Foundation Funding

Additional Information:
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health (D4H) Initiative Global Grants Program (GGP) is launching a new round of funding for projects in the area of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) and Data Use.
‍
This funding call includes an optional focus on Digital Strategies for CRVS Systems Strengthening and Data Use. Digital strategies are poised to bridge gaps in global health equity and we welcome applications that also choose to focus on this theme within CRVS and Data Use, including but not limited to the following examples:

• Digitalizing CRVS systems for improved birth and death registration processes
• Establishing interoperability between CRVS systems, health, and/or access to public and private services such as ID
• Well-designed dashboards
• Data portals
• Interactive reports

A successful project must have discrete and measurable deliverables aligned to the objectives of the D4H Initiative:

Strengthening civil registration and vital statistics systems

1. Community-Based Health Management Information System: generation of maternal and neonatal mortality data to improve policy action to reduce perinatal deaths Improving Access to Legal Gender Recognition for Trans People in Bulgaria
2. Utility-driven data quality assessment of routinely collected Sexual and Reproductive Health indicators in Liberia

Using public health data for policy development and program planning

1. Improving Nigeria's capacity to Use Data on Registered Stillbirths for Health Systems Strengthening & Decision Making
2. Analysis of integrated data on injuries from motor vehicle crash and violence for the design of comprehensive prevention strategies

Cancer registration

1. Work related to gender dimensions of population-based cancer registration

Countries that have been or are already part of the D4H Initiative are not eligible to apply. A list of those countries is located on the funder website.

Specific application details can be found on the Foundation’s website or by contacting Melissa Anderson at ande2476@msu.edu

Learn More about Bloomberg Philanthropies: Civil Registration and Vital Statistics and Data Use

Additional Information:

The Hillman Emergent Innovation program provides grants to accelerate the development of bold, nursing-driven interventions that improve the health and healthcare of marginalized populations. ??These populations include Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), the economically disadvantaged, LGBTQ+ people, people experiencing homelessness, rural populations, immigrant and refugee populations and other groups that encounter obstacles to receiving quality care in the United States.

The Foundation seeks proposals for innovative, early stage nursing-driven interventions that:

• Challenge conventional strategies for delivering and improving care to marginalized populations in the United States
• Demonstrate potential as a best-in-class intervention
• Narrow gaps in health equity

The Foundation will not consider:

• White papers, literature reviews, or support for publishing
• Basic science or research
• Capital projects or improvements
• Training programs
• Development of stand-alone technology including medical devices and mobile apps not integral to the overall design of the program
• Projects outside the United States and its territories

There are two tracks within this RFP:

Hillman Emergent Innovations (HEI): Up to (5) grants awarded each cycle to accelerate the development of bold, early stage (untested or minimal-evidence) interventions.

Hillman Emergent Innovations: Serious Illness and End of Life Care (HSEI):  Up to (10) grants awarded each cycle to accelerate the development of bold, early stage (untested or minimal-evidence) interventions focused on serious illness and end of life care.

Eligibility:

• Hillman welcomes applications from institutions and care settings across the spectrum of care, and from practitioners representing a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Health professionals and researchers outside of nursing may apply. A nurse (e.g., clinical nurse, nurse practitioner, nurse researcher, nurse midwife, etc.) must be a PI, co-PI, or co-lead on the proposed intervention.
• Also see FAQs and recent Grantees for additional info on eligibility and fit.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation – Emergent Innovation Grants

Link to Opportunity: https://www.afar.org/grants/gfmrdiscovery

Additional Information:

This Award was created to support research projects with strong potential to develop pioneering discoveries for understanding the underlying biological mechanisms that govern normal human aging and its related physiological decline. Projects that characterize aging as a disease, or that focus on specific diseases are discouraged unless the research plan provides direct connections to the biology of aging and/or the prospect of a translational discovery relevant to improving human healthspan.

Relevant proposals from any branch of biology are eligible. Investigators who may not have previously worked in the area of aging, but whose research interests and expertise are relevant and could lead to discoveries in understanding the biology of normal aging are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility:

• Must be a full-time faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher at the time of the LOI deadline.
• To be competitive at the Assistant Professor level, a candidate would be expected to have established R01 or equivalent funding.
• Must have a strong record of independent publication beyond the postdoctoral level.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about AFAR/Glenn Foundation for Medical Research – Discovery Award – Biology of Aging

Additional Information:

The HHMI Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program is a transformational award for early career researchers who show exceptional promise of becoming outstanding leaders in academic science, making foundational discoveries while building an inclusive scientific culture.

Fellows receive funding for their postdoctoral training and during their early years as independent faculty. In addition to financial support, Hanna Gray Fellows join the vibrant multigenerational HHMI community, where fellows learn with experts and each other how to build healthy research environments that are creative, bold, inclusive, and effective.

HHMI’s programs are focused on basic biological and biomedical sciences. Non-laboratory based research, including health services research, clinical outcomes research, human behavioral studies, and human epidemiology are not supported. Ecology and environmental studies are not supported.

Eligibility:

• Basic science researcher or physician-scientist (PhD and/or MD, or equivalent) in the biological and biomedical sciences in the scientific disciplines that HHMI supports. See List of Scientific Disciples.
• Fellows must commit 75% of total effort to research in a postdoctoral training position by the grant start date.
• Fellows must have no more than 24 months of postdoctoral research experience by the application start date.
• Additional eligibility criteria apply – see full RFP for details and eligibility quiz.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about HHMI – Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program

Additional Information:

*Note the short turnaround time, but the first step is a 2-page LOI (no budget required). There will also be another cycle in 2025 with LOIs due in September.

The Alzheimer's Association works to identify and fund a wide range of the most promising grant projects, from basic discovery science to studies addressing social and behavioral aspects of Alzheimer's and related dementias. The Association supports projects in several categories:

• Social and Behavioral Research
• Clinical Investigations
• Basic Biology
• Cognitive/Functional
• Computational, Secondary, and Existing Human Data Analyses

Grant Programs:

• Alzheimer’s Association Research Fellowship and Research Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AARF and AARF-D) - $200K
  • Targeting postdoc, instructor-level researchers up to 10 years from terminal degree.

• Alzheimer’s Association Clinician Scientist Fellowship and Clinician Scientist Fellowship to Promote Diversity (AACSF and AACSF-D) - $250K
  • Targeting individuals with clinical service and licensure (M.D., D.O., Ph.D.) up to 15 years from terminal degree.

• Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant and Research Grant to Promote Diversity (AARG and AARG-D) - $200K
  • Targeting independent investigators (assistant or associate professors) up to 15 years from terminal degree.

Learn More about Alzheimer’s Association Research Grants – Spring 2025 Program (Several)

Additional Information: 

The US-Israel BSF aims to make a positive contribution to the development of climate solutions through cross-disciplinary, collaborative research projects between the two countries. This initiative envisages a bi-annual call for cross-disciplinary proposals that advance climate solutions' conceptualization, development and/or implementation. The new initiative focuses on how aspects of climate related processes can be offset by novel technologies, regulations, policy etc. Examples of such processes are:  

1. Atmosphere (e.g. carbon dioxide capture, methane emissions, hurricane preparedness, climate change, extreme weather etc.)  
2. Earth (salt intrusion; rivers, estuaries and marshlands; coastal erosion; droughts; arid ecosystems; alternative energy sources (wind, solar); deforestation etc.)  
3. Ocean (alternative energy sources (tidal, wave); coral bleaching; biodiversity and biogeography; food web structures; ocean acidification etc.).  

BSF invites 5-page preproposals of cross-disciplinary, US-Israel collaborative studies that develop transformative concepts and ideas toward climate solutions. These ideas/concepts address the impacts of climate change on the natural environment as well as on human populations, their distributions, and economic activities. Preproposals that do not describe collaboration across at least two major disciplines will be returned without review. This call for pre-proposals is inclusive of all programs that are eligible for BSF funding and does not invite studies that address topics of agricultural interest. 

Specific application details can be found on the Foundation’s website or by contacting Allison Jones at jonesa70@msu.edu. 

Learn More about Rainforest Alliance - Kleinhans Fellowship for Community Forestry Research

Additional Information:

The mission of the Alternatives Research & Development Foundation (ARDF) is to fund and promote the development, validation, and adoption of non-animal methods in biomedical research, product testing, and education. ARDF's Annual Open grant program was established to fund research projects that develop alternative methods to advance science and replace or reduce animal use.

Proposals are evaluated based on scientific merit and feasibility, and the potential to reduce or replace the use of animals in the near future. Proposals are considered across the fields of research, testing, or education. Preferential consideration will be given to proposals that utilize in vitro or in silico methods with human cells or data.

For more information, please contact Jess Bitting bitting7@msu.edu

Learn More about Alternatives Research & Development Foundation – Alternative Methods to Replace or Reduce Animal Use

Additional Information:

The International OCD Foundation makes annual grant awards to research scientists seeking to advance scientific understanding of OCD and related disorders, improve existing therapies, and discover new and more effective treatments.

2025 Topic of Interest: Increasing Access to Treatment for All. The Foundation is particularly interested in proposals related to improving access to treatment for underserved and underrepresented groups, such as rural communities, people with lower socioeconomic status, and racial, ethnic, and sexual minority groups. While this is the Topic of Interest for the 2025 Research Grant Program, suitable proposals for other OCD and related disorders topics will also be considered.

Grant Types and Eligibility:

Innovator Award: Will support senior researchers pursuing high-impact research into OCD. The goal of the Innovator Award is to support research with the potential to revolutionize scientific understanding of OCD, accelerate progress toward new and more effective treatments, and discover ways to prevent OCD from taking hold in the first place.

Applicants must have at least five years of research experience following the completion of their terminal degree. Eligible research projects must investigate topics in the field of OCD, with a focus on finding a cure for OCD. These may include prevention (i.e., keeping OCD from taking hold) and treatment (i.e., effectively achieving significant reduction in symptoms or remission). 

Young Investigator Awards: Will support promising young investigators who are developing their careers while pursuing creative and impactful research projects on OCD and related disorders across a range of disciplines. To be eligible for funding, researchers must be investigating OCD and related disorders (OCD, including pediatric OCD; PANS/PANDAS; hoarding disorder; body dysmorphic disorder; or body focused repetitive behaviors). Eligible applicants must be current graduate students or must have completed their residency or their PhD (or equivalent) on or after September 1, 2020.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about International OCD Foundation – Research Grant Awards

Additional Information:

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is soliciting proposals through its ASPIRE Award program, specifically targeting projects focused on intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and cancer. Proposals should aim to enhance understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IDP functions in tumor initiation, development, and progression. Additionally, projects may explore the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of IDPs, including the development of innovative methods to target these complex proteins, thereby leveraging their untapped potential in cancer treatment.

Program Scope and Eligibility:

• Proposed projects must address intrinsically disordered proteins (or intrinsically disordered regions within proteins) and cancer, with a particular focus on understanding the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms of IDPs in cancer progression.
• Technology development for studying IDPs may be in scope, but the connection to cancer biology must be clear.
• Projects focused on ordered regions within an otherwise largely disordered protein are ineligible.
• Drug discovery projects are not a fit for this program. Developing or expanding methods for targeting IDPs may be part of the experimental plan, but screening campaigns (experimental and virtual) and lead optimization of existing compounds against known targets are not in scope.
• Principle Investigators must be independent researchers at their respective institutions.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about Mark Foundation for Cancer Research – ASPIRE Award – Intrinsically Disordered Proteins and Cancer

Additional Information: 

Founded by Dr. Eva Crane, the Trust is committed to advancing global research and understanding in bee science and beekeeping. We aim to foster innovative projects and collaborations that explore and expand knowledge in apiology, beekeeping practices, and the historical significance of bees. 

Central to our mission is the promotion of knowledge-sharing for the benefit of science and the public. Our Trustees periodically review and revise the application process to ensure the Trust continues to support impactful apicultural research, events, and publications. 

Objectives of the Trust: 

• Advancement of Apiology: Support the science of bee research. 
• Public Benefit: Promote, finance, and organize bee research projects that serve public interests. 

Applicants must choose one of the following forms: 

• Science 
• Citizen Science 
• Events 
• Books 

For more information, please contact Allison Jones jonesa70@msu.edu

Learn More about Dr. Eva Crane Trust – Research Grants

Additional Information:

Simons SFARI – Autism Rat Models Consortium 2.0 intends to recharge and extend a consortium of researchers using rats as an experimental system to advance our understanding of the behavioral and circuit neuroscience mechanisms underlying autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).

Proposals are expected to utilize SFARI rat models (additional rat models generated elsewhere may be added if relevant to autism/NDD) to conduct in-depth behavioral and/or circuit analyses to further understand mechanisms underlying autism and NDD. Competitive applications will utilize the rat’s advantages as a highly trainable species innately capable of expressing varied, complex behavior.

SFARI is interested in a diversity of relevant functional domains—from sensorimotor to cognitive, sleep to social/affective functioning and beyond. Proposals directly comparing phenotypes across rats and other species with mutations in the same genes are within scope for this RFA.

Regardless of the domain(s) of focus, applicants should consider framing hypotheses from genes to circuits to behavior. Applicants are encouraged to examine the developmental trajectory of the behavioral and circuit phenotypes they plan to study, particularly as the larger size of rats relative to mice makes such studies more feasible.

SFARI will offer two tracks within this RFA: Explorer and Collaboration. Applicants should select the track that best matches the maturity and goals of their research project, as review criteria will be appropriately adapted for each track.

The Explorer Track is especially suited for those who have experience studying rat models but are new to studying autism/NDD and/or are focused on a functional domain or question that is not well represented in existing consortium projects. Explorer projects are meant to support individual labs or small collaborative groups. For Explorer track applications, preliminary data in autism/NDD-relevant rat models is not required.

The Collaboration Track is appropriate for multi-lab collaborative projects that are based on existing work in autism/NDD-relevant rat models. For the Collaboration track, applications should build upon previous work in autism/NDD-relevant rat models (whether SFARI-funded or otherwise).

Eligibility:

• All applicants and key collaborators must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or the equivalent at a college, university, medical school, or other research facility.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about Simons SFARI – Autism Rat Models Consortium 2.0

Additional Information:

The LCRF grants program provides funding for research into the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure of lung cancer. Funding mechanisms are designed to support innovative projects across a variety of diverse topics and to support the careers of talented scientists across career stages.

LCRF | Bayer Research Award on Innovative Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Lung Cancers Harboring HER2 Mutations and/or Other HER2 Alterations ($500K):

This grant mechanism will focus on the science behind HER2 alterations as oncogenic drivers of malignancy and/or the development of novel therapeutic approaches for patients with tumors harboring HER2 mutations and/or other HER2 alterations. The proposal must: (1) be associated with a clinical trial either ongoing or planned; (2) have a program of basic and/or translational work associated with the clinical trial; (3) include studies in patients with HER2 mutations/alterations; (4) include a patient/patient advocate as part of the research team.

Eligibility

Investigators must be affiliated with a non-profit, academic or research institution. An applicant must have a postdoctoral or clinical research fellow appointment and/or a faculty position and may have any level of research experience. For full details and eligibility criteria see RFP.

Leading Edge Research Grant ($150K)

LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program is to fund innovative projects across the full spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, health services, early detection, disparities, and social determinants of health research – including but not limited to the following topics:

• Lung cancer biology
• Identification of new biomarkers
• Machine learning and digital pathology
• Development of more effective and less toxic therapies including but not limited to targeted and immune-therapies
• Genetic and gene-environment interactions
• Interactions and contributions of multiple factors (e.g. smoking, genetics, environment, societal factors) to disparities in lung cancer outcomes
• Mechanism of Antibody Drug Conjugates
• Novel approaches to immunotherapy such as bispecific antibodies, vaccines, cellular therapies, etc.
• Bioengineering approaches to understanding and/or treating lung cancer (i.e., theranostics, biomaterials, nanotechnology, controlled-drug release, and gene therapy)
• Supportive measures for people with lung cancer and their families, such as palliative care and telemedicine
• Identification of metabolic vulnerabilities in lung cancer

Eligibility

Investigators must be post-doctoral researchers, clinical fellows, or early-career and mid-career investigators with less than ten years’ experience since their initial faculty appointment. For full details and eligibility criteria see RFP.

Research Grant on Prevention and Early Detection in Lung Cancer ($150K)

This funding mechanism is focused on identifying, characterizing, and developing approaches and techniques that will allow early detection and/or risk reduction of lung cancer and gaining insight into pre-neoplastic processes in the lungs. Work supported through this mechanism addresses important questions in non-small cell and small cell lung cancer.

Research Grant on Overcoming Resistance in Lung Cancer ($150K):

This grant mechanism will support projects that seek to identify, characterize, treat or prevent resistance to lung cancer therapies. Work supported through this mechanism will address important mechanistic questions and developmental therapeutics across histological subtypes of lung cancer (including lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and small cell lung cancer) and across the care continuum including newly designed targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

Eligibility

Investigators must be post-doctoral researchers, clinical fellows, or early-career and mid-career investigators with less than ten years’ experience since their initial faculty appointment. For full details and eligibility criteria see RFP.

Minority Career Development Award (CDA) in Lung Cancer ($150K)

The LCRF Minority Career Development Award (CDA) for Lung Cancer supports minority postdoctoral/clinical fellows and assistant professors within 10 years of completing their MD and/or PhD degrees. The foundation encourages applications on a wide variety of topics including but not limited to the following:

• Lung cancer biology
• Risk reduction and screening for early detection
• Identification of new biomarkers
• Development of more effective and less toxic therapies including but not limited to targeted and immune therapies
• Genetic and gene-environment interactions
• Interactions and contributions of multiple factors (e.g. smoking, genetics, environment, societal factors) to disparities in lung cancer outcomes
• Mechanisms of sensitivity and resistance to lung cancer therapies
• Bioengineering approaches to understanding and/or treating lung cancer (i.e., theranostics, biomaterials, nanotechnology, controlled-drug release, and gene-therapy)
• Supportive measures for people with lung cancer and their families
• Identification of metabolic vulnerabilities in lung cancer
• Real world data to discover where and why disparities exist, to fill gaps for new drugs’ approval, or to create eligibility criteria that reflect patient community that will use the drugs
• Access to reliable and affordable biomarker testing, quality care, appropriate treatment options

Eligibility

Investigators must be post-doctoral researchers, clinical fellows, or early-career and mid-career investigators with less than ten years’ experience since their initial faculty appointment. Investigators must be from racial or ethnic groups that are underrepresented in health-related sciences and biomedical research. For full details and eligibility criteria see RFP.

Learn More about Lung Cancer Research Foundation – 2025 Grants Program (Several)

Additional Information:

The Dresner Foundation established the MDS Research Fund (MDSRF) to advance the understanding and treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and related blood disorders (such as MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) overlap syndromes, secondary acute myeloid leukemia following MDS, idiopathic cytopenia of undetermined significance (ICUS), or clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP)). The fund will expand the foundation’s investments in support of cutting-edge MDS research and related programs that will lead to the future standards of care and ultimately cure. The fund will facilitate the advancement of innovative basic science, translational or clinical research. The supporting institution must be based in the United States.

The foundation will accept proposals of two types:

• Early Career Awards: An eligible investigator is someone who has completed their terminal doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent) or end of post-graduate clinical training (fellowship), whichever date is later, within the past 10 years and who has not yet secured independent funding in the form of an NIH R01 or equivalent (a single award of $200,000/year or more). Instructor or equivalent positions will not be considered as part of the terminal degree.

• Established Investigator Awards: Eligible investigators who don’t qualify as Early Career investigators, or applicants who have previously received an Early Career Award from the Foundation.

Those with interest should carefully review the grant guidelines at: https://www.dresnerfoundation.org/mdsrf-research-guidelines/

For more information, please contact Larry Wallach at wallach@msu.edu. 

Learn More about Dresner Foundation--Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) & Related Research

Additional Information:

To encourage innovation in research that enables the detection of the deadliest cancers at earlier stages when they can be intercepted or effectively treated, the Mark Foundation, in partnership with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the Lustgarten Foundation will fund Early Detection Awards focused on accelerating the development of effective new approaches to the early detection of cancer.

Eligible Cancer Types:

• Pancreatic cancer
• Hepatobiliary cancers (hepatocellular carcinoma, gallbladder and bile duct cancers, cholangiocarcinoma)
• Ovarian cancer
• Glioblastoma
• Upper GI cancers (esophageal, gastric cancer)
• Cancers resulting from hereditary cancer predisposition syndromes

Ideas that are broadly applicable to early detection across multiple cancer types are encouraged, including the development of novel clinical trial statistical methodologies that aim to assess the validity of early detection biomarkers.

Eligibility

• Proposed research projects must be designed to advance the discovery, technical development, and pre-clinical validation of effective approaches and methods for early cancer detection, or the early clinical evaluation of treatment for pre-malignant disease.
• Projects focused on cancer prevention rather than early cancer detection and diagnosis are not in the scope of this RFP.
• One or more of the cancer types listed above must be the primary focus of the proposal.
• Applicants must have an independent faculty research appointment at a non-profit academic, research, or medical institution.
• Investigators may apply as a team of two to four investigators (one Principal Investigator and up to three co-investigators). Teams may comprise investigators from a single institution or multiple institutions.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about Mark Foundation for Cancer Research – Early Detection Award

Additional Information:
Health Policy Research Scholars (HPRS) is a four-year national leadership development program for full-time doctoral students from a wide range of nonclinical, research-focused disciplines in which policy is a key lever for change. HPRS builds on RWJF’s vision of leadership as a dynamic, transformative, relational process of change aimed at repairing damage from historical and structural injustices and oppression. The program is for doctoral students who are deeply committed to research that works to advance antiracism and structural change work aligned with the health needs of the most impacted communities. HPRS supports researchers from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with lived experiences of inequity, marginalization, and oppression.

HPRS offers training in the health policy process, approaches to systems change, and how to craft an actionable research question that can inform solutions to health inequity—as well as mentorship and career and leadership coaching.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must be starting full-time, second-year doctoral studies in a research-based program in fall 2025 at a degree-granting institution based in the United States or its territories. Applicants must remain full-time doctoral students while enrolled in HPRS; 
• Applicants must have at least three academic years remaining in their doctoral program and not expect to graduate before spring/summer 2028; 
• Applicants must be from marginalized backgrounds, and be able to describe how their background, identity, or lived experiences have positioned them to contribute to the goals of the program. 
• Applicants cannot be a recipient of a national fellowship program that prohibits participation in additional programs such as HPRS. Applicants should make sure to check the policies of other fellowships;   
• Applicants must be at least 21 years old as of September 1, 2025; 
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the time of application. 

Specific application details can be found on the Foundation’s website or by contacting Melissa Anderson at ande2476@msu.edu

Learn More about Robert Wood Johnson Foundation – Health Policy Research Scholars

Additional Information:

BBRF Young Investigator Grants enable promising investigators to either extend research fellowship training or begin careers as independent research faculty. The goal of the program is to help researchers launch careers in neuroscience and psychiatry and gather pilot data to apply for larger federal and university grants.

The program is intended to facilitate innovative research opportunities and support basic, as well as translational and/or clinical investigators. All research must be relevant to the understanding, treatment and prevention of serious psychiatric disorders such as: schizophrenia; bipolar; mood and anxiety disorders or early onset brain and behavior disorders.  In addition to supporting the full range of relevant neurobiological and psychobiological basic science, BBRF also supports clinical science, which can include careful studies using qualitative research approaches or research generating preliminary data to explore a new hypothesis generated by clinical experience or large sample studies.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must have a doctoral level degree (e.g., MD, PhD, PsyD, PharmD, DO, DVM, etc.) and already be employed in research training or a faculty research position.
• The Young Investigator Grant is intended to support advanced postdoctoral fellows, instructors and assistant professors (or equivalent). Anyone who has served, or is serving, as a principal investigator (PI) on a NIH R01 grant or the equivalent is not eligible.
• Investigators at the rank of associate professor or equivalent are also not eligible.
• Applicants may only apply twice for an initial BBRF Young Investigator Grant.
• See RFP for additional eligibility details.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jurgens at jurgensh@msu.edu

Learn More about Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) – Young Investigator Grants

Additional Information:
The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) is issuing a call for research proposals to investigate the health outcomes of pet ownership and/or animal-assisted interventions (AAI), both for the people and the animals involved. Proposals should have a strong theoretical framework and focus on innovative approaches to studying the positive effects of companion animals on human health.

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

·       Pet Ownership & Community Health: Research emphasizes pet ownership's vital role in enhancing health and well-being for people, pets, and communities.

·       Broad Human-Animal Bond Studies: Covers health impacts on child development, aging, mental, and physical health across large populations.

·       Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAI): Examines human health outcomes of AAI in professional, volunteer, and educational settings, aiming to improve practices.

·       Translational Studies: Focus on creating actionable advice for policymakers, veterinarians, and pet owners to support the human-animal bond.

·       Clinical Implications: Studies offer guidance for health practitioners supporting pet owners and animal-assisted interventions.

·       Public Health Impact: Explores how pet ownership helps with issues like anxiety, loneliness, trauma, obesity, and cardiovascular health.

·       Diverse Populations: Highlights pet support for well-being in diverse or underrepresented populations.

·       Veterinary Medicine: Examines how the human-animal bond affects care quality, access, and veterinary team well-being.

·       Variety of Pet Species: Research spans multiple species, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses, and fish.

·       International Perspectives: Investigates health outcomes of pet ownership and AAI across cultures and under-represented communities globally.

For more information, please contact Melissa Anderson at ande2476@msu.edu 

Learn More about Human Animal Bond Research institute – Addressing Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction

Additional Information:
The Evidence and Evaluation team aims to identify, evaluate, and scale evidence-based solutions targeting the nation’s most pressing social problems. This funding targets the first two phases of that goal – identifying and evaluating potential solutions – and is geared toward studies examining the causal effects of a policy, program, or intervention that aligns with key AV policy areas.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) aims to bolster the knowledge base about potentially effective policies, programs, and interventions by funding researchers to conduct rigorous, causal research using quasi experimental methods. Studies that will advance the knowledge base within higher education, career education and training, infrastructure, contraceptive choice and access, and public finance:

Higher Education: The Higher Education initiative seeks to identify and scale policies, programs, and practices that improve student success and address equity gaps. Projects funded under this RFP will help build credible evidence about ‘what works’ in higher education to improve outcomes, including but not limited to retention, persistence, successful transfer, degree or certificate completion, job placement, post-college earnings, and loan repayment. More details on this initiative are provided here.

Career Education and Training: The Career Education and Training initiative seeks to identify and expand programs and policies that improve access to good jobs, meaningful careers, and economic mobility, with a focus on pathways other than a traditional college degree. Projects responding to this RFP will help build policy relevant evidence for promising program models and policies that improve student outcomes, with a focus on equitable access to, and success in, career pathways that contain high-quality jobs and provide opportunities for advancement. 

Contraceptive Choice and Access: The Contraceptive Choice and Access initiative aims to close the gaps in contraceptive affordability and access. Projects responding to this RFP will estimate the impact of existing federal or state policies on availability and affordability of birth control, particularly for populations facing the most significant barriers. Relevant policies targeting affordability include public and private insurance coverage standards and federal/state family planning funding streams. Policies targeting practical access issues may explore 2alternative delivery channels (e.g. over the counter, pharmacist prescribed, mobile units, vending machines), healthcare workforce/staffing issues, and integration of family planning services in primary care settings. More details on this initiative are provided here.

Infrastructure: The Infrastructure initiative seeks to bolster U.S. capacity to build infrastructure faster, better, and at a lower cost. Projects responding to this RFP will expand the knowledge base of ‘what works’ when building infrastructure in the United States at any level of government, such as improving the permitting process, reducing regulatory barriers, and increasing state capacity. Specific areas of interest include housing, transportation, climate, and clean energy. Within these areas, the initiative is particularly interested in supporting evaluations of recent state and local policy reforms, including studies of early-stage outcomes. More details on this initiative are provided here.

Public Finance: The Public Finance initiative seeks to advance tax and budget policies that both promote fiscal stability in government and advance Americans’ economic opportunity, mobility, and security. Specific areas of interest for this RFP include program integrity (reducing waste, fraud, and abuse and improving tax administration) and federal tax policy (especially with regard to the Child Tax Credit, place-based policies, taxation of high-net-worth individuals, and international taxation). Broadly, projects under this RFP will help us answer questions like “are tax and benefit programs efficiently achieving their intended effects?” and “what is the return on investment to the government for interventions aimed at preventing waste, fraud, and abuse in tax and benefit programs?” More details on this initiative are provided here.

The average grant amount in previous programs has been $250-500K. Requests over $500K may take additional time to be considered by the foundation. Specific application details can be found on the Foundation’s website or by contacting Melissa Anderson at ande2476@msu.edu 

Learn More about Arnold Ventures: Support for QEDs to Evaluate Social Programs and Policies

Additional Information:
The Evidence and Evaluation team aims to identify, evaluate, and scale evidence-based solutions targeting the nation’s most pressing social problems. One of the strongest tools in the evidence-building toolkit is the randomized controlled trial (RCT). While not applicable to all policy and program contexts, RCTs are often the strongest choice for evaluating social programs because they fairly compare results between a treatment group and a control group, making it clear whether the program or policy truly works. This strong evidence can be important for informing decision-makers and stakeholders to support effective programs.

 

This Request for Proposals (RFP) aims to build the body of proven, effective policies, programs, and interventions by funding researchers to conduct rigorous RCTs across the spectrum of social policy.

 

AV is not interested in funding research for research’s sake; they are interested in supporting relevant, rigorous work that can ultimately inform decisions and improve the lives of kids and families in American communities. To that end, we have a few criteria that outline the research most likely to hit our sweet spot. When working on a letter of interest (LOI), the foundationasks that interested partners address the following: policy relevance, study design, and implementation feasibility.

This call is looking to address:

•  Research on a program, policy, or intervention being tested in the United States

•  Clear description of how the program, policy, or intervention is relevant to specific policymakers in the United States.

•  Demonstration of how the research project has the potential to inform or influence policy/practice at the local, state, and/or federal level

•  Local, state, and/or federal policy levers available to support scaling of this intervention if it is found to be effective (e.g. funding streams or regulatory changes)

 

The average grant amount in previous programs has been $250K.

Specific application details can be found on the Foundation’s website or by contacting Melissa Anderson at ande2476@msu.edu

Learn More about Arnold Ventures: Support for RCTs to Evaluate Social Programs and Policies

Additional Information:

Damon Runyon views cancer research very broadly, including the full spectrum of basic questions important to normal human biology and carcinogenesis, as well as the development of new platforms and technologies. The Foundation encourages all theoretical and experimental research relevant to the study of cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies and prevention including molecular approaches to cancer prevention for inherited cancers.

This includes research in the areas of molecular biology, genetics, genomics, cell biology, immunology, model organisms, microbiology, virology, systems biology, structural biology, neuroscience, aging, chemistry, chemical biology, organic synthesis, physics and quantitative biology – in addition to others. See current projects to get a sense of the broad spectrum of research funded.

Eligibility:

Applicants must have completed one or more of the following degrees or its equivalent: MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DDS, DVM, DO.

• Level 1: Basic and physician-scientists must have received their degrees no more than 18 months prior to the application deadline date. Applicants must not have been in their Sponsors' labs for more than one year prior to the application deadline date and are expected to devote 100% of their time to Damon Runyon-supported research activities.

• Level 2: Physician-scientist applicants (MD, MD/PhD, DDS, DVM, DO or the equivalent) must have completed their residencies and clinical training, must be board eligible in the United States at the start date of the Damon Runyon Fellowship, and be able to devote at least 80% of their time to Damon Runyon-supported research activities. Applicants may apply at any time prior to their initial assistant professorship appointment (or equivalent); postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows and clinical instructors are eligible to apply.

Only one fellowship application will be accepted from a Sponsor or Fellow per review session; there is no limit, however, to the number of applications from an institution.

Postdoctoral training in the same institution in which the applicant received their degree is discouraged, particularly if it is in the same department. Proposals to continue training in the laboratory where the applicant received their PhD will not be considered. Proposals that are direct extensions of graduate work will not be funded.

Learn More about Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation – Fellowship Award