BGRI Request for Proposals
Bucknell University and Geisinger announce the 2026 Request for Proposals to provide funding support from the Bucknell-Geisinger Research Initiative (BGRI) for collaborative healthcare research projects between Bucknell faculty/staff and Geisinger physicians/clinicians/scientists. An important goal in offering this unique funding opportunity is to provide mechanisms for the establishment of long-term collaborative interactions that may also lead to peer-reviewed publications and subsequent external funding. Collaborative efforts and submissions are encouraged (but not limited) to the following areas of inquiry:
| Advanced Analytics/Predictive Models | Genomic Medicine | Neuroscience |
| Artificial Intelligence | Health Economics | Preparedness/pandemic-related |
| Bioethics | Healthcare Delivery and Systems Imaging Sciences | Supply Chain and Operations |
| Biomedical Devices | Metabolic diseases or metabolomics | Systems/Industrial Engineering |
| Biomedical/Translational Informatics | Neurodevelopment and Autism |
Proposal Stages
Proposals will be evaluated on the importance of the healthcare challenge being addressed, the quality of the scientific and design methods, the effective use of the requested funds, involvement of undergraduate students, potential for dissemination of results, and prospective future collaborative work or technology transfer beyond the grant period.
Funding for these opportunities will be made available in two stages, with Stage 1 initially targeted at a maximum of $20,000 and Stage 2 targeted at a maximum of $100,000. Funds are intended to support faculty, scientists, staff, students, travel, and project supplies. Stage 1 award periods will only be for one year. Generally, Stage 2 awards will also be for one year, but two years may be requested when the significance of the work and the work plan justify such a request. The two funding stages are defined as follows:
Fund Guidelines and Restrictions
- Proposals must be jointly written and submitted by a Bucknell faculty member and a physician/clinician/scientist at Geisinger, with each party making significant contributions toward the effort. Each organization must receive a balanced portion of the budget. If the budget is not balanced between organizations, approximately 50-50, a rationale should be provided in the budget justification.
- Funding for projects involving human subjects will be contingent upon approval of the appropriate institutional review board.
- Funding is primarily for personnel, fringe benefits, consultants, supplies, domestic travel, and patient care. In compelling circumstances, equipment may also be supported with adequate justification.
- Overall, the optimal outcomes of these projects are significant results/data and a long-lasting collaboration that is likely to result in a sustained partnership, dissemination of peer-reviewed publications, and the pursuit of external funding.
- Potential for future external funding is of specific importance to Stage 2 projects.
- Bucknell faculty members may request up to one month of summer salary per year.
- Geisinger faculty may request salary support. It’s suggested that a PI dedicate at least 5% effort. Geisinger salaries will be capped at the current NIH salary cap.
- Geisinger staff are encouraged to include project management support in their budgets.
- Project timelines should correspond to the dates provided below.
- It is not expected that investigators will receive multiple awards. The intent of this mechanism is to propel opportunities for extramural funding to support ongoing research endeavors. To be eligible, PIs who have received prior BGRI funding must also include documentation of a previously submitted grant proposal to an external funder demonstrating pursuit of follow-on funding in support of the BGRI-funded research.
Stage 1 and 2 Application Requirements
- Completed Cover Sheet
- Project Description
- CVs of Principal Investigators (PIs); biosketches will not be accepted
- Letter of Support from each PI’s Department Chair
- Project Budget
- Budget Justification
- If prior funding for a related BGRI project has been received, include an updated Progress Report
Timelines
| Component | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Letter of Intent | Jan. 16, 2026 Please note the new requirements for the one-page LOI this year. This should include a brief summary of the project concept, overall goals/aims, and a brief description of planned methods. The LOI can be considered a working draft document that can help facilitate the feedback meeting to be scheduled with teams. |
| Feedback meeting | Jan. 26 – Feb. 13, 2026 Each applicant team will have a 15–minute Zoom meeting with the Committee. |
| Proposal submission | March 23, 2026 |
| Funding decisions | May 2026 |
| Standard start date | June 1, 2026 |
| Standard completion date | Stage 1 projects: one year after start date. Stage 2 projects, one year after start date is preferred, but a maximum of two years is allowable. (No-cost extensions will not be allowed) |
| Results presentation | On or before Nov. 1, 2027 |
Submission Process and Deadlines
Submission deadlines
*Both PIs must follow their institution's formal internal proposal compliance approval process and submit their materials through their respective approval channels.
For Geisinger PIs
Geisinger PIs must notify osppreaward@geisinger.edu with their LOI to submit a proposal by Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. Submit using the intake form and attach the LOI. The following Geisinger internal deadlines are based on the March 23 final due date and in accordance with the submission deadline policy.
The Geisinger internal 2026 deadlines for the following components are as follows:
| Deadline | Component |
|---|---|
| Thursday, Feb. 26 | Draft budget and justification for requested Bucknell and Geisinger costs. |
| Thursday, March 12 | Final budget and justification for requested Bucknell and Geisinger costs. |
| Friday, March 13 | Final supplemental documents:
|
For Bucknell PIs
Bucknell PIs should submit their LOIs to osp@bucknell.edu.
The Bucknell internal deadlines for the following components are as follows:
| Deadline | Component |
|---|---|
| Monday, March 23 | Deadline to upload and submit final proposal materials through the Bucknell SPA portal:
|
Geisinger OSP will provide a consortium letter to Bucknell OSP signifying budget approval for each proposal. Bucknell's OSP will share a final version of the full application with Geisinger's OSP staff once approved and submitted.
Additional reminders
Collaborative projects between Bucknell and Geisinger frequently require Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval due to their involvement of human subjects or patient data for research purposes. While IRB approval is not required ahead of the BGRI proposal submission deadline, it is important that project PIs have considered the timing of the IRB review that will be required. For any research involving human subjects, IRB approval must be obtained prior to commencing research activities.
It is recommended that the Bucknell researcher(s) discuss their projects early on with the Bucknell IRB chair (irbchair@bucknell.edu). For collaborative research grants funded under the BGRI, and because Bucknell cannot receive or manage Geisinger’s protected health information (PHI), Bucknell will typically rely on Geisinger’s IRB for protocol review and approval.
Bucknell PIs are advised that they may need to complete a Geisinger "Relying Site Application" for the Geisinger co-PI to submit through the Geisinger IRB system. This form is available on the Geisinger HRPP webpage, along with all other documents and materials. A site relying on Geisinger needs to ensure that logistical handling and management of the human subject data has been considered throughout the IRB approval process.