SPR Bridging to Success Award

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

APPLICANTS

Main Round 2026 Submission Periods:

  • 1st Cycle – Jan 7 – Mar 2, 2026
  • 2nd Cycle – July 7 – Sept 2, 2026

Are intramural K awards eligible?

No. Intramural K Award Program applications (e.g., K12, KL2, K38) are not eligible.

Is a Summary Statement required?

Yes. A Summary Statement from a prior NIH review is required to be eligible.

  • Applicants must have received a Summary Statement for their most recent submission.
  • Applications that have been submitted but not yet reviewed (i.e., no Summary Statement available) are not eligible.
  • A priority score is not required. Applications that were discussed but not scored, or not discussed but still received a Summary Statement, are eligible.

What are the membership requirements?

Applicants must be:

  • An SPR Active Member, or
  • An SPR Emerging to Established (E2E) Member, or 
  • Have applied for SPR E2E membership by the award submission deadline (if eligibility criteria are met).

FINALISTS

When are finalists notified? 
Top-scoring 2026 applicants will be invited to submit a full application package.

  • 1st Cycle- Finalists are notified in early to mid-April.
  • 2nd Cycle – Finalists are notified in early to mid-October.

What materials are required for the finalist submission?

Finalists must submit:

  • The complete, most recent K award application, including the Introduction/Response to Reviewers.
  • A cover letter from the applicant describing their current position and how the funds will be used over the next 1–2 years.
  • A 1–2 page document outlining plans to address reviewer critiques and revise the application.
  • The originally scored Specific Aims page.
  • Additional materials (e.g., budget, justification, institutional environment), if desired, within a single PDF. 

AWARDEES

Are awardees expected to attend a PAS meeting?
Yes. 2026 awardees are expected to attend the PAS 2027 Meeting in Minneapolis, MN, April 29-May 3, 2027.

FUNDING

What are the funding requirements?

  • SPR provides $40,000, and the recipient’s institution must provide a $40,000 match.
  • Institutional fringe benefits are separate from (and in addition to) the required matching funds.

How are funds distributed?
SPR provides up to $40,000 in funding over a two-year period.

  • First installment:
    • 1st Cycle - $20,000 will be distributed by mid-July 2026 (Year 1)
    • 2nd Cycle - $20,000 will be distributed by mid-Jan 2027 (Year 1)
    • If the K award is funded during Year 1, the initial $20,000 does not need to be repaid.
       
  • Second Installment.
    • 1st Cycle - $20,000 will be distributed on June 30, 2027 (Year 2), contingent upon the K award not being funded as of May 31, 2027 (Year 2).
    • 2nd Cycle - $20,000 will be distributed on Dec 31, 2027 (Year 2), contingent upon the K award not being funded as of Nov 30, 2027 (Year 2).

How can funds be used?
The combined $80,000 must support the recipient’s:

  • Salary and/or
  • Research program
  • Salary support is the preferred mechanism of support though alternative uses of awarded funds may be considered on a case-by-case basis if justification for the use of funds for non-salary-related costs (which must be provided by the awardee) is approved by the SPR Awards committee. In all cases, at least 75% protected research effort must be assured.
  • The award does not allow for fringe or indirect costs and these costs should be covered by the institution from separate sources. 

 Funding period and awardee notification?

  • Award Funding Period:
    • 1st Cycle: June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2028
    • 2nd Cycle: Dec 1, 2026 – Nov 30, 2028
       
  • Awardees are typically notified.
    • 1st Cycle: mid-late June 2026
    • 2nd Cycle: mid-late Dec 2026

INSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

What happens if the recipient changes institutions?
The award may be transferred to a new institution if the new department chair agrees to match the remaining funds.