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

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.

Mathers Foundation Grant Program: Fall 2025

Applications due June 26, 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 up to three letters of intent for the Fall 2025 cycle of the Mathers Foundation grant program. The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation supports basic research with translational potential in areas such as immunology, microbiome, structural biology, cancer, genetics, stem cells, and neuroscience. They fund work that can lead to major advances in scientific understanding and human health. The grant duration is three years and requested budgets should be realistic for the project (consider the type of investigation, models used, supply requirements, size of the team, etc.) Grant budgets cannot exceed $600-$700K (including indirect costs capped at 10 percent) over three years.

Les Paul Foundation Grants Program 2025

Applications due June 26, 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 one (1) application per calendar year to the Les Paul Foundation Grants program. The Les Paul Foundation inspires innovative and creative thinking by sharing the legacy of Les Paul through support of music education, recording, innovation, exhibits about Les Paul and medical research related to hearing.

2026 Macy Faculty Scholars Program

Applications due June 27, 2025

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

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) may nominate one candidate each from the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing for the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation’s Faculty Scholars Program. The goal of this career development award is to identify and nurture promising early career educators in medicine and nursing. The program will help develop the next generation of national leaders in medical and nursing education by identifying outstanding educators, physicians, nurses, and role models.

2026 Searle Scholars Program

Applications due July 8, 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 nominate 1 candidate for the 2026 Searle Scholars Program, which supports the independent research of outstanding early-career scientists who have recently been appointed as assistant professors on a tenure-track appointment. The Searle Scholars Program Scientific Advisory Board is primarily interested in the potential of applicants to make innovative and high-impact contributions to research over an extended period of time. Each year, 15 new individuals are named Searle Scholars and awarded $300,000 over three years, with $100,000 payable each year of the grant.

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.

NIH Autism Data Science Initiative

LOIs due June 6 (optional), Applications due June 27

The Allen Foundation, Inc.

Applications due July 15

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

E.W. “Al” Thrasher Awards

Concept Papers due July 15

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

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease

Letter of Intent due July 17

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

BrightFocus Foundation Macular Degeneration Research Grants

LOIs due July 17

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

Simons Graduate Fellowship in Ecology and Evolution Awards

Applications due July 31