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

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Special Research Focus: COVID-19 Funding Opportunities

Curated collections of funding opportunities

Edge for Scholars offers curated list of COVID-19 funding opportunities

Updated regularly. Check the site often for updates about research funding opportunities, including to special calls & announcements, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. 

GrantForward funding database provides list of COVID-19 funding opportunities

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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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2021 American Honda Foundation

Applications due May 18

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 American Honda Foundation's Grants for Youth Education and Scientific Education.

The American Honda Foundation (AHF) engages in grant making that reflects the basic tenets, beliefs and philosophies of Honda companies, which are characterized by the following qualities: imaginative, creative, youthful, forward-thinking, scientific, humanistic and innovative. AHF supports youth education with a specific focus on the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects in addition to the environment.

The range of grant requests is from $20,000 to $75,000 for a period of one year. The average size of AHF's grants is $45,000 for a one year funding cycle. AHF allows up to 12% indirect costs.

Funding Priority: Youth education, specifically in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, the environment, job training and literacy. AHF defines "youth" as pre-natal through 21 years of age. "Scientific education" encompasses both the physical and life sciences, mathematics and the environmental sciences.

Types of Projects that are Funded:

• Innovative and creative that propose untried methods which ultimately may result in providing solutions to the complex educational concerns currently facing the American society.
• Broad in scope, intent, impact and outreach.
• Possess a high potential for success with a relatively low incidence of duplication of effort
• Dedicated to improving the human condition of all mankind.
• Operate from a position of financial and administrative soundness.
• In urgent need of funding from a priority basis (not necessarily financial need); i.e., the relative importance of the program or project to the public.

See program website and the FAQs 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 May 18.

1. Brief project plan including summary budget (2 page maximum);
2. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
3. NIH Biosketch

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

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2021 Mallinckrodt Grant Program

Applications due May 19

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

Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC, collaboratively) may submit one proposal for the Edward Mallinckrodt Foundation Grant Program.  The Foundation supports early stage investigators engaged in basic biomedical research that has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of disease.  The grant provides $60,000/year for up to a total of $180,000 over three years to move a project forward to the point where R01 or other independent funding can be obtained. Indirect costs are not allowable, but salary support is acceptable.  View the application guidelines for more information.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following on August 1, 2021:

• Hold M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree
• Be in first to fourth year of a tenure-track position
• Must not have current R01 funding

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s potential nominee must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on May 19, 2021. 

1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page maximum);
2. Lay summary (1/2 page maximum);
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 (5 page maximum)

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

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2022 Breast Cancer Alliance Young Investigator Grant

Applications due May 20

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 2 applications for the Breast Cancer Alliance (BCA) Young Investigator Grants. The mission of the BCA is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To encourage a commitment to breast cancer research, the BCA invites clinical doctors and research scientists (including postdocs) whose primary focus is breast cancer research and who are in the early stages of their career, to apply for the Young Investigator Grant. This two-year, $125,000 grant is intended to help advance the careers of young researchers in breast cancer who do not yet have their own major grant support. Administrative costs, which are included in the $125,000 award, must be limited to 8% of grant funds.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicant must not have held a tenure-track faculty position for more than four years as of March 1, 2022;
• Applicant must not have been a principal investigator on an NIH R01 or equivalent national/international non-mentored award;
• Applicant must dedicate at least 50% of their work effort to research;
• Research project must be directly related to the field of breast cancer. Areas of relevant research may include but are not limited to: diagnosis, etiology, immunology, genetics, therapies, prevention and clinical studies. 
• Current postdoctoral fellows who do not yet hold a faculty position are eligible to apply, provided they meet all the other stated criteria for Young Investigators

Note: If you have already submitted an LOI for an Exceptional Project Grant but were not asked to submit a full proposal, you are ineligible to submit the same proposal for Young Investigator Grant.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as one of VUMC’s nominees must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on May 20:

1. Brief (2 page maximum) research plan including summary budget
   1. Research plan should include project title and hypothesis, research aim(s) and methods, and brief discussion of the project’s potential impact.
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director
3. Biosketch in current NIH format

Please combine your materials into a single PDF and reference the program name in the subject line of the email. Any questions may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu

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2021 V Foundation Adult Translational Cancer Research Awards (Immuno-oncology/ Immunotherapy)

Applications due June 2

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

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) may choose one nominee for the V Foundation 2021 Adult Translational Cancer Research (Immuno-oncology/Immunotherapy) Grants Program.  The grant provides $600,000 in three annual installments of $200,000. Indirect costs up to a maximum of 10% within the total award are permitted.

The V Foundation seeks to support translational research projects within the scope of adult cancer research, specifically in the focus area of immuno-oncology/immunotherapy. They are interested in various immune-oncology/immunotherapy research questions such as, but not limited to: biomarker research for stratification, biomarker validation research, combination of checkpoint inhibitors with vaccines, and development of new therapies/approaches. Cross-disciplinary research, including expertise from other disciplines (for example: bioinformatics, computational scientists, or engineers) is encouraged when applicable.

Translational projects should move a novel strategy from the laboratory into a human clinical trial or use specimens from a clinical trial to develop biomarkers or mechanisms. The research should apply in some direct way to human beings within the time frame of less than 3 years. If biomarker research is undertaken, a validation set or independent clinical trial is essential. A plan for biomarker validation, if applicable, must be included in any proposal. The endpoint of the project should be the planning or initiation of a new adult clinical trial.

SPECIAL FOCUS AREA: This request for applications is specifically for adult cancer research in the focus area of immuno-oncology/immunotherapy. While not required, research on the biological basis of cancer disparities experienced by patients from minority ethnic or racial populations in areas related to causes, aggressiveness, treatment or relapse is encouraged and may be eligible for special funding. Cancers in which ethnic and racial disparities have previously been demonstrated include: lung and bronchus, colon and rectum, breast, prostate, uterine, cervix, stomach, and liver. Proposals on the biological basis of disparities must still fall within the focus area of immune-oncology/immunotherapy.

Applicant Eligibility:  

By July 12, 2021, applicants who will lead this research team must have all the following:

• Be scientists who hold a tenure-track faculty position (any level) at their cancer research institution. Non-promotable adjunct, affiliated, temporary, part-time or acting faculty positions are NOT eligible for Principal Investigator nomination to lead the Translational Research Team.

Internal Selection Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee this opportunity must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu  by 11:59 p.m. on June 2. Late applications will not be considered.

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

Submissions should reference “2021 V Translational Research Award- Adult Cancer Research” in the subject line of the email. Vanderbilt will submit a short nomination form by June 15 on behalf of the selected nominee. The nominee will then submit a full application to the sponsor by July 12.

Email LSO@vanderbilt.edu with any questions about the program, foundation, or internal review process.

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2021 Mathers Foundation Grant Program

Applications due June 3

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 four proposals for the summer/fall cycle of the Mathers Foundation grants program. The mission of The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation is to advance knowledge in the life sciences by sponsoring scientific research that will benefit mankind. The Foundation’s grants program seeks to support innovative, potentially transformative basic science projects in fields including immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, and neuroscience. 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.) Indirect costs may not exceed 10%.

Funding Priorities:

• The Foundation primarily supports basic science, ideally with potential translational applications.
• Immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience, etc. are noteworthy examples of current research support. Plant Biology and Oceanography research will not be considered for support.
• Requests for funding previous federally supported research, and/or applications pending federal approval will not be accorded priority consideration.
• Requests for support of clinical trials or drug discovery will not be approved.
• Investigations in basic science and translational research may be reliant on collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. Interdisciplinary project proposals may require additional information regarding collaborator(s)’ achievements and relevant expertise.
• Awards may not be used to purchase capital equipment.
• LOIs that have been declined should not be resubmitted.
• Renewal applications for the same or related research will not be accorded priority consideration, and applicants should consider proposing a new research direction.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as one of VUMC’s nominees must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on June 3. 

1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page maximum);
   1. Include discussion of previous or related work in the field, i.e. put your proposal in context of previous/ongoing efforts from your own group or other investigators.
2. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
3. Brief CV or NIH Biosketch (5 page maximum)

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email.  Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu

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NIH Director’s Early Independence Awards (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)

Applications due June 7

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 applications to the NIH Director's Early Independence Award.

The NIH Director's Early Independence Award (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional) supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independent research essentially after completion of their terminal doctoral/research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce.

Though most newly graduated doctoral-level researchers would benefit from post-doctoral training, a small number of outstanding junior investigators are capable of launching directly into an independent research career. The Early Independence Award is intended for these select junior investigators who have already established a record of scientific innovation and research productivity and have demonstrated unusual scientific vision and maturity; typical post-doctoral training would unnecessarily delay their entry into independent research. The NIH Director’s Early Independence Award also provides an opportunity for institutions to invigorate their research programs by bringing in fresh scientific perspectives of the awardees they host.

By the end of the award period, the Early Independence Award investigator is expected to be competitive for continued funding of his/her research program through other NIH funding activities and for a permanent research-oriented position.

Eligibility:

• Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director's Early Independence Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research program of the NIH Common Fund.
• Time window for eligibility: The receipt date of the terminal doctoral degree or end of post-graduate clinical training of the PD/PI must be between June 1, 2020 and September 30, 2022. The degree receipt date is that which appears on the official transcript for the degree. The end of post-graduate clinical training includes residency and fellowship periods.
• At the time of application, the PD/PI must not have served as a post-doctoral fellow for more than twelve months before June 1, 2020. To be consistent with the updated NIH definition of Early Stage Investigators, eligible clinical training includes clinical residency and clinical fellowship.
• Research independence at time of application: Individuals are eligible only if they, at the time of application submission, do not have research independence. Eligible individuals must have all the following characteristics:
  • The PD/PI's current research agenda is set through concurrence with mentors;
  • The PD/PI's research is funded primarily through support to other investigators (mentored fellowships such as NIH F31 or F32 Fellowships or NSF Graduate Research Fellowships do not preclude eligibility);
  • The PD/PI does not have any space assigned directly by the institution for the conduct of his/her research;
  • The PD/PI, according to institutional policy, cannot apply for an NIH R01 grant without special waiver or exemption from the institution.
• There is no U.S. citizenship requirement for PDs/PIs.

Level of effort: Individuals must commit at least 9.6 person-months each year (i.e., 80% effort of a 12-month appointment) to the Early Independence Award project in years 1-2 of the project period. In years 3-5, awardees may reduce effort towards the Early Independence Award project but must commit at least 9.6 person-months each year (i.e., 80% effort of a 12-month appointment) to independent research in general.

Budget Info: Awards will be for up to $250,000 direct costs per year for a period of 5 years, plus applicable Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs.

See the RFA 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 June 7: 

 

1. Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget
   1. Include three sections with the following headings to mirror the specific aims format: "Research Objectives," "Institutional Support," and "Early Independence Rationale"
2. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
   1. Must address requirements for Institutional Resources & Career Development Commitment, specifically: allocated laboratory space, institutional financial commitment to investigator, and plans for mentoring and assuring scientific independence
3. NIH Biosketch

Submissions should reference “NIH Director’s Award” in the subject line of the email. Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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NIAID Centers for HIV Structural Biology (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) 

Applications due June 10

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

Vanderbilt (VU+VUMC) may submit one application to the NIH NIAID Centers for HIV Structural Biology (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) program.

The purpose of this FOA is to support dynamic, multidisciplinary consortia of structural biologists, virologists, and computational scientists to resolve complex biological structures relevant to HIV prevention, treatment, and cure. The consortia are expected to leverage common resources, facilitate new collaborations, and engage and support the next generation of HIV structural biology researchers.

The goal of the Centers for HIV Structural Biology program will be to support teams of scientists to develop and utilize cutting edge technologies and methodologies to address the most challenging scientific questions involving the structures and functions of HIV-related macromolecular complexes. Centers are expected to move beyond the determination of static structures and into an understanding of the dynamics of complexes with an eye toward informing mechanistically based discovery and/or design of interventions for the prevention, treatment, and cure of HIV. The development of specific interventions is not the purpose of the FOA; rather, the goal is to establish new technologies and methodologies to facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic targets, elucidate the mechanisms of action of interventions, or determine the structural basis for interventional failures.

Special emphasis should be placed upon those known components of the virus and/or host for which a sufficiently complete structure has yet to be determined. Restriction factors and viral proteins that counteract their function remain of interest, as well as newly recognized factors that contribute to the establishment or maintenance of viral latency, which may represent potential therapeutic targets to effect a cure. With this FOA an emphasis is placed on current poorly characterized categories of complexes that are critical to the virus life cycle, including RNA, RNA/protein, DNA/protein, and protein/membrane interactions. For all the above molecules and complexes, integration of structure with validation strategies, including virological, biochemical, and computational, is essential to understanding their biological functions. The research being proposed is expected to push the boundaries of what is feasible. As such, it is recognized that aspects of the Research Plan will necessarily be of high risk.

Research Objectives and Scope:

Unlike previous iterations of this Centers program, each Center should not have just one, centralized scientific theme in which it specializes. Rather, for this FOA, each Center should be built around three to four diverse scientific projects in which innovative technological approaches will be applied to solve distinct scientific questions that address knowledge gaps of significance to one or more NIAID research priorities related to HIV prevention, treatment, or cure. The research plans will need to be dynamic and adaptable to evolve as new data become available. Importantly, the scientific areas of specialization need not be directly related to one another; rather, they should leverage the best talents and technologies of the team to address the most challenging, compelling, and pertinent scientific problems related to HIV prevention, treatment, and cure.

• • Each Center must have demonstrated capabilities for the determination of high-resolution structures of macromolecular complexes.
  • Centers must be engaged in basic and applied research supporting NIAID priorities of HIV prevention, treatment, and cure.
  • Centers may include all aspects of structural biology related to HIV, including structural determination, dynamics and functional characterization of macromolecular complexes among and between components of HIV, the host cell, the immune system, and therapeutic, preventative, or curative interventions.

See the solicitation for more information.

Internal Application Process:

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

• Brief (2-page maximum) research plan including summary budget
• Proposed list of Vanderbilt key personnel and collaborators
• NIH Biosketch or 5-page CV for each PI/PD
• Statement of support from department chair/center director

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

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W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program- Fall 2021

Applications due June 10

 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 two proposals, one in Medical Research and one in Science and Engineering, for the W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program.  We are currently soliciting concept papers to be presented to the Keck Foundation for feedback in a consultation phone call.  The goal of the program is to benefit humanity by supporting work that has a distinctive and novel approach, questions a prevailing paradigm, or has the potential to break open new territory in a field.  Grants are typically awarded for roughly $1,000,000 and abstracts from previously funded proposals can be found here. Indirect costs are not allowed.

Program Priorities for Funding:

• Focus on important and emerging areas of research
• Have the potential to develop breakthrough technologies, instrumentation or methodologies
• Are innovative, distinctive and interdisciplinary
• Demonstrate a high level of risk due to unconventional approaches, or by challenging the prevailing paradigm
• Have the potential for transformative impact, such as the founding of a new field of research, the enabling of observations not previously possible, or the altered perception of a previously intractable problem
• Does not focus on clinical or translational research, treatment trials or research for the sole purpose of drug development
• Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies
• Demonstrate that private philanthropy generally, and the W. M. Keck Foundation in particular, is essential to the project’s success

Internal Application Process:

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

1. 1-page Concept Paper (See guidelines below)
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

Concept Paper Requirements:

• Must be single page with 12 point font and 1 inch margins
• Must indicate the area of emphasis for the project – “medical research” or “science and engineering research”
• Include an overview of the proposed project emphasizing any unique aspects and pilot studies. Emphasize attributes that address program priorities, e.g. high level of risk, transformative impact.
• Include a description of the methodologies and key personnel
• Include a brief justification of the need for Keck support. Competitive proposals will provide evidence that proposed research is a poor fit for federal funding opportunities, i.e. reviewer comments or program officer discussion.
• Include an estimated budget broken down, if possible, by major areas, e.g., personnel, equipment, consumable supplies, etc. (budgets can be rough approximations at this stage)

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.