Robert E. Leet and Clara Guthrie Patterson Trust Mentored Research Award

The Robert E. Leet and Clara Guthrie Patterson Trust Mentored Research Award is a private biomedical research funding program established in 1980 with the mission of supporting research related to human diseases, including their causes and potential treatments. The program is administered by Health Resources in Action on behalf of Bank of America as trustee, and is designed specifically to promote the development and independence of early career researchers through mentored clinical research opportunities. The initiative emphasizes advancing knowledge that can directly improve human health outcomes in the near term. The primary objective of the program is to fund pilot studies and innovative clinical research conducted by mentored postdoctoral researchers and clinician scientists. The research scope is broad within the clinical domain and includes patient oriented research involving human subjects or human derived materials, epidemiological and behavioral studies, outcomes research, and health services research. The program also encourages projects that address population health challenges, including social determinants of health and health inequities. However, proposals that rely on animal studies or focus primarily on fundamental scientific phenomena without direct clinical application are explicitly excluded from funding. Awards are structured as two year grants totaling 200000 dollars, distributed as 100000 dollars per year. Funds are awarded to eligible institutions on behalf of individual researchers and must be used strictly for project related expenses such as salary support, research personnel, laboratory supplies, data processing, travel to scientific meetings, and publication costs. Indirect costs are not allowed, and funds cannot be used for construction, general operating expenses, or activities unrelated to the approved research proposal. Awardees are required to commit a minimum level of effort to the project and maintain protected research time, with stricter requirements depending on clinical responsibilities. Eligibility is limited to mentored postdoctoral researchers and clinician scientists working in nonprofit academic, medical, or research institutions located in Connecticut, New Jersey, or Rhode Island. Applicants must have a doctoral level degree and meet strict criteria regarding years of postdoctoral research experience, ranging from three to six years depending on clinical training status. Candidates must not hold tenure track positions or major independent research funding such as NIH R01 grants. A primary mentor with an active research program is required, and applicants must demonstrate a structured mentorship plan to support their transition toward independent research careers. The application process is conducted through an online system and requires submission of detailed materials including a research proposal, research and career development plan, budget justification, biosketches, letters of recommendation, and multiple narrative components describing the project, applicant qualifications, and contributions to the research community. Applicants must also provide documentation of eligibility and outline how their project meets the definition of clinical research involving human subjects. Strict formatting and submission requirements apply, and incomplete or non compliant applications are rejected. Applications are evaluated through a competitive peer review process based on criteria such as the significance and innovation of the research, the qualifications and potential of the investigator, the strength of the mentorship plan, and the feasibility and rigor of the proposed methodology. Reviewers also consider the applicant’s contributions to research culture, including commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The program encourages participation from underrepresented groups in biomedical research and emphasizes inclusive study populations in funded projects. The application deadline for the current cycle is August 11, 2026, with funding expected to begin on January 31, 2027 and continue through January 30, 2029. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle. Applicants are notified of funding decisions after the review process, and ongoing reporting requirements include annual progress reports and final scientific and financial reports at the conclusion of the award period. For assistance, applicants may contact the program via the provided email address for both technical and programmatic inquiries.

Focus on clear and feasible research design ensure strong mentorship plan demonstrate innovation and clinical impact align proposal with program goals and review criteria