Research Scouts

The primary goal of the Research Scouts program is to catalyze new, exciting lines of investigation by making bold, creative ideas possible. Who better to identify great scientific ideas than our own world-class scientists! Therefore, the Medical School Office of Research, as part of the bold science strategy of the research strategic plan, Great Minds, Greater Discoveries, is creating an agile, low-burden program for Medical School scientists to invest in their colleagues’ bold ideas.

Secondary Goals:

• Spark new scientific conversations and connections
• Unleash the creativity of our scientists
• Test bold ideas that may otherwise go unexplored
• Have fun while facilitating new lines of investigation

Each Research Scout is given 12 months to award $150,000 to Medical School scientists with compelling, new ideas. A Scout may make a single award of $150,000 to a colleague or make multiple awards of varying amounts to fellow scientists. Scout positions are voluntary; they  will receive modest discretionary funds that may be used to facilitate connections to identify opportunities. There is not an RFP or grant application process. Scouts actively seek out and identify early-stage ideas for funding. Scouts will not accept unsolicited pitches or proposals directly.

We recognize that with pushing boundaries and placing bets on bold, novel ideas there is a high likelihood of unexpected or negative findings. Knowledge comes in all forms – both from positive and negative results.

This program is currently limited to those with a primary appointment with effort in the Medical School. Scouts cannot make awards to scientists with whom they have directly collaborated on a grant proposal (submitted or awarded) within the last five years. Research Scouts are discouraged from funding scientists within their immediate area of research interest and within their department (division for large departments). Ideally, awards will be made to scientists at arm’s length. Scouts will not entertain unsolicited requests directly from a scientist, and any who approach a Scout for funding will be deemed ineligible. An awardee can only receive funding from a single Scout (i.e., multiple Scouts cannot fund the same idea, project, or person). Awardees will be featured on the Office of Research website.

Ideally, the types of ideas that may be funded don’t fit or are too early for traditional funding criteria and, if an idea does come to fruition, it may…

• challenge common dogma,
• be potentially paradigm shifting,
• transform our current understanding of or approach to a scientific concept or field, or
• be wildly new and visionary.

Ideas should be at an early stage. Preliminary data is not required. This investment mechanism is not intended to advance research that has had a funding track record; it aims to spark new lines of investigation. Funding is intended to support remarkable ideas and enable our faculty the full intellectual creativity and exploration that is often hindered by traditional funding sources.

We recognize that with pushing boundaries and placing bets on bold, novel ideas there is a high likelihood of unexpected or negative findings. Knowledge comes in all forms – both from positive and negative results.

Research Scouts use their curiosity and ability to see exciting opportunities, where others don’t, to identify research ideas/projects that excite them. Upon discussions and due diligence, the Scout may invite a faculty, a “Prospect,” to flesh out their idea. Projects should be scoped realistically. A Prospect, if funded, should be able to deploy the dollars quickly, and meaningful progress in testing the hypothesis should be achievable within the funding level and 18-24 months. If the Scout and Prospect reach mutual agreement on the progress that can be made within an appropriate budget and timeline, the Scout may elect to invest in the project. If so, the Scout and Prospect will complete the short Research Scout Investment Agreement form and submit it to the Medical School Office of Research. The form includes information about the Prospect awardee, a brief description of the idea, key milestone(s)/deliverable(s) to be achieved with the investment, award amount, and attestation that the Scout and Prospect are not current or recent collaborators. The awardee, or a member of their team, will need to agree to participate in a future symposium showcasing the Prospects and ideas in which the Research Scouts invested.

Scouts cannot make awards to scientists with whom they have directly collaborated on a grant proposal (submitted or awarded) within the last five years. Scouts are discouraged from funding scientists within their immediate area of research interest and within their department (division for large departments). Ideally, awards will be made to scientists at arm’s length. Scouts will not entertain unsolicited requests directly, and anyone who approaches a Scout for funding will be deemed ineligible. An awardee can only receive funding from a single Scout (i.e., multiple Scouts cannot fund the same idea/project).

The Research Scouts program does not issue RFPs or hold other grant application processes. Scouts actively seek out and identify early-stage ideas for funding. Scouts will not entertain unsolicited requests, proposals, or pitches, and anyone who approaches a Scout directly for funding will be deemed ineligible. Interested scientists should submit their idea description to THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. Once a Research Scout has identified a bold idea from the questionnaire they find promising, both parties will cooperate to complete a brief Investment Agreement Form outlining the project, milestones, award amount, and other information.