The Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine (BCMM) Microbiome Research Grant Support Service is dedicated to assisting faculty, researchers, and students in securing funding for microbiome-related basic, translational, and clinical research. Our mission is to provide comprehensive support throughout the entire pre-award grant application process, ensuring your proposals stand out and meet all necessary requirements.
Our Services
Funding Opportunity Identification
Identifying relevant grant opportunities specifically tailored to microbiome research from various funding agencies, foundations, and organizations.
Conceptualization
Assisting in the development and refinement of your research concept to align with funding opportunities and sponsor interests.
Review of Sponsor Proposal Requirements
- A thorough review of sponsor guidelines to ensure all proposal requirements are met.
- Development of proposal-specific task lists to reference and share with collaborators
- Assistance in gathering and preparation of all required documentation.
Scientific Reasoning and Scope
- Guidance on articulating the scientific rationale and scope of your research in a compelling manner.
- Ensuring your proposal clearly communicates the significance and impact of your research.
Preparation of Budget and Budget Justification
- Partnering with RMS to support the development of a detailed and realistic budget.
- Crafting a strong budget justification that aligns with the funding agency’s requirements.
Communication with Stakeholders and Interinstitutional Entities
- Facilitating communication with relevant stakeholders and institutional offices for project approval and sign-off.
- Partnering with RMS to request and coordinate necessary documentation for submission.
Document Copyediting and Formatting
- Ensuring all documents are meticulously proofread for spelling and grammatical accuracy.
- Formatting proposals according to sponsor guidelines and professional standards.
Application Process Time Management
- Providing support in managing the timeline of the application process to ensure timely submission.
- Assisting in setting milestones and deadlines to keep the application process on track.
Meet Dr. Slavena Vylkova
Dr. Slavena Vylkova oversees scientific communications for the Benioff Center for Microbiome Medicine (BCMM). Her expertise includes pre-award research funding operations, scientific writing and editing, and project development. Since joining BCMM in the summer of 2023, Dr. Vylkova has successfully supported the pre-award application process for two grants awarded by NIH: a NIAID Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Required) and a Biomedical Research Facilities (C06 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) grant.
Before her joining BCMM, Dr. Vylkova was a research assistant professor at Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany, where she led a research group investigating the molecular basis of metabolic adaptation of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans to host niches and associated microbiota.
Why Choose Us?
Expertise: Dr. Vylkova brings extensive experience in microbiome research and scientific writing.
Comprehensive Support: We offer end-to-end assistance from concept to submission.
Personalized Service: Tailored support to meet your specific research needs and objectives.
Initial Consultation and Priority Support
Mandatory Initial Consultation: An initial consultation is required to understand your specific needs and how we can best support your grant application.
Priority for Junior Faculty: Support will be provided based on availability, with priority given to junior faculty members.
Get Started
Contact us today to schedule a consultation or learn more about our services.
Ready to secure funding for your microbiome research? Fill out the service request form or provide funding opportunity details or supporting documentation here.
Book your initial consultation here.
