ANN ARBOR (AP) -- A research funding effort at the University of Michigan is putting $15 million into the hands of professors to jumpstart projects they believe in.

The Ann Arbor school announced Wednesday that to qualify for the"MCubed" program three researchers from different disciplines must come up with an idea and agree to work together. The university says the two-year pilot program is an alternative to the traditional government grant review process.

Beginning this fall, departments, schools and colleges will allot a $20,000 "token" to each participating faculty member. Once three researchers decide to work together, they register the project online. They will get $60,000 to hire a graduate student, undergraduate student or postdoctoral researcher.

The program aims to fund studies that could eventually lead to larger traditional grants.

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