A Novel Program to Identify, Support and Retain Biomedical Researchers Impacted by Pandemic Caregiving Challenges

The UC Davis School of Medicine has successfully pursued new funding opportunities to provide research funds to early-career biomedical researchers working on clinical research projects and facing extra-professional demands of caregiving increased by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and its funding partner – the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the School of Medicine has received a $500,000 award that will support 10 faculty members. Matching support by the School of Medicine, UC Davis Health Academic Personnel and the MIND Institute will provide program support and funding for an additional four faculty. Each will receive a $50,000 supplement to bolster research productivity and allow them to participate in small group, professional development mentoring activities. The successful application, “A Novel Program to Identify, Support and Retain Clinical Scientists Impacted by Pandemic Caregiving Challenges,” was developed by Melissa Bauman, professor and director of UC Davis Health’s Women in Medicine and Health Sciences and Colleen Clancy, professor and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel, who will serve as co-directors. Applications will be reviewed by Drs. Bauman and Clancy.

Requirements

Participation in pre-award and post-award surveys and quarterly, small group professional development mentoring activities (~2hr) facilitated by Drs. Bauman and Clancy is required. Awardees will also submit a 1-page progress report at the conclusion of the program.

• Cohort A – applications due Feb. 28, 2022, 15 month funding + quarterly meetings Apr. 1, 2022 – Jul. 31, 2023
• Cohort B – applications due May 28, 2022, 15 month funding + quarterly meetings Jul. 1, 2022 – Sep. 30, 2023

Eligibility

Please review the eligibility requirements below prior to applying and contact Anurupa Kar at hs-ucdhsfacultydevelopment@ucdavis.edu to discuss eligibility guidelines:

(i) Early-Career Faculty – All School of Medicine (SOM) assistant professors and associate professors promoted on or after Jul. 1, 2020 are eligible. The goal of this award is to regain research productivity impacted by COVID-19 related caregiving responsibilities, broadly defined to include childcare, elder care, spousal care or other COVID-19 related caregiving responsibilities.

(ii) Research Focus – Members from all faculty series are eligible to apply, though priority will be given to individuals engaged in research as their primary professional activity (50% effort or greater).

Application Details

The online application includes the following questions and a place to upload the 2-page maximum PDF/Word document response to questions #1-3 below (11pt Arial Font, 0.5” margins). Please note that a review panel of UC Davis Health faculty will read and rank the research proposals (#2 below), but only Drs. Clancy and Bauman will review the caregiving and diversity statements (#1, #3 below).

(1) Description of COVID-19 Related Caregiving Responsibilities (1/2 page max) – The goal of this award is to regain research productivity impacted by COVID-19 related caregiving responsibilities, broadly defined to include childcare, elder care, spousal care or other COVID-19 related caregiving responsibilities.

(2) Research Productivity Enhancement Proposal (1 page max) – Please describe your program of research and provide a detailed proposal and budget describing how the supplement would boost research productivity in light of COVID-19 related family caregiving responsibilities. The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Burroughs Wellcome Fund intend for these awards ($50,000) to support the advancement of promising research by earlycareer faculty whose productivity is challenged by increased family caregiving responsibilities brought about by COVID-19. Note that the purpose of the award is not to cover caregiving costs but to support the advancement of promising research by early-career faculty whose productivity is challenged by increased family caregiving responsibilities brought about by COVID-19. Allowable expenses include: technical/research staff support, grant writing support, data analysis support, buy out of clinical time, etc. Travel, bridge funding, and general lab supplies are not allowed. A limited number of awards will also allow research expenses for pilot studies, etc. that advance productivity.

(3) Diversity Statement (1/2 page max) – Please include a description of your past, present, and future contributions to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in your professional career.
https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/guidelines-writing-diversity-statement

• Are trainees eligible to apply?
  Unfortunately no. This award is limited to faculty.
• Are faculty engaged in basic science research eligible to apply?
  Yes, our funding agency supports basic science, including preclinical models.