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.

Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research

Applications due June 5, 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 nominate up to two candidates (one per project type) for the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research opportunity. Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation remains committed to funding innovative, translational proposals and to supporting promising independent early-career investigators, rather than well-established, senior scientists. Projects will be funded for a three-year period at $75,000.00 per year (contingent on the submission of acceptable annual progress reports.) As of 2019, the foundation will also accept applications from both Assistant Professors and Associate Professors for *integrative applications only.*

Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship- Translational Immunology (non-cancer)

Applications due June 6, 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 up to two candidates for the 2026 Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award in translational immunology (non-cancer). This program supports individual post-doctoral scientists and instructors 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 or instructor appointment in the field of translational immunology (non-cancer) 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 potential impact and creativity of their proposed future research.

FY26 Susan G Komen Career Transition Award

Applications due June 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 1 nominee for the Susan G. Komen Career Transition Award opportunity. This grant mechanism aims to help outstanding postdoctoral fellows and clinical fellows, working under the guidance of a mentor, launch their competitive, independent breast cancer research careers. Career Transition Awards provide up to five years of funding in two phases: Phase 1 supports the final years of mentored, postdoctoral training; and Phase 2 supports the independent research of the early career, tenure-track investigators.

FY26 Susan G Komen Career Catalyst Research Grant

Applications due June 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 1 nominee for the Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Research grant opportunity. This grant mechanism aims to foster promising breast cancer researchers who are in the early stages of their faculty careers by providing support for up to three years of “protected time” for research career development under the guidance of a Mentor Committee. Career Catalyst Research grants provide up to $150,000 per year (combined direct and indirect costs) for up to three years ($450,000 total).

NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program

Applications due June 18, 2025

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

Vanderbilt University may submit only 2 applications (participating either as Lead or non-lead institution) for the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) Program. This program seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs to develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers.

The NRT Program is dedicated to shaping and supporting highly effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary or convergent research areas through the use of comprehensive traineeship models that are innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs.

Mathers Foundation Grant Program: Fall 2025

Applications due June 26, 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 three letters of intent for the Fall 2025 cycle of the Mathers Foundation grant program. The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation supports basic research with translational potential in areas such as immunology, microbiome, structural biology, cancer, genetics, stem cells, and neuroscience. They fund work that can lead to major advances in scientific understanding and human health. 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.) Grant budgets cannot exceed $600-$700K (including indirect costs capped at 10 percent) over three years.

Les Paul Foundation Grants Program 2025

Applications due June 26, 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 one (1) application per calendar year to the Les Paul Foundation Grants program. The Les Paul Foundation inspires innovative and creative thinking by sharing the legacy of Les Paul through support of music education, recording, innovation, exhibits about Les Paul and medical research related to hearing.

2026 Macy Faculty Scholars Program

Applications due June 27, 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 nominate one candidate each from the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing for the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation’s Faculty Scholars Program. The goal of this career development award is to identify and nurture promising early career educators in medicine and nursing. The program will help develop the next generation of national leaders in medical and nursing education by identifying outstanding educators, physicians, nurses, and role models.

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.

Foundation Fighting Blindness Brint Family Translational Research Award

LOIs due June 12

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

AACR Trailblazer Cancer Research Grants for Early-Stage Investigators

LOIs due June 12

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

AACR Trailblazer Cancer Research Grants for Mid-Career Investigators

LOIs due June 12

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

Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation (MNITF) Research Grant Program

LOIs due June 15

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

Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance AI Accelerator Grant

LOIs due June 18

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

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research Target Grants

Synopsis due June 18

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

NIH Autism Data Science Initiative

LOIs due June 6 (optional), Applications due June 27

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.