In a constantly evolving landscape, researchers seeking extramural funding for their projects are facing numerous challenges and roadblocks. To address disruptions in funding, the Heersink School of Medicine offers various Bridge Funding programs to assist investigators who have experienced lapses in research funding.
“Bridge Funding programs like these are vital for medical research,” said Anupam Agarwal, M.D., dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. “They’re able to give our faculty security and stability, so that they can continue to pursue groundbreaking results that help patients worldwide.”
Traditional Bridge Funding supports investigators who have experienced a temporary halt in external funding. The award provides $75,000 in Heersink funding for one year. In order to qualify, the investigator’s research proposal must have scored better than the 35th percentile.
In May 2025, Heersink introduced Under Extended Review Bridge Funding, which provides funding for proposals that had received a “fundable score” but funding decisions were delayed because of delays in Advisory Council meetings. This program offers investigators a transition plan that would assist in managing uncertainties relating to funding gaps, such as impacts to staff and trainee support. This program provides $37,500 in funding for six months.
For faculty who hold a primary appointment in Heersink, the REFRESH Award provides support when sponsored research programs have experienced unexpected disruptions, such as grant terminations. Introduced in January 2026, this award supports faculty holding a rank of assistant professor or higher as they pivot or modify their research for future external funding. REFRESH provides $100,000 in funding for one year, with the possibility of a one-year renewal.
To prevent disruptions to high-impact research, the President’s Office introduced UAB-Presidential Bridge Funding in January 2026. The program provides funding to maintain continuity for projects experiencing delayed federal funding. Providing as much as $100,000 from the Office of the President for up to a year, the award aims to provide support to retain research staff and students as well as build and sustain self-directing research funding for faculty.
Faculty are dealing with temporary funding gaps, grant terminations and needing to reassess, adapt, and reposition their research programs for future success. “When these events happen, it’s not just projects that are affected—it’s people,” said Etty “Tika” Benveniste, Ph.D., senior vice dean of the Heersink School of Medicine. “These bridge funding programs help investigators maintain momentum, support their teams, and remain competitive for future external funding, so promising research doesn’t lose ground.”
For funding opportunities, researchers can use Pivot-RP, a comprehensive database of grants, fellowships, and other funding sources from around the world. This tool allows investigators to find and identify potential funding mechanisms in their field.
To read more about each of these programs and how to apply, visit the Faculty Support page.