Funding Opportunities

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MCCTR Funding Opportunities

The Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research (MCCTR) offers two distinct funding programs. Our Clinical and Translational Research Scholars Program and Pilot Projects Program are designed, respectively, to provide structured mentorship and research support to junior faculty members with an interest in clinical, translational and population-based research projects on all major diseases that impact Mississippians, to assist new investigators in gathering research data to become competitive for extramural funding, and to assist in recruiting funded clinical, translational, and population scientists to UMMC. More information on each program is provided below.

MCCTR funding programs

  • The MCCTR Clinical and Translational Research Scholars Program provides structured mentorship, protected time, and research support-to promote the development of junior faculty to establish independent careers in research on all major diseases that impact Mississippians; enhances the research skills of junior faculty members through courses in the UMMC Master of Science in Clinical Investigation degree program; seeks to increase the number and diversity of junior faculty members pursuing clinical, translational, and population research in all major diseases that impact Mississippians; and supports the development of junior faculty exploring racial disparities in obesity and related disorders in Mississippi.
  • The MCCTR Pilot Projects Program supports clinical, translational and population-based research projects that can become the basis for competitive extramural funding applications. Key considerations in awarding support are the likelihood of attracting extramural funding, evidence of a path toward an independent research career for the applicant, and the probability that the research program will lead to improved management of obesity and its complications. The program is designed to promote multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary collaboration, and to ensure equitable and productive distribution of research support across the CCTR partner institutions-the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Tougaloo College and the University of Southern Mississippi.

  • MCCTR Faculty Exchange and Training Program (FETP): “Mini-Sabbaticals” and Visiting Research Scholars.  Extended exchange visits between MCCTR investigators and researchers at other leading research institutions will facilitate development of common protocols and multicenter studies that include larger and more diverse populations, enhance the quality and scope of clinical and translational research in Mississippi, and strengthen extramural funding applications. 

    Mini-Sabbaticals. The FETP will provide funding for “mini-sabbaticals” of MCCTR investigators to visit other institutions and learn new methods and skills, or to develop collaborations and grant proposals. To apply for this funding, please complete a 1-page proposal that describes the specific goals and justification of the visit to another institution, along with a letter from the department chair indicating approval. These proposals will be reviewed by the Professional Development Core and approved by the Steering Committee. There is no specific time limit on these visits, but they are generally expected to last for 1-2 weeks. If the expected cost of the visit exceeds $5,000, the department chair of the faculty member must agree to pay the additional cost.

    Visiting Scholars. A second component of the FETP is the opportunity for MCCTR investigators to invite visiting scholars from other institutions to Mississippi to learn new research methods/skills and develop synergistic collaborations. Requests and approvals will follow the same procedures as requests for a “mini sabbatical”. Travel costs and a consultant fees for the invited investigator will be paid by the MCCTR up to a total cost of $5,000 with any additional costs paid by the investigator’s department.

Other funding programs available at UMMC