Clemson University researchers are invited to advance healthcare innovation and impact by participating in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Accelerator Program.
A collaborative effort between the Clemson University School of Health Research (CUSHR) and Prisma Health, the NIH Accelerator provides mentorship and training to early- and mid-career researchers seeking NIH support. During the program, mentors and mentees meet twice monthly to discuss, present and provide feedback and guidance on sections of each mentee’s grant proposal. Mentors include successful researchers from the Prisma Health Education and Research Institute, which includes Clemson, Furman University, University of South Carolina and Prisma Health. Participants complete the program with a competitive draft proposal to submit to NIH.
Applications for the program are due July 18 and can be completed here. Participants are selected based on strong research ideas.
Over the past year, the NIH Accelerator has supported faculty from six colleges and 18 departments.
Kaileigh Byrne, associate professor of psychology, credited the NIH Accelerator with helping her secure an NIH R01 award in 2024 for her research on innovative interventions for alcohol use disorder patients. Through mentorship, she refined her proposal, addressed conceptual gaps and aligned her research with NIH expectations.
“It was also incredibly valuable to receive feedback from both content experts as well as experts outside of my field who had successfully received NIH funding,” Byrne said. “It allowed me to tailor my writing to both audiences, which is similar to the NIH review process.”
Sarah Floyd, assistant professor of public health sciences, said the NIH Accelerator was so helpful in enhancing her research portfolio after going through it has a mentee that she agreed to later serve as a mentor. The exposure to a diverse range of viewpoints allowed her to refine her approach to grantsmanship, incorporating feedback from both content and non-content experts.
“For mentees who are just starting their NIH research journey, the Accelerator Program provides an opportunity to receive diverse perspectives on your research proposals from highly experienced colleagues who have been through the process and found success landing K01s, R01s, and beyond,” she said.
The Accelerator also helps faculty learn to build competitive research teams and expand their professional networks, connecting them with potential collaborators in both clinical and academic fields. These interactions are critical to Clemson’s success in securing high-value research funding in support of the Clemson Elevate strategic plan.
“Health research continues to be a priority in Clemson’s strategic plan, and researchers from all colleges are engaged in collaborative health research efforts,” said Windsor Westbrook Sherrill, associate vice president for health research and professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences. “The NIH Accelerator Program supports Clemson Elevate’s focus on health innovation and enables Clemson faculty to be more competitive for health-related research funding.”
NIH Accelerator applicants will be notified of application status in August. The program is tentatively expected to begin in September.