Partner-Funded Research Opportunities

Collaborate with SCCM to support and advance critical care research.

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The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) invites collaboration with industry, nonprofit organizations, and other partners seeking to support and advance research in critical care.

Through its research arm, Discovery, the Critical Care Research Network, SCCM offers a trusted infrastructure for administering investigator-led research grants. Organizations may submit proposals for grant-funded research initiatives they wish to support. These proposals will be reviewed and, if aligned with SCCM’s mission and priorities, managed by Discovery in collaboration with the funding partner.

SCCM, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, welcomes proposals focused on a broad range of clinical and translational research topics. Partners may include life sciences companies, med-tech and digital health firms, foundations, and other mission-aligned organizations.

This opportunity is ideal for organizations looking to:

  • Support high-impact research in critical care medicine
  • Collaborate with leading experts and institutions through Discovery
  • Ensure scientific rigor and transparency through SCCM’s grant administration processes

To learn more or submit a proposal for consideration, please contact Brian Fitzgerald.

Learn More About Criteria

Grant Types

Research Grants

SCCM may offer grants funded by collaborating organizations aimed at supporting innovative research projects in critical care medicine. Grants may cover a wide range of topics including sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, trauma, and organ dysfunction.

Examples include studies on novel therapies, clinical studies, and translational research projects that have the potential to significantly impact patient care and outcomes in critical care settings.

Innovation Grants

SCCM may partner with industry leaders to offer grants aimed at fostering the development and implementation of innovative technologies, devices, and strategies to improve patient care in critical care settings.

Grant opportunities may support projects focused on the development of medical devices, software applications, telemedicine solutions, and other innovative approaches to enhance critical care delivery and patient outcomes.

Quality Improvement Grants

SCCM may collaborate with industry sponsors to provide grants aimed at enhancing the quality, safety, and efficiency of critical care delivery.

Grant opportunities may support projects focused on implementing evidence-based practices, optimizing care processes, reducing healthcare-associated infections, and improving patient outcomes in critical care units.

How Are Collaborative Grants Managed?

Collaborative grants are funded by the applicant and managed and coordinated by SCCM, through Discovery. By leveraging Discovery, grant recipients have access to the Discovery Data Coordinating Center, which can contribute to the success of grant proposals and the conduct of studies through a number of key functions:

  • Translating clinical and scientific questions into appropriate study designs and analysis strategies for funding proposals
  • Calculating sample size or power estimates consistent with the associated analysis strategies and specific to the research phase and design type
  • Conducting standard and novel statistical analyses and writing methods and results for manuscripts, reports, and presentations
  • Developing data collection forms and web-based data management using REDCap Cloud
  • Maintaining effective data management and producing ongoing recruitment and safety reports for data and safety monitoring boards and other committees
  • Providing other logistical support as needed for specific requests for application

SCCM will provide a project close-out narrative and financial report for the funding received.

Align Your Brand and Values

  • Grant sponsors may propose the topic and eligibility criteria, including SCCM membership status and judging criteria.
  • Upon request, SCCM will share grant entries with the grant sponsor, with permission from the proposal author. Grant applicant contact information will be included for those who have opted to share contact information.
  • Grant sponsors are acknowledged in marketing materials promoting the grant and recipients.
  • A representative will be invited to participate in any planned, formal award ceremony related to the grant. The invitation is limited to one industry representative.
  • Grant sponsors are acknowledged in communication about the grant progress, including features about the recipients, narrative reports on funding applications, promotion of published works, and other communications.
  • Industry grant funding is recognized in publications that result from grants as well as in presentations related to the project and as outlined in the grant agreement.

Application Process and Criteria

Detailed information about each grant opportunity, including eligibility criteria, application requirements, deadlines, and review processes, are developed by SCCM based on the scope of the funding opportunity by the collaborating organization.

Basic Criteria
Applicant must provide:

  • Applicant name, address, and contact details
  • Principal investigator (must be an SCCM member)
  • Industry category (e.g., pharmaceutical, medical devices, biotech, nonprofit)
  • Knowledge area (grant proposals must align with at least one of SCCM's knowledge areas).
  • Grant type (research, innovation, quality improvement, other)
  • Statement of purpose and relevance to the SCCM mission
  • Sponsorship details:
    • Amount of funding to be provided
    • Duration of sponsorship (one-time, multiyear, renewable)
    • Intended use of funds
    • Restrictions or preferences on how funds should be allocated
  • Disclosured, including compliance disclosures:
    • Certification that sponsorship does not require influence over recipient selection
    • Disclosure of any relationships with potential grant applicants
    • Agreement to adhere to association policies and external compliance regulations
    • Agreement to adhere to the rules governing industry-supported research grants

Applications will be evaluated based on alignment to SCCM’s mission and knowledge areas and the proposal's feasibility.

Submit an Application

Through its collaborating partners, SCCM offers a diverse range of grants aimed at supporting research, education, innovation, and quality improvement initiatives in critical care medicine. These grants provide valuable funding and support to SCCM members, enabling them to advance critical care excellence and improve patient outcomes in critical care settings.

To learn more or submit a proposal for consideration, please contact Brian Fitzgerald.

Rules and Considerations
  • SCCM does not require funded investigators (grant recipients) to meet with company/industry supporters.
  • A meeting after the grant has been closed may be coordinated only through SCCM.
  • SCCM does not permit companies that support grants to receive intellectual property rights or royalties arising out of the grant-funded research.
  • SCCM does not permit companies that support grants to control or influence manuscripts that arise from the grant-funded research.
  • Program sponsorships may be acknowledged on signage at SCCM's Critical Care Congress registration and other areas and by an announcement at the beginning or end of the program, as well as on slides between sessions and on SCCM websites and communications.
  • All industry-funded grants will follow SCCM's standard legal formats and review, approval, and administrative processes.
Proposal Evaluation Criteria

All proposals will be reviewed and approved by SCCM’s Discovery Steering Committee. Proposals are evaluated according to:

  • Strategic alignment: advances key priorities or addresses important needs in the field
  • Scientific merit: clear research question, sound methodology, and potential for innovation
  • Feasibility: realistic plan, access to resources, and appropriate budget
  • Investigator qualifications: relevant experience and ability to deliver the project
  • Ethics and compliance: adequate protections, regulatory compliance, and disclosures
  • Dissemination and impact: plan to share results and potential for meaningful impact
  • Collaboration: involvement of diverse teams and stakeholders as appropriate
Areas of Interest

Learn more about SCCM’s knowledge areas and how your company aligns with SCCM's clinical content and education goals. Proposals should align with at least one SCCM knowledge area. SCCM organizes its education and activity by knowledge areas.

Strong Areas of Development

  • Sepsis
  • Professional Development and Education
  • Quality and Patient Safety
  • Behavioral Health and Well-Being

Areas Seeking Additional Development

  • GI/Nutrition
  • Data Science
  • Research
  • Medical Devices

Additional Knowledge Areas

  • Administration
  • Cardiovascular
  • Crisis Management
  • Endocrine
  • Epidemiology/Outcomes
  • Ethics/End of Life
  • Hematology
  • Immunology
  • Infection
  • Integument
  • Neurosciences
  • Obstetrics
  • Patient and Family
  • Pediatrics
  • Pharmacology
  • Procedures
  • Pulmonary
  • Renal
  • Resuscitation
  • Shock Non-Sepsis
  • Transplant
  • Trauma
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