Supporting Research Continuity

Updated: May 29, 2025

VP&S and the University are implementing efforts to help support research continuity as we navigate the current challenging federal research environment and an uncertain future landscape. This page provides details on graduate education, stabilization funds, and the Presidential Task Force on Columbia’s Research Mission, which is guiding long-term strategic planning. 

Graduate Education

Over the next year, the University will contribute funds to schools to support our commitments to current graduate students and post-doctoral fellows on terminated training grants and fellowships, an area that has been severely impacted by the terminations of federal support. PIs do not need to apply for these resources. Any questions about predoctoral trainees should be directed to the Office of Graduate Affairs. Questions about postdoctoral training grant funding may be directed to the Office for Research at ps-officeforresearch@cumc.columbia.edu.

Stabilization Funding

The University has launched two research stabilization funds to which researchers can apply for bridge support to bring projects to completion, explore alternative funding, or pivot their projects in new directions; these funds are not intended to replace federal support. Efforts to expand these funds with philanthropic support are already underway.

  • One fund, created with the support of NewYork-Presbyterian, is focused on the Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons.
  • A second fund supports the entire Columbia University research community, with special attention to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, including those at VP&S, whose training grants have been affected.

All PIs are eligible to apply to the stabilization fund. This fund is also designated to support scientific research cores; core directors, in collaboration with scientific directors, are also eligible to apply to these funds. This process will be managed by the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR), with final decisions on fund allocation to be made by VP&S leadership and VP&S’ Research Stabilization Committee. All VP&S applicants must confirm they have informed their department chair of their intent to apply. Core directors should contact the VP&S Office for Research for guidance about their applications at ps-officeforresearch@cumc.columbia.edu. 

Round 1 of applications are due 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 (award date July 15, 2025); the second round of applications are due by 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (award date October 15, 2025). Future rounds may be announced.

PIs with cancelled awards or with pending noncompeting renewals are encouraged to apply. 

Only PIs with a full-time appointment in a PI-eligible position may apply, and only one application per PI is permitted. Requests may be up to $100,000 to be spent over a maximum of 12 months, to support research personnel (students, postdocs, staff), and other necessary research needs, including equipment, materials, publication costs, or services. No funding can go to support collaborators external to Columbia University. Review criteria include:

  • Clear justification of the proposed use of funds.
  • Feasibility to achieve proposed research outcomes.
  • Potential for long-term funding through federal or non-federal sources. 

More information on the stabilization funds is available on the EVPR website. Applications must be submitted on the InfoReady Review site. 

Long-Term Strategic Planning

Columbia has also created a Presidential Task Force on Columbia’s Research Mission to provide guidance on strategic planning, financial forecasting, developing sustainable alternative funding models, aligning school-based efforts, and reenvisioning our research footprint in the face of long-term shifts in the federal landscape.

The task force is co-chaired by Provost Angela V. Olinto and Jim McKiernan, acting CEO of CUIMC and interim dean of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and is comprised of academic and research leaders from across the University, including Lorraine Frazier, dean, Columbia Nursing School; Ali G. Gharavi, chair, Department of Medicine; Stavros Lomvardas, Roy and Diana Vagelos Chair, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics; Wil McKoy, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Interim COO, CUIMC; and Kathleen Sikkema, chair of the Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.