Intramural Research Support Program

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Intramural Research Support Program

The IRSP program was created to strengthen the biomedical research environment at the University of Mississippi Medical Center through the use of flexible funds that enable faculty to respond quickly and effectively to emerging opportunities and unpredictable circumstances that develop during the course of active research programs. The highest priority for awards will be for those projects that are most competitive for future extramural funding.

The IRSP provides support in the form of 12-month awards of $30,000 or less to members of the UMMC faculty to pursue a research project. Applications are accepted in four categories: Basic Science, Clinical, Population Health, and Educational. Applications for targeted announcements (i.e., Cancer Research) may also be accepted each year. Grant support can be used for initial research support for new and newly-relocated faculty, pilot studies, and bridge funding.

FY2025 Application Dates

Cycle I IRSP Deadlines
Cycle I
CategorySpecific Aims/Mentors* Due DateApplication Due DateReview PeriodEarliest Start Date
BasicNot requiredOctober 24, 2025November - FebruaryMarch 1, 2026
ClinicalSeptember 26, 2025
Population
EducationalNot requiredOctober 24, 2025
Cycle II IRSP Deadlines
Cycle II
CategorySpecific Aims/Mentors* Due DateApplication Due DateReview PeriodEarliest Start Date
BasicNot requiredApril 15, 2026May-JulyAugust 1, 2026
ClinicalMarch 15, 2026
Population
EducationalNot required
Targeted IRSP Deadlines
Targeted Announcements
CategorySpecific Aims/Mentors* Due DateApplication Due DateReview PeriodEarliest Start Date
Team ScienceN/AApril 15, 2026May-JulyAugust 1, 2026

*Specific Aims/Mentors: Investigators who have not been previously funded by external sources are required to send a Specific Aims (1 page) and names (2-3) of your grant mentoring team to Cari Fowler and Meagan Follett at least one month prior to the IRSP deadline. Failure to comply with this guideline may result in the application not being reviewed by the study section. Investigators who need the names of potential mentors should contact Dr. Caroline Compretta.

More information and the following can be found on the Research/IRSP intranet (UMMC login required) by navigating to Research > Research Funding Opportunities > Intramural Research Support Program:

  • Application
  • IRSP application guide/instructions

Non-competing IRSP funding

The Non-Competing IRSP Funding Program was created in 2016 to ensure timely resources are available to strengthen resubmissions for investigators who receive highly-scored but unfunded extramural applications.

An application cannot be submitted to the NC-IRSP and be submitted/under review for the IRSP simultaneously.

More information and the following can be found on the Research/IRSP intranet (UMMC login required) by navigating to Research > Research Funding Opportunities > Intramural Research Support Program:

  • Application
  • NC-IRSP application guide/instructions