Limited and External Funding Opportunities

Contact us...

• Email LSO@vanderbilt.edu if you are interested in an opportunity not listed below or have questions regarding the LSO submission process.
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Have you been awarded a Limited Submission recognition?

Please let us know at LSO@vanderbilt.edu

Internal review process required to choose institutional nominees

Limited Submission Eligibility Guidelines

The following tags serve as a guide for submission instructions.

 Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC): 

• VU and VUMC submit collaboratively to this LSO. ALL investigators should follow the guidelines posted on this site.

 VUMC :

• VU and VUMC submit separately to this LSO. VUMC investigators should follow the guidelines posted on this site. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

FEATURED OPPORTUNITY

• High-profile or prestigious awards of particular interest to Vanderbilt investigators
• Click on "View Full Internal Call" at end of each LSO description to access PDF with internal submission instructions 

Contact vumcresearchenterprise@vumc.org or subscribe to the Office of Research Weekly Email Update for information on current funding opportunities.

2026 Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award

Applications due August 5, 2025

 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 nominate one candidate for the Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Award Program. The foundation supports early-career biomedical scholars doing pioneering research. This award provides up to $550,000 over five years for young investigators involved in research in the cure and treatment of diseases in the fields of cancer, immunology, and neuroscience.

NIH ORIP Modern Equipment for Shared-use Biomedical Research Facilities: Advancing Research-Related Operations (S15 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

Applications due August 13, 2025

 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 one proposal to the Modern Equipment for Shared-Use Biomedical Research Facilities: Advancing Research-Related Operations (S15) program for the NIH Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP).

The program provides funds to Cores/Shared Resources to purchase latest scientific equipment that will enhance and modernize research-supporting operations of existing shared biomedical research facilities. Any equipment supported by this NOFO must be substantially used in a laboratory research core facility, animal facility, or similar shared-use research space to ensure broad benefits for the institutional research community. Moreover, any request must be justified by research-related demands for the modernization of research-supporting functions or for the advancement of facility operations.

2026 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Awards - Neuroscience

Applications due August 14, 2025

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

VUMC may nominate one candidate for the 2026 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award. This program supports individual postdoctoral scientists of exceptional creativity who have an MD or PhD degree and who have completed by July 1, 2026 a minimum of three years of a post-doctoral fellowship in the field of neurosciences at a medical school, research institute, or academic institution. Scholars will be chosen based on the success in their prior post-doctoral work and the importance and creativity of their proposed future research.

NCI Research Specialist (Clinician Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Applications due August 14, 2025

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

Overview:

Vanderbilt (VU and VUMC, collaboratively) may submit up to four applications for the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Research Specialist (Clinician Scientist) Award (PAR-24-274). The Research Specialist Award is designed to encourage the development of stable research career opportunities for exceptional clinician scientists who want to continue to participate in the NCI clinical trials networks through leadership in 1) the development of national clinical trials, 2) implementation of NCI clinical trials in their institutions, and 3) national service to the NCI clinical trials network through participation in the scientific review committees, monitoring committees and other activities, but not serve as principal investigators of research project grants.

2026 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholar Fellowship – Gene Therapy/Gene Editing

Applications due August 20, 2025

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

VUMC may nominate one candidate for the 2026 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award. This program supports individual postdoctoral scientists of exceptional creativity who have an MD or PhD degree and who have completed by July 1, 2026 a minimum of three years of a post-doctoral fellowship in the field of gene therapy and/or gene editing at a medical school, research institute, or academic institution. Scholars will be chosen based on the success in their prior post-doctoral work and the importance and creativity of their proposed future research.

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.

Simons Graduate Fellowship in Ecology and Evolution Awards

Applications due July 31

Beckman Young Investigator Program

LOIs due August 1

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

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Research Grants

LOIs due August 1

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Foundation Relations (foundationrelations@vumc.org) before starting an application.

Eagles Autism Foundation Research Grants

LOIs due August 4

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

American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR) McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards in Cognitive Aging and Memory Loss

Applications due August 12

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

Damon Runyon Fellowship Award

Applications due August 15

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

NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2- Clinical Trial Optional)

Applications due August 19

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards at the Scientific Interface (CASI)

LOIs due September 2

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

Foundation for Women's Health Grant in 5 priority areas

Applications due September 2

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

NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Applications due September 3

March of Dimes Discovery Grant

Applications due September 8

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

NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (DP1- Clinical Trial Optional)

Applications due September 9

American Brain Foundation 2026 Next Generation Research Grants

Applications due September 9

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

Nature Awards Global Grants for Gut Health

Applications due September 9

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

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Research Fellowships

Applications due September 15

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Foundation Relations (foundationrelations@vumc.org) before starting an application

Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation Therapeutics Grants

LOIs due September 15

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

National Scleroderma Foundation New and Established Investigator Grants

Applications due September 15

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Foundation Relations (foundationrelations@vumc.org) before starting an application.

NIGMS National and Regional Resources (R24- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Applications due September 25

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards for Medical Scientists (CAMS)

Applications due October 7

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