The AAI was created by our longstanding philanthropic partner and campus namesake, The Anschutz Foundation, to rapidly advance healthcare innovations spanning disciplines and diseases that are poised to make direct patient impact within the next 3 to 5 years.

With a focus on investing in multidisciplinary translational and clinical innovation, the AAI is intended to speed technologies and therapeutics with the potential to directly impact patient care. 

The goal of this process is to support efforts that help improve the lives of all people, whether through prevention or population health, innovative treatments and diagnostics, novel therapeutic development, medical devices and digital health technologies, or other approaches to patient care that will transform lives.

Read the full AAI Request for Applications here to find details about the program and process. 

Up to seven awards will be made through the AAI, as determined through the application and review process. 

Awards will be in amounts of $5 million to $15 million each, up to a total of $50 million.

Watch the recording here of the July 12 Anschutz Acceleration Initiative Town Hall to hear program details and answers to common questions about this funding opportunity. 

All University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus faculty and staff are eligible to apply. Principal investigators (PIs) should meet CU requirements for PI status. 

Faculty and staff partners from other CU campuses may be part of CU Anschutz-led project teams but cannot serve as PIs. 

 

Letters of Intent (LOIs) were due July 14.

As of August 8, 2023, select projects were invited to submit full milestone-driven proposals.

Contact aai@cuanschutz.edu with questions. 

 

• July 14, 2023: Letters of Intent (LOIs) due
• July 28, 2023: All LOIs posted
• August 8, 2023: Select projects invited to submit full milestone-driven proposals
• October 18, 2023: Full proposals due
• January 2024: Awardees announced

You can find the budget template here to submit with your full proposal. Contact aai@cuanschutz.edu with questions.

A committee of outside experts will work with our clinical partners and campus leaders to review and fast-track proposals with the greatest potential to transform healthcare delivery in our state and beyond.

The following characteristics may be considered in assessing proposed projects for AAI funding:

• For research projects, those eligible must involve late-stage research with the potential of patient impact within 3 to 5 years. Early-stage research ideas will not be considered.
• For projects focused on public health and prevention, mental health efforts may be prioritized.
• For projects focused on innovation, those showing economic impact through private partnerships and external investments may be prioritized. 
• For all projects, multidisciplinary efforts that leverage existing campus strengths and expertise may be prioritized. Funding is intended to accelerate new treatments to patients within 3 to 5 years. The potential impact of the project will be an important consideration in the review process.

Awards will be announced by January 2024.

Selected projects will receive AAI award funding in annual installments, based on achieving approved, performance-based milestones.

Project costs may include salary expenses as stipulated by NIH salary cap guidelines and select administrative costs. Graduate student and postdoctoral support should conform with institutional standards. Travel and other expenses that do not directly impact research must be justified. 

Capital expenditures, such as equipment, may be covered provided they expand the research capability of the campus in the areas targeted. Buildings or facility construction costs will not be covered by AAI funding. 

While collaboration with other sites is allowed, major expenditures should be restricted to the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

Agreed upon milestones will be developed based on the scope of the project. Reporting requirements will be developed based on each milestone.

Contact aai@cuanschutz.edu with questions.