NIH Gap Funding Program
Gap funding may be awarded to support delayed NIH-sponsored programs that have undergone peer review and have received fundable priority scores (based on clearly exceeding the historic institute paylines [usually by half] or by written confirmation from NIH). Internal Gap funding will be time-limited (up to 6 months) in order to compensate for delays in federal approval and the release of funds.
This program is not intended to address shifting NIH funding priorities nor the potential impact of changes in institutional ICR.
Priority will be given to large Center, Multi-PI, and Program Project grants, Training grants, as well as to early career investigator awards, including T32 awards, F awards, K awards, and ESI RO1 awards. Renewal of RO1 type awards where funding gaps might result in jeopardized staff or trainee support or loss of a valuable reagent (such as a bioengineered mouse colony) will also be prioritized. For training grants, personnel to whom support has been committed will be prioritized, but potential (unfilled) positions will not be funded.
Funding to sustain federally supported clinical trials will be considered with priority given to supporting jeopardized personnel and maintaining patient enrollment, provided that an argument can be made that a brief pause in recruitment would jeopardize the overall project viability.
New R01 grants from established investigators whose funding is delayed will not be prioritized.
Support will be prorated and will likely be in the order of 50% of the total direct costs of the grant and focused on salary support (especially for trainees) and other elements that if not supported would significantly jeopardize program viability.
The expectation is that awardees will commit their personal reserves and start-up funds before requesting Gap funding.
Process for applying for support
- Only applicants whose proposals align with the principles outlined above should apply.
- Applicants will be required to submit:
- A brief cover letter indicating your grant status (priority score and pay line), a best estimate as to when NIH funds should be released, the budget pages of the grant, and a list of vulnerable personnel and other grant related expenses that are essential to maintaining the viability of the research effort.
- Please also include a detailed budget request (for up to 6 months), indicating key personnel and or reagents that are necessary to sustain your research program during this funding gap.
- A short letter from the Department Chair or Unit leader should also be submitted confirming the need and also testifying that available reserves/start-up funds have been used.
- Please be sure to combine your cover letter, budget pages and your Chair’s letter of support into one PDF document prior to submittal.
- Applications will be entertained on a bi-weekly basis, starting in April 2025 and continuing through August 2025 assuming the NIH funds flow policy remains stalled.
- Applications will be reviewed by a standing SOM committee within 2 weeks of submission and if approved, funds will be released immediately thereafter.
- Applications should be submitted using link.
- Since the pool of money available to fill these gaps is finite, the expectation is that once federal funding is restored, any unencumbered Gap funds will be returned to SOM.
- If your NIH award is activated before the end of the six-month Gap funding period, the associated Gap Funding account is expected to be closed, and any unspent funds should be returned to the School of Medicine to support other investigators. Additionally, if your federal award includes retroactive funding, any expenses previously charged to the temporary SOM Gap funding speedtype should also be reimbursed.