Frequently Asked Questions

Early-stage researchers, also known as “young investigators,” as defined on our website, are eligible.  Here is a summary of our definition.

A YOUNG INVESTIGATOR…

IS	GENERALLY IS NOT
In medical fellowship or early years of faculty position.	Defined by age
In MD or PhD program or residency and committed to biomedical research.	Someone with extensive publications
A researcher within 10 years of terminal degree.	Someone with major grants, such as R or K type awards.
A postdoctoral fellow, instructor, assistant professor, RN, NP, pharmacist, paramedic, educator, or similar.	An undergraduate not committed to biomedical research career.

Our scope encompasses a wide range of areas including, but not limited to, emergency medicine, critical care, trauma, cardiovascular health, pulmonary health, neuroscience, and translational research focused on applying discoveries to enhance training and delivery in clinical practice.

We have deadlines at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 31 and September 30. Please aim to get your application submitted in advance of a deadline so you don’t risk having to wait for the next round.

While one person can submit more than one application in a single round, it is preferred that an applicant’s focus be on a single research study they hope most to get funded.

Yes, it may be resubmitted but should not be exactly the same as the original application. Time should be spent to revisit the application and budget criteria, as well as types of research funded by the Foundation in the past, to help reshape the original submission.

Yes. Multiple individuals from the same institution can apply in a single round.

We view our grants as “seed” grants that might help young investigators attract more substantial funding in the future by other sources, such as the NIH in the U.S. Foundation grants have been as low as $25,000 and have exceeded $100,000.

A Foundation grant covers a 2-year period, starting generally either in June (for March 31 round) or January (for September 30 round).

Yes. Funds awarded will not cover institutional indirect costs/overhead, publication costs, most equipment, conference attendance, and most travel expenses. In the case of equipment, it is encouraged that it be borrowed or secured via the institution at which the research is being conducted. While our grants cover salaries and fringe benefits, a budget that is made up nearly exclusively of these items is not favored, as we prefer to support the expense of doing the research, not the researchers themselves. A budget template that should be used in an application can be found at https://www.zollfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Fillable-Budget-Template-with-Calculations-11-10-23-V2.pdf.

Because of the number of applications we receive, and the volunteer nature of our staffing, we do not have the capacity to communicate with applicants about the specifics of their applications in advance. You may, however, send general questions to [email protected]. We will do our best to provide clarification on any areas that are unclear or are of concern.

We do not require such prior approval unless it is something your institution requires. The PI should definitely be the individual who applies. In fact, if someone other than the PI completes the application, it results in confusion surrounding the actual applicant’s submission.

While it’s beneficial to have advance IRB approval, this is not something the Foundation requires of an applicant. Once a Foundation grant is awarded, however, receipt of IRB approval becomes a condition of approval.

Please email [email protected]. Thank you.