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.

 

Have you been awarded a Limited Submission recognition?

Please let us know at LSO@vanderbilt.edu

---

Active Internal Calls for Limited Submission Nominations 

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

---

2023 Conservation, Food & Health Foundation Grants

Applications due October 6, 2022

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 application to the January 2023 cycle of the Conservation, Food and Health Foundation (CFH) Grants program. The CFH seeks to protect natural resources, improve the production and distribution of food, and promote public health in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. The Foundation supports projects that demonstrate local leadership and promote professional development in the conservation, agricultural, and health sciences; develop the capacity of local organizations; and address a particular problem or question in the field. Grants are made on a one-time basis for up to $30,000 (average grant is $20,000.) No indirect costs are allowed.

The foundation prefers to support projects that address under-funded issues and geographic areas. It favors research, training, and technical assistance projects that:

• employ and/or train personnel from developing countries
• are led by organizations with strong records of accomplishments in a particular field and have potential for replication
• focus on regional or cross-boundary issues and opportunities
• feature collaborative partnerships embedded in strong networks
• strengthen local leadership and scientific capacity
• influence public discourse and policy
• focus on prevention rather than remediation
• attract additional support and hold promise for continuation or impact beyond the period of foundation support

Health Projects:

The foundation supports public health programs that focus on populations rather than individuals.  It funds programs that emphasize disease prevention and health promotion over those that emphasize disease diagnosis, treatment, and care.  It supports research, technical assistance, and training projects that:

• improve public health through community-based efforts that address health promotion, disease prevention, family planning, and reproductive health; and
• increase the understanding and treatment of neglected tropical diseases

The CFH does not fund direct medical care or treatment at hospitals or clinics; medical equipment for hospitals or clinics; and several other exclusions. Requests for COVID-19 prevention projects and research are not a priority.

See the guidelines and previous grantees for more information.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as VUMC’s nominee must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 6:

1. Brief (2 page maximum) research plan including summary budget
2. Statement 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.”
3. NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV

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

---

NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI-RP) Research Partnerships Track

Applications due October 10, 2022

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 application to the January 2023 cycle of the NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI-RP) Research Partnerships Track.

The Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) Program within the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) offers researchers from all disciplines of science and engineering funded by NSF the opportunity to perform translational research and technology development, catalyze partnerships and accelerate the transition of discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace for societal benefit.

PFI has five broad goals: (1) identifying and supporting NSF-sponsored research and technologies that have the potential for accelerated commercialization; (2) supporting prior or current NSF-sponsored investigators, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations that partner with an institution of higher education in undertaking proof-of-concept work, including the development of technology prototypes that are derived from NSF-sponsored research and have potential market value; (3) promoting sustainable partnerships between NSF-funded institutions, industry, and other organizations within academia and the private sector with the purpose of accelerating the transfer of technology; (4) developing multi-disciplinary innovation ecosystems which involve and are responsive to the specific needs of academia and industry; (5) providing professional development, mentoring, and advice in entrepreneurship, project management, and technology and business development to innovators.

In addition, PFI responds to the mandate set by Congress to support prototype or proof-of-concept development work by participants, including I-Corps participants, with innovations that because of the early stage of development are not eligible to participate in a Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small Business Technology Transfer Program.

Finally, PFI seeks to enhance partnerships between academia and industry in the United States, and expanding the participation of women and individuals from underrepresented groups in innovation, technology translation, and entrepreneurship.

This solicitation offers two broad tracks for proposals in pursuit of the aforementioned goals. Only the Research Partnerships (PFI-RP) track is limited. The PFI-RP track supports complex, multi-faceted technology development projects that are typically beyond the scope of a single researcher or institution and require a multi-organizational, interdisciplinary, synergistic collaboration. A PFI-RP project requires the creation of partnerships between academic researchers and third-party organizations such as industry, non-academic research organizations, federal laboratories, public or non-profit technology transfer organizations or other universities. Such partnerships are needed to conduct applied research on a stand-alone larger project toward commercialization and societal impact. In the absence of such synergistic partnership, the project’s likelihood for success would be minimal. The budget for PFI-RP proposals is up to $550,000 for 36 months.

The intended outcomes of both tracks are: a) the commercialization of new intellectual property derived from NSF-funded research outputs; b) the creation of new or broader collaborations with industry (including increased corporate sponsored research); c) the licensing of NSF-funded research outputs to third party corporations or to start-up companies funded by a PFI team; and d) the training of future innovation and entrepreneurship leaders.

See the solicitation for more information.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as VUMC’s potential nominee must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 10:

• Brief (2-page maximum) research plan, including summary budget
• NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV
• Statement of support from department chair/center director

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

---

2023 Moore Inventor Fellows

Applications due October 13, 2022

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

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC combined) may nominate up to 2 candidates for the Moore Inventor Fellows competition. The Moore Foundation aims to support scientist-inventors who create new tools and technologies with a high potential to accelerate progress in the foundation’s areas of interest: scientific discovery, environmental conservation and patient care. The Moore Foundation recognizes that inventors and innovators come from a diversity of backgrounds, disciplines and experiences and seeks creative individuals across a broad array of academic programs and research institutions. Each fellow will receive $675,000 over three years.  Fellows’ departments are required to contribute an additional $50,000 in annual support of the inventor’s work, for a total award of $825,000.

Eligibility:

• Must be within 10 years of receiving advanced terminal degree (M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. received on or after 2013)
• Must be faculty, research scientists, postdocs, or other full-time staff.
• May come from a broad array of disciplines, including, but not limited, to environmental science and conservation, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, big data, climatology, emerging infectious diseases, oceanography, biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, neurosciences, and public health.
• For patient care, inventions should resonate with the Moore Foundation’s focus on improving the experience and outcomes of patients with solutions that improve clinical diagnosis. 

Inventors will be evaluated by their demonstrated creative potential and technical ability for the proposed line of work.  Inventions will be evaluated based on their importance in the area of interest, the need for funding to achieve rapid success, and the plausibility of achieving stated impact. See the past recipients, and review the guidelines and FAQs for more information.

Internal Review Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as one of Vanderbilt’s nominees must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on October 13, 2022:  

1. Statement of invention (no more than two pages, including citations; single-spaced, 12-point font and one-inch margins). The first paragraph should describe clearly and without jargon the invention, the problem it seeks to address, and its potential impact. The statement of invention should also include the following information: 
   1. Description of invention 
   2. Importance in the area of science, environmental conservation, or patient care and experience (please select one)
   3. Stage of invention 
   4. Current funding 
   5. Feasibility 
   6. Risk (please describe any technical risks that might lower chances of success and what you will do to mitigate these risks)
   7. Potential impact
   8. Approach for measuring progress during the grant term 
2. Budget narrative that outlines how grant funds will be used (1 page)
3. Brief CV (5 page max) or NIH Biosketch
4. Statement from Department Chair to ensure that the nominee has at least 25 percent of their time to devote to their invention and $50,000 in annual direct support from the department (total of $150,000 direct support over the project period).
   1. This can be “in kind” as released time or access to special facilities for which there is normally a charge. This could also include support for undergraduate or graduate students, equipment, supplies, and other needs that will enable the fellow to make progress on their work.
   2. Funds that were designated for a fellow’s use before the fellow was awarded a Moore Inventor Fellows award (such as start-up funds) do not qualify.

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email. 

If selected as the nominee, you will be asked to complete the application in two separate parts. The preliminary application will be due to the sponsor on November 14, 2022, and the full application will be due December 13, 2022.  

Please contact us at LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you have any questions about the program, foundation, or internal review process.

---

NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program

Applications due October 13, 2022

 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 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, in general, 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. Any MRI proposal may request support for either the acquisition or development of a research instrument, regardless of track.

• Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than $1,000,000.
• Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,000,000 up to and including $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. Since demographic diversity may be greater among early-career researchers, 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 13, 2022:

1. Brief (2 page maximum) project description including summary budget
   • Please identify the Track (1 or 2) to which you are applying
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 19. Any questions about this opportunity may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

---

NSF LSAMP National Coordination Hub and Louis Stokes Community Resource Centers (LSAMP Hub & LSCRCs)

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

Applications due October 14, 2022

Overview:

VUMC may submit one application to the January 2023 cycle of the NSF LSAMP National Coordination Hub and Louis Stokes Community Resource Centers program. This new solicitation from the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) calls for proposals for an LSAMP National Coordination Hub (LSAMP Hub) and for Louis Stokes Community Resource Centers (LSCRCs). These new funding opportunities will support the overall goal of the LSAMP program to assist universities and colleges in diversifying the nation's science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce by increasing the number of STEM baccalaureate and graduate degrees awarded to individuals from populations underrepresented in these disciplines: Blacks and African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders.

VUMC can either serve as the lead institution on one (1) LSAMP National Coordination Hub or on one (1) Louis Stokes Community Resource Center.

Eligibility

Proposals for both the LSAMP Hub and the LSCRCs may be submitted by any consortium of organizations. All active alliances are eligible to submit as lead organizations. LSAMP organizations, non-LSAMP organizations and other organizational types with expertise in STEM education research and broadening participation in STEM fields are eligible to submit as lead organizations. Non-LSAMP organizations should have knowledge of and prior engagement with the LSAMP community as evidenced by development of and participation in LSAMP activities over time. Minority-serving institutions (Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities) and non-academic organizations are encouraged to submit as lead participants.

LSAMP Hub

The LSAMP Hub will promote intentional coordination, stronger collaborations, and enhance interactions among the broader LSAMP community as well as provide a bridge between alliance and non-alliance organizations. The LSAMP Hub activities will support comprehensive, evidence-based, innovative, and sustained strategies that ultimately result in the graduation of well-prepared, highly-qualified students from underrepresented minority groups who pursue graduate studies or careers in STEM. In addition, the LSAMP Hub will serve as the nexus for LSAMP activities, including those of alliances, existing Louis Stokes Regional Centers of Excellence in Broadening Participation (LSRCEs), and the new LSCRCs, to support the overall LSAMP goals.

The LSAMP Hub may be for up to 5 years at a maximum of $1,000,000 per year. It will play a critical role in coordinating the national LSAMP program effort. LSAMP Hub proposals may involve multiple organizations, but proposals may only be submitted from a lead organization with other collaborating organizations included as subawardees. The LSAMP Hub award will be a Cooperative Agreement.

Louis Stokes Community Resource Center

The LSCRCs will accelerate the pace of knowledge generation and research dissemination in the areas of broadening participation, STEM education for LSAMP populations, and preparation for national STEM priorities. In addition, the LSCRCs will support a community of researchers and facilitate scholarly opportunities that will further advance the overall goal of the LSAMP program to diversify the nation's STEM workforce.

LSCRCs are three- to five-year projects that have wide latitude for design of research, outreach, and synthesis activities. The maximum funding level is $700,000 per year. LSCRC awards will be Continuing Grants.

The activities of the Hub, along with the new LSCRCs, will complement and amplify the work of the existing alliances and assist in wider dissemination of knowledge production from LSAMP activities. They will also support the program in further development of partnerships both across the LSAMP community and with other national efforts.

See the solicitation for more details.

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 14, 2022:

1. Brief (2 page maximum) project description including summary budget
   • Please identify to which program you are applying – LSAMP Hub or Louis Stokes Community Resource Center (LSCRC).
2. Letter of support from department chair/center director
3. NIH Biosketch

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

---

NIH Collaborative Program Grant for Multidisciplinary Teams (RM1- Clinical Trial Optional)

Applications due October 17, 2022

 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 proposal to the January 2023 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.

Eligibility:

Successful Collaborative Program Grant applications will bring together scientists to apply complementary approaches to work on an important and well-defined problem. 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).

Truly new interdisciplinary ideas for approaching significant biological problems are encouraged. Applications that bridge the research interests of more than one NIGMS division are also encouraged, but must remain within the scope of the NIGMS mission. Consultation with NIGMS staff prior to preparing an application is strongly encouraged.

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. 

See the program announcement for more information.

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 October 17, 2022:

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

Full applications are due to NIH by January 27, with an LOI requested 30 days prior. Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

---

 

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.