The Institutional Research Fellowship Grant (IRF) program provides outstanding opportunities for early-career physicians to conduct investigation on dermatologic conditions that need more scientific research in skin of color and to prepare for leadership roles in clinical care, public policy, health services research, and biomedical research.

The Institutional Research Fellowship (IRF) is a groundbreaking initiative that provides valuable opportunities to physicians in support of critical research on dermatologic diseases in skin of color. SOCS aims to address unmet dermatologic health needs by increasing the number of investigators who can deliver evidence-based care in communities that experience disproportionate disease burden.

This award will grant up to $40,000 to support a researcher who has an interest in skin of color dermatology and/or health equity research.

Application Open!

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Application Deadline: November 17, 2025; 11:59pm CT

Requirements

Research Focus

The IRF intends to support institution-based fellowship opportunities with a research focus on dermatologic diseases in skin of color, particularly in areas where further clinical, translational, and observational/ prospective research is needed.

Prospective Fellows

• Institution must affirm its commitment to offer the fellowship opportunity to an early-career physicians in support of critical research on dermatologic diseases in skin of color and to prepare for leadership roles in clinical care, public policy, health services research, and biomedical research.
• Institution must ensure that any fellow that will receive grant funds must be a U.S. Worker (U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee), or hold an appropriate non-immigrant visa status authorizing employment in the U.S.

Budget

1. Funding will be awarded to the institution, not an individual.
2. Each institution may apply for funding to support one fellow for up to one year at a cost of up to $40,000 USD. The budget can only include salary and benefit support for the fellow.
3. Grant funds cannot be used for overhead or indirect costs. Overhead costs include rent, utilities, insurance, office equipment or supplies.
4. Fellow time spent in the clinical setting that is supported through grant funds must not be billed as patient care.

The Skin of Color Society Early Career Innovations Award will provide startup funding for young visionaries and innovators who have innovative projects addressing needs and opportunities within the dermatology ecosystem that advance understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of dermatologic conditions in the field of skin of color.

Application Open!

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Application Timeline

Program Overview

“Shark Tank” meets Skin of Color Dermatology in this exciting new award program geared toward young visionaries with innovative ideas and creative solutions that need startup funding!

This exciting program was established in 2022, thanks to the vision and generosity of SOCS member Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, FAAD. In the future, we hope to build this fund through matching grants from corporate and individual supporters.

Eligibility: U.S. based SOCS members who are students, residents, junior faculty and early career professionals are eligible to apply. Pending members with a complete application are also eligible. 

Judging: All entries will be reviewed by a panel of SOCS leaders. Up to two finalists will be selected to present their idea in-person at the SOCS Symposium on March 10, 2026.

Focus areas: funding will be awarded to help with the development of new ideas and innovations to improve:

• Access to healthcare

• Physician training and education

• Patient care

• Patient education/communications

• Technological approaches to service, information and communications

• Community service

• Other ideas relevant to improving dermatologic health outcomes in the field of skin of color

Application requirements: Project name, Project status, Project summary, Use of funds (narrative), Budget (PDF), Supporting documents (optional, PDF), Evaluation plan, Commitment to update SOCS, Personal contact information, Department Chair/Supervisor contact information

Funding can be used to develop an idea or help advance or scale up an idea in progress.

Funding for this program is being supported by:

The SOCS Dermatology Research Award will provide annual research grants (each up to $20,000) to promote dermatology research within the field of skin of color. The grant is intended to assist dermatologists who are at ten years or less since completing terminal residency/fellowship training or who are an instructor/assistant professor in furthering their academic careers.

Application Open!

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Application Procedure:

Recently, SOCS has introduced an online application program that streamlines the application and the review process. Below is a partial checklist of the information you will need to supply in your application. 

With the exception of headshots, any uploaded documents must be in a PDF format.

Eligibility:

• Skin of Color Society Member

• MD, DO or international equivalent degree and must currently be at a U.S. accredited program/organization

• Dermatology residents, dermatology research fellows, and dermatologists who are board-certified or board eligible within the first 8 years after completing post-graduate training

• Research fellow must be doing dedicated dermatology research through an academic institution or formalized research program

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to skin of color research, either clinical, translational, or basic science with clinical applications

• Relevant research areas pertaining to skin of color.

• Appropriate training in research or mentor available for instruction in this area (letter of commitment from the mentor must accompany application)

• Preference for dermatologists who are ten years or less since completing terminal residency or fellowship training or who are an instructor or assistant professor with no previous sources of funding

• Note that previous applicants are eligible to re-apply

Award Amount: 

• Up to $20,000. Non-renewable.

• Direct salary costs are not supported.

• Indirect costs not allowed.

Personal Data Related Fields:

• Disclosures for all investigators listed on the project

• Principal investigators’ name, affiliation, address, telephone, and fax numbers

• Curriculum vitae of the principal investigator

Research Related Fields:

• Title of research study

• Objective

• Rationale

• Methods

• The anticipated amount of time needed to complete the proposed work

• Significance of the proposed project

• Bibliography of the references cited in the narrative

• Appropriate reprints (if necessary) to fully document the reason for the proposal

• Completed estimated budget template which should be subdivided into categories.

Additional Information:

1. All work must begin within six months of the funding of the grant

• Only under special circumstances and with the approval of the Skin of Color Society can the work be delayed beyond this time period.

• Grant research should be completed within 18 months of initial funding.

• Additional time requirements should be detailed and submitted in writing to the Chair of the Research Committee.

2. No more than one-half of the grant can be initially sent to an investigator

• Once the research is underway and a written report (including details of all expenditures) is received by the Skin of Color Society, further funding may be allowed if the previous use of funds is deemed acceptable by the Committee.

• More initial funding can be received earlier during the research, but this funding is at the discretion of the Skin of Color Society.

3. The budget for the research protocol must be approved by the Skin of Color Society

• The Committee may accept the entire budget or portions of the budget.

• Funds issued by the SOCS for specific investigations cannot be used for other purposes.

• If the initial proposal cannot be undertaken, all funds must be returned promptly to the Skin of Color Society Secretary-Treasurer.

• Please note the grant funding cannot be used for indirect departmental costs, travel expenses, overhead costs, IRB fees or to purchase capital equipment such as computers, cellular phones, tablets, appliances, machinery, camera equipment, sensors, etc.

• Direct salary costs are not supported.

• Unused funds must be returned with a summary of why the funds were not used. 

4. Reporting Requirements

• A written update detailing the progress of the research must be sent to the Chair of the Research Committee of the Skin of Color Society within 12 months of initiation of research.

• Summary of research results must be submitted in the Skin of Color Society newsletter.

• A research summary must be presented at the SOCS annual meeting two years after receipt of the grant.

5. Chair/Mentor Letter and CV

The department or division chair must supply a letter of support detailing that the principal investigator will be responsible for conducting the research. The letter should include the following:

• Discuss their track record and experience with developing mentees

• What they think the potential is for the applicant as an independent researcher in skin of color

6. Change of Address/Practice Type

• If the funded investigator transfers locations or practice type (i.e., goes from a university to private practice, or the reverse), these changes must be sent in writing to:

  • The Chair of the Research Committee, and the SOCS Secretary-Treasurer.

• The Skin of Color Society will determine if funding is to be ongoing after reviewing these changes. IRB approval must be maintained for the duration of the study if human subjects are involved.

7. Publications and Presentations

• Publications and presentations related to the funded research should identify the support of the Skin of Color Society.

• A copy of any such publication should be forwarded to the Skin of Color Society Research Committee Chairman and the Secretary-Treasurer.

The Research Committee of the Skin of Color Society will assume the responsibility for reviewing grant applications, making funding recommendations, and monitoring the grants program.

Funding for this program is being supported by: 

Career Development Award

The SOCS Career Development Award, which will award up to $100,000 which can be used over a two-year period and which is non-renewable. This award should have a research focus on inflammatory dermatologic diseases in skin of color, in areas where further clinical, translational, and basic research is needed. It is the expectation that the recipient(s) of these awards will be tomorrow’s leaders in dermatology, helping to shape the future of the specialty.

Application Open!

Apply

Application Procedure:

Recently, SOCS has introduced an online application program that streamlines the application and the review process. Below is a partial checklist of the information you will need to supply in your application. 

With the exception of headshots uploaded documents must be a PDF file.

Eligibility:

• MD, MD/PhD, DO, PhD with an established track record of academic excellence
• Faculty member with a primary appointment in US Department or Division of dermatology
• Within 12 years since completion of post-graduate training
• Applicant must have appropriate training and experience with a proven or emerging track record and a strong commitment to dermatologic research in the field of skin of color. This may include clinical, translational, or basic science with clinical applications
• Applicant must serve as the principal investigator for the study
• Skin of Color Society Member
• Note that previous applicants are eligible to re-apply.

Award Amount: 

Up to $100,000 for one year. Can be used over a two-year period by request. Non-renewable; indirect costs not allowed.

Stipulations:

• Strong institutional support required.
• Can concurrently hold other funding.
• Not eligible to apply for other SOCS research funding.
• Please note the grant funding cannot be used for indirect departmental costs, travel expenses, overhead costs, IRB fees or to purchase capital equipment such as computers, cellular phones, tablets, appliances, machinery, camera equipment, sensors, etc.
• Direct salary support for the applicant is allowed provided 50% of the applicant’s time is dedicated to research. 
• IRB must be approved or submitted, pending approval at the time of grant application and must remain approved throughout the term of the award.

Term:

Two years, beginning April 1.

Application Requirements:

• Career Development Award checklist (PDF Form)
• Award application 
• Applicant NIH Biosketch (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm)
• Chair CV/Biosketch (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm) 
• Mentor’s Formal Letter of Support 
• Department Chair/Division Chief Comments of Support (MS Word)*
• Budget (MS Excel)
• Summary of Career Goals (online form)
• Research Proposal (online form)
• Headshot (300 dpi or higher professional headshot)

The Research Committee of the Skin of Color Society will assume the responsibility for reviewing grant applications, making funding recommendations, and monitoring the grants program. Summary of research results must be submitted in the Skin of Color Society newsletter as well as presented at the SOCS annual meeting two years after receipt of the grant.

About the Chair’s Comments of Support Form

This form is a critical element in your application package. The Chair’s Comments of Support form is to be completed by the chair of the department or division of dermatology at your institution and covers the following topics:

1. Outline of a plan defining the department’s commitment to the applicant including a description of the training environment, the supervision that will be provided, the qualifications of the mentor for the development of the applicant’s career, and departmental commitments/resources devoted to support the applicant including salary and space allocations. Your plan must compass a 3-year period for SOCS-CDA applicants.
2. Plans for future funding of the applicant
3. The importance of the award and the project to the applicant and the institution.
4. The department’s track record in obtaining research funding.
5. Certification that the applicant will devote the time required to the proposed project. 

Funding for this program is being supported by: