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 Searle Scholars Program

Applications due July 8, 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 1 candidate for the 2026 Searle Scholars Program, which supports the independent research of outstanding early-career scientists who have recently been appointed as assistant professors on a tenure-track appointment. The Searle Scholars Program Scientific Advisory Board is primarily interested in the potential of applicants to make innovative and high-impact contributions to research over an extended period of time. Each year, 15 new individuals are named Searle Scholars and awarded $300,000 over three years, with $100,000 payable each year of the grant.

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research 2026 Endeavor Award

Applications are due July 15, 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 submit up to two (2) letters of intent to the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research 2026 Endeavor Award.

The Mark Foundation Endeavor Awards support collaborative research projects that bring together investigators with diverse areas of expertise to tackle challenges in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. These grants are awarded to teams of three or more investigators to generate and integrate data from diverse lines of research and transform those insights into advances for cancer patients that could not be achieved by individual efforts.

One submission may address any cancer type. The other submission must be for a translational or clinical stage project that primarily focuses on one of the following four cancer types: upper GI, glioblastoma, triple-negative breast cancer, or pancreatic cancer.

Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation Fall 2025 Medical Research Award

Project summaries due to VICC July 15

The Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation announces a funding opportunity to support a fullscale research project focused on a distinctive and novel approach(es), questioning prevailing paradigms and leading to the advancement of knowledge in the field of cancer research and clinical care. The Foundation seeks highly innovative and groundbreaking medical research proposals from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in basic biological and applied research that will have the greatest impact on scientific knowledge and human health in cancer. The Foundation seeks to fund one full-scale proposal from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in the amount of $1.5M over three years with a proposed project timeline of January 2026 to December 2028.

2025 Curing Kids Cancer Innovative Research Award

Applications due July 17, 2025

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

Vanderbilt (VU + VUMC, collaboratively) may select one nominee for the Curing Kids Cancer Innovative Research Award. The single nominee may apply in either the Collaborative or Individual program type. The goal of these grants is to overcome barriers to the clinical application of new treatment approaches for childhood cancer. A priority is to fund projects that have already shown great promise, but that have a specific funding need to move forward.

Focus Areas:

• Cancer immunotherapy or targeted therapy
• High-grade brain tumors or other difficult-to-treat pediatric cancers
•  

Epigenetic modifying therapy or gene therapy Applications of novel technologies (e.g. nanotechnology, omics, gene editing, bioinformatics, and AI) in these areas are welcome.

Fall 2025 NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00)

Applications due July 24, 2025

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

Overview

VU and VUMC may each submit one application per scientific focus area to the NCI Pathway to Independence Award for Early-Stage Postdoctoral Researchers (K99/R00) programs. The scientific focus areas are Cancer Data Science, Cancer Control Science, Molecular/Precision Cancer Prevention and Other Cancer Research. There are three separate RFAs, which allow different types of proposed research (e.g. basic, clinical): PAR-23-286, PAR-23-287, and PAR-23-288. Each of VU and VUMC’s four selected applicants (1/focus area) may apply to whichever RFAs best suit their research proposals.

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.

Gates Foundation Grand Challenge: Randomized Controlled Trial on Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and Reproductive Tract Sequelae in Non-Pregnant Women

Applications due July 7

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

American Brain Foundation 2025 Cure One, Cure Many Award in Neuroinflammation

Pre-Proposals due July 15

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

American Brain Foundation 2025 Cure One, Cure Many Award in Lewy Body Dementia

Pre-Proposals due July 15

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

The Allen Foundation, Inc.

Applications due July 15

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

E.W. “Al” Thrasher Awards

Concept Papers due July 15

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

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease

Letter of Intent due July 17

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

BrightFocus Foundation Macular Degeneration Research Grants

LOIs due July 17

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

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

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

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

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