Funding-Limited Submission – Burroughs Wellcome Fund - Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease; September 30, 2013

Five-year awards provide $500,000 to support accomplished investigators at the assistant professor level to study pathogenesis, with a focus on the interplay between human and microbial biology, shedding light on how human and microbial systems are affected by their encounters. The awards are intended to give recipients the freedom and flexibility to pursue new avenues of inquiry and higher-risk research projects that hold potential for significantly advancing the biochemical, pharmacological, immunological, and molecular biological understanding of how microbes and the human body interact.

Eligibility: Candidates will generally have an M.D., D.V.M., or Ph.D. degree. (References to degrees include all types of medical and scientific doctoral level degrees.) BWF particularly encourages human health-relevant applications from veterinary scientists. Candidates must have an established record of independent research and hold a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or equivalent (at the time of application). They must also be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or Canada at the time of application.

Conference Calls: BWF staff will hold three conference calls between August and October, 2013 for applicants who have questions about the program or eligibility to apply for the grant. Dates of calls:  August 22, September 18, October 15. See link to funding opportunity announcement below for more details.

Institutional Limit:

· A U.S. or Canadian institution— including its medical school, graduate schools, and all affiliated hospitals and research institutes—may nominate up to two candidates.

· Institutions that nominate a researcher who holds the D.V.M. will be allowed three nominations.

· Institutions may have a single additional nomination if they nominate a researcher working in pathogenic helminths, mycology, or reproductive science.

Link to Funding Opportunity Announcement

Because the sponsor limits the number of applications an institution may submit, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Eligible researchers who wish to be considered for this program should submit the following information electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at limitedsubmissions@uky.edu and a copy to his or her Associate Dean for Research by Monday, September 30, 2013:

• Title of the program (Burroughs Wellcome Fund – Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Nomination)
• Candidate’s Biosketch – use the current NIH format of 4 pages
• Scientific Abstract – one page max.
• Letter of Nomination – Include a letter from the candidate’s dean or department chair that verifies that the candidate meets the award’s eligibility requirements and has the required 75% protected time for research. The letter should describe the focus and direction of the institution’s research programs that are relevant to the proposed work and discuss how the applicant’s research fits into the organization.

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review the material and make recommendations as to the University's nominee(s). All applicants will be notified of the results. The individual(s) selected will be given sufficient time to complete the full application by the November 1, 2013 deadline.

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663.)