• Full-time CU Anschutz faculty are eligible.
• Priority is given to junior faculty (Assistant and Associate Professors) from this institution with limited resources and to those from this institution submitting NIH summary statements.
• Applicants with two prior AFL awards (across all AFL tracks combined) must obtain approval from the Committee and Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Research to reapply.

1. Preliminary Research Funding – Supports early-stage activities that generate critical data, establish feasibility, strengthen collaborations, and improve competitiveness for future extramural funding. Intended for faculty who have identified a promising research opportunity but require limited support (e.g., pilot data generation, statistical support, feasibility testing) to build a competitive external application.
2. Pivot Funding – Supports established investigators adapting their research programs in response to significant changes in the external funding environment (e.g., federal funding reductions) or pursuing strategic scientific redirection, such as a transition into an emerging research area.
3. Expanded Gap Funding – Provides short-term support to investigators with a strong likelihood of future funding who do not meet eligibility requirements for traditional Bridge Funding, to preserve research momentum during temporary funding disruptions or unusual funding-timing circumstances.

Is this the right track?

Preliminary Research Funding: Best fit if you have a clearly identified future funding mechanism, a specific preliminary-data need, and deliverables achievable within 6–12 months. Lower priority: broad exploratory projects without a funding strategy, or requests for major infrastructure investments.

Pivot Funding: Best fit if you are an established investigator with a strong track record, a compelling rationale for the proposed pivot, and identifiable future sponsors or collaborators. Lower priority: vague pivots without a clear funding direction, or attempts to preserve a noncompetitive project unchanged.

Expanded Gap Funding: Best fit if you have a strong prior funding history, an active submission or resubmission plan, and a clearly defined, short-term need. Lower priority: long-term unsupported programs or repeated unsuccessful submissions without meaningful revision.

Which track fits a funding gap? Not sure whether Expanded Gap Funding or Bridge Funding is the right fit? Expanded Gap Funding is for investigators with a strong funding trajectory facing a short, unusual timing gap who do not meet Bridge Funding's formal eligibility criteria (e.g., have not yet lost all major grant funding). Bridge Funding is for investigators who have lost all major grant funding and need one-time support while preparing a resubmission. See the Bridge Funding page for details.

Funding Conditions

• Allowable expenses: research staff salaries, service contracts, animals, supplies
• Faculty salary is not allowed, except for Research Scientists and Associates (Job codes 1304-1306 & 1311). PI salary expenses are allowable if provided through departmental match.
• Funding covers the approved project period (generally 6–12 months) from the award date; extensions are rare and only granted for exceptional reasons.
• Final reports are required within 12 months post-award. Failure to submit prevents future Dean’s Office Initiative funding eligibility.
• Unsuccessful applicants can reapply in later cycles.

Application Format

Include the following components (limit: specified pages, single-spaced, Arial 11 font, ½ inch margin):

Documentation Required:

• NIH biosketch
• Specific aims for the proposed R01-type submission (1 page)
• Proposal Document: Address (1) identification of research gaps and an explanation of why addressing these gaps is vital for future applications; (2) a description of the specific experiments planned, including, if relevant, how these experiments respond to previous reviews; and (3) a proposed timeline for the experiments. (2 pages)
• Budget summary and justification for requested funds to generate preliminary data (1 page)
• The NIH Current and Pending Support document should specify the total amount of internal CU funding available, including all types of funds.
• Summary statements, or scores if summary statements are not yet available, from unfunded applications
• Chair’s letter including required match commitment (guidelines below)

Do not include appendices. Non-compliant applications will be returned.

Chair’s Letter Guidelines

• One page letter
• Junior Faculty status (if applicable)
• Ongoing salary/infrastructure support confirmation
• Research summary
• Description of departmental commitment (protected research time, salary support, personnel support, or other tangible resources); protected time may substitute for direct financial match

Submission Instructions

Submit your application by 5pm (MT) on September 30, 2026. Click here to submit: AFL APPLICATION

For questions, contact [email protected]

Award amounts are flexible and based on project needs, generally up to approximately $100,000, for a project period of 6–12 months. Budget requests must be reasonably tailored to the proposed track and activities. Funds must be spent during the award period and any unspent funds will be returned to the SOM. Funds cannot be used to support faculty salary except as noted under Funding Conditions.

AFL funds will be available to awardees for the approved project period (generally 6–12 months). After that time, any unspent funds will be returned to the SOM. The award period begins after the approved award letter has been sent to the applicant/PI. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected] .

What is AFL funding for?

Starting in FY27, AFL offers short-term strategic funding through three tracks: 

1. Preliminary Research Funding: limited support for pilot data or feasibility work to build a competitive grant application. 
2. Pivot Funding: established investigators adapting to major funding changes or pursuing a strategic scientific re-direction.
3. Expanded Gap Funding: short-term support for investigators with a strong funding record facing a brief, unusual timing gap who don't meet Bridge eligibility. 

Bridge Funding remains a separate program - see the Bridge Funding FAQ.

Which AFL track is right for me?

• Preliminary Research fits if you have a specific future funding mechanism, a clear preliminary-data need, and deliverables achievable in 6-12 months.
• Pivot fits if you are an established investigator with a strong track record, a compelling rationale for the pivot, and identified future sponsors or collaborators. 
• Expanded Gap fits if you have a strong funding history, an active submission or resubmission plan, and a clear short-term need. If you've already lost all major grant funding, Bridge Funding is likely the better fit.

Who reviews AFL applications, and what are they evaluated on?

The AFL/SIRC Review Committee is made up of clinical and research faculty from various SOM departments. The SOM Office of Research does not directly participate in reviews but can provide feedback on an application or status if requested.

How many times can I receive AFL funding?

You can apply as many times as you like. However, if you have received two or more AFL awards (all tracks combined), you must get approval from the Committee and the Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Research before reapplying. Applications that were not funded do not count toward this.

How much can I request, and for how long?

Awards typically run 6-12 months and up to $100,000, depending on project needs. The $100,000 cap excludes the departmental match component. 

Can AFL funds cover my (the PI's) salary?

Generally no, faculty salary is not allowed, except for Research Scientists and Associates. PI or faculty salary is allowed only through the departmental match, up to the matched amount (for example, up to $25,000 on a $75,000 award with a 1:3 match). Departments may commit more than the required match toward salary or protected time if desired.

Can AFL funds pay a research assistant or other staff?

Yes. Allowable costs include research staff salaries, service contracts, animals, and supplies.

Can protected research time substitute for the departmental match instead of direct funds?

Yes. If protected time (FTE) is used as match, it should be valued at the salary-and-benefits equivalent of the required match amount.

Can AFL funds support a subaward or inter-campus transfer to a collaborator at another institution (e.g., CU Boulder)?

Funds should stay within CU Anschutz where possible. However, the departmental match may support a subaward or inter-campus transfer to a collaborating PI's research personnel elsewhere. 

What does the application need to include?

Your application must include:

• NIH biosketch
• Specific aims for the proposed R01-type submission (1 page)
• Proposal Document covering research gaps, planned experiments, and timeline (2 pages)
• Budget summary and justification (1 page)
• NIH Current and Pending Support document
• Summary statements or scores from unfunded applications
• Chair's letter confirming the required match commitment (1 page)

Format: single-spaced, Arial 11 font, ½" margins. No appendices. Noncompliant applications will be returned. 

What does the Chair's letter need to include?

One page covering: junior faculty status (if applicable), a research summary, and the department's commitment. The commitment should confirm ongoing salary and infrastructure support and describe the match (protected research time, personnel support, or other tangible resources). Protected time may substitute for the direct financial match.

What happens if I don't spend all the funds during the award period?

Spend funds within the approved project period, generally 6–12 months from the award date. Unspent funds return to the SOM and support other deserving applicants. Extensions are rare and granted only for exceptional reasons. To request one, email [email protected] for the request link.

Does my AFL award need a Fund 35 / Speedtype setup?

The Office of Research will work with the SOM Finance Office to establish the award speedtype. However, the department will be responsible for setting up the matching speedtype and sending to [email protected] once established.

What's required after the award ends?

A final report is required within 12 months of the award ending. Reminders will be sent one month following the end date of the award. Failure to submit prevents future Dean's Office Initiative funding eligibility.