Call for proposals
The Kren Engineering-based Medicine Initiative (KEMi) invites proposals that advance the application of engineering and technology to the practice of medicine and healthcare, with the ultimate goal of preventing and alleviating human suffering caused by disease and injury.
Inspired by the founding values of Rigor, Innovation, Collaboration, Opportunity, and Accountability, KEMi seeks to accelerate transformative research at the intersection of engineering and medicine.
Research areas
In this inaugural call, KEMi will prioritize proposals in the following broad areas:
- Technological Innovations for Vision and Eye Health
- Advanced Imaging Technologies for Early Disease Detection
- Personalized and Preventative Healthcare Technologies
- AI and Machine Learning in Medicine
- Smart Biomaterials and Therapeutic Devices
- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technologies
Proposals that integrate the expertise of the School of Medicine (SOM) and the College of Engineering (COE), and that demonstrate clear translational potential toward clinical applications, are strongly encouraged. Preference will be given to proposals with Co-PIs from both SOM and COE, particularly those representing new collaborations.
Award details
- Selected proposals will be funded at $100,000–$150,000/year for up to two years.
- The budget must detail all direct costs.
- A small number of awards are anticipated; funding decisions will prioritize project fit, potential for impact, and alignment with KEMi’s mission and values.
- Joint proposals involving collaborations between the College of Engineering and the School of Medicine are strongly encouraged.
- Opportunities for commercialization or clinical translation will be viewed favorably.
Submission deadline
Full Proposals Due: May 20, 2025
Submitting your proposal
Full Proposals: Submissions will be accepted through the following link: https://forms.gle/nja8AwAdPk78c6FE7
Please direct any questions to the KEMi team at uwkemi@uw.edu.
Proposal materials
Full proposals must include:
- Project Title, Research Area(s), and Abstract
- Research Area(s): As defined in the overall Call for Proposals (choose one or more, as applicable).
- Abstract: Limited to 250 words.
- Project Description (maximum 2 pages)
- Background: Summarize the unmet medical need being addressed, discuss prior work/preliminary results pertinent to the project, and include potential for impact on the practice of medicine and healthcare and overall probability of success.
- Research plan: The project’s methods and technical approach. Include key areas of risk and how your approach mitigates them.
- Deliverables: Detail expected results, including any newly developed products or methods anticipated.
- Potential for impact: Discuss the translational pathway toward real-world application, including potential routes for commercialization.
- Collaboration Plan (if applicable)
- Budget and Justification
- Total budget of $250,000 over 2 years
- There will be no indirect cost on these internal awards
- Detail key staff and fraction FTE commitment, major equipment, supplies, animals (if applicable), other research costs, publication costs, and travel.
- Biosketches for PI and key personnel (either NSF or NIH format)
- References
All proposals are required to follow the standard proposal template:
- Length: Proposals should be a maximum of 2 pages, exclusive of Abstract, Budget Request and Appendices.
- Language and Formatting: English; 10-point Arial (not Arial Narrow), Courier New, or Palatino Linotype
- No more than six lines of text per inch; 0.7” margins on all sides
- Final document: All components should be saved as a single PDF and submitted per instructions.