Building Bridges: Support for research impacted by federal funding cuts gets a boost from OVCR
UW–Madison’s greatest asset is its faculty, staff, and students. But recent interruptions to and cancellations of federal research awards have jeopardized critical research across disciplines and made some question if they will be able to continue their career path and follow their drive to discovery.
“While campus cannot replace all interrupted or canceled federal funds, it is crucial that we strategically invest, as widely as possible, in ongoing and future research in affected fields and focus on protecting our mission of excellence in research,” says Vice Chancellor for Research Dorota Brzezinska. “With that goal, we are providing several funding opportunities to support our researchers, faculty, staff and graduate students, to help address federal funding uncertainties and to sustain research momentum.”
In May, central campus launched a short-term bridge funding initiative to support projects with interrupted/terminated federal awards or subawards. To complement the campus bridge funding, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) is launching a four-pronged approach to bolster ongoing and spearhead new research in this time of uncertainty.
The annual Fall Research Competition (FRC) is different this year. The FRC will shift to prioritizing projects that have experienced or are highly likely to experience an interruption to or cancellation of federal funding, as well as ‘insurance’ applications for new extramural proposals. Applications will open on Aug. 18 and close on Sept. 5.
A new initiative, Reimagining Next Phase Research (RNPR), will support researchers in reimagining the next phase of their research and to establish a sustainable path to future extramural support in the current environment. Projects should target various extramural funds including federal, industry, philanthropic, state funds, and/or have entrepreneurial potential. Partnership with industry and research in the RISE areas are highly encouraged. Applications for RNPR will open on Oct. 6 and close on Oct. 24.
Applicants may apply to the Fall Research Competition OR to the Reimagining Next Phase Research Competition, but not both. Details will be provided at research.wisc.edu.
Another new initiative, Igniting Interdisciplinary Innovation (I3), will support new interdisciplinary collaborations that leverage synergies at UW-Madison to launch innovative research projects with considerable potential to attract extramural research funding. Projects having a focus in RISE areas are highly encouraged. In fall 2025, the OVCR will host a series of targeted small-group collaboration sessions intended to connect tenure-track faculty and permanent principal investigators with overlapping interests and spur novel research ideas. This process will be followed by a spring 2026 ‘pitch-based’ research funding competition to support resulting innovative research project ideas.
The Research Core Revitalization Program (RCRP) will open for applications on October 20, 2025 and closes February 20, 2026. This program strengthens campus research core capacities by supporting the upgrade, replacement or duplication of heavily used shared research resources. Shared instruments, equipment and other resources play a critical role in research across the university and typically have a limited lifespan. Although essential and highly used, these critical resources may not be eligible or competitive for federal and other external grant programs targeting new capabilities and technologies. Researchers across campus depend on the shared resources managed by cores, and investment in renewing these capabilities ensures the continuity and productivity of our research enterprise.
Detailed information for applying to the Igniting Interdisciplinary Innovation Initiative and the Research Core Revitalization Program will be released this fall at research.wisc.edu.
These competitions will be open to tenure-track faculty and permanent principal investigators.
Contact your divisional associate vice chancellor for research with questions about these initiatives.
By: Natasha Kassulke, natasha.kassulke@wisc.edu