Investigator Initiated Research Program

A health care professional looks at digital imaging results

Overview

The Investigator Initiated Research Award Program from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation supports doctoral-level researchers focused on:

  • Addressing critical gaps in health-related research
  • Examining factors that may prevent or reduce risk for disease
  • Examining associations and cause and effect relationships between health variables
  • Secondary data analysis of large datasets
  • Health care cost-analysis studies
  • Robust evaluation projects and feasibility studies to test the implementation of innovative interventions to improve health outcomes

The award offers up to $75,000 per grant.

Eligibility

We accept applications from primary investigators with medical or doctoral-level credentials, developing evidence-based research, and based in hospitals, universities and health care systems.

Applicants must be based in Michigan and their organizations must be nonprofit.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees and their immediate family members are ineligible. Employees of any BCBSM affiliate and their immediate family members also are ineligible.

Grant application process

  1. Submit a concept paper
    The concept paper is an opportunity to provide a brief summary of your idea and the goals of your program. We accept concept papers at any time. However, if you’re targeting a specific grant deadline, the concept paper must be received at least 60 days before an application deadline.

    Concept paper (PDF) This is a fillable PDF form that can be downloaded to any device (computer, tablet, phone). Complete the form, save it, then email it to the Foundation.

  2. Feedback from a Senior Program Officer
    Senior Program Officers review concept papers throughout the year. Once your concept paper has been reviewed, a Senior Program Officer will contact you with information on the next steps.

  3. If you are invited to submit a proposal
    A Senior Program Officer will provide instructions on submitting a proposal package to meet one of our three application deadlines (January, April or August) for funding consideration at one of our three board meetings (April, July or November).

  4. External review process
    Two external grant reviewers evaluate your proposal as part of the grant review process.

  5. Decision notification
    After reviewing the application at one of our three board meetings, you will receive an email with the funding decision within 10 business days.

Grant application timelines

All deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. Applications are reviewed up to the date indicated, which is when the board meets for discussion. After the application is reviewed at our board meeting, applicants will receive an email with the funding decision within 10 business days.

Winter Schedule

Concept Paper Due

Oct. 29, 2025

Applications Accepted Until

Jan. 7, 2026

Applications Reviewed

April 15, 2026

Spring Schedule

Concept Paper Due

Feb. 4, 2026

Applications Accepted Until

April 15, 2026

Applications Reviewed

July 22, 2026

Summer Schedule

Concept Paper Due

May 27, 2026

Applications Accepted Until

Aug. 5, 2026

Applications Reviewed

Nov. 18, 2026

Proposal requirements

The application process is comprehensive, so it helps to understand what's involved at the outset of applying. Here is what you will be expected to deliver if your concept paper is approved and you move onto the proposal process.

Your proposal package narrative should range between 2,000-4,500 words and include the following sections: 

  • Background
  • Hypothesis(es)
  • Significance of research
  • Innovation of research
  • Research design and methods 
  • Expected outcomes
  • Addressing health equity and social determinants of health
  • Addressing how the work is valuable to the population, increases the quality of care and improves the access to health care
  • Conclusion

Please use AMA 10th Edition or APA 7th edition citation style. Citations do not count towards the recommended word count.

Other materials you'll be expected to deliver or review, sign and submit:

  • Planned Participant Enrollment Table
  • Detailed budget and budget justification documents, including:
    • Funds requested, anticipated or provided by other sources for the same or similar project must be described in detail on an attached sheet and referenced in a cover letter.
    • The Foundation does not pay for indirect costs except for limited fringe benefits, including health, personal and/or medical benefits. The allowable fringe benefit expense may not exceed the lesser of 25 percent of the salary subtotal figure or the actual cost of the fringe benefits.
    • The Foundation does not pay for tuition expenses or continuing education units for the PI, project staff, or students.
    • The following are not supported by this funding program: computer equipment, including hardware and software; one-time use consumables, such as medical and office supplies; furnishings; and capital expenses, such as phone, rent, building insurance.
    • Conference travel is limited to $1,000.
  • Letters of support from collaborators
  • Project Timeline
  • Resume/CV of the Project Director(s) and other key personnel/staff
  • Copy of most recent Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) tax determination letter
  • If applicable, Letters from Co-funder(s)
  • If applicable, figures and tables

Past grant recipients

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Alger, Chippewa, Luce, Mackinac, Schoolcraft Counties; Upper Peninsula

College of Human Medicine
Mona Hanna, MD, MPH, FAAP
$75,000
Rx Kids provides financial support to expectant mothers and infants. A study will evaluate its impact on maternal wellbeing. The program aims to improve health and economic security

 

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

School of Medicine
Department of Obstetrics Gynecology
Michelle Moniz, MD, MSc, FACOG
$50,000
This project aims to identify effective Quality Initiative strategies to reduce cesarean rates and create “precision QI interventions” for safe cesarean rate reduction.

 

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute for Child & Family Development
Kathleen (Lucy) McGoron, PhD
$40,000
The Parenting Young Children Check-up (PYCC) is a tech-based program supporting parents. A clinical trial will evaluate its effectiveness in Detroit. The study aims to improve child behavior and parenting outcomes

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Ingham County; Mid-Michigan 

College of Communication Arts and Sciences  
Celeste Campos-Catillo, PhD
$50,000
The project is designed and develop a tool to increase the rates of screening for anxiety and depression among autistic adolescents

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Genesee County; Bay Area Michigan

College of Human Medicine
Eric Finegood, PhD
$45,000
Support the expansion of the Supporting Parents and Raising Resilient Kids (SPARRK) study of the PlayReadVIP
 

PINE REST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Kent County; West Michigan      

Heide Rollings, MD
$55,000
This study will develop a training for mental health clinicians who work with psychiatrically partially hospitalized adolescents because of online victimization
 

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

School of Social Work and College of Medicine
Lindsay Bornheimer, PhD, MSW
$48,000
Increasing crisis line usage for individuals with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Medical School
Paul Pfeiffer, MD, MS
$62,500
Implementation of Collaborative Care Management to improve mental health outcomes in primary care

Medical School
Leah Schoel, MD
$40,000
The purpose of this project is to perform a pilot feasibility and implementation trial on the Abdominal Hernia Questionnaire
 

WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY 
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Michael Veve, PharmD, MPH
$55,000
The focus of this project is to improve the care of hospitalized people who inject drugs 

School of Social Work
Bridget Weller, PhD, MSW
$50,000
Conduct a feasibility study of Authentic Identity Therapy for multiracial young adults with depression and/or anxiety

Central Michigan University
Department of Psychology

James Gerhart, PhD
$53,000
Explore the perceptions of primary care physicians toward deprescribing among older adults
Isabella County; Mid-Michigan

Henry Ford Health
Andrew Bossick, MPH, PhD
$60,000
Develop provider education to improve the care of transgender men undergoing a gender-affirming hysterectomy
Wayne; Southeast Michigan

Hope College
Department of Nursing
Anita Esquerra-Zwiers, PhD
$50,000
Implement and evaluate the My Mother’s Milk for Michigan Infants Lactation Coach program
Ottawa, Calhoun; West Michigan

Michigan State University

College of Human Medicine
Karren Campbell, PhD
$60,000
Evaluating programs and services for Pregnant and Postpartum Women enrolled in residential Substance Use Disorders treatment with Flint Odyssey House
Ingham, Genessee, Saginaw, St. Clair; Mid-Michigan

College of Human Medicine
Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD
$75,000
Evaluating cash allowances to address racial and socioeconomic disparities in maternal and child health outcomes
Ingham, Genesse; Mid-Michigan

College of Human Medicine
Todd Lucas, PhD
$50,000
Develop and evaluate a community-informed intervention to educate and encourage younger adults to engage in colorectal cancer prevention with R.L. Jones Community Outreach Center in Flint
Ingham, Genesse; Mid-Michigan

University of Michigan

Michigan Medicine
Calista Harbaugh, MS, MD
$50,000
Measure, understand, and characterize why positive margins occur after colorectal cancer surgery
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan & Statewide

Michigan State University

College of Human Medicine
Natoshia Cunningham, PhD
$55,000
Implement an evidence-based program to train school nurses and allied professionals to manage student pain in rural Northern Michigan.
Ingham, and Ottawa Counties; Northern Michigan & Mid-Michigan

College of Human Medicine
Heatherlun Uphold, PhD
$67,500
Evaluation and dissemination of Greater Flint Health Equity Report Card to improve health equity in Greater Flint and support the creation of a Greater Flint Health Equity Master Plan.
Ingham and Genesee Counties; Mid-Michigan and Bay Area Michigan

College of Education
Gloria Lee, PhD
$45,000
Adapt a group intervention to teach individuals with mental illness stress management coping skills and support them to engage in self-care and healthy behaviors.
Ingham and Ottawa Counties; Mid-Michigan and West Michigan

School of Social Work
Deirdre Shires, PhD
$45,000
Understanding the care quality for underserved LGBTQ community health center patients in Michigan.
Ingham County; Statewide

University of Michigan
Washtenaw, Wayne, Kent, and Grand Traverse Counties; Southeast Michigan

Medical School
Adrienne Lapidos, PhD
$55,000
Test a group intervention in a behavioral health setting delivered by Peer Support Specialists and Peer Recovery Coaches to improve oral health knowledge and dental care utilization among individuals with psychiatric disabilities.

Medical School
Pasithorn Suwanabol, MS, MD
$45,000
Examine the effect of providing patients with ileostomies post-operation hydration beverage and barriers to adherence.

Michigan Medicine
Kimberly Rollings, PhD
$35,000
Evaluate the prevalence of health-related housing, neighborhood, health care utilization, and health-promoting attributes across Michigan’s Low-Income Housing Tax Credit supported housing.

Michigan Medicine
Michael McKee, MPH, MD
$40,000
Using a comprehensive virtual medication review program to reduce polypharmacy and medication risk in individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Calvin University
Kent County; West Michigan
Department of Nursing
Mary Molewyk Doornbos, RN, PhD
$55,000
Evaluate Women Supporting Women Zoom adaptation and the Women Supporting Women Mental Health Ambassadors training program on behavioral health outcomes.

Eversight
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan
Onkar Sawant, PhD
$27,000
Examine the presence of COVID-19 on ocular tissue before donation.

Michigan State University
Ingham County; Mid-Michigan
College of Nursing
Tsui-Sui Annie Kao, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAANP
$50,000
Evaluating the role of stress to promote healthy eating patterns and physical activity among Native American parent-child dyads using hair cortisol.

College of Nursing
Horng Shiuann Wu, PhD, RN
$48,250
Use COVID-19 health data to develop and test a toolkit for self-management of post-COVID-19 symptoms.

College of Human Medicine
Emiko Blalock, PhD
$33,550
Address health equity and health disparities by increasing empathic communication in third-year medical students.

College of Human Medicine
Rodlescia Sneed, PhD, MPH
$50,000
Improving the blood pressure of returning citizens in Flint through a tailored peer-led physical activity and nutrition program.

Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Lorraine J. Weatherspoon, PhD
$50,000
Increasing health care providers’ capacity to address food insecurity, obesity, weight management, and weight reduction.

School of Social Work
Heather McCauley, ScD, MS
$55,000
Evaluate the effectiveness of the “Public Will Campaign to End Child Sexual Abuse” in building community connection and promoting prosocial norms to reduce child sexual abuse and associated adverse health outcomes.

Michigan Technological University
Houghton County; Upper Peninsula Michigan
Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology
Carolyn Duncan, PhD
$50,000
Evaluate the efficacy of a community-based 10-week Tai Chi exercise program to improve balance, glycemic control, and decrease falls among individuals with Type II Diabetes.

Oakland University
Oakland County; Southeast Michigan
School of Health Sciences
Florence Dallo, MPH, PhD
$50,000
Design and evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccination intervention for Arab Americans.

Wayne State University
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan
College of Nursing
Bincy Joshwa, PhD, RN
$52,000
Understand the bio-behavioral and socio-cultural factors that influence fatigue severity in individuals on hemodialysis.

Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences
Youcheng Liu, MD, MPH, ScD
$44,500
Examining the relationship between air pollution, the use of in-home air filtration, and blood pressure.

Mousumi Banerjee, PhD
$50,000
Machine Learning Methods for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Delivery.
University of Michigan

Robin Criter, AuD, PhD
$50,000
The Effect of Hearing Loss and its Treatment on Balance in Dual-Task Conditions.
Western Michigan University

Justin Dimick, MD, MPH
$50,000
Private Equity Investment in Surgical Care.
University of Michigan

Michelle Sahr, PharmD
$52,000
Physician-Pharmacist Collaboration to Improve Cardiovascular Disease in Rural Communities.
Ferris State University

Abdulghani Sankari, MD, PhD
$50,000
Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients with Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB).
Wayne State University

Shawna Smith, PhD
$53,000
Improving Mental Health in Michigan during COVID-19: Addressing Unmet Needs through Community College.
University of Michigan

Robin Tucker, PhD
$52,000
Effects of Medical Nutrition Therapy combined with Sleep Therapy Education on Long Term Blood Glucose Control.
Michigan State University

Denise White Perkins, MD
$50,000
Social Determinants of Health Vital Signs.
Henry Ford Health System

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Mailing Address
BCBSM Foundation | Mail Code X101 | 600 E. Lafayette Blvd. | Detroit, MI | 48226-2998