2026 Submission Periods: 
January 7 - March 2
July 7 - September 2

Established in 2016, the SPR Bridging to Success Award supports transitioning pediatric physician-scientists and other researchers involved in pediatric research, who have submitted a NIH funded Career Development Award in the K08 and K23 categories, AHRQ-funded Career Development Awards in K08 and K01 (must be an MD), PhD scientists in K99 and R00 categories, or previously submitted A0 or A1 grant, which although not funded, may be potentially competitive on resubmission (including a 3rd submission) to the NIH.

Award

• Up to four awardees selected annually (up to two in each application window)
• $40,000 awarded to the sponsoring institution with no indirect costs to be matched by the institution (disbursed in two installments: $20,000 the first year, and the second installment of $20,000 the following year dependent on the K not being funded)
• Honored at the PAS Meeting during second year of award with a presentation of research
• The 2026 Awardees are expected to attend the PAS 2027 meeting

Eligibility 

• MD or MD/PhD, MPH, DO, MS, DDS/PhD, DVM applicant who is an SPR Active member or SPR Emerging to Established (E2E) member. Rolling admission for SPR E2E applicants is available. NOTE: there is no limit to the number of applicants from a single institution.
• This award is meant to serve as a bridge for applicants who have applied for the following funding opportunities:
  • NIH funded Career Development Awards in the K08 and K23 categories
  • AHRQ-funded Career Development Awards in the K08 and K01 categories
  • PhD scientists in the K99 and R00 categories.
• Eligible candidates must have submitted a previous A0 or A1 application which has been fully reviewed with the application’s Summary Statement. That Summary Statement must be dated within the 2-calendar years of this Request for Application (RFA) or later. Unfortunately, we are not able to consider applications which lack a Summary Statement.
• Intramural K Award program applications, such as the K12 and KL2 Programs, are not eligible.

Main Round Application

• A Letter of Intent signed by the applicant and sponsoring department chair includes:
  • Agreement by the sponsoring department/institution to match the SPR award and to contribute the total amount (i.e. SPR award plus department/institution match) to salary and/or research program of the awardee.
  • Agreement that the awardee will have 75% effort protected for research during the award years.​
• Specific Aims page of the supporting K08, K23, AHRQ K08, K01 (must be an MD), K99, R00, A0 or A1 application.
• Summary Statement from the review of the supporting NIH funded Career Development Awards in the K08 and K23 categories, AHRQ-funded Career Development Awards in K08 and K01 categories, PhD scientists in the K99 and R00 categories, within the 2-calendar years of this Request for Application (RFA). The most recent summary is a requirement. If you have submitted a revision and have not received the summary, you are not eligible to apply.
• Commitment from the applicant to provide SPR with requested updates on the outcome of the revised K08, K23, AHRQ K08, K01, K99, R00, A0 or A1 application submitted by the applicant after receipt of this award.

Final Round Application

For submission period January 7 – March 2, 2026

• Main Round applications will be reviewed and scored by the SPR Bridging to Success Award Selection Committee.  The Co-Chairs will select the top scoring applicants to advance to the Finalist Round.
• In early-mid April the Finalists will be invited to submit additional information as outlined in the Final Round Application (above).
• Finalist Round applications will be reviewed and scored by the SPR Bridging to Success Award Selection Committee. The Co-Chairs will select the award recipient(s).
• The award recipient(s) will be notified in June.

For submission period July 7 – September 2, 2026

• Main Round applications will be reviewed and scored by the SPR Bridging to Success Award Selection Committee.  The Co-Chairs will select the top scoring applicants to advance to the Finalist Round.
• In early-mid October the Finalists will be invited to submit additional information as outlined in the Final Round Application (above).
• Finalist Round applications will be reviewed and scored by the SPR Bridging to Success Award Selection Committee. The Co-Chairs will select the award recipient(s).
• The award recipient(s) will be notified in December.

Questions?

See FAQ for additional information.

Please email info@societyforpediatricresearch.org.