Limited and External Funding Opportunities

Contact us

  • Email LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you are interested in an opportunity not listed below or have questions regarding the LSO submission process.
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Have you been awarded a Limited Submission recognition?

Please let us know at LSO@vanderbilt.edu

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Internal review process required to choose institutional nominees

Limited Submission Eligibility Guidelines

The following tags serve as a guide for submission instructions.

 Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): 

  • VU and VUMC submit collaboratively to this LSO. ALL investigators should follow the guidelines posted on this site.

 VUMC :

  • VU and VUMC submit separately to this LSO. VUMC investigators should follow the guidelines posted on this site. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

FEATURED OPPORTUNITY

  • High-profile or prestigious awards of particular interest to Vanderbilt investigators
  • Click on "View Full Internal Call" at end of each LSO description to access PDF with internal submission instructions 

Contact vumcresearchenterprise@vumc.org or subscribe to the Office of Research Weekly Email Update for information on current funding opportunities.

2026 SebastianStrong Foundation Discovery Science Award

Applications due October 23, 2025

 VUMC : These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

VUMC can select two candidates for the 2026 SebastianStrong Foundation Discovery Science Award. The SebastianStrong Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness of childhood cancer and accelerating the development of more targeted, less toxic treatments. SebastianStrong funds cutting-edge, peer-reviewed pediatric research projects in early stages.

NIGMS Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1)

Applications due November 6, 2025

 VUMC : These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

VUMC may submit two proposals to the January 2026 cycle of the NIH Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1).

This program is designed to support highly integrated research teams of three to six PD/PIs to address ambitious and challenging research questions that are important for the mission of National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and are beyond the scope of an individual or a few investigators. Collaborative program teams are expected to accomplish goals that require considerable synergy and managed team interactions. Project goals should not be achievable with a collection of individual efforts or projects. Teams are encouraged to consider far-reaching objectives that will produce major advances in their fields. While applications may request research program budgets of up to $1.5 million direct costs per year, it is anticipated that most awards will be between $700,000-$900,000 direct costs.

Winter 2026 NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00)

Applications due November 11, 2025

 Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC):  This is a joint competition for VU and VUMC investigators. All investigators should follow these instructions.

Overview

VU and VUMC may each submit one application per scientific focus area to the NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) programs. The scientific focus areas are Cancer Data Science, Cancer Control Science, Molecular/Precision Cancer Prevention and Other Cancer Research. There are three separate RFAs, which allow different types of proposed research (e.g. basic, clinical): PAR-23-286, PAR-23-287, and PAR-23-288. Each of VU and VUMC’s four selected applicants (1/focus area) may apply to whichever RFAs best suit their research proposals.

Active External Non-Limited Calls

Internal review process NOT required – Submit directly to Sponsor

The VUMC Corporate & Foundation Relations team provides hands-on proposal development assistance for non-federal awards. Contact cfr@vumc.org for more information.

Contact vumcresearchenterprise@vumc.org or subscribe to the Office of Research Weekly Email Update here for information on current funding opportunities.

 

Southwest National Primate Research Center (SNPRC) Pilot Research Program 

LOIs due November 3

Pershing Square Sohn Cancer Prize 

LOIs due November 3

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Sue Reeves, Executive Director of Foundation Relations (sue.reeves@vumc.org) before starting an application

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer Crazy 8 Initiative on Pediatric Brain Tumors 

LOIs due November 5

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Adele White, Senior Director of Foundation Relations (adele.white@vumc.org) before starting an application.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Advancing Technologies for Spatiotemporal Omics in Live Tissue

Applications due November 13

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Sue Reeves, Executive Director of Foundation Relations (sue.reeves@vumc.org) before starting an application.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Implementation of Synthetic Biology Principles in Immunology

Applications due November 13

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Sue Reeves, Executive Director of Foundation Relations (sue.reeves@vumc.org) before starting an application.