Limited Submission Funding Opportunity: Keck Foundation Research Program
URL: http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/research
OBJECTIVES:
The research program focuses on Basic Science that produces scientific breakthroughs and paradigm shifting work. They fund projects in two specific areas:
- Medical research – http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/research/medical-research-grant-abstracts/medical-research-2020
- Science and engineering – http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/research/medical-research-grant-abstracts/science-and-engineering-2020
Funded projects will be distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, have the potential to break open new territory in their field, or create an entirely new area of study. Past grants have supported pioneering biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation and methodologies.
FUNDING INFORMATION:
The Foundation rarely makes research grants smaller than $800K and more than $1 million over 3 years.
ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS:
Research universities, medical colleges and major private independent scientific and medical research institutes are eligible to apply to the Research Program.
Funding is awarded to universities and institutions nationwide for projects in research that:
- Focus on important and emerging areas of research;
- Have the potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation or methodologies;
- Are innovative, distinctive, and interdisciplinary;
- Demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches, or by challenging the prevailing paradigm;
- Have the potential for transformative impact, such as the founding of a new field of research, the enabling of observations not previously possible, or the altered perception of a previously intractable problem;
- Keck does not fund clinical or translational research, treatment trials or research for the sole purpose of drug development; They also do not fund disease-specific research, environmental conversation or monitoring, purely theoretical projects, follow-on funding, device development, or Public Health;
- Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies;
- Have been recently denied funding by a federal funding agency expressly because the project was judged too high risk or early stage. The foundation prefers to see the rejection in writing.
INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS:
A faculty committee drawn from both campuses will review internal proposals and select nominees.
Keck requests one university liaison; therefore, please do not contact the Foundation directly. For any questions, please contact Joe Loftus, Senior Associate Director of Foundation Relations at joloftus@bu.edu.
Interested candidates should submit the following materials through InfoReady Review by Monday, June 7, 2021:
- Questions outlined in InfoReady Review application;
- Up-to-date CV;
- One page single-spaced concept paper*, which includes:
- An overview of the proposed project emphasizing any unique aspects and pilot studies (indicate area of emphasis for project) and background to put the research into perspective
- A description of the methodologies – please be specific about how the project will be conducted and how the PI will achieve their goals. Focus on the What and the How. For example, highlight project challenges and innovative ways the PI will overcome them.
- Key personnel
- Impact – how will this project be a scientific leap forward? How is this project transformational? What makes this project distinctive?
- Brief justification of the need for Keck support (demonstrate a federal rejection of the project on the grounds that it is too high risk or early stage and that Keck is the funder of last resort)
- Funding amount request along with breakdown – personnel, supplies, etc.
*Please avoid illustrations. For more insight on what makes a compelling application, please download our guidelines.
DEADLINES:
Internal Materials Due: Monday, June 7, 2021
Sponsor Deadline: Monday, November 1, 2021