Translational Research Scholars Program (TRSP)

• Applicants must be within the first 4 years of their Assistant Professor or Research Assistant Professor appointment at the time of the award (years at the Instructor level do not count against this limitation). For the current cycle of awards with a start date of July 1, 2024, the Assistant Professor appointment date must have been on July 1, 2020 or later. A one-year extension to the eligibility period is granted for childbirth/adoption within the first 4 years of the Assistant Professor or Research Assistant Professor appointment, consistent with the NIH ESI extension policy. Consistent with NIH policy, please provide the child’s date of birth when you submit your LOI.
  
• Applicants must hold the MD, DO, PhD, or DVM-equivalent degree.
  
• Applicants must have a primary appointment in a Department within the SOM and must be working at the Anschutz Medical Campus, Rocky Mountain VAMC, Denver Health, or National Jewish Health. Applicants must be engaged in highly creative, hypothesis-driven translational research. The Department Chair must pledge to protect 75% of the effort/time of the applicant for the duration of their appointment as a Scholar. The Department Chair must agree to provide 50% of the $75,000/year award, with the other 50% to be provided by the SOM.
  
• Individuals from traditionally under-represented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Objective accomplishments should include novel high impact papers and new research accomplishments that are expected to result in eventual additional R01 or R01-equivalent grant support. 
  
• Initiation of novel areas of translational research or innovation. 
  
• Awardees are expected to attend monthly meetings with other translational research scholars and program leadership. 
  
• Individual departments may have additional expectations of awardees. For instance, Department of Medicine (DOM) awardees are expected to attend and participate in organization of the annual DOM Research Day, to attend at least 25% of the Thursday noon DOM Research and Innovation Conferences (RIC), and to present their research at 1 of these RIC conferences during the period of the award. 
  

A one-page letter of intent is required so the program leaders can verify that the applicant’s research is eligible for this RFA or can provide further advice, and for planning the study section review:

• Name and contact information
• Faculty rank, primary affiliation, date of Assistant Professor appointment
• Proposed title of application
• Brief description of proposed work (no more than ½ page).
• Explain how this work qualifies as translational research.

The letter of intent is due November 1, 2024. Applicants will be notified by November 18, 2024 if they are invited to submit a full proposal.

LOIs will only be accepted through the following link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/1ab5505d6a094e0bbfa4e96cd638168c

Application Requirements:

• Title page, including:
  
  • Name and contact information
    
  • Faculty rank, primary affiliation, date of Assistant Professor appointment
    
  • Title of application and 200-word abstract
    
• No more than three (3) pages of narrative text addressing the areas listed below:
  
  • Summary of candidate and vision for how TRSP funding will elevate your translational research program (approx 1 page): describe how the proposed project and ideas will expand your current research efforts in new significant and innovative areas.
    
  • Overview of Experimental Strategy (approx 1½ pages): Provide a brief synopsis of experimental plans and approaches.
    
  • Career development plans: (approx ½ page): Outline your overall career goals and describe how TRSP funding will support your career development.
    
• References, not included in three-page narrative limit (no limit on references)
  
• Curriculum vitae
  
• Other support document (NIH format preferred)
  
• Up to three letters of recommendation (at least one from outside the CU system)
  
• A nomination letter from the candidate’s Department Chair (and Division Head, if applicable).

Applications will be evaluated by an ad hoc committee composed of non-conflicted School of Medicine faculty.

• Complete applications are due January 24, 2025 for a July 1, 2025 start date.
• It is anticipated that 6 awards will be made in July 2025.

Submission Process:

• Submissions will only be accepted from those invited to submit a full proposal based on their LOI.
  
• A link to submit a full proposal will be sent to those invited based on their LOI.

Selection Criteria:

• Candidate’s previous accomplishments, based on but not limited to the following criteria: publication record, prior/current funding record, and letters of recommendation. Successful applicants are typically those deemed to be on the strongest career trajectory in their peer group.
  
• Candidate’s vision for the development of future innovative translational research.
  
• Candidate’s current research environment and mentoring team.
  
• Competitive applicants will usually have already obtained extramural funding (NIH or equivalent career development or independent grants) and have published original research articles in high impact journals. No limit is imposed on the amount or type of extramural funding an applicant has already obtained.
  
• An additional goal of this program is to promote diversity of the research and research investigators in the School of Medicine.
  
• It is anticipated that 6 awards will be made in July 2024.

RFA TRSP

Key Dates

• Letter of intent due date: November 1, 2024
• Invitation to submit full application: November 18, 2024
• Full application due date (submit single, combined PDF): January 24, 2025

For questions regarding program:
Jennifer Kemp, PhD (Jennifer.T.Kemp@CUAnschutz.edu)

For questions regarding the application process:
Paul Wood, MA (Paul.Wood@CUAnschutz.edu)

For letter of intent submission:
LOIs will only be accepted through the following link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/1ab5505d6a094e0bbfa4e96cd638168c

Program Co-Directors:
David Schwartz, MD
Sean Colgan, PhD

View the 2022 Translation Research Scholars >

View the 2023 Translation Research Scholars >

View the 2024 Translation Research Scholars >