New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent - NYFIRST

Q. What is NYFIRST?

A. The New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent (NYFIRST) is an Empire State Development-funded grant program designed to encourage recruitment of exceptional life science researchers and world-class talent from institutions outside of New York State and retention of such researchers who have offers from other institutions outside of New York. The goal of NYFIRST is to bring translational research talent to the state’s medical schools.   

Q. How can the grant monies be used?

A. NYFIRST funds can be used to support the establishment or upgrading of laboratories for the recruited or retained researchers, for purchases of capital equipment and specialized supplies needed for their research, and as working capital to cover costs of professional staff (including staff scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and technicians, but excluding the recruited researcher) critical to the proposed research.

Q. What is the maximum amount of funding that an applicant can receive?

A. The maximum grant amount for any eligible applicant project is $1 million.

Q. Must the grantee match the funding in any way?

A. Grantees are required to provide $2 in matching funds for every $1 of NYFIRST program assistance.

Q. Are there any restrictions on how the matching funds are obtained?

A. Matching funds may consist of cash, including federal assistance, or in-kind services.  No financial assistance provided by ESD, or any other New York state agency or authority, may be included as part of the grantee’s match.

Q. What is the total amount of funding available for the NYFIRST Program?

A. The total amount of funding available at the start of the NYFIRST Program is $15 million. To date, twelve NYFIRST grants have been recommended.

Q. Who can apply for a grant?

A. Only medical schools in New York State are eligible to apply for NYFIRST grants.

Q. Are there any restrictions on the area of research undertaken by the recruited Principal Investigator?

A. There are no restrictions in terms of therapeutic area of research.  The only requirements are that the research must offer an innovative solution to an unmet clinical need and have a clear path to commercialization and market use. 

Q. Must the Principal Investigator be recruited from out of state, or can the NYFIRST grant also be used to retain a Principal Investigator currently on the applicant school’s faculty?

A. Investigators may be recruited or retained, as long as they meet the program requirements. A recruited Principal Investigator must be employed by an institution or company outside New York State at the time an offer of employment is made by the Applicant.  In the case of a Principal Investigator the Applicant wishes to retain, the Investigator must have a verifiable offer from an institution located outside of New York State that would lead him/her to leave the state (see the Guidelines for specific requirements).

Q. How many grants will be made during each application cycle?

A. There is no limit to the number of awards that can be made during any application cycle, as long as NYFIRST funds are available.    ESD will make awards to as many qualifying medical schools as possible within New York State, assuming equivalent qualifying evaluation scores and taking into consideration regional balance, anticipated job creation and retention, and economic development benefits.  ESD will make no more than one award per Applicant per application cycle.   

Q. Is there more than one opportunity to submit an application during the year?

A. ESD holds at least one competitive grant solicitation annually for NYFIRST until funds under this program are fully committed.  Announcements for application submissions will be made when applications are available. For each Application cycle, the period between application availability and application deadline shall be six months.

Q. Can a NYFIRST recipient receive an award in a consecutive year?

A. Yes, recipients of NYFIRST awards may reapply the following year and be eligible for additional awards.

Q. How are the applications evaluated?

A. A review panel of qualified individuals evaluates each application based on pre-determined criteria.

Q. What is meant by Life Sciences Economic Development Benefits?

A. Life Sciences Economic Development Benefits refer to the creation, expansion, enhancement or acceleration of life sciences programs throughout the state leading to:

• Commercialization of life sciences
• Creation or retention of jobs in the life sciences industry
• Promotion of the life science ecosystem within a region or regions of the state
• New patents in life science
• Additional commercial laboratory space
• Additional venture capital money for life sciences entities in New York State

Q. How can I get answers to any questions?

A. The Guidelines and application form will likely answer any questions you may have. If, after reviewing these documents, your questions are not answered please contact us at: [email protected]

Q. Is there a current application cycle?

A. Applications are available now and can be accessed online at esd.ny.gov/ny-first-program. The submission deadline for the current application cycle is May 15, 2024, 5:00 pm EDT.