In a memo sent to Keck School of Medicine of USC faculty and staff on Aug. 3, Interim Dean Rohit Varma, MD, MPH, announced two funding programs that support the investigation of new research areas.

The Pilot Funding Program targets junior and established investigators interested in launching or transitioning to a new area of research. Priority will be given to projects obtaining feasibility data that will lead to submission of new NIH R-series or other major research proposals. Letters of intent are due to the Office of the Dean by Aug. 15 and proposals are due by Sept. 2.

The Bridge Funding Program supports principal investigators conducting research that will lead to the securing of new grant awards. The purpose of the program is to provide funds to productive principal investigators who have lost their extramural funding, but remain potentially competitive. Awards are for a period of one year and are renewable with progress and justification.

For more information about these funding opportunities, visit http://keck.usc.edu/research-alerts.

— Sara Reeve