Opportunity Overview
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Physician Investigator Research Award Program provides seed funding to Michigan physicians for evidence-based pilot studies, feasibility studies, and small research projects addressing urgent health issues, health inequities, social determinants of health, and health care access, quality, and cost.
Funding and Deadline
The award offers up to $10,000. For the Winter 2027 schedule, the concept paper is due October 28, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. and full applications are accepted until January 6, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.. The controlling public page states that all deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. but does not publish a time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Eligibility
Applicants must be physicians based in Michigan and their organizations must be nonprofit. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan employees, affiliate employees, and specified immediate family members are ineligible.
Application and Cost Rules
The applicant first requests a concept paper through the Foundation’s published form. If invited forward, the full proposal requires a 2,000-4,500 word narrative addressing background, hypotheses, significance, innovation, research design and methods, expected outcomes, health equity/social determinants, and implications for quality and access. Required supporting materials include a participant enrollment table, detailed budget and budget justification, collaborator support letters, project timeline, resumes/CVs, IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, and co-funder letters when applicable. The Foundation does not support computer equipment including hardware and software, one-time medical/office consumables, furnishings, or capital expenses. Indirect costs are not supported except limited fringe benefits; tuition/CEUs are excluded and conference travel is capped at $1,000.
Atlas Strategic Analysis
Formal Atlas Opportunity Score: deferred while the live concept-paper intake form and any applicant-only certifications/questions remain unverified.
N9+ Fit Score: deferred. The research themes can involve health care access and quality, but current cost rules expressly exclude computer hardware/software and capital expenses. Atlas will not force the Nonagon N9+ into this opportunity. Dr. Miltie, LLC is not an eligible prime applicant because the applicant must be a Michigan physician at a nonprofit organization. Any QC Healthcare or other service role would require a physician-led research design and explicit confirmation of allowable contracted costs.
Verification Notes
No solicitation number or deadline time zone is published on the controlling page reviewed. Applicant-specific physician status, nonprofit affiliation, research design, collaborators, IRB or regulatory requirements if applicable, budget, personnel, tax documentation, and institutional approvals must be independently substantiated and will not be fabricated by Atlas.
Verified source: BCBSM Foundation Physician Investigator Research Award Program.