A Timely Investment in Discovery: UMB’s Pivot Initiative Strengthens Research and Community
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) is moving quickly to implement the Pivot Strategic Investment Initiative, an unprecedented investment of up to $33 million over two years to support the University’s research enterprise during a period of significant national funding uncertainty. Although announced just weeks ago, the initiative already is gaining strong momentum and University leaders emphasize that its rapid progress reflects the dedicated work of faculty, staff, and reviewers across campus.
Approved by the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, Pivot includes four components designed to stabilize at-risk programs, accelerate promising research, and strengthen infrastructure for long-term competitiveness. It also complements the MPower Early Scholars Investment Fund, which continues to expand opportunities for emerging researchers.
For E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, co-chair of the Research Task Force of the UMB Issues Management Advisory Group, the initiative marks a defining moment for the University.
“In my 20 years here, this is probably one of the most consequential decisions UMB has made,” Reece said. “It is extraordinarily timely and thoughtful for the University to step in and make this investment — to say we value our faculty, we value their work, and we want to maintain the momentum and impact of what they have built.”
Why Pivot — and Why Now
The initiative responds to significant shifts in federal funding priorities, review processes, and award mechanisms that have created new challenges for researchers nationwide. At UMB, these changes have delayed renewals, disrupted research trajectories, and strained efforts to retain experienced staff.
Robert K. Ernst, PhD, co-chair of the Research Task Force, said the funding landscape has become increasingly unpredictable. “With all the uncertainty around funding agencies currently, the funding researchers at UMB usually counted on in past years isn’t materializing, even though we’re submitting an increased number of grant applications,” he said.
Sustaining research teams, he added, is critical. “One of the most important things that exists in the UMB research community are the people who work in our labs — our institutional research memory.”
By providing targeted support, the initiative helps preserve expertise while enabling investigators to pursue new directions. “It allows people to expand their research, break into new areas, and take a chance, especially now, when the usual funding paths are unpredictable,” Ernst said.
He added that the effort also reflects UMB’s deeply collaborative culture. The University’s research environment is highly collegial, with strong partnerships across schools. By encouraging cross-campus collaboration and new research directions, Pivot strengthens connections while expanding opportunities for discovery.
Building Momentum
With the initiative now in motion, faculty across UMB are submitting proposals and exploring new opportunities for collaboration, and task force members anticipate a streamlined review process and timely funding decisions.
“The goal is to get the money where it’s needed immediately,” Ernst said. “This is about maintaining the research environment across all schools and driving new, exciting research in areas that are emerging or rapidly changing.”
Pivot is part of a broader strategy to strengthen UMB’s research ecosystem. The MPower Early Scholars Investment Fund supports junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and doctoral students, while Pivot provides additional support for established investigators, collaborative programs, and research infrastructure. Together, the initiatives create a multilayered approach to sustaining innovation across all stages of research.
UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, said the initiative reflects the University’s core values and the collaborative work of the campus community.
“At UMB, our research mission is driven by people — their ideas, their commitment, and their shared purpose to improve human health,” he said. “The Pivot Strategic Investment Initiative reflects our responsibility to support that work, especially in times of uncertainty. I am deeply grateful to the faculty leaders, reviewers, administrators, and staff across the University who have worked tirelessly to build this initiative and put it into action. Their commitment ensures that UMB continues to advance discovery, strengthen our research community, and serve the public good.”
Echoing Jarrell’s emphasis on institutional commitment, Reece underscored the broad leadership and collaboration behind the initiative.
“Leadership at UMB — including the president, provost, and School of Medicine dean and his leadership — recognized the need and responded with a willingness to make this significant investment with support from the University System of Maryland. Then there are the many support teams working behind the scenes to assess needs and guide decisions,” Reece said. “I know our faculty deeply appreciate this commitment to their research.”
He stressed that the initiative’s impact extends beyond funding. “This investment sends a powerful message to our faculty that their work matters and that the University supports their success,” Reece said. “That kind of recognition strengthens morale, productivity, and the momentum of our research enterprise.”
University leaders expect the review process to move forward quickly, with awards expected soon to provide timely support for researchers. As Pivot moves from announcement to implementation, UMB will continue sharing updates, reinforcing the initiative as a long-term investment in the University’s future grounded in collaboration and discovery.
