Skip to main content
University of Wisconsin–Madison

Keck Foundation Medical Research Program 2022

Posted February 8, 2022
To:Chairs and Administrators; Associate Deans for Research; Departments in the Biological Sciences; College/School Research Administrators
From:Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Education
Date:February 08, 2022
Subject:Keck Foundation Medical Research Program

Deadline

Deadline for Proposal to your College/School Associate Dean for Research:March 15, 2022

Project Description

The Keck Foundation strives to fund endeavors that are distinctive and novel in their approach. It encourages projects that are high-risk with the potential for transformative impact. “High-risk” comprises a number of factors, including questions that push the edge of the field, present unconventional approaches to intractable problems, or challenge the prevailing paradigm. “Transformative” may mean creation of a new field of research, development of new instrumentation enabling observations not previously possible, or discovery of knowledge that challenges prevailing perspectives. Applicants may find it helpful to look over the abstracts of recent grants to understand funding priorities. Grant abstracts may be found on Keck Foundation website within the particular program of interest.

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
  • 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

Amount per Award: Historically, grants range from $500,000 to $5 million, and are typically $2 million or less.
Duration of Award: Up to 5 Years
Number of Awards:  The number of grants made varies each year.

Eligibility

UW-Madison may submit one Concept Paper to the Medical Research Program.

NOTE: Keck Foundation proposals require a substantial amount of institutional commitment (approximately 20-25% of the grant amount). This commitment can be met through a combination of unrecovered indirect costs and school/college, department and OVCRGE contributions. For this reason, you must first route your proposal to your Associate Dean for Research.

Website

The following link contains additional information on the program and specific application instructions:
http://www.wmkeck.org/grant-programs/research

Internal Competition Application Instructions

Applications for Internal Review

Please email your application to your School/College Associate Dean for Research by March 15, 2022.  Your application should include the following information:

  • Cover Page with PI Signature: Keck Cover Page
  • 1-2 page description of the proposed project.
  • 2-3 sentences on your plans for meeting the institutional commitment.
  • Statement that the concept/project has been proposed to a traditional funding source (e.g., NSF, NIH) but has been unsuccessful in obtaining funding.

Your School/College Associate Dean for Research will complete the review process and submit one or two proposals to the OVCRGE via email to grants@research.wisc.edu by April 1, 2022.

The PI of the selected project will work with OVCRGE on submission of the Concept Paper. The Concept Paper will be sent to the Keck Foundation for Pre-Application Counseling by June 30, 2022.

If invited by the Keck Foundation, the Phase I deadline for applications is November 1, 2022.

Sponsor Deadlines

Concept Papers are due to Keck Foundation by June 30, 2022. Applications are due to Keck Foundation by November 01, 2022.

Questions?

Contact grants@research.wisc.edu.