2017 Bridge Funding Award

The Bridge Funding Award is designed to stabilize a research program of a promising physician scientist in the field of perinatal biology and medicine who has not been successful in obtaining independent research funding or who has a temporary lapse in funding. This award is made possible with generous support from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) Education Foundation and will be for a one-year period from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018.

Bridge funds are intended to enhance the likelihood of successful application for other funding opportunities by enabling ongoing research productivity and by ensuring that essential research personnel are not lost due to lapses in funding. Priority will be given to programs with a strong likelihood that the investigator will successfully garner independent external funding by the end of the award. The proposed research should address important problems in perinatal biology and medicine. Basic and translational research projects are encouraged. Women and under-represented minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants who have successfully completed a funded research training award (e.g. AAOGF/ABOG, AAOGF/SMFM, BIRCWH, WRHR, RSDP, or another mentored training award) are encouraged to apply. The award will be for $75,000 for one year. No indirect costs are allowed.

Maternal-Fetal Medicine Investigators who are at the rank of Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology or above, who have successfully completed mentored research training or have previously had an R01 grant, and who have applied for funding but who have not been successful in either obtaining or maintaining independent research funding may apply. Investigators with a K or any R award for the proposed period of bridge funding are not eligible. Assurance of adequate protected research time (a minimum of 50%) for the research project and a delineation of financial support provided by the applicant’s department or institution will be important factors in considering applications.

Complete application instructions can be found here. Applicants should send the application materials electronically by August 15, 2017, to Michelle DiVito, Foundation for SMFM Scholarly Activities Coordinator, at mdivito@smfm.org. Inquiries should be directed to Michelle DiVito by email or telephone (202-517-7094).

Funding decisions will be made by September 30, 2017.