Full-time faculty at CU Anschutz, Children’s Hospital, VA, or National Jewish with indirect costs assigned to the School of Medicine may apply. Support is available in two categories: (1) Established Investigators who have lost major grant funding but are likely to regain support with bridge funding, and (2) Beginning Investigators whose start-up funding has ended without securing independent support.

Established Investigators must have lost all major grant funding (less than $75,000 total research funding remaining). Salary support is excluded from this total.

Beginning Investigators must not have previously competed successfully as PI for a substantial independent extramural research award (e.g., an NIH R01 or equivalent), consistent with NIH’s definition of a New/Early Stage Investigator, and their CU Anschutz start-up funds must have ended, or be ending, without independent extramural support secured.

Applicants with two prior Bridge Funding awards require Committee and Dean approval to reapply.

Bridge Funding Requirements and Application

Reviews occur in April, July, and November following application submissions. Up to $50,000 may be awarded to a maximum of 7 applicants per cycle (20 annually), combined across both Established and Beginning Investigator categories.

Applications must include a commitment of 1:1 departmental match confirmed in a letter from the applicant’s Chair. All applications are reviewed by a committee of investigators from various departments across the School of Medicine.

Bridge funds will be available to awardees for a one-year period. After that time, any unspent funds will be returned to the SOM. The one-year 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] .

• A progress report will be sent to you via email approximately one year after receipt of the funds.
• Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in future cycles.
• Successful applicants may reapply once if eligibility and progress requirements are demonstrated.

If the applicant is successful in obtaining outside funding before receipt of, or during the time of this grant, notification must be provided to the Office of Research within 30 days of the extramural award notice, and unused funds should be returned to the Dean’s Office so that they can be used for support of additional faculty members.

What is Bridge funding for?

Bridge Funding provides temporary financial support to PIs who have lost all major grant funding while they prepare and submit new applications. (If you haven’t lost all major funding but face a short, unusual funding gap, see the AFL Funding FAQ's Expanded Gap Funding track instead.)

Who reviews Bridge applications?

The Bridge Funding Committee is made up of clinical and research faculty from several SOM departments. Applications are reviewed three times per year following each cycle's submission deadline.

Am I a “Beginning” or “Established” Investigator?

Both categories require less than $75,000 in total research funding remaining (excluding salary support). Your category depends on your funding history:

• Established Investigator: You have lost all major grant funding and are likely to regain support with Bridge funding.
• Beginning Investigator: You have not yet won a substantial independent extramural award as PI (e.g., an NIH R01 or equivalent), consistent with NIH's New/Early Stage Investigator definition. Your CU Anschutz start-up funds have also ended or are ending, with no independent extramural support in place.

Investigators in the final year of a K award who are submitting a first R01 are classified as Beginning, even with an Associate or Full Professor title.

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

No. Faculty salary cannot be requested under Bridge funding because of the program's annual reporting requirements to the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges).

How much can I request, and how many awards are made per cycle?

Up to $50,000 per applicant, with up to 7 awards per cycle (20 annually), across Established and Beginning Investigator combined.

Is a departmental match required?

Yes, a 1:1 departmental match. The applicant’s Chair confirms it in the letter of support submitted with the application.

How many times can I receive Bridge funding?

You can apply as many times as you like. However, if you have received two or more Bridge awards 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 long do I have to use the funds?

Funds are available for a one-year period, beginning after the approved award letter is sent to the PI and the award speedtype is established. Unspent funds after the end date of the award are returned to SOM.

What if I get outside funding while my Bridge award is active?

Notify the Office of Research within 30 days of the extramural award notice. Return unused Bridge funds to the Dean's Office to fund other deserving applicants.

Does my Bridge 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 SOM[email protected] once established.

Is there a one-year review requirement?

Yes. 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.