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• Active Internal Calls for Limited Submission Nominations 
• Active Calls for NON-Limited External 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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Active Internal Calls for Limited Submission Nominations 

Internal review process required to choose institutional nominees

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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

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2020 Takeda Innovators in Science Award- Rare Diseases

Applications due October 15

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

Overview:

VUMC may nominate 1 Early Career Scientist and 1 Senior Scientist in a field of Rare Diseases for the 2020 Innovators in Science Award, sponsored by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited and administered by the New York Academy of Sciences.  This year’s award competition is focused on the therapeutic area of Rare Diseases.  Awardees will receive $200,000.

Each nominee will be evaluated based on the quality of their research, the impact of their research on human health, the novelty of their ideas and methods, and the promise they show for future contributions to their field.  Full guidelines and review criteria are found on the program website.

Eligibility Criteria:

Note: Individuals in receipt of current or prior research support from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, or its affiliates, are not eligible for nomination.

Early Career Scientist nominees must…

• Currently hold a junior level Post-doctoral or Faculty position.
• Have been engaged in active research for 10 years or less since gaining their doctorate degree. (Eligibility extension may be requested for exceptional circumstances.)
• Hold a doctorate degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.).
• Have made impactful research contributions and show exceptional promise for significant future achievement in one of the rare disease sub-disciplines (below).

Senior Scientist nominees must…

• Currently hold a senior level Faculty position.
• Have been engaged in active research for more than 10 years since gaining their doctorate degree.
• Hold a doctorate degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.).
• Have made multiple, extensive, and impactful research contributions to advance one of the rare disease sub-disciplines (below).

Rare Disease Sub-Disciplines:

• Autoimmune / Autoinflammatory Diseases
• Bacterial Infections Blood Diseases
• Chromosome Disorders
• Congenital and Genetic Diseases
• Connective Tissue Diseases
• Digestive Diseases
• Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases
• Endocrine Diseases
• Eye Diseases
• Female Reproductive Diseases
• Fungal Infections Heart Diseases
• Hereditary Cancer Syndromes
• Immune System Diseases
• Kidney and Urinary Diseases
• Lung Diseases Male Reproductive Diseases
• Metabolic Disorders Mouth Diseases
• Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Nervous System Diseases
• Newborn Screening Nutritional Diseases
• Parasitic Diseases
• Rare Cancers Skin Diseases
• Viral Infections
• Other

Internal Application Process:

Please submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 15_, 2019. Contact LSO@vanderbilt.edu with any questions.

1. Nominee’s Sub-Discipline of Rare Disease (see list above)
2. Research Summary (1,000 word max)
3. Future Research Plan (500 word max) *required for Early Career Scientist nominees only
4. Biosketch/CV (4 page max)
5. Letter of support from Department Chair/ Center Director.

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2020 Creating Opportunity and Independence Awards

Applications due October 18

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

Vanderbilt University may submit one application to the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation for the Creating Opportunity and Independence program. The goal of the Creating Opportunity & Independence (CO & I) program is to enhance the quality of life for individuals and their families living with spinal cord injury. CO & I grants support innovative programs/projects that improve participation and independence for individuals living with SCI and address critical areas of need in rehabilitation, transitional stages, and in the community.

CO & I grant support includes, but is not limited to, access to assistive technology, rehabilitation programs and clinical equipment, transportation, arts initiatives, adaptive sports and recreation programs, home modifications, adaptive driving, vocational programs, initiatives in education, and patient assistance programs. The Neilsen Foundation is interested in projects that have broad impact, affect people across the lifespan, demonstrate community partnerships and empower individuals with SCI by providing options and opportunities to achieve greater independence.

Funding amounts range from $25,000 to $100,000. Grants may be multi-year, and funding for each subsequent year is contingent on a favorable review of an annual progress and expenditure report. The maximum amount allowed for indirect costs is 10% of the total cost.

See last year's guidelines for more information.

Internal Application Process:

Eligible faculty interested in being one of VUMC’s nominees must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu  by 5 p.m. on October 18, 2019.

1. Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget (IDC may not exceed 10%). Your project description should address the following:
   1. The relevance of the proposed project to the mission of the Neilsen Foundation and the potential impact on the SCI (spinal cord injury) community
   2. Feasibility of the project
   3. Community partnerships (if any)
2. NIH Biosketch
3. Letter of support from department chair/center director

Any questions about this LSO may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu  

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2020 ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards

Applications due October 23

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

Vanderbilt (VU & VUMC combined) can nominate up to 2 assistant professors for the 2020 Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards, sponsored by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). The awards provide seed money for research intended to enrich the research and professional growth of young faculty.  The award amount is $5,000, which can be used for faculty summer salary, graduate student salary, travel, equipment, or other assistance relevant to the faculty member’s research, but indirect costs are not allowed.  Because of the close working relationship between ORAU and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Award Committee particularly encourages collaborative interaction with ORNL.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. Applicants must work with the appropriate Dean, Department Chair, or Center Director to obtain a commitment to these matching funds.

Eligibility:

Awards are restricted to full-time assistant professors within 2 years of their initial tenure track appointment by the nomination date (January 8, 2020). ORAU will recognize circumstances that resulted in a “tenure clock delay”. Faculty research projects must be in one of the following disciplines: 

• Engineering and Applied Science
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics/Computer Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Policy, Management, or Education

All applicants should verify their eligibility in advance through the foundation FAQs. A list of award recipients from 2019 can be found here.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s potential nominee must submit the below items (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 23, 2019.  Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email. Please adhere to the ORAU application instructions as much as possible.

1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page max, including budget);
2. Statement of support from Dean, department chair, or center director
   1. Letter must include a school, department, or center commitment to the REQUIRED $5,000 in matching funds;
   2. Letter must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs.** This statement can be used/modified: “The Department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional policy.”
3. NIH Biosketch or Brief CV (5 page max)

**Process for cost-sharing typically coordinated at the departmental level and approved by department chair and/or dean. Please consult LSO@vanderbilt.edu for further guidance.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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2020 Mallinckrodt Scholars Program - FEATURED OPPORTUNITY

Applications due October 24

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

Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC, collaboratively) anticipates the opportunity to nominate two candidates for the Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr Foundation Scholar Award Program. The Foundation supports early stage investigators engaged in biomedical research that has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of disease. This award typically provides $400,000 over four years in order to move a project forward to the point where other independent funding can be obtained.

Eligibility:

• Hold M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree
• In 5^th to 8^th year of a tenure-track position
• Candidates may have an R01

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s potential nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 24, 2019. 

1. Brief research lay summary (1/2 page max);
2. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page max including budget);
3. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
   1. Letter must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs.** This statement can be used/modified: “The Department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional policy.”
4. NIH Biosketch or Brief CV (5 page max)

**Process for cost-sharing typically coordinated at the departmental level and approved by department chair and/or dean. Please consult LSO@vanderbilt.edu for further guidance.

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email. All applicants should verify their eligibility in advance through the foundation website.

Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program

Applications due October 31

 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 3 proposals for the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, which serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. VUMC is limited to 3 total submissions across the two tracks below, with no more than two submissions in Track 1 and no more than one submission in Track 2.

• Track 1: MRI proposals that request $100,000 – less than $1,000,000
• Track 2: MRI proposals that request $1,000,000 - $4,000,000

Eligibility:

• Please consult the Program Description (Section II.A-B) for a detailed description of project types and fields of science that are eligible for funding.
• The MRI Program seeks broad representation by PIs in its award portfolio, including women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities. The MRI program also encourages proposals with early-career PIs and proposals that benefit early-career researchers.
• IMPORTANT NOTE: For either track, Cost-sharing of precisely 30% of the total project cost is required! Inclusion of voluntary committed cost-sharing is prohibited.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered to submit one of VUMC’s proposals must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 31, 2019:

1. Brief (2 page maximum) project description including summary budget
2. Brief statement of support from department chair/center director including a department or center commitment to the REQUIRED 30% cost-sharing
3. NIH Biosketch

Please review the solicitation and the FAQs for more information regarding the program. Following the internal process, the full proposal is due to NSF by January 21, 2020. Any questions about this opportunity may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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2020 Brain Research Foundation Fay/Frank Seed Grant Program

Applications due October 31

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

Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC, collaboratively) has the opportunity to nominate one candidate for the Brain Research Foundation Fay/Frank Seed Grant Program for 2020. This award provides $80,000 (direct costs) over two years to support new research projects in the field of neuroscience that will likely lead to extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other outside funding sources. The objective of the BRF Seed Grant Program is to support new and innovative projects, especially those of junior faculty, who are working in new research directions. Funds must be utilized within the grant period.

Eligibility:

• PI must be a full-time Assistant or Associate Professor working in the area of studies of brain function. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease.
  • Assistant Professor – Junior faculty with a new research project that will generate pilot data that will lead to R01 funding or a comparable outside grant will be first priority.  Must provide abstract and specific aims for current grants and indicate if there is any overlap.
  • Associate Professor – Faculty who are pursuing new research directions. Must explain how the project is a new research direction. Must provide abstract and specific aims for current grant(s) and indicate if there is any overlap.
• Research assistant professors, research associate professors, and Full Professors are not eligible.
• The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s potential nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 31, 2019. 

1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page max including budget);
   • Include closing paragraph that explains how this research will develop (next steps)
   • Refer to budget guidelines
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director;
   • Letter must acknowledge that this grant does not allow indirect costs.** This statement can be used/modified: “The Department recognizes that this grant does not allow indirect costs and will commit to covering any associated indirect costs per applicable institutional policy.”
3. CV or NIH Biosketch (5 page max)

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email. All applicants should verify their eligibility in advance through the foundation website. Vanderbilt’s nominee will submit a required LOI by January 7, 2020. Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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NIH Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1)

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

Applications due November 12

Overview:

VUMC may submit one proposal for the January 2020 cycle of the NIH Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1). The 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). 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. 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.

Eligibility:

Applications may address any area of science within the NIGMS mission, which is to support basic research that increases understanding of biological processes at a range of levels, from molecules and cells to tissues, whole organisms and populations. NIGMS also supports research in a limited number of clinical areas that affect multiple organ systems (see here for scientific areas supported by NIGMS).

We recommend that applicants review the RFA in detail to review the research areas that are within the NIGMS mission. Applications that focus solely on a specific organ or disease state and that are within the mission areas of other NIH Institutes and Centers are not appropriate for this FOA. Applications that employ specific cells or tissues to address a fundamental biomedical question are appropriate.

Applications that are mainly focused on the creation, expansion, and/or maintenance of community resources, creation of new technologies or infrastructure development are not appropriate for this FOA. NIH-defined clinical trials are not allowed.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered to submit VUMC’s proposal must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on November 12, 2019:

• Brief project description including summary budget and role of each PI (2 page max);
• Letter of support from department chair/center director;
• NIH Biosketch for all PIs

Full applications are due to NIH by January 25, with an LOI requested 30 days prior. Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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Active Calls for NON-Limited External Opportunities 

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.