The Donald E. & Delia B. Baxter Foundation Baxter Scholar Program

The Foundation is interested in supporting innovative, cutting-edge research in any field conducted by Keck junior faculty who, in the future, will be successful in securing external funding. The purpose of the Donald E. & Delia Baxter Foundation Faculty Scholar Program is to provide seed funding to help prepare and support young investigators at the Assistant Professor level as they embark on their careers and start up their independent laboratories. This early stage career development is a critical period for a new researcher. During this time, the new scientist requires some form of monetary support to develop preliminary data and build his or her research program to effectively compete for federal funding.
A Request for Proposals (RFP) is generally released in January, with applications due in February. Each year the Keck School can put forward four candidates for consideration. Two Scholars are ultimately be selected by the trustees of the Foundation (funding amount to be determined in the New Year) for research projects beginning July 1st. Historically, individual research projects have been funded in the range of $50,000 to $100,000 each. Research projects are supported for a total of one year. For the most recent RFP, please contact Kavita Munjal.
The Foundation has supported many worthy research projects at the Keck School of Medicine of USC for over three decades. To see a list of previous winners, please click here (downloadable PDF).

The Robert E. and May R. Wright Foundation Research Awards

The Robert E. and May R. Wright Foundation supports Keck School of Medicine faculty basic research broadly related to arthritis, cancer, and heart disease. The Wright Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by the Dean of the School of Medicine. The Dean has delegated to the Vice Dean for Research the responsibility of selecting a Scientific Review Committee (SRC) from members of the faculty to review Wright Foundation research proposals. The Trustees meet annually in May on behalf of the continuing activities of the Foundation. At the May meeting the recommendation of the SRC on new research proposals are received and awards made to the extent of available funds for the following fiscal year.
All full-time faculty of the medical school are eligible to apply for these awards. Faculty who have received a Wright Award within the past three years are not eligible for this award. Applications from prior Wright Award winners must show that they are embarking in a completely new research direction from their previous award. The Foundation strives to fund only the best applications. Priority will be given to projects that will either initiate a new research program or direction (e.g., junior faculty; senior faculty with clear change in research direction) and to innovative projects that are interdisciplinary or have translational potential.
A Request for Applications (RFA) is generally released in February, with a letter of Intent due in early March. Full applications are due in late March for projects beginning July 1st. Historically, approx 6-8 individual research projects have been funded in the range of $50,000 to $100,000. Research projects are supported for a total of one year. For the most recent RFP, please contact.
The Foundation has supported many worthy research projects at the Keck School of Medicine of USC over the last decade. To see a list of previous winners, please click here (downloadable PDF).

The James H. Zumberge Research and Innovation Fund Awards

The James H. Zumberge Research and Innovation Fund is USC’s university-wide faculty research grant support mechanism. It awards several hundred thousand dollars each year through its annual James H. Zumberge Awards competition. The Zumberge Fund promotes the initiation of research at USC through two types of awards: Individual Awards and Interdisciplinary Awards.
(1) Individual awards help newer faculty launch their research careers, and support research in areas with limited external funding opportunities through grants of up to $25,000. The competition is held annually, with the deadline typically in late January.
Download the 2010 Zumberge Individual Award Application Form and Guidelines:

(2) Multi-School Interdisciplinary awards of up to $50,000 foster collaborative efforts among faculty from different schools and disciplines that lead to sustained interdisciplinary research programs and projects. The small grant deadline is open year-round. The large grant deadline is typically in late February, with a Letter of Intent due in January.
Download the 2010 Zumberge Interdisciplinary Application Form and Guidelines:

Inquiries regarding Zumberge Research and Innovation Fund programs can be directed to Justin Pearlman, Assistant Vice Provost, Office of the Vice Provost for Research Advancement.

Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute Pilot Funding Program

The Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute Pilot Funding program awards over $1 million per year to USC and CHLA faculty through a range of funding opportunities that support all aspects of clinical and translational research, including career development and multidisciplinary team building. Individual awards between $5k and $50k are available during the Spring and Fall award cycles. Learn more and apply at sc-ctsi.org/funding. Questions? Contact the SC CTSI Pilot Funding program.