The primary mission of the RI-INBRE DRPP is to solicit proposals and award research grants to biomedical research to investigators at all RI-INBRE network institutions. We offer a variety of funding mechanisms primarily focused on supporting the research career development of early career investigators at the network institutions. We fund a very broad range of biomedical research projects that impact human health.

A key feature of our developmental funding mechanisms is a mentorship model that helps early career investigators establish a research program that meaningfully integrates student training, moves research projects from conception to publication, and become competitive for extramural funding. RI-INBRE investigators select an established faculty mentor who can provide scientific and career guidance during the award period and beyond. Mentors have scientific expertise that overlaps with the mentee’s research topic and provide expert guidance on scientific direction, manuscript development and publication, and grant development and submission.

Research Project recipients also participate in an annual mentoring meeting run by one of our External Mentoring Consultants, successful faculty members from PUI institutions outside RI. This provides an excellent opportunity to discuss progress and coordinate support of investigators as they develop their research program.

The RI-INBRE DRPP award mechanisms are designed to scaffold pathways to establishing a sustainable, independent research program.

NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2026-27 BUDGET YEAR 

Awards Requiring Letters of Intent (LOI Due Monday, Nov 10, 2025; Full Proposals Due Monday, Jan 12, 2026)

URI/Brown Early Career Development (UB-ECD): The primary goal of the Early Career Development (ECD) funding mechanism at the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Brown University is to promote the research career development of early-stage investigators who are committed to establishing a competitive, externally funded biomedical research program. Investigators are expected to develop a productive and sustainable student research training program. To meet this goal, the program requests Letters of Intent (LOIs) for URI/Brown Early ECD awards for research projects beginning on May 1, 2026. Applicants must identify an experienced research investigator, preferably from the New England region, to serve as a mentor for the research project. Applicants can request up to $100,000 per year in direct costs for up to two years. Please consult the FOA (link) and use the Application Form (link)

PUI-Early Career Development (PUI-ECD): The Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (RI-INBRE) Program is a National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of General Medical Sciences-funded program to develop biomedical research
infrastructure development in the State of Rhode Island. One primary goal of the RI-INBRE program is to support the early career development of junior faculty at the Rhode Island primarily undergraduate institutes (PUIs) – Bryant University, Providence College, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University, and Johnson and Wales University. The award provides funding for and requires the training of three summer research students. To meet this goal, the program requests Letters of Intent (LOIs) for PUI ECD awards for research projects beginning on May 1, 2026. The ECD mechanism will provide up to $100,000 in direct costs per year for two years. Please consult the FOA (link) and use the Application Form (link).

PUI Collaborative Research (CR): The goal of the Collaborative Research (CR) funding mechanism is to promote collaborative biomedical research between a junior investigator from a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) and an established investigator from URI, Brown, or a network PUI. The program is designed to accelerate the research progress of the PUI investigator through active collaboration with an experienced investigator and mentor. This is expected to strengthen research skills and productivity while increasing the PUI investigator’s preparedness for submitting competitive grant proposals to external funding agencies. Investigators are expected to develop a robust undergraduate research-training program that provides opportunities for PUI students to develop scientific skills and explore career options in biomedical research. The award provides funding for and requires training of three summer students by the PUI faculty member. RI-INBRE requests Letters of Intent (LOIs) for CR awards for research projects beginning on May 1, 2026.

The CR Program provides up to two years of funding and includes a total direct cost of the budget up to $100,000 per year for the PUI investigator and a total direct cost of the budget up to $40,000 per year for the collaborative mentor. With a robust justification, RI-INBRE is willing to consider a more even distribution of funds if the PUI capacity-building goal of the award is preserved. A full application will require the submission of two separate proposals: one full proposal by the PUI investigator and an abbreviated proposal by the collaborative mentor.  Please consult the FOA (link) and use the Application Form (link).

Pilot Project-Proposal Development (PP-PD): The primary goal of the Pilot Project – Proposal Development (PP-PD) funding mechanism is to support biomedical investigators at PUIs who are ready to write or are writing an independent, multi-year grant proposal. To meet this goal, the program is requesting requests for Letters of Intent (LOIs) for PP-PD awards to begin on May 1, 2026. PP-PD awardees are expected to be well-positioned to write a multi-year proposal. Funds may be used to support activities that will result in submitting an extramural grant application during the year of the PP- PD award. Applicants may request up to $50,000 per year in direct costs for one year. Applicants must identify an experienced research investigator with extramural grant success who can serve as a scientific mentor during proposal preparation.  Please consult the FOA (link) and use the Application Form (link).

Awards Not Requiring Letters of Intent (Due Monday, Jan 12, 2026)

Student Training and Research (STAR): The primary goal of the Student Training and Research (STAR) funding mechanism at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) is to provide undergraduate students with intensive summer biomedical research opportunities. To meet this goal, the program requests Letters of Intent (LOIs) for one year STAR awards for research projects beginning May 1, 2026. PUI STAR mentors are required to provide intensive research training to three undergraduate students in their laboratories. This award is intended to provide research training to 3 students during a 10-week summer program. Investigators may propose using funds to train 1-2 students during the academic year provided that the training plan is similarly intensive. Both the mentor and summer students must participate in RI-INBRE SURF Program activities and present their research findings as a poster at the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium. Academic year trainees should present their work at the next Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium or at a comparable conference. Progressive advancement toward conference abstracts and peer-reviewed articles is expected. Applicants may request up to $35,000 per year in direct costs for one year. This includes support for three students and up to $10,000 in summer salary for the investigator.  Please consult the FOA (link) and use the Application Form (link).

Pilot Project-Seed (PP-Seed): The primary goal of the RI-INBRE Pilot Project-Seed (PP-Seed) funding mechanism is to stimulate the
research programs of early-stage investigators at PUI institutions. Applicants can request up to $25,000 in direct costs for the budget period May 1, 2026 – April 30, 2027. These funds are intended to supplement institutional startup funds, help investigators establish their labs, and build critical research capacity. The award requires the training of one summer student by the PUI faculty member. The award can also be used to purchase equipment and supplies and provide the investigator up to $8000 in summer salary support. Applicants must identify an experienced mentor who can provide scientific and career advice for the investigator.  Please consult the FOA (link) and use the Application Form (link).

CCRI Faculty Fellowship Program (FFP): Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence is pleased to announce the 2026-27 RI-INBRE Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Faculty Fellowship Program (FFP). The goal of the RI-INBRE CCRI FFP is to support the CCRI community by providing summer fellowship and grant opportunities to increase teaching, curriculum, and research development for CCRI faculty and students. RI-INBRE will provide funds for CCRI faculty to undertake research and/or educational projects at the University of Rhode Island (URI), Brown University, or other RI-INBRE network institutions in the fields of cancer, neuroscience, and environmental health sciences. This opportunity was designed with the newly ratified CCRI Faculty Association contract in mind, with the mission of providing faculty the opportunity to participate in activities related to teaching effectiveness, professional growth and improvement, and productive scholarship to support their promotion dossier.  Please consult the FOA (link).

NEIT Training Award Program (TAP):

Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (RI-INBRE) is pleased to announce the 2026-27 RI- INBRE New England Institute of Technology Training Award Program (NEIT-TAP). The RI-INBRE NEIT-TAP aims to develop biomedical research capacity in the NEIT community by providing grants to support student research training, faculty research program development, and research-based curriculum development. Outcomes of this funding are expected to include augmenting NEIT’s biomedical research infrastructure and enhancing NEIT curricula with faculty/students experimenting with learning models. The 2026-27 RI-INBRE NEIT-TAP provides two funding opportunities, including a Student Training Award and a Sabbatical Training and Curriculum Development Award, which are outlined below. All application materials are due by 11:59 pm on Friday January 30, 2026.  Please consult the FOA (link).