Pandemic Research Recovery
researcher in a lab wearing a mask

Supporting promising research that was negatively impacted by the pandemic.

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The Medical School Office of Research is committed to supporting the research endeavors of our community during both prosperous and challenging times. COVID-19 has disrupted research and training programs and continues to expose inequities in the impact of the pandemic on our investigators. Some research programs have experienced ongoing pandemic-related effects, including disruptions to research and patient populations, obstacles in hiring and retaining qualified staff, and the impact of personal circumstances on professional activities.

As such, the Medical School Office of Research developed the Pandemic Research Recovery (PRR) program, which aims to reinvigorate promising research activity that has been negatively impacted by the pandemic. The PRR supports the restoration of research programs by establishing new mechanisms to bridge revised grant applications, bolstering researchers disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and mitigating lost research progress. It is a needs-based program crafted in partnership with departments. Applicants should be able to clearly articulate how the COVID-19 pandemic and research-related, institutional factors or requirements negatively impacted them and their research progress.

Faculty Awards

The PRR program provides needs-based awards to faculty who had a strong pre-COVID research trajectory and who need assistance recovering lost research productivity resulting from pandemic-related circumstances. These circumstances include both direct and staff-related circumstances, such as extensive caregiving duties, loss and suffering due to COVID, extended pandemic-related clinical duties, issues with access to key resources, etc., which have resulted in lost progress to a faculty member’s overall research program. Hardships should be directly tied to the pandemic and the faculty member’s ability to submit an extramural grant, including initial applications, competing renewal applications, and resubmissions.

  • Maximum of $100,000 for one year of funding – up to $50,000 from the Medical School Office of Research, with a 1:1 match required from the PI’s department.
  • Funds directed towards strengthening a future grant application
  • The upcoming deadline of Monday, September 16 at 11:59pm is the final cycle of the PRR program.
  • Early-career faculty (Assistant rank) will be prioritized in the determination of these awards. Applications will be competitively reviewed, and awards will be announced 6-7 weeks after the deadline.

CLICK HERE for more details and to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

No.  The PRR program is open to all ranks and all tracks in the Medical School.   We know that all have been impacted by the pandemic and needs will vary by individual.  The intent is to reach those with the greatest needs, regardless of stage of career.

Yes.  Animal projects that are funded with the internal funds from the program will have additional charges of a Quality Assurance Fee (QAF) as described in the Specialized Service section of the campus page on indirect costs.
 
Of note, junior faculty  in the first two years of appointment may be eligible to receive an exemption of the QAF.  ULAM is happy to review budgets for animal projects to ensure PIs / rad Students have good estimated for true cost.  Please reach to Marc Wolf (marcwolf@umich.edu) for help or information.

Questions?