Craig H. Neilsen Foundation
Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translational Spectrum (SCIRTS)

Deadline: May 23, 2025, 5 p.m. ET, letter of intent
If invited, full proposal due November 7, 2025, 5 p.m. ET

Funding: Funding for both two- and three-year projects is up to a maximum total cost of $400,000 over the duration of the grant. Budgets may not exceed $200,000 in any year.

Purpose:
The SCIRTS portfolio supports the development of new approaches to restore/enhance function and prevent or alleviate complications that arise after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Research should be designed to demonstrate an improvement in function or clinical decision-making. The inclusion of individuals with SCI in the design of studies to aid the development of research that leads to an improved quality of life is encouraged. Fellowship opportunities are also provided to encourage early-career scientists towards specialization in SCI research.

Eligibility:
The Neilsen Foundation does not recognize co-principal investigators — if two or more
investigators are working together on a research project, name only one as the applicant; the other(s) should be listed as collaborator(s). Collaborators and/or consultants do not need to be affiliated with the same institution as the PI; a subcontract may be used to support a domestic or international collaborator or consultant. Multiple PIs from an institution may submit concurrent, independent applications in a given grant cycle. In such cases, each project must be distinct, with non-overlapping aims. The Neilsen Foundation discourages postdoctoral fellows and their mentor(s) from submitting concurrent applications with overlapping aims to multiple funding categories within this portfolio.

American Cancer Society - Discovery Boost Grants (DBG)

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Funding: Awards are up to $135,000 per year for up to 2 years, plus 10% indirect costs.

Abstract:
Discovery Boost Grants (DBG) support high-risk, high-reward exploratory cancer research across the research continuum. Investigators may focus on developing research methodologies, establishing feasibility or leading pilot tests. It is expected that preliminary data generated from a completed DBG will have the potential to secure additional grant funding to further the research and open new and highly innovative areas for investigation.

Eligibility:

• Have an independent faculty appointment

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American Cancer Society – Research Scholar Grants

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Funding: Up to $215,000 per year (direct costs), plus 10% allowable indirect costs, with a project period up to four years.

Purpose:

• Research Scholar Grants provide support for independent, self-directed researchers.
• Applicants' institutions must provide space and other resources customary for independent investigators.
• Grant proposals are investigator-initiated and may pursue questions across the cancer research continuum, as long as they fit within an American Cancer Society priority research area.
• These grants typically contribute to the cost of salaries, consumable supplies and other miscellaneous items required in the research. 

Eligibility:

• Were first appointed as independent, full-time faculty LESS than 10 years ago
• Are the PI on NO MORE than one R01 or R01-equivalent grant at the time of application

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American Cancer Society – Postdoctoral Fellowship

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Funding:

• Awards are for up to three years with recently increased progressive stipends of $66,000, $68,000 and $70,000 a year.
• Depending on availability of special endowment funds, the American Cancer Society annually selects one or more of the top-ranked fellowships to be supplemented above the standard stipend.
• Fellowship allowances: Fellows will receive $4,000 a year to help defray costs such as health insurance, workshop costs and expenses associated with presenting at a domestic scientific meeting.
• In the last year, an additional $1,500 is added to the fellowship allowance for postdoctoral fellows to attend either the ACS Postdoctoral Fellows Symposium or a domestic scientific meeting.

Purpose:
Postdoctoral Fellowships support new investigators in research training programs to position them for independent careers in cancer research. As part of their evaluation, peer reviewers consider how well the fellowship will broaden the applicant’s research training and experience.

Eligibility:

• Are a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen holding an appropriate visa when you submit your application
• Have had your doctoral degree for LESS than four years; time spent in clinical-only training is not counted.
• Do not have a faculty appointment (e.g., instructor, research assistant professor)

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American Cancer Society – Institutional Research Grants

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Funding: Up to three one-year pilot grants at $40,000 each. IRGs may propose to budget the annual costs ($120,000) to less than three one-year pilot grants if they choose to do so.

Purpose:

• Institutional Research Grants are awarded to institutions as block grants, providing seed money for newly independent investigators to initiate cancer research projects.
• The intent is to support these junior faculty in initiating cancer research projects so they can obtain preliminary results that will enable them to compete successfully for national research grants.

Eligibility:

• Have attained the rank of associate professor or full professor
• Have a track record of mentoring junior investigators and publications
• Have administrative/leadership experience, i.e., deputy director or director of a program, center or department.

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The Helen Way Whitney Foundation

Deadline: Online Application opens April 11, 2025, and closes June 16, 2025 (5 p.m. EDT)

Funding: Around $70,000 per year for three years of funding

Purpose: To attain its goal of increasing the number of imaginative, well-trained and dedicated medical scientists, the foundation grants financial support of sufficient duration to help further the careers of young men and women engaged in biological or medical research.

Eligibility: Applicants are eligible for Helen Hay Whitney postdoctoral fellowships if:

• They have received a PhD (or DPhil or equivalent) degree no more than two years before the application deadline, or an MD (or MD/PhD) degree no more than four years before the deadline.
• They have been employed in their postdoctoral laboratory for no more than one year before the application deadline.

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Enduring Hearts

Deadline: June 17, 2025, 5 p.m. ET, letter of intent
If invited, full proposal due July 28, 2025

Funding: $25,000 to $150,000, including indirect costs less than 5%, for two years.

Purpose: The mission is to fund research to increase longevity and improve the quality of life for pediatric heart transplant recipients.

Concern Foundation

Deadline: Letter of intent opening May 5, 2025; closes 11:59 p.m. on July 25, 2025

Funding: $100,000 per year for a maximum of two years

Career Stage: Assistant professor level

Purpose: By specifically targeting promising early-career scientists and providing critically needed “seed” money for innovative projects, Concern Foundation for Cancer Research supports the development of the next generation of cancer researchers and thus promotes progress in understanding cancer biology and improved approaches to cancer. Proposals must be hypothesis-driven and centered on cancer genetics, cancer biology or cancer immunology. Concern Foundation for Cancer Research will not fund clinical trials, cancer epidemiology or behavioral studies.

Eligibility:
Eligible applicants are independent investigators who are at the start of their scientific career (i.e., junior faculty) and are at the level of assistant professor (or equivalent, with explanation). This means you have been independent in terms of lab space, budget usage, directing your own research, publishing, etc. for between one and seven years. Due to the highly accomplished nature of the junior faculty who typically apply to Concern Foundation for Cancer Research, successful proposals are usually from investigators who have been in their independent position and directing their own research program for more than one year.

A brief letter from the applicant's department chair is required and should attest to 1) the applicant's faculty status and duration or start date, 2) the applicant's status as an independent investigator, including comment on independence in scientific and fiscal decision making and management in the PI’s group, 3) institutional support in terms of independent laboratory space and startup funds, and 4) percent protected time devoted to research as junior faculty.

Priority will be given to proposals from investigators who are well-regarded by their institution and have yet to obtain significant outside funding for their work. An applicant who is a PI with an existing R01 or equivalent is not eligible.

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Wellcome Career Development Awards 

Deadline: July 24, 2025, 5 p.m. BST

This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers who have the potential to be international research leaders. They will develop their research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing.

Funding amount:
You should ask for the resources you need for your research programme. You will need to work with your organisation to justify your request in the context of the support they will provide. The annual expenditure for a Career Development Award is usually below £250,000 excluding the applicant’s salary. Applications above this value will be subject to additional scrutiny.

Funding duration:
Usually 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines and may only be longer if held on a part-time basis.

Career stage: Mid-career researcher

Strategic programme:

• Discovery research
• Climate and health
• Infectious disease
• Mental health

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Wellcome Discovery Awards

Deadline: July 29, 2025

This scheme provides funding for established researchers and teams from any discipline who want to pursue bold and creative research ideas to deliver significant shifts in understanding related to human life, health and wellbeing.

Funding amount:
You should ask for the resources you need for your research programme. You will need to justify this in your application. The average size of a Discovery Award is £3.5 million. Applications above £5 million will be subject to additional scrutiny.

Funding duration:
Awards can be up to 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines, and may be longer if held on a part-time basis. The average duration of a Discovery Award is 7 years, although we have supported awards from 3 to 8 years.

Career stage:

• Established researcher. Coapplicants are accepted.

Strategic programme:

• Discovery research
• Climate and health
• Infectious disease
• Mental health

Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation – LIMITED SUBMISSION

Deadline: August 1, 2025

Funding: $75,000 annually for a period of up to three years. The Foundation will not fund overhead.

Purpose:
The funds are designed to provide to tenure-track faculty members in their first to fourth year, at American institutions, who hold MD and/or PhD degrees, start-up support to move the project forward to the point where R01 or other independent funding can be obtained. Applicants with current R01 funding should not apply.

Institutions may submit one proposal per session. 

How to apply:
Proposals should be submitted via e-mail as a single PDF file to the attention of Becki Blankenship at emjf.org@gmail.com.  

Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation - Prevention

Deadline: September 15, 2025, letter of intent
If invited, full proposal due November 17, 2025

Funding:

• Award amount: Up to $5,000,000 for clinical trials based on stage and scope of research.
• For studies requiring additional support, co-funding from other funding agencies or investors is encouraged. Payment structure will be negotiated and based on milestone achievements and recruitment.
• Average duration: Multi-year.
• Allowable costs: Only direct costs are allowed.

Career Stage: All career stages

Purpose:
The ADDF seeks to support precision prevention studies, combination therapy studies and comparative effectiveness research that probe whether the use or choice of interventions may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Studies that are not in humans will not be considered.

Eligibility:
Industry partnerships are encouraged.
NOTE: Funding is provided through mission-related investments that require return on investment based upon scientific and/or business milestones

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Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation
Neuroimaging and CSF Biomarker Program

Deadline: September 15, 2025, letter of intent
If invited, full proposal due November 17, 2025

Funding: Up to $600,000. Only direct costs are allowed.

Career Stage: All career stages

Purpose:
The aim of this RFP is to further develop and validate established biomarkers for which there is a clear clinical need in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This RFP prioritizes biomarkers with a defined context of use, a clear advantage over other relevant biomarkers, and a path to commercialization and/or clinical use.

Specifically, this RFP focuses on:

• Developing novel PET ligands for clinical trials
• Supporting novel CSF biomarkers
• Validating innovative MRI approaches in larger cohorts
• Developing novel measures of functional activity such as EEG

Eligibility:

• Industry partnerships are encouraged.
• NOTE: Funding is provided through mission-related investments that require return on investment based upon scientific and/or business milestones

Cardiovascular Medical Research and Education Fund
Improving the Treatment of Pulmonary Diseases

Deadline: Rolling

Funding:
Preference will be given to proposals that have budgets below $100,000 and timelines less than two years.

Purpose:
The CMREF mission of the fund is to support educational activities that will enhance the knowledge of pulmonary hypertension and research projects that may help uncover the causes and pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) in pursuit of the ultimate goal of its treatment and cure. The CMREF does not have a formal application process to fund clinical research or educational projects but is always interested in potentially providing full or partial support to initiatives that are novel, innovative or address the spectrum of unmet medical needs related to pulmonary vascular diseases.

Interested parties should submit a letter of intent (maximum of two pages) that describes the project sufficiently so that the Research Advisory Committee can understand the proposed goals and methods. In addition, the letter should mention the length of time of the project and an estimated overall budget.

How to Apply:
To submit your letter, please use the form on this page. Please be sure to fill out all fields and upload your letter before submitting. You can also email your letter directly to Patt Wolfe (executive director) at patt.wolfe@ipahresearch.org.

After you submit your letter, the CMREF will respond within four weeks to inform you if a full application will be requested.

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American Federation for Aging Research
Medical Student Training in Aging Research (MSTAR) Program

Deadline:
Interested students should be in touch directly with the National Training Centers to for the program deadline and application materials.

Funding:
The stipend level is approximately $1,980 per month; actual amounts will vary based on the specific appointment period of individual students. Award period: Eight to 12 weeks.

Purpose:
The MSTAR Program provides medical students with an enriching experience in aging-related research and geriatrics, with the mentorship of top experts in the field. This program introduces students to research and academic experiences early in their training that they might not otherwise have during medical school. Positive experiences in the MSTAR program have led many physicians-in-training to pursue academic careers in aging, ranging from basic science to clinical research to health services research. They have joined the growing cadre of physicians and scientists whose specialized knowledge and skills are in great demand as our population ages.

Students participate in an eight- to twelve-week (or two- to three-month, depending on the training site) structured research, clinical and didactic program in geriatrics, appropriate to their level of training and interests. Research projects are offered in basic, translational, clinical or health services research relevant to older people. Most scholars will do their training and research during the summer months. They will also be invited to submit an abstract to present a poster at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society.

Eligibility

• Any allopathic or osteopathic medical student in good standing, who will have successfully completed one year of medical school at a U.S. institution by June 2024. Evidence of good standing must be provided by the medical school registrar or dean when the student is notified of receiving the award.
• Applicants must be citizens or non-citizen nationals of the United States, or must have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence (i.e., in possession of a currently valid Alien Registration Receipt Card I-551, or some other legal verification of such status). Individuals on temporary or student visas are not eligible. Due to NIA restrictions, individuals holding PhD, MD, DVM or equivalent doctoral degrees in the health sciences are not eligible to apply to do the MSTAR Program.
• Additionally, applicants receiving a stipend or salary support from a federal source are not eligible for this program. Applicants may not hold another award or participate in another program concurrently with the MSTAR program, and must participate in the program full-time for a minimum of eight weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks.

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Infectious Diseases Society of America
Grants for Emerging Researchers/Clinicians Mentorship Program

Career Stage: Medical Students

Amount: Not specified

Deadline: Ongoing

Description
The G.E.R.M. Program was developed to provide grants to medical students to support a longitudinal, mentored clinical learning and/or research project for up to a year on infectious diseases-related topics, including HIV, under the mentorship of an IDSA or HIVMA member. This program replaced the IDSA Medical Scholars and HIVMA Medical Students Programs.

Eligibility

• Graduate students
• Applicants must be medical students (first-, second- or third-year and those in combined degree programs, including MD/MPH and MD/PhD) from an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the U.S.