Funding resources
These funding lists includes internal and external sources: eligibility for VCU faculty, students, or outside companies may vary.
| VCU rapid funding | External funding | Federal funding | Additional resources |
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VCU rapid funding
VCU OVPRI COVID-19 rapid research funding
VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, with support of the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, is offering a rapid grant initiative to provide up to $10,000 in internal funding support to VCU investigators working on COVID-19 related projects. These grants are for PIs from both campuses and all programs, including the arts, business, education, policy, engineering and others.
Learn more about this opportunity by reading the full COVID-19 Rapid Research Announcement or by visiting the OVPRI COVID-19 webpage.
The Health Innovation Consortium (HIC)
The HIC has developed a fund which is designed to provide grant funding for the development of innovative solutions that can be rapidly deployed to meet the immediate needs created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects aimed at addressing the needs of our health systems, patients, and frontline healthcare workers, are eligible for up to $10,000 in funding.
To learn more about the HIC, or share an urgent healthcare problem/need with their innovation team and network of healthcare professionals, visit the HIC Portal.
External funding
Fast funding for COVID-19 science
If you are a scientist at an academic institution currently working on a COVID-19 related project and in need of funding, we invite you to apply for a Fast Grant. Fast Grants are $10k to $500k and decisions are made in under 48 hours. If we approve the grant, you'll receive payment as quickly as your university can receive it.
To learn more or to submit an application, please visit the Fast Grants Homepage.
Frontiers coronavirus funding monitor
Frontiers has provided a curated list of open funding calls and other support for researchers, non-profit organizations and commercial organizations, specifically for COVID-19 and coronavirus-related research.
The list is updated daily and can be found at the Coronavirus Funding Monitor website.
In-Part
VCU Innovation Gateway is currently partnered with IN-PART, an online collaboration platform that connects academic research with teams at over 6,000 R&D intensive companies worldwide. IN-PART is inviting academics and research commercialization professionals to submit non-confidential proposals for research related to combating COVID-19 directly (e.g. prophylactic or therapeutic vaccines, anti-viral drugs, etc.) or indirectly (e.g. protective equipment, diagnostics, etc.).
To submit a proposal, first submit an invention disclosure to our office. Then, download the IN-PART COVID-19 Submission Form and follow the instructions for how to submit.
Federal funding
NIH understands that the emergency declaration related to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will adversely affect many NIH applicants' ability to submit applications in a timely manner. If you missed the April 6, 2020 SBIR and STTR funding deadlines, NIH will be highly accommodating of late applications submitted through May 1, 2020. We anticipate, but cannot guarantee, that all late applications submitted by that date will be reviewed in the council round to which they were submitted (e.g. August or October 2020). Applicants should assume that late applications submitted after May 1 may not be reviewed until meetings for the January 2021 council round (e.g., October-November 2020). See additional NIH Guidance.
Government Bioscience Grants
Virginia Bio has engaged G2G Consulting to provide assistance in accessing federal funding to our members. As a part of this, we're provided a monthly report with all the available opportunities.
You can review these opportunities in the Essential guide to coronavirus government funding.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH is supporting $1.78 billion in research grants, contracts, and intramural projects to combat COVID-19, with funding opportunities focused on immune response, viral infection and transmission, and diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine development.
To learn more, please view the Funding Opportunities Specific to COVID-19.
RADx initiative
The NIH is issuing a funding opportunity to provide expedited funding as part of the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Radical (RADx-rad) initiative. The overall goal of the RADx-rad initiative is to solicit proposals for the development of novel, non-traditional approaches to identify the current SARS-CoV-2 virus or other markers of COVID-19
Specifically, this funding opportunity will support the early stage development of an innovative platform that integrates biosensing with touchscreen or other digital devices to achieve automatic detection and tracing of SARS-CoV-2 in real-time. Application are due September 15, 2020. Read the full funding opportunity announcement to learn more.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has turbo-charged its Rapid Response Research (RAPID) funding mechanism, which allows the agency to fast-track grants up to $200,000 for urgent COVID-19 research proposals. In recent weeks, NSF has granted 58 awards for RAPID research funding.
NSF is also offering funding opportunities for small businesses that are developing new technologies, products, and services with potential to assist in coronavirus response.
You can learn more about these proposals and opportunities by visiting the NSF's dedicated COVID-19 webpage.
NIH POCTRN rapid acceleration of diagnostics (RADx) initiative
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) is urgently soliciting proposals and can provide up to $500M across multiple projects to rapidly produce innovative SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic tests that will assist the public’s safe return to normal activities. Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx), is a fast-track technology development program that leverages the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Point-of-Care Technology Research Network (POCTRN).
Proposals for support will be accepted on a rolling basis until further notice. Learn more about how to apply at the RADx Homepage.
SBIR/STTR phase I proposals
The Division of Innovation and Industrial Partnerships (IIP) of the Engineering Directorate invites US-based small businesses to submit Phase I proposals focused on the development and deployment of new technologies, products, processes, and services with the potential to positively impact the nation’s and world’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Areas of research that might be considered include, but are not limited to: artificial intelligence, digital health, diagnostics, distributed ledger, environmental technologies, medical devices, pharmaceutical technologies, disinfection and sterilization, and filtration and separations.
To learn more about the NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I Program, please read the Letter of Request for SBIR/STTR Phase I Proposals.
BARDA & MTEC
In light of the magnitude and potential threat that the coronavirus (COVID-19) poses, the Government seeks to rapidly accelerate the inquiry, testing, and fielding of new 21st century capabilities, employing novel technologies and approaches to the detection of exposure, prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19 and future emerging threats.
To learn more about these requests for proposals, see the BARDA and MTEC announcements, or visit www.phe.gov for more details.
Department of Commerce
The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has opened a funding opportunity through its Manufacturing USA Institutes for rapid, high-impact manufacturing projects that support the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about this opportunity, read the full announcement or view the grant opportunity.
NCATS small business funding opportunities
The NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) recently issued two notices of special interest that highlight the urgent need for research on the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and the disease it causes. NCATS is offering targeted and investigator-initiated funding opportunities available through the Small Business Innovation and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR and STTR) programs for entrepreneurs aiming to commercialize innovations in these and other areas.
Visit the NCATS homepage to learn more about these opportunities or read the notices of special interest below.
Additional resources
Koffman Southern Tier Incubator
The team at the Koffman Southern Tier Incubator has curated a variety of resources to assist businesses, researchers, and manufacturers who have the capacity and drive to assist in efforts to protect lives.
For a list of resources aimed to assist businesses adapting to the changing economy, please visit their Business Resources webpage. To learn more about the tools, software, and funding opportunities that are available to help combat COVID-19, download their OEIP COVID-19 Resources List.
Virginia Bio COVID-19 resource exchange
Virginia Bio has developed a platform to share, learn, and connect on the important strides being made in the evolving COVID-19 epidemic. Check out the COVID-19 Resource Exchange for links to community and national updates to help us work smarter and stay safe during these changing times.