In the midst of a changing funding environment and new opportunities brought about by technological advances, UAB’s Research Strategic Initiative has focused on building capacity across the institution’s research enterprise in 2026.
“Our people have always been what has set UAB apart and allowed us to lead in research,” said UAB President Ray Watts, M.D. “We are determined to invest in their success, and that investment will result in new discoveries that benefit the people of Alabama and beyond.”
Three initiatives under the overarching Presidential Faculty Support program are providing resources to sustain, retain and recruit world-class researchers whose work drives innovation and aligns with UAB’s mission and priorities. These initiatives are supported by generous supplemental appropriations from the Alabama State Legislature.
Learn more about the recipients of support from these initiatives below — and note that each initiative continues to accept applications.
Faculty recruitment: Presidential Faculty Scholars
The Presidential Faculty Scholars program is designed to attract outstanding faculty whose research aligns with UAB’s research strategic priorities. Recipients of this funding are supported through central funding matched with school resources and are honored as UAB Presidential Faculty Scholars, recognizing their exceptional contributions to high-impact, highly funded research.
Eleven Presidential Faculty Scholars have been offered as of May 2026, representing the Heersink School of Medicine, School of Dentistry, and College of Arts and Sciences:
Explore the list of Presidential Faculty Scholars who have accepted the offer.
Applications for the UAB Faculty Recruitment Funding program remain open. See the application form and a pre-submission information guide on the Research Strategic Initiative website.
Maintaining research continuity: Presidential Bridge Funding
The UAB Presidential Bridge Funding program is designed to maintain research continuity during temporary funding gaps, helping promising research continue without disruption.
The program offers up to $100,000 in short-term support (up to 12 months) from central funding sources to assist with personnel retention, proposal resubmission and strategic pivots. Participation requires a matching contribution from the department or school/college.
Ten UAB faculty have received support through the program as of May 2026. These recipients represent a wide range of disciplines, including the Heersink School of Medicine’s divisions of Hematology and Oncology; Immunology and Rheumatology; Nephrology; and Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, and the departments of Pathology and Surgery. Additionally, faculty in the School of Public Health's Department of Health Behavior are among those who have benefited. This broad engagement underscores the program’s impact across multiple facets of health sciences at UAB.
Applications for the UAB Presidential Bridge Funding program remain open on the Research Strategic Initiative website.
Clinical trial expansion: Clinical Trialist Development Program
The Clinical Trialist Development Program supports junior and early mid-career faculty with a strong interest in developing or expanding their clinical trial expertise and portfolios. Similar to an NIH K award, the program provides protected time and structured mentoring to help selected faculty develop clinical trial portfolios that will contribute to an increase in industry-sponsored clinical trials at UAB.
Participants receive two years of protected time of at least 20 percent of total effort (with a maximum of 20 percent of the NIH cap) to develop a clinical trials portfolio. Eligible faculty must have prior or current participation in at least one industry-sponsored clinical trial as PI, site PI, sub-investigator or equivalent, and have the commitment of a mentor (identified by the candidate).
Thirty of the 32 faculty seats have been filled as of May 2026. See the full list of Clinical Trialist Development Program faculty here on the website of UAB’s Academic Research Organization for Clinical Trials, or ARO-CT.
Applications for the Clinical Trialist Development Program remain open; the next deadline is July 15, 2026.