Translational Team Incubators (TTI) Program

Building Multidisciplinary Research Teams for Extramural Funding Success

Program Overview

The TTI program helps faculty with emerging ideas for an R01-like grant application who need support in assembling the multidisciplinary team necessary for success. We cultivate both disease experts (e.g., clinician-educators) and scientific-domain specialists (e.g., team scientists) as leaders of externally funded research teams.

What Participants Receive

• Dedicated TTI Mentor: An experienced senior faculty mentor selected from NUCATS leaders and other senior faculty from across Northwestern, matched to each participant’s specific needs.
• Team Building Support: Assistance in identifying potential co-investigators, co-PIs and collaborators from across Northwestern who can strengthen grant applications.
• Idea-Refining Studios: Three structured sessions with the emerging team, potential co-investigators and NUCATS leaders to refine the project concept and approach.
• Team Coaching: Guidance on best practices for translational team interactions during grant development and implementation.
• Logistical Support: NUCATS staff assistance with scheduling team meetings and connecting participants to institutional resources.

Apply to the Program

Who Should Apply

The TTI program is open to any Northwestern faculty member with an emerging idea for an R01-equivalent grant, with a preference for early- and mid-career faculty seeking to develop multidisciplinary research teams.

Ideal candidates possess strong research ideas but face challenges such as limited collaborators or insufficient expertise in methodology or study design.

How to Apply

Complete the intake form with your research goals, collaboration needs and perceived obstacles. We will match each selected participant with a mentor and begin the team-building process.

Fill out the Intake Form