Resident Funding Opportunities

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Resident Research Funding (RRF) Program

Background

The Resident Clinical and Translational Research Funding (RRF) program will provide up to $2000 per academic year to UCSF residents for qualified clinical and translational research expenses not covered by their mentor or other sources. Applications require the description of a proposed project that the funds will be used for, to be conducted under the guidance of a research mentor. Applications will be accepted twice a year and the most meritorious projects will be funded. The funds may be used for qualified research expenses as defined by official UCSF policy, including materials, tuition, design and biostatistics consultation, analytic support and study-related travel. This money cannot be used to attend and/or present abstracts at scientific meetings (see Travel Grants). Basic science applications that do not include human subjects or use human specimens will not be accepted. Hardware and software purchases, and travel for purposes other than to present an abstract, are permitted if required by the project, but are generally considered less worthy of funding than other expenditures. Salary support and entertainment are not permitted. Priority for funding will be based upon the quality of the research protocol, feasibility and the potential to advance the applicant's research career. Only one application may be submitted for each application cycle, but previous awardees may submit a proposal in subsequent cycles. Residents are allowed to receive a maximum of two research grants.

For each round of funding, UCSF faculty members review research proposals, and projects are awarded. The projects span a variety of clinical disciplines and methodologic approaches. View previous awardee list (PDF 16KB).

RRF Requirements

Applicants and Projects

  • Must be a full-time UCSF resident in the School of Medicine at the time funds are awarded, and must be able to complete data collection and analysis for the specified project while a resident. Students and fellows are not eligible.
  • Must have a faculty mentor who submits a letter of support.
  • NEW REQUIREMENT: Must have completed the DCR (Designing Clinical Research) course or equivalent didactic training (e.g. MPH or PhD in Epidemiology).
  • Must be willing to give yearly updates on the status of the project until completion.
  • Must complete future career-tracking surveys and acknowledge funding in any related presentations and publications.
  • Project should be largely designed, funded and conducted by the resident as opposed to the mentor.
  • Only one award per resident is allowed.

Funds

  • Must be used in the 12 months following the award.
  • Must be used for the activities detailed in the application.
  • Must be used for research expenses such as biostatistical consultation, statistical analysis, data collection, participant remuneration, sample collection, processing fees or similar.
  • Cannot be used for travel to attend scientific meetings, regardless of whether or not an abstract is to be presented.
  • Cannot be used to purchase books or other academic supplies.
  • Cannot be used for hardware purchases.
  • Funding may be awarded for the following activities/uses/expenses but these requests will be given lower priority:
    • Training or workshop costs directly related to the research project.
    • Travel necessary to collect data or conduct research.
    • Software purchases.

Application Instructions and Deadlines

Documents Required to Apply: Please collect before completing the online application. Only PDF versions of the following documents will be accepted:

  • Current CV
  • Letter of Support: A brief letter from your Research Mentor, stating that s/he supports the proposal request and if an award is made, that s/he will support the applicant to maximize the probability of a successful project.

View successful applications from previous funding cycles:

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Resident Research Travel (RRT) Program

Up to $600 of travel funding per academic year will be offered by the Resident Research Travel (RRT) Program to UCSF full-time residents (or equivalent clinical trainees) to present their clinical or translational research at a clinical or scientific conference. This work must have been completed during residency and resulted in a scientific abstract. It is anticipated that projects will have matching funds provided by the resident's home department or their research mentor. The funds may be used for qualified research expenses as defined by official UCSF policy, including conference enrollment fees, travel, food, and lodging expenses for the award recipient to present the project as well as poster creation fees. Salary support and entertainment are not permitted. Priority for funding will be based upon the quality of the completed research and willingness to present at the local CTSI Resident Research Symposium (RRSy), and the potential to advance the applicant's research career. Previous awardees may apply and residents may submit multiple proposals, but only one proposal per resident will be funded per academic year.

RRT Requirements and Restrictions

  1. Must be a full-time UCSF resident from any department in the School of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing or Pharmacy at the time funds are awarded and the travel is to be completed. Students and fellows are not eligible.
  2. Awardees are expected to present the results of their work at the CTST-sponsored Resident Research Symposium (RRSy) scheduled every year in May.
  3. Projects must be hypothesis driven; clinical vignettes are not allowed.
  4. Applicants must provide a letter of support from a faculty mentor, department chair, or program director that ensures matching funding for the resident for travel.
  5. Research must be already submitted to the conference, and either accepted or pending at the time of the application. Funding will be forfeited if the research is not accepted for presentation.
  6. Awardees must submit written documentation of the presentation time and date and retain appropriate receipts prior to reimbursement of funds.
  7. Funds must be used for the travel expenses detailed in the application.
  8. Reimbursement is not available for travel completed prior to award date.
  9. Must use the travel award funds within 6 months following the award.
  10. Awardees must keep and submit original receipts for reimbursement to Christian Leiva.

Application Instructions and Deadlines

  • Spring 2013 RRT Application is closed

Documents Required to Apply: Please collect before completing the online application. Only PDF versions of the following documents will be accepted:

  • Conference Abstract: An abstract you have submitted or plan to submit.
  • Submission Form: The form you fill out for the conference you are submitting/have submitted to.
  • Acceptance Forms, if applicable.
  • Letter of Support: A brief letter from your Mentor, Program Director or Department Chair stating the he or she supports the proposal request and if an award is made, that he or she will provide matching funds for your travel. Please have them write it on institution letterhead and include name, title, school, and department. Letter writer should provide applicant with a copy to upload.

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See also: Resident Training & Advancement Opportunities

Accelerate is managed by the UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), part of the Clinical and Translational Science Award program funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (Grant Number UL1 TR000004) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Cite CTSI NIH Funding Acknowledgment: Important — All publications resulting from the utilization of CTSI resources are required to credit the CTSI grant by including the NIH Funding Acknowledgment and must comply with NIH Public Access Policy.