Through an endowment established by Martin Bloomfield, MD ’60, the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Vermont (CVRI) at UVM is excited to announce a unique funding opportunity for Early Career faculty members who are developing research programs related to cardiovascular diseases.  

Objective

To encourage and support early-stage, independent investigators in developing high quality and competitive cardiovascular research programs. Investigation must be related to cardiovascular diseases and can be basic, clinical, translational, epidemiologic or public health-related, and includes stroke.

Faculty members from any UVM college who are in the initial 5 years of their first faculty appointment (assistant professor) will be considered. 

Restrictions:

• If an investigator has departmental or extramural funding, the specific aims of the research planned as part of the Bloomfield Early Career Professorship in Cardiovascular Research should be distinct from already established support and clearly establish the need for additional funding.
• An investigator can only obtain the professorship once.
• An applicant who is unsuccessful in obtaining the professorship may, in subsequent years, resubmit the same or a similar application or submit a substantially different application

The holder of the professorship will receive funding for two (2) consecutive years. A third year of support is at the discretion of the CVRI Board of Directors and will be considered following the submission of a brief progress report, which should include the goals for the third year. The progress report will be due by 5:00 p.m. on December 1st of the second year of funding. The maximum funding duration is three (3) consecutive years.

The holder of the professorship will receive $50,000 per academic year (July 1 through June 30). The funds may be used to support project-related expenses, such as salaries of technical personnel essential to the conduct of the project, supplies, equipment, volunteer subject costs, and publication costs. Computer expenses (limit $5,000) will be allowed if essential to completion of the project. The funds may not be used for travel or education that is not essential to completion of the proposed research.

Timeline

A letter of intent is required by March 1st.  The complete application is due by April 15th. 

The application process consists of a letter of intent and a formal application for a two-year research project. The letter of intent will enable the CVRI Board of Directors to confirm that the applicant and proposal meet eligibility requirements and allow the Board to identify expert reviewers in advance of application submissions. 

The review process will include CVRI Directors and Distinguished Investigators as well as outside experts asked to provide independent expert review of each proposal. Selection of the recipient of the professorship and renewal for a third year will be made by the Board of Directors of the CVRI.

In all cases, major consideration will be given to: 1) The ability of the funds to strengthen the applicant’s research program and productivity, 2) The outstanding potential of the existing and proposed research program, and 3) The investigator’s experience and productivity based on submitted application materials.

Announcement of the professorship recipient will be by June 15. Decisions regarding funding for a third year will be announced by January 15 of the second year.

Application for Funding (including LOI instruction)

Please contact CVRI-VT@med.uvm.edu if you have any questions.