Physician Investigator Research Award Program

Two females look at a laptop together

Overview

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation is interested in innovative and evidence-based research grants that address urgent health issues, health inequities, social determinants of health and health care access, quality and cost.

This grant program provides seed money to Michigan physicians who want to explore the merits of a particular, evidence-based research idea through pilot studies, feasibility studies or small research projects.

This award offers up to $10,000 in funding.

Eligibility

We accept applications from physicians based in Michigan. Their organizations must be non-profit.

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. 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

Henry Ford Health System
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan


Alan Baptist, MD
$10,000
This proposal aims to expand on a previously implemented behavioral intervention for older adults with asthma

Jennifer Cowger, MS, MD
$10,000
Quality of care for heart failure


Michigan State University
Ingham County; Mid-Michigan

College of Osteopathic Medicine
Jake Rowan, DO
$5,000
The aim of this diversity and health care access project is to survey the Michigan State University Statewide Campus System medical residents to assess their language proficiencies and linguistic diversity


University of Michigan
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

Erin Isenberg, MD
$10,000
This project will conduct a study investigating the pay for performance model

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Kyle Latack, MD
$10,000
The purpose of this study is to examine the long-term outcomes resulting from the multiple surgical approaches to pelvic organ prolapse surgical management

Patrick Johnson, MD, MPH
$10,000
This project will review Michigan’s motorcycle helmet repeal law

Beaumont Schaefer Internal Medicine Clinic
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

Jonathan Zimmerman, MBA, MD
$9,120
Develop and assess a program that compares the impact of blood pressure management by an interprofessional team as compared to patients managed by usual care

Michigan Medicine
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan
Department of Family Medicine
Diane Harper M.D., MPH, MS, FAAFP, FAAP
$10,000
Conduct a retrospective review of all health records to investigate why Black women forego follow-up testing after an abnormal cervical cancer screening

 

 

 

University of Michigan
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

Cardiology
Eric Brandt, MHS, MD
$10,000
Determine the utilization of medical nutrition therapy in the management of patients during or after hospitalization for cardiovascular disease.

Kellogg Eye Center
Anjali Shah, MD
$10,000
Examine how metabolic dysfunction impacts diabetic macular edema, and the need for intraocular injection treatment to retain vision.

Michigan Medicine
Anne Ehlers, MD
$10,000
Understand the patient’s experience with non-operative ventral hernia care.

Michigan Medicine
Joseph Ladines Lim, MD
$3,000
Examine the knowledge and attitudes about antimicrobial use and resistance in Refugees resettled in Michigan.

Henry Ford Health
Jacqueline Pflaum Carlson, MD
$9,956
Preventing and mitigating burnout in physician trainees by reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety and improving social connectedness and coping strategies.
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

Beaumont Medical Group
Oakland County; Southeast Michigan

Arati Kelekar, MD
$9,999
Healthcare provider communication skills training to address and overcome vaccine hesitancy.

Henry Ford Health
Wayne County; Southeast Michigan

Henry Ford Family Medicine
Richard Bryce, DO
$9,500
Pilot combining postpartum and newborn appointments to improve postpartum and newborn care.

Hurley Medical Center
Genesee County; Bay Area Michigan

Emergency Medicine
Ryan Reece, MD
$10,000
Identify the common characteristics of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors and non-survivors in Genesee County.

Spectrum Health Foundation
Kent County; West Michigan

Spectrum Health Family Medicine Residency
Harland Holman, MD
$10,000
Improve the quality of care for Burmese and Rwandan refugees using a digital communication assistance tool.

University of Michigan
Washtenaw County; Southeast Michigan

Family Medicine
Justine Wu, MD, MPH
$10,000
Explore the feasibility of a digital tool designed to meet unique contraceptive decision needs for women with multiple health conditions.

Obstetrics & Gynecology
Alli Straubhar, MD
$10,000
Test a new system for communicating with post-operative gynecological surgery patients.

Pediatrics
Nicole Hamp, MD
$9,100
Increase the use of the Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in toddlers among primary care providers.

Daniel Arndt, MD
$10,000
Impact of simultaneous EEG/functional MRI for candidates needing pediatric epilepsy surgery.
Beaumont Children's Hospital

Patricia Dhar, MD
$10,000
Pilot Study: A Novel method for Cervical Health Monitoring in African American Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) using a Self- Sampling Brush to Assess Cervical HPV Detection and Transcription, Cervical Cell Cytokine Transcription and Cervical Cytology.
Ascension St. John Hospital

Zaira Khalid, MD
$9,990
Assessment of Cognition - Comparison of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Cognivue.
Central Michigan University

Joseph Miller, MD
$10,000
Performance Evaluation of Hospital Emergency Departments during a Medical Surge.
Henry Ford Hospital

Julie Thai, MD, MPH
$10,000
Motivational Interviewing to Stop Smoking in Michigan Initiative (MISSMI).
McLaren-Flint Hospital/Michigan State University

Questions?

Please check the FAQs in our help section. If you don't see what you're looking for, email us at foundation@bcbsm.com and a member of our team will respond.

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