UPIBI Collaborative Research Grant Program

The Universal Platform for Integrative Biomedical Innovation (UPIBI) is launching a funding initiative designed to foster new interdisciplinary collaborations between biomedical informatics researchers and investigators from other fields. These grants aim to catalyze innovative partnerships that lead to successful R01-level funding. Awards will be made through a competitive peer review process.

The maximum award is $50,000 per year, with a potential one-year renewal contingent on the submission of an R01 proposal with at least two Co-Principal Investigators. Funds may be used to support research personnel, data collection, software development, or other project-related expenses. Faculty salaries are not eligible under this program.

Eligibility Criteria

  • The primary applicant must be a UPIBI Senior Fellow with current external funding.
  • The project must involve a collaborator from outside the informatics field who is not affiliated with UPIBI. Collaborations involving clinical or real-world data are strongly encouraged.
  • Proposals must clearly demonstrate the potential to build new or strengthen existing collaborations across institutional departments.

Application Process

  • All application materials should be submitted to Camille Nguyen by 5:00 p.m. CST on December 15, 2025. Submissions must include:
    • Abstract: 500 words or fewer (not included in page limit)
    • Budget and justification: Itemized cost estimates with brief rationale for personnel, equipment, or other research needs
    • NIH Biosketches: Required for both the applicant and Co-PI
    • Research proposal: Maximum 5 pages (Arial 11pt, 1-inch margins) including Aims, Significance, Approach, and plans for future external funding. Proposals must emphasize cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Review Process

  • A panel of UPIBI Senior Fellows will evaluate applications. Panel members will be announced upon completion of the selection process.

Program Requirements

  • Funded investigators will be required to:
    • Submit a final report and financial summary OR an R01 submission acknowledging UPIBI support
    • Provide project summaries and updates for inclusion on the UPIBI website
    • Acknowledge UPIBI funding in all related presentations and publications

UPIBI Conference Travel Awards

UPIBI is offering five travel grants of $3,000 each to support junior faculty attendance at the upcoming Annual Symposium of the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA).

Eligible applicants must be assistant professors at UPIBI-affiliated institutions. Priority will be given to faculty who have not previously attended an AMIA Symposium.

To apply, send a brief statement outlining your research interests and the professional benefits of attending the conference to cnguyen@upibi.org by September 31, 2025.

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