The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) would like to announce the W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program. The W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program is a limited submission and as such, the OVPR will be conducting an internal screening process.
The Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting projects in two specific areas (1) medical research and (2) science and engineering, that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question a prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in the field. Past grants have been awarded to major universities, independent research institutions, and medical schools to support pioneering biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation or methodologies. Historically, grants range from $500,000 to $5 million and are typically $2 million or less.
Program Priorities
Funding is awarded to universities and institutions nationwide for projects in research that:
- Focus on important and emerging areas of research.
- Have the potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation or methodologies (TECHNOLOGY/INSTRUMENTATION PROJECTS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED BASED ON PAST KECK FEEDBACK).
- Are innovative, distinctive and interdisciplinary.
- Demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches, or by challenging the prevailing paradigm.
- Have the potential for transformative impact, such as the founding of a new field of research, the enabling of observations not previously possible, or the altered perception of a previously intractable problem.
- Does not focus on clinical or translational research, treatment trials or research for the sole purpose of drug development.
- Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies.
- Demonstrate that private philanthropy generally, and the W.M. Keck Foundation in particular, is essential to the project’s success.
Limited Submission
Because only two applications can be submitted by the University: one in Medical Research and one in Science and Engineering Research, it will be necessary for an internal screening process.
Concept Papers
Single-paged concepts should be in 12 point font with 1 inch margins and should include:
- An overview of the proposed project emphasizing any unique aspects and pilot studies (indicate area of emphasis for project –medical research or science and engineering research);
- A description of the methodologies and key personnel;
- A brief justification of the need for Keck support and any current or pending grant support; and
- An estimated budget broken down, if possible, by major areas, e.g., personnel, equipment, consumable supplies, etc. (budgets can be rough approximations at this stage).
If there’s room, the authors are free to add other details (e.g., background to put the research into perspective, description of the institutions prominence in the field, etc.). Avoid illustrations in these single-pagers – the researchers will need all the room for text. If a reference is necessary, abbreviate it as (Science, 323, 45, ’11). DO NOT USE (jones et al., 2011).
Concept Paper Deadline: June 16, 2015, 8:00 AM
Submit to: research@uconn.edu
For further information, contact Larisa Zagorski (Larisa.Zagorski@uconn.edu), 860-486-6378, or Christopher Petkovich, Director of Foundation Relations (cpetkovich@foundation.uconn.edu), 860-486-0303.
For more information, contact: Office of the Vice President for Research at research@uconn.edu