Big Ideas in Medicine

Big Ideas in Medicine helps Department of Medicine faculty move high-impact research from idea to action with less friction. The program reduces common barriers—unclear entry points, difficulty finding the right collaborators or resources, and the coordination burden of large proposals—by connecting investigators to the right expertise, mentorship, and practical support at the right time.

We support work spanning basic discovery, clinical translation, implementation, and innovations in care delivery. Engagement can be as light as a strategic consult and a few key introductions, or as structured as coordinated support for team science and major external funding.

Our mission is to accelerate the path from idea to impact for aspiring and seasoned investigators in the Department of Medicine.

How Big Ideas supports faculty

Front Door

“Start here.” The Front Door offers a simple pathway for any faculty member with high-impact ideas to get tailored guidance on strategy, collaborators, mentorship, next steps, and potential internal opportunities.

Get started today

Strategic Science Accelerator

A coordinated mechanism to build expert networks around priority areas, with shared infrastructure and practical enablement to pursue large-scale external funding.

Learn about our key pillars

Research Navigator

Centralized, web-based resources that brings together essentials for conducting research at Stanford.

Explore our resources

Who it’s for

Big Ideas is designed for Department of Medicine faculty at all stages—from early career investigators shaping a first major project to established faculty pursuing cross-disciplinary, high-risk/high-reward work. Projects at any stage are appropriate, including ideas that are still forming.

What success looks like

Big Ideas exists to reduce friction and increase velocity: clearer pathways, stronger teams, better-aligned support, and more competitive proposals. The goal is to help promising ideas turn into funded projects, durable collaborations, and meaningful improvements in health.

Please note the DoM Big Ideas in Medicine Program is separate from the Big Ideas in Medicine conference, hosted by Stanford Medicine & the Muse.