Accelerator Grant

Program description

We will be accecpting applications for the next Accelerator Grant cycle in Fall 2023. These awards are aimed at providing seed funding for new projects and recent collaborations that both enhance interdisciplinary research and drive innovation throughout the Emory scientific community. We will fund up to five Accelerator Grants at $40,000 (direct costs) to interdisciplinary teams of Emory researchers. Preference will be given to projects and collaborations that were formed out of BDCI programming and are in alignment with the goals of the BDCI, which are to: 

  • Establish a broad and diverse network of Emory researchers at the key intersection of biology, chemistry, and human health
  • Support the translation of biological insights to chemical tools and the utilization of these tools to promote understanding of disease mechanisms
  • Accelerate the development of the next generation of chemical tools, safe & effective drugs, and diagnostic agents

Please see below for eligibility, key dates, and details on the application requirements. If you have any questions, please email Callie Wigington, Managing Director of the BDCI. 

Eligibility criteria

  1. Applicants must be a full-time faculty member, research specialist, or staff scientist at Emory University.
  2. Each applicant may be included on only one submitted Accelerator Grant proposal per funding cycle.
  3. Applicants must submit a letter of intent as well as a completed application with all of the sections outlined below.

Application process & requirements

Letter of Intent:

LOIs should include a descriptive title, names of the principal investigator and any co-applicants, as well as 2-3 sentences on the nature of the collaboration and how the goals of this project align with the mission of the BDCI. Keep in mind that preference will be given to new projects and recent collaborations, especially those that were formed through BDCI programming and events.

Submit your LOI HERE by Friday, October 27th, 2023.

Application:

Applicants should submit a compiled PDF with the following components:

  1. Cover Page - Brief cover page including the title of the project, applicant name(s), departmental affiliation(s), and signature of approval from corresponding department chair(s).
  2. Proposal - NIH-style proposal with the following sections: specific aims, significance, innovation, and approach (3-page limit, 11-point Arial font, mininum 0.5-inch margins, references not included in page limit). In your proposal, please emphasize how the proposed work aligns with the goals of the BDCI. High throughput screening-based proposals should include a section on the feasibility of assay development as well as the availability or generation plans for necessary reagents.
  3. Future Plans for federal grant submission - 1-page (~300 words) describing specific funding mechanisms and timelines planned as a result of the preliminary data obtained from this award.
  4. NIH Biosketches – Please include the PI, co-PIs, and any collaborators outside of the institution. Please also include all current and pending support from sponsored and non-sponsored sources as well as PI % effort on each award.
  5. Timeline - Anticipated timeline of major milestones during the 12-month funding period.
  6. Budget & Justification - Applicants may request 12 months of funding for up to $40,000 in direct costs. Carryover of funds to a second year will only be considered with justification under special circumstances. Faculty salary should not be included in budget proposal; however, trainee support is allowed.
  7. Collaboration - 1-page (~300 words) describing the nature of the collaboration, including the formation, maintenance, and plans for the future. Preference will be given to new projects and recent collaborations, especially those that have formed out of BDCI programming and events. If collaborations involving outside institutions are part of the proposal, letters of support from the main collaborator(s) at these institutions should be included.
  8. For proposals which include in vivo studies, applicants must include:
    • Section addressing Vertebrate Animals research
    • IACUC protocol

Submit your full application HERE by Friday, December 1st, 2023. 


Review and award process

Applications will be reviewed by an expert panel. Selected applicants will be notified by email in March 2023, with an anticipated funding start date 2 weeks after notice of award. Awardees will be expected to appropriately reference receipt of award as outlined in the notice of award in all acknowledgements, as well as provide progress and final reports. 

If you have any questions and/or concerns regarding this funding opportunity, please email Callie Wigington, Managing Director of the BDCI.