Purpose: The VCU Accelerate Fund (Accelerate) supports high-profile, launch-ready initiatives designed to yield measurable results in research, scholarship and creative practice with a critical priority of improving the human condition. Funded projects should be designed to reach a very specific outcome or establish capability to submit a competitive application for external funding within a short term (e.g., 6–12-month period after the award is completed). Examples of appropriate Accelerate projects include smaller contained projects with tangible outcomes, small project expansion or mid-scale planning proposals.

Eligibility: Transdisciplinary research, including multiple principal investigators (PIs) is required. This is defined as research that combines two or more areas of study into a seamless project. PIs may be from the same school/college. PIs may be any full-time VCU faculty, research faculty or clinician researcher regardless of rank or tenure status, whose appointments are approved by the dean of their college or school. Inclusive research teams encompassing meaningful participation of all members are strongly encouraged, including URM faculty, early-stage investigators, trainees and students. Projects must demonstrate alignment with a strategic priorities plan initiative, along with specific goal(s) and objective(s).

Award: Funding awards are up to $100,000 total, with a project period of 12-18 months and an anticipated award start date of May 1, 2022.

Application submission: The deadline for proposals has passed.

Questions: Please direct all questions to Melissa Throckmorton, director of research development and strategic projects, the OVPRI.

Purpose: VCU Breakthroughs Fund (Breakthroughs) supports transdisciplinary teams to design unique, creative and innovative large-scale approaches to confront humanity’s grand challenges as identified in the One VCU Research Strategic Priorities Plan. Successful projects are designed to reach very specific outcomes or establish the capability to compete for external funding upon award completion.

Eligibility: Transdisciplinary research, including multiple principal investigators (PIs) is required. This is defined as research that combines two or more areas of study into a seamless project. PIs must be from at least two different VCU schools or colleges. PIs may be any full-time VCU faculty, research faculty or clinician researcher regardless of rank or tenure status, whose appointments are approved by the dean of their college or school. Inclusive research teams encompassing meaningful participation of all members are strongly encouraged, including URM faculty, early-stage investigators, trainees and students. Projects must demonstrate alignment with a strategic priorities plan initiative, along with specific goal(s) and objective(s).

Award period: Funding awards are up to $200,000 total, with a project period of 18-24 months and an anticipated award start date of June 1, 2022.

Application submission: Both the letter of intent and the written proposal will be submitted via RAMS-SPOT Internal Opportunities. Late submissions of either the letter of intent or full proposal will not be considered.

Letter of intent: The deadline for submitting a non-binding letter of intent has passed.

Full proposal: The deadline for proposals has passed.

Questions: Please direct all questions to Melissa Throckmorton, director of research development and strategic projects, the OVPRI.

Purpose: The goal of the VCU Quest Fund (Quest: formerly the VCU Presidential Research Quest Fund) is to afford all faculty an internal funding opportunity to support new, emerging or continuing research. Research proposals that advance any discipline and area of research focus are appropriate for consideration. Requests for grant support may be based on a broad array of needs, from restarting an inactive research program to pilot studies that would produce preliminary results on which external grant applications could be based. Proposed work that helps advance transdisciplinary research, multidisciplinary research and cross-campus collaboration, as well as research that has the potential for translation to practice or market, is especially encouraged.

Eligibility: The VCU Quest fund encourages trans- and multidisciplinary project proposals, as well as single-investigator projects. PIs may be any full-time VCU faculty, research faculty or clinician researcher regardless of rank or tenure status, whose appointments are approved by the dean of their college or school. Inclusive research teams encompassing meaningful participation of all members, are strongly encouraged, including URM faculty, early-stage investigators, trainees and students.

The following stipulations include current and past Presidential Research Quest Fund awardees, as well as future Quest awardees:

• Faculty receiving a grant from the VCU Quest Fund as either a PI or co-PI must delay subsequent applications to the Quest for a specified time depending on their rank. Early-stage (pre-tenure) faculty may submit a second proposal three years from the termination date of their first award. Senior faculty (tenured) are required to wait four years from the termination date of their first award; and
  
  
• No faculty member may receive more than two Quest awards in a 10-year period. Projects must demonstrate alignment with a Strategic Research Priorities Plan initiative, along with specific goal(s), and objective(s).

Funding period: Funding awards are up to $50,000 total, with a project period of 18 months from July 1, 2022 – Dec. 31, 2023. There is a required 25% cost share.

Full proposal: Application packages must be submitted via RAMS-SPOT Internal Opportunities no later than 5 p.m. (EDT), April 1, 2022.

Questions: For specific questions about proposal budgets, cost-share commitments, school/college level review and endorsement signatures, contact your associate dean for research. All other questions may be directed to Melissa Throckmorton, director of research development and strategic projects, the OVPRI.

Purpose: Through a partnership between the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, the VCU Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Fund is designed to support, facilitate and enhance the creation, production and dissemination of arts, humanities and social sciences research and creative activity at any stage of development, including initial or mid-stage project development, presentation or performance, and final publication. 

Eligibility: Principal investigators must be any full-time VCU faculty regardless of rank or tenure status. Both single- and multi-scholar or artist grants are eligible.

Award Period: Funding up to $10,000 total for 12 months. The award date is June 15, 2022, with a start date July 1, 2022, and project end date of June 30, 2023.

Full proposal deadline: Application packages must be submitted via RAMS-SPOT Internal Opportunities here: Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Fund (OP00000444) no later than 5 p.m. (EST), April 15, 2022. You will receive a confirmation email upon receipt. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline for any reason.

Questions: Please direct all questions to Melissa Throckmorton, director of research development and strategic projects, the OVPRI.