UCSF's Resource Allocation Program Seeks Applications for Fall Cycle

UCSF's Resource Allocation Program (RAP), which incorporates a single online application for more than 20 different types of grants to support research, is now requesting applications for the fall 2011 cycle.

The electronic-submission deadline is Monday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.

RAP offers researchers 24 different types of grants across the research spectrum in the following areas:

  • Pilots
  • Multidisciplinary
  • Technology
  • Shared Instrument
  • Career Development
  • International and HIV-AIDS

Launched during fall 2007, RAP has been transformative for UCSF, reflecting a vision of interacting agencies collaborating to achieve shared goals. The program is seen by the National Institutes of Health and other institutions as another example of UCSF’s great capacity for creativity and innovation. Researchers, especially junior faculty, appreciate the existence of a single source of information on intramural funding opportunities and the uniform application and review process. The review process used by RAP allows grant proposals to receive consistent and fair reviews.

Building on the campuswide success of RAP, Jeff Bluestone, PhD, executive vice chancellor and provost at UCSF, has recently incorporated RAP administrative leadership into his office. Being in a central office institutionalizes the program and recognizes the synergy between RAP and intramural funding agencies. This move also fosters a campuswide approach to research support and strengthens UCSF's goal to build infrastructure that makes research opportunities more accessible and manageable.

UCSF Funding Agencies Under RAP

  1. Academic Senate
  2. Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center 
  3. AIDS Research Institute 
  4. UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mount Zion Health Fund 
  5. UCSF Gladstone Institute of Virology & Immunology Center for AIDS Research 
  6. Clinical and Translational Science, Strategic Opportunities Support program 
  7. Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center 
  8. National Center of Excellence in Women’s Health 
  9. Research Evaluation and Allocation Committee of the School of Medicine 

The funding agencies see much greater efficiency in the use of resources. All programs on campus are welcome to use RAP to coordinate their funding opportunities. They can either use the structure in place for the submission and review of proposals or use just the submission process and have proposals reviewed by committees independent of the RAP review process. Most applications are reviewed by one of nine review committees with expertise in basic, clinical and population sciences. RAP agencies funded $3.4 million during the 2010-2011 academic year. The funding success rate was 50 percent.

“RAP was developed to facilitate the intramural application process for junior faculty from all schools and from varied research backgrounds," said Fred Waldman, MD, PhD, outgoing chair of the RAP commitee and a professor of laboratory medicine and urology. "RAP is targeted to basic, clinical/translational, and population scientists. All faculty at UCSF should consider the opportunities offered by the RAP process. The funding rate is higher than almost any extramural award program, and thus should allow faculty to develop pilot studies in their fields of interest. Senior faculty should consider applying for some mechanisms, including shared equipment, career development including hardship and technology development.”

This cycle additional funds are available for pilot projects in Mobile Health, which is defined as the use of mobile technology in conjunction with Internet and social media to improve health and wellness and/or to manage disease.

RAP funds are open to faculty from all UCSF schools and affiliates. (See eligibility grid for specific mechanisms). 

The best way to learn about RAP is by exploring its website, which provides step-by-step instructions. For questions, contact Emanuela (Emy) Volpe via email or phone (415/476-9476).