With a simple log in, applicants are able to create an account and view the status of their submissions through a personal dashboard.

The new application automatically saves work in progress and allows for a stepwise submission. The system alerts applicants of missing application components and applicants are able to independently edit their submissions until the competition is closed.  Phase two of our technology update, a robust online review process, will be launched this fall cycle.

New Fall 2015 Funding Opportunities 

• The Preterm Birth Initiative (PTBi) East Africa, sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is offering the “East Africa Award in Preterm Birth,” a $40,000 grant designed to develop new talent and build research capacity in the area of prematurity. This award aims to promote relationships between East African and UCSF investigators and support innovative research that will lead to additional future funding. PTBi East Africa will work in sites in Western Kenya, Eastern Uganda, and Rwanda to reduce neonatal mortality due to prematurity and to improve quality of care during the antenatal, intrapartum and immediate postnatal periods.
• The Core Center for Musculoskeletal Biology and Medicine (CCMBM) Pilot/Feasibility Program sponsors both the “Pilot for Junior Investigators” and the “Pilot for Established Investigators” by funding awards in the amount of $25,000 to applicants that are Full Members of the Center.  Instructions for becoming a member can be found here. The goal of the CCMBM is to stimulate and support transdisciplinary collaborations in order to accelerate translational research in osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. A unique strength is the linkage formed between scientists who study disease biology, researchers who analyze vast archives of clinical data, and clinicians who have active clinical practices. These interactions create significant potential for new research collaborations that lead to clinically significant discoveries.
• The "Under-Represented Faculty & Senior Fellows In Clinical and Translational Research Awards", sponsored by CTSI-SOS, has expanded the eligibility to now include senior faculty, associate and full professors, and faculty who belong to the Professional Research Series.

The RAP website contains information and resources useful in preparing a RAP grant submission. To learn eligibility criteria visit https://rap.ucsf.edu/grants/ 

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