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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.

 

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. 

Vanderbilt University sites showcase public and private COVID-19 funding

Lists of application opportunities related to COVID-19 have been shared by Office of the Vice Provost for Research (Public funders) and the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (Private funders). Updated regularly. 

GrantForward funding database provides list of COVID-19 funding opportunities

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Highlighted opportunities

NIH mobilizes $1.5B national innovation initiative for COVID-19 diagnostics

Applications accepted and funded on a rolling basis

Apply at https://www.poctrn.org/radx

More about RADx here.

NIAID R01 and R21 emergency awards for rapid investigation of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis

PAR-20-177 for R21 funding (clinical trial not allowed)

PAR-20-178 for R01 funding (clinical trial not allowed)

COVID-19-Related Enhancements to Existing PCORI Research Projects

Applications accepted on a rolling basis

NIH Notice of Special Interest: Repurposing Existing Therapeutics to Address the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) - Multiple Award Types

Application deadlines vary by mechanism; See link for specific deadlines

 

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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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NSF National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes

Applications due September 24

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 only 2 applications as the Lead for the NSF National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes: Accelerating Research, Transforming Society, and Growing the American Workforce program.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced tremendously and today promises personalized healthcare; enhanced national security; improved transportation; and more effective education, to name just a few benefits. Increased computing power, the availability of large datasets and streaming data, and algorithmic advances in machine learning (ML) have made it possible for AI research and development to create new sectors of the economy and revitalize industries.

The National AI Research Institutes program enables longer-term research and U.S. leadership in AI through the creation of AI Research Institutes. AI Research Institutes are coherent multidisciplinary groups of scientists, engineers and educators appropriate for a large-scale, long-term research agenda for the advancement of AI and the fielding of AI-powered innovation in application sectors of national importance. The multidisciplinary nature of these Institutes will catalyze foresight and adaptability beyond what is possible in single research projects.

Each Institute will be comprised of multiple organizations working together to create significant new research capabilities. AIl Institutes are nexus points for collaborative efforts, creating an organization that encourages the continuing growth of collaborations with external partners to bring together people, ideas, problems, and technical approaches for maximum impact.

This program solicitation invites proposals for full institutes that have a principal focus in one or more of the following themes:

• Theme 1: Human-AI Interaction and Collaboration
• Theme 2: AI Institute for Advances in Optimization
• Theme 3: AI and Advanced Cyberinfrastructure
• Theme 4: Advances in AI and Computer and Network Systems
• Theme 5: AI Institute in Dynamic Systems
• Theme 6: AI-Augmented Learning
• Theme 7: AI to Advance Biology
• Theme 8: AI-Driven Innovation in Agriculture and the Food System

AI Research Institutes will:

• Advance foundational AI research that will have broad and lasting impact, adding significant new knowledge and understanding to the disciplinary areas associated with the definition of AI specified above.
• Conduct use-inspired research that both informs foundational AI advances and drives innovations in related sectors of science and engineering, segments of the economy, or societal needs.
• Actively build the next generation of talent for a diverse, well-trained workforce.

Eligibility

• An organization may submit no more than two proposals to this solicitation as lead institution. However, participating as a non-lead organization in an Institute proposal does not count toward this limit.
• An individual may be designated as senior personnel (which includes but is not limited to PI or co-PI) on at most one project team submitting to this solicitation. In the event that an individual exceeds this limit, proposals will be accepted based on earliest date and time of proposal submission, i.e., the first proposal will be accepted, and the remainder will be returned without review.

Award Information

This solicitation will support cooperative agreements of between $16,000,000 and $20,000,000 for between four and five years ($4,000,000 per year on average). Proposals outside this range may be returned without review. Institute proposals must convey clear and concrete plans for foundational AI research, use-inspired motivation and technology transition opportunities, the education and workforce development activities to be undertaken, and plans for multidisciplinary research community building appropriate to the proposed Institute's vision and mission.

In this round of Institutes, proposals are being solicited in the 8 high-priority areas. Submissions MUST have as a principal focus one or more of the listed themes. It is advisable that a proposal address multiple themes only in cases where significant activity is planned in the six desiderata for Institutes for each theme addressed. See the solicitation 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 September 24: 

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

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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NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program

Applications due September 30

 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 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 September 30:

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

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NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health (U19)

Applications due October 1

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 only 1 application to the NIOSH Centers of Excellence for Total Worker Health (U19) program. The purpose of this FOA is to solicit meritorious applications to develop and conduct a broad range of multidisciplinary research, intervention, outreach and education, and evaluation activities that advance the overall safety, health, and well-being of the diverse population of workers in our nation. Center structure should take advantage of diverse scientific resources and focus on local, regional, or national worker safety and health issues.

Centers should emphasize creating and implementing evidence-based solutions to address evolving challenges and opportunities related to worker safety, mental and physical health, and well-being. Collaborations in partnership with academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other groups focused on occupational safety and health are expected. Applicants must concisely describe the occupational health burden within their service area and directly link research and outreach activities to help alleviate the burden. Applicants should also clearly articulate the anticipated impacts of the proposed work, both during the project period and beyond.

TWH High Priority Topic Areas

To address evolving challenges and opportunities related to worker safety, health, and well-being, the TWH program highlights critical priority areas and emerging issues currently relevant to advancing worker well-being. The program’s latest research interests and needs are:

• Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders in the Workplace
• TWH Outreach, Education, and Training
• Measuring Worker Well-Being
• Future of Work
• Healthy Work Design and Well-Being
• Workplace Mental Health and Worker Well-Being

More generally, the types of work laid out as priority areas in the National TWH Agenda (2016-2026) include:

• Research: Advance and conduct basic/etiologic, intervention, translational, and surveillance research that builds the evidence base for effectively integrating protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.
• Practice: Increase the awareness and adoption of effective policies, programs, and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.
• Policy: Create guidance for policies that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.
• Capacity-Building: Build professional capacity to strengthen the TWH workforce and TWH field to support the development, growth, and maintenance of policies, programs and practices that integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being.

*Note that the Letter of Intent is required and due by November 2, 2020. The full application is due February 3, 2021. See the solicitation 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 1: 

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

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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2021 Moore Inventor Fellows

Applications due October 15

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.. 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.)
• 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, oceanography, biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, neurosciences, public health and gerontology.

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 list of 2020 recipients, and review the guidelines and FAQs linked here 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 15:  

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 
   3. Stage of invention 
   4. Current funding 
   5. Feasibility 
   6. 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 assure 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).

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 on November 16, 2020, and the full application will be due December 14, 2020.

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

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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.