#46
In R&D expenditures among public institutions, FY24
$568M
In combined awards for sponsored programs for research, FY25
60
Products on market over the past decade
22
Health sciences schools & departments ranked in top 50 for NIH funding
90+
Startups founded over the past decade
Research Lifecycle
Develop the foundational concept and framework for the sponsored research project. This involves identifying research objectives, methodology, and resource requirements.
Prepare and finalize all proposal documentation and materials. Submit the completed research proposal to the sponsoring organization or funding agency.
Establish the infrastructure and administrative framework for successful management of your award. This includes setting up project accounts, assembling the research team, and implementing necessary compliance and reporting systems.
Oversee the ongoing administration of award funds, compliance reporting, and any necessary post-award modifications. This includes budget monitoring, progress reporting to sponsors, and processing amendments or changes to the original award terms.
Complete all final financial reconciliation and research reporting requirements with the sponsoring agency. Ensure proper dissemination of research findings and maintain records in accordance with sponsor and institutional retention policies.
Ensure all research activities adhere to institutional policies, sponsor requirements, and regulatory standards throughout the project lifecycle. This includes maintaining ethical research practices, financial accountability, and compliance with applicable laws and guidelines.
Explore opportunities to translate research findings into practical applications and market-ready solutions. This includes technology transfer activities, intellectual property protection, industry partnerships, and pathways to bring innovations to commercial markets.
Upcoming training opportunities and research events
Search for Funding
Faculty research
VCU Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Fund
Maximum: $10,000
Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Deadline: Feb. 13, 2026
Eligibility: Full-time VCU faculty
Faculty research
VCU Breakthroughs Fund
Maximum: $200,000
Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Deadline: Mar. 27, 2026
Eligibility: Full-time VCU faculty
Faculty research
VCU Momentum Fund
Maximum: $225,000
Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Deadline: Feb. 13, 2026
Eligibility: Full-time VCU faculty
Pilot funding
VCU Quest Fund
Maximum: $50,000
Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Deadline: Feb. 13, 2026
Eligibility: Full-time VCU faculty
Pilot funding
Academic Community Partnership Planning Grant
Maximum: $10,000
Sponsor: Office of the Provost, Division of Community Engagement
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Full-time faculty or staff
Individual faculty
American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant
Maximum: $50,000
Sponsor: Massey Cancer Center
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2026
Eligibility: Early career faculty
Bridge funding
Bridge Grants
Maximum: $80,000
Sponsor: School of Medicine
Deadline: Open submission
Eligibility: Full-time faculty at the School of Medicine with grant ending and favorably reviewed declined submission
Faculty research
Collaborative Award
Maximum: $50,000
Sponsor: CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CHRI)
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Eligibility: Faculty from at least two different units
Commercialization
Commercialization Fund
Maximum: $50,000
Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: VCU faculty with an invention disclosure at VCU Innovation Gateway
Travel
Conference Travel Grants
Maximum: $1,000
Sponsor: College of Humanities and Sciences - Humanities Research Center
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Full-time tenured, tenure-eligible, and term faculty in the humanities and humanistic social sciences at VCU
Development extramural funding proposals
Dean's Seed Funding Initiative
Maximum: $4,000
Sponsor: College of Health Professions
Deadline: October 1 and February 1
Eligibility: Full-time or tenure-track CHP faculty, regardless of rank
Commercialization
Dental Innovation Program
Maximum: $15,000
Sponsor: School of Dentistry
Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: School of Dentistry faculty, residents and students
Faculty research
Dental Research Fund
Maximum: $10,000
Sponsor: School of Dentistry
Deadline: Monthly
Eligibility: School of Dentistry faculty members
Grad Students
Dissertation Assistantship
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: Office of the Provost, Graduate School
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Ph.D. scholars who have completed all program requirements, including didactic courses, except for the dissertation and who will defend the dissertation and graduate by the end of the semester
Faculty research
Endowment Fund Individual Grants
Maximum: $50,000
Sponsor: Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research
Deadline: Annually on Feb. 1, Aug. 1, Nov. 1
Eligibility: Full-time, tenure or non-tenure track faculty
Multi-disciplinary
Endowment Fund Multi-School Grants
Maximum: $130,000
Sponsor: Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research
Deadline: Annually on May 1
Eligibility: Full-time, tenure or non-tenure track faculty from at least two different schools at VCU
Faculty research
Fellowship Award
Maximum: $3,000
Sponsor: CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CHRI)
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Eligibility: Clinical fellows and Postdoctoral fellows
Undergraduate
First-Generation Emerging Scholars (Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
Maximum: $1,500
Sponsor: Office of the Provost
Deadline: Spring 2026
Eligibility: VCU undergraduates and their mentors
Undergraduate
First-Generation Student Success Research Grants
Maximum: $5,000
Sponsor: Office of the Provost
Deadline: More instruction will be provided in spring 2026
Eligibility: VCU undergraduates and their mentors
Travel
Harris Manchester College Summer Research Institute
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: Global Education Office
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: VCU faculty
Equipment
Higher Education Equipment Trust Fund (HEETF)
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Equipment needed for instruction and research in higher education
Professional development/research funds
5x5 HRC Collaborative Grants
Maximum: $500
Sponsor: College of Humanities and Sciences - Humanities Research Center
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Faculty in the humanities, humanistic social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts.
Working Groups
HRC Working Groups Funding
Maximum: $500
Sponsor: College of Humanities and Sciences - Humanities Research Center
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Have one or two co-directors; one must be a VCU faculty member (open to all tracks)
Pilot funding
Innovation Award
Maximum: $100,000
Sponsor: Massey Cancer Center
Deadline: More information will be provided in Jan. 2026
Eligibility: Massey Cancer Center members
Individual faculty
K12 Program
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research
Deadline: Mid 2026
Eligibility: Early career faculty
Pilot funding
NCI Catalyst Award
Maximum: $50,000
Sponsor: Massey Cancer Center
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Massey Cancer Center members who have received a promising review from the NCI but were declined
Multi-disciplinary
Novel Agent Pilot Award
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: Massey Cancer Center
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Each PI must be a full-time VCU faculty member, and at least one of the PIs must be a Massey research member.
Faculty research
Pilot Grant Program
Maximum: $10,000
Sponsor: CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE (CHRI)
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Eligibility: Faculty or fellows with a Faculty Mentor.
Multi-disciplinary
Research Seed Grant
Maximum: $80,000
Sponsor: Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment
Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026
Eligibility: At least one investigator each from the College of Engineering and College of Humanities and Sciences. The inclusion of at least one junior faculty member holding the rank of associate/assistant professor can satisfy this requirement, and members from other schools/colleges are also welcome to join the team.
Contact Mary Wagner (wagnermc@vcu.edu) for more information.
Travel
Research Travel Grants
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: College of Humanities and Sciences - Humanities Research Center
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Full-time tenured, tenure-eligible, and term faculty in the humanities and humanistic social sciences at VCU
Individual faculty
Residential Fellowships
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: College of Humanities and Sciences - Humanities Research Center
Deadline: Oct. 17, 2025
Eligibility: VCU faculty
Faculty research
Rural Pilots Voucher Program
Maximum: $25,000
Sponsor: Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research
Deadline: Rolling monthly
Eligibility: Pilot projects in digital health to enhanve participant engagement and recruitment in rural areas
Faculty research, Grad Students
Sarah P. Farrell Legacy Research Endowment
Maximum: $3,000
Sponsor: School of Nursing
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Ph.D. students and faculty in the School of Nursing
Multi-disciplinary
Statewide Collaboration Award
Maximum: $150,000
Sponsor: Massey Cancer Center
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Equal co-PIs from VCU and one other Virginia institution
Multi-disciplinary
Team Science Pilot Award
Maximum: $200,000
Sponsor: Massey Cancer Center
Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Multi-investigator teams
Individual faculty
Translational Science Pilot Grants
Maximum: $25,000
Sponsor: Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research
Deadline: Annually on Nov. 1
Eligibility: Employment by one of the Wright Regional CCTS academic partners
Travel
Travel Grants
Maximum: $500
Sponsor: Office of the Provost, Graduate School
Deadline: Semesterly or rolling (there are about 5 per year)
Eligibility: Degree-seeking students enrolled in master's or doctoral programs.
Undergraduate
Undergraduate Research Grants
Maximum: $2,500
Sponsor: VCUarts
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: VCUarts full-time undergraduate students graduating after December
Faculty research
Value Efficiency Training and Research (VETAR)
Maximum: See funding details for more information
Sponsor: School of Medicine
Deadline: TBD
Eligibility: Full-time faculty at the School of Medicine