The MGH Research Scholars Program 2024 call for applications is closed. The previous call is below for your reference only.  This call for applications is scheduled to be updated in the Fall of 2024.  Please check the ECOR website and your emails from MGH Research News for updates. Click here to sign up to receive MGH Research News.

MGH Research Scholars 2025

 

Application Deadline: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 – 5:00 PM

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE AWARDS

The MGH Research Scholars program is a philanthropy-fueled initiative established to support MGH research faculty and accelerate important work that will improve and transform the future of healthcare. MGH Research Scholar grants are awarded by the Mass General Research Institute (MGRI). We aim to give out five awards each year; these $500,000 awards will be funded at $100,000 per year over five years (inclusive of IDC).

These awards are intended to support outstanding MGH investigators doing cutting-edge research that is highly innovative and expected to result in fundamental scientific discoveries and/or clinical applications. We ask applicants to choose one of three categories based on the research proposed in the application: clinical research, fundamental research or population and healthcare research. Award recipients will be announced at the 2025 Celebration of Science, on the afternoon of April 3, 2025.

 

AWARD AMOUNT

Each MGH Research Scholar award is $500,000 and funded at $100,000 per year over five years, inclusive of indirect costs. The funding start date is June 1, 2025.

 

ELIGIBILITY  

  • Applicants must have a full-time primary MGH appointment at the time of application and during the entire award period.
  • Independent MGH research faculty at the level of HMS Assistant and Associate Professor are eligible to apply. Qualified applicants should have a proven track record in external peer reviewed funding and should demonstrate innovative ideas in their chosen field. Applicants who are promoted to Professor after the application deadline are still eligible for the award.
  • Applicants must spend the great majority of their effort in research and have one R01 or equivalent level of external support.
  • Investigators receiving sustained income through an Endowed MGH Scholar or Endowed MGH Chair, an endowed HMS or other Harvard professorship, HHMI support or other comparable “hard money” support from their department, center or institute that supports their research or salary are not eligible. Applicants who believe that they may be eligible, even if they receive hard money support, can contact MGRI to request consideration to apply. MGRI will consider the details of the applicant’s hard money support when determining special approval to apply.
  • Previous MGH Research Scholars are not eligible to apply.
  • At Mass General Hospital we believe that because of diversity we excel. Therefore, women and UiM (underrepresented in medicine) candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

 

REVIEW PROCESS

The primary criteria for selection will include outstanding scientific accomplishments and innovative research vision, as well as expected impact of the MGH Research Scholar funding on the field. The final selection process may take into account:

  • Institutional priorities
  • Institutional diversity
  • Overall funding portfolio

We receive ~100 applications each year for the MGH Research Scholars program resulting in far more qualified applicants than we have awards; therefore, unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to consider reapplying.

 

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applications must include the following:

  1. Research Category. Please select a category below that best fits your area of research: clinical research, fundamental research or population and healthcare research.
  2. Confirmation of Eligibility Based on Current Support Please confirm that you have read, understand, and meet the following criteria related to your current support and are eligible to apply for a 2025 MGH Research Scholar award.
    • Investigators receiving sustained income through an Endowed MGH Scholar or Endowed MGH Chair, an endowed HMS or other Harvard professorship, HHMI support or other comparable “hard money” support from their department, center or institute that supports their research or salary are not eligible. Applicants who believe that they may be eligible even if they receive hard money support can contact ecor@mgh.harvard.edu to request approval to apply. MGRI will consider the details of the applicant’s hard money support when determining special approval to apply.

___ I have read and understand the statement above.

___ I do not receive income from an Endowed MGH Scholar or Endowed MGH Chair, an endowed HMS or other Harvard professorship, HHMI support or other comparable “hard money” support from my department, center or institute that supports my research or salary.

___ Currently I do not receive income from an Endowed MGH Scholar or Endowed MGH Chair, an endowed HMS or other Harvard professorship, HHMI support or other comparable “hard money” support from my department, center or institute that supports my research or salary, however I and/or my department/center have started the process to secure an endowed MGH Scholar, MGH Chair, Harvard Professorship, HHMI support or comparable “hard money” support for me.

   ___ I am a current incumbent of an Endowed MGH Scholar or Endowed MGH Chair, an endowed HMS or other Harvard professorship, HHMI support or comparable “hard money” support, however I requested an exception and received prior approval from MGRI to submit an application for the 2025 MGH Research Scholar awards.

  1. Previous MGH Research Scholar applications. Indicate if you have applied to be an MGH Research Scholar previously and if so, the year(s) of the application(s). This information can be found in your MGRI Online Grant Management Portal profile. If you require assistance answering this question, please contact ECOR, ecor@mgh.harvard.edu.
  2. Layperson’s Description of your work (200 words only) Important: The MGH Research Scholars program is funded through philanthropy. For award grantees, the descriptions provided here may be used in communications describing your work to donors. This short statement must be tailored for an audience who does not have a science background.
  3. Personal Research Statement (3-page limit, excluding references). This section should include:
    • Summary of your prior research work and accomplishments
    • Expected impact of your research program. Please describe how your work will benefit patients and advance healthcare across the world. How will this award support you to transform medicine and improve the lives of patients and their families?
    • A brief paragraph describing future goals and plans for use of the MGH Research Scholar funds
  4. Selected Listing of Five (5) Noteworthy Publications, with a brief description (3-4 sentences) of the impact of each publication.
  5. Biosketch of the Applicant in NIH Format (not a CV). Click here for a sample NIH biosketch.
  6. Other Support, a list of other current and pending support sources, with dollar amounts, in the NIH format. If the applicant does not have other current or pending support sources, please indicate “none” when applicable. Click here for a sample Other Support in the NIH format.

 

 

FORMAT GUIDELINES

  • Use margins of 0.5 inches or greater for the Personal Research Statement, Selected Listing of Five (5) Noteworthy Publications, Biosketch, and Other Support. 
  • Use 11pt font size or greater for the Personal Research Statement, Selected Listing of Five (5) Noteworthy Publications, Biosketch, and Other Support. 
  • Upload PDF documents only.  Limit characters to A-Z, a-z and 0-9 when naming PDF documents.  Do not use periods, commas or dashes in the file name.

 

 

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online via the MGRI Online Grant Management Portal.  The system has been designed to allow users to:

  • Create a personal profile, which will auto-populate your future applications
  • Assign a delegate to submit applications on your behalf (optional)
  • View current calls and apply to open opportunities 
  • Save and edit current applications in progress
  • Submit completed applications
  • View all your applications that have been submitted via the Online Grants Management Portal.

Instructions for Applying Online:

  1. Create your account: Log in using your MGB credentials and fill-out the profile information.
  2. Complete the application: Once your profile is complete, you will automatically progress through the online application. If you cannot complete the application at one time, “save” the application and return to it at a later time to finish. Before submitting your application, you will have the ability to make changes to the application.
  3. Submit your application: Once you have completed the application click on the “submit” button at the bottom of the page. Once you submit it, you will not be able to make further changes unless you send a request to ECOR (note that once the deadline passes, requests to make changes will not be accepted).

Useful tips:

  • To avoid losing your work, remember to save frequently
  • You can only upload PDF documents
  • If you previously created a profile, please ensure your information is current prior to submitting an application.

  Click 'Apply' below to begin the application.

 

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions, please email ecor@mgh.harvard.edu 

To learn more about the MGH Research Scholars program and see names and profiles of previous awardees, click here.