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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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Brain Research Foundation’s 2020 Scientific Innovations Award

Applications due April 26

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

Overview:

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) may nominate one senior faculty member to submit a Letter of Intent for Brain Research Foundation’s 2020 Scientific Innovations Award (SIA). The SIA program provides $150,000 over two years for innovative science in both basic and clinical neuroscience. This funding mechanism is designed to support creative, exploratory, cutting edge research in well-established research laboratories, under the direction of established investigators.

The SIA supports projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. It is expected that investigations supported by these grants will yield high impact findings and result in major grant applications and significant publications in high impact journals. Please note that indirect costs are prohibited.

Eligibility:

• Nominee must be a full-time associate professor or full professor working in the area of studies of brain function in health and disease. Research associate professors are ineligible.
• Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred. Evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential.
• Studies should be related to either normal human brain development or specifically identified disease states. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease.
• The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. This grant is not to be used as bridge funding.
• PI is ineligible if they have BRF funding that will overlap this grant period. Scientists that have previously received a BRF Scientific Innovations Award may not receive the award for a second time until five years has elapsed since the beginning date of the prior award.
• Collaboration is allowed but the application may only list a single PI.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on April 26, 2019: 

1. Brief summary of program project/research plan (2 page maximum). Please include a closing paragraph that explains how this research will develop (next steps) 
2. Statement of support from department chair/center director
3. NIH Biosketch (5 page maximum; should include list of support)

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email.  If you have any questions about the sponsor or the application process, please contact LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

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2020 Pew Biomedical Scholars Program

Applications due May 9

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 one candidate for the Pew Charitable Trusts' 2020 Pew Biomedical Scholars Award. The award supports Assistant Professors of outstanding promise in science relevant to human health. The award provides $300,000 in flexible support—$75,000 per year for a four-year period. Not more than 8 percent of the total award may be allocated for overhead costs.

Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles, but brings in concepts and theories from more diverse fields, are encouraged to apply.  Risk-taking is encouraged. Successful applications should not look like typical R01 grant applications with incremental research steps and safe hypotheses supported by existing data.

Selection of candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications. The Committee gives considerable weight to evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has published significant work.

This program is distinct from the Pew-Stewart Scholars Program, but candidates may apply to both.

Eligibility:

• Must have doctorate in biomedical sciences, medicine or a related field
• As of Oct. 10, 2019, must hold full-time appointments at the rank of Assistant Professor. (Associate Professors are not eligible. Appointments such as Research Assistant Professor, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor Research Track, Visiting Professor or Instructor are not eligible.)
• On June 14, 2019, must have been in such an appointment for less than three years (not appointed before June 14, 2016), whether or not such an appointment was on a tenure track.
  • Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, in work toward board certification, or on parental leave does not count as part of this three-year limit. Candidates who took parental leave should indicate this in their internal application.
• The selected candidate may be nominated by VUMC two times in total. If previously applied through VUMC, may not reapply in a subsequent year from VU (and vice versa.)

Scope of Research:

• Public health projects and those that are solely clinical research are not within the scope of Pew-funded research
• Candidates conducting original basic and/or translational research related to the biomedical sciences are encouraged to apply
  • This includes “traditional” fields like genetics, immunology, neuroscience, cancer biology etc. However, candidates from areas such as computational science, chemistry, engineering, and physics are also strongly encouraged to apply
  • For examples of Pew scholar projects, a directory of past scholars can be found here, including previous Vanderbilt awardees (John Karijolich ’18, Lauren Parker Jackson ‘16; Ethan Lee ‘04; David Cortez ‘03).

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu  by 5 p.m. on May 9, 2019: 

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

Submissions should reference "PEW BIOMEDICAL SCHOLARS" in the subject line of the email. 

Following the internal review, the nominee’s name will be submitted to the Pew Charitable Trusts by June 14, 2019 and complete application will be due Oct. 17, 2019.

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

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2020 Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research Program

Applications due May 31

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

 

Overview:

 

Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center may nominate one candidate for the Pew Charitable Trusts' 2020 Pew-Stewart Scholars for Cancer Research Program. This program supports Assistant Professors of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of a cure for cancer. The award provides $300,000 in flexible support—$75,000 per year for a four-year period. Not more than 8 percent of the total award may be allocated for overhead costs.

 

Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and innovative approaches in cancer research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles, but brings in concepts and theories from more diverse fields related to cancer, are encouraged to apply. Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged. Successful applications should not look like typical R01 grant applications with incremental research steps and safe hypotheses supported by existing data.

 

Selection of candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications. The Committee gives considerable weight to evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has published significant work.

 

This program is distinct from the Pew Biomedical Scholars Program, but candidates may apply to both.

 

Eligibility Criteria:

• Candidates must have been awarded a doctorate in a field related to biomedical sciences or medicine.
• As of October 10, 2019, candidates must hold full-time appointments at the rank of Assistant Professor. (Associate Professors are not eligible. Appointments such as Research Assistant Professor, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor Research Track, Visiting Professor or Instructor are not eligible.)
• On June 14, 2019, candidates must have been in such an appointment for less than three years (not appointed before June 14, 2016), whether or not such an appointment was on a tenure track.
  • Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, in work toward board certification, or on parental leave does not count as part of this three-year limit. Candidates who took parental leave should indicate this in their internal application.
• Qualified candidates should be conducting creative, interdisciplinary, basic, or translational cancer research. Public health projects and those that are solely clinical research are not within the scope of Pew-funded research.
• The selected candidate may be nominated by Vanderbilt two times in total. 
• Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from non-profit associations do not pose a conflict.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as Vanderbilt’s nominee must submit the following (in PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu  by 5 p.m. on May 9, 2019: 

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

Submissions should reference "PEW-STEWART SCHOLARS" in the subject line of the email. 

 

Following the internal review, the nominee’s name will be submitted to the Pew Charitable Trusts by June 14, 2019 and complete application will be due Oct. 10, 2019.

 

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

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2019 Mallinckrodt Grant Program

Applications due May 9

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 (Must meet the following on August 1, 2019):

• Hold M.D. and/or Ph.D. degree
• In 1^st to 4^th 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 PDF format) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5:00 p.m. on May 31, 2019. 

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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Active Calls for NON-Limited External Opportunities 

Internal review process NOT required- Submit directly to Sponsor​