Limited and External Funding Opportunities

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  • 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

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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

Full internal call

  • Click on "View Full Internal Call" at end of each LSO description to access PDF with internal submission instructions 

NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (BP BRAIN-ENDURE) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Applications due November 5, 2024

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 application to the NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (BP BRAIN-ENDURE) program. The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research.

SebastianStrong Foundation Discovery Science Award

Applications due November 6, 2024

 

VUMC: These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

VUMC can select two candidates for the 2025 SebastianStrong Foundation Discovery Science Award. The SebastianStrong Foundation is committed to raising awareness about and finding less toxic cures for pediatric cancers. SebastianStrong funds cutting-edge, peer-reviewed pediatric research projects in early stages. The Foundation believes in supporting bold ideas that use innovative methodologies and out-of-the-box approaches in the quest for less toxic cures.

SebastianStrong’s 2025 Discovery Science Award will be awarded to an individual or team of researchers whose proposal is focused primarily on pediatric cancers in general, or a specific pediatric cancer without a high survival rate or one with a low survival rate upon relapse.

W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program

Applications due November 6, 2024

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 proposals, one in Medical Research and one in Science and Engineering, for the W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program. We are currently soliciting concept papers, which will be considered for presentation to the Keck Foundation in early CY 2025. The goal of the program is to benefit humanity by supporting work that has a distinctive and novel approach, questions a prevailing paradigm, or has the potential to break open new territory in a field. Grants are typically awarded for roughly $1,200,000 to $1,300,000 over three years. Indirect costs are not allowed. Abstracts from previously funded proposals can be found here. 

NIH Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Applications due November 7, 2024

 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 application to the NIH Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity program. The NIH Research Education Program supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this ARC UE5 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, for example those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences (see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity), to pursue further studies or careers in research.

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

Applications due November 12, 2024

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.

The objective of the NCI Pathway to Independence Award is to help postdoctoral researchers complete needed, mentored training and transition in a timely manner to independent tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions. The program will provide independent NCI research support during this transition to help awardees to launch competitive, independent research careers. The K99/R00 award is intended to foster the development of a creative, independent research program that will be competitive for subsequent independent funding and that will help advance the mission of the NCI.

This program is designed for postdoctoral fellows with research and/or clinical doctoral degrees who do not require extended periods of mentored research training beyond their original doctoral degrees before transitioning to research independence. Researchers in the scientific areas of cancer control, cancer prevention and cancer data sciences are especially encouraged to apply.

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation - 2025 Clinical Investigator Award

Applications due November 13, 2024

VUMC:  These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu

VUMC may nominate five candidates for the 2025 Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Clinical Investigator Award. The award supports independent young physician-scientists conducting disease-oriented research that demonstrates a high level of innovation and creativity. The goal is to support the best young physician-scientists doing work aimed at improving the practice of cancer medicine. The award provides $600,000 over three years, and the foundation will retire up to $100,000 of medical school debt owed by the awardee. Indirect costs are not allowed.

The Clinical Investigator Award program is specifically intended to provide outstanding young physicians with the resources and training structure essential to becoming successful clinical investigators, capable of moving seamlessly between the laboratory and the patient’s bedside in search of breakthrough treatments. 

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Foundation 2025 Young Investigator Award

Applications due November 14, 2024

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 for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Foundation Young Investigator Award (YIA) for 2025. These awards provide $150,000 over a two-year period for promising young investigators across a broad range of oncology specialties and areas of interest. In addition to the $150,000 award, awardees will be provided up to $575 for travel to attend the 2028 NCCN Annual Conference. 

The Foundation invites proposals from early career investigators with innovative ideas and an interest in improving the quality, effectiveness, equity, and accessibility of care provided to cancer patients. A primary focus of the award is to identify and fund top investigators in the early stages of their careers interested in participating and contributing to cancer research.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund: Climate + Health Excellence (CHEX) Centers

Applications due November 21, 2024

VUMC: These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigatorsshould apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

Overview

VUMC may submit one proposal to the Burroughs Wellcome Fund: Climate + Health Excellence (CHEX) Centers fundingopportunity.

This is a new institutional research and training opportunity that will help institutions bridge the gaps between fields that will have important roles to play in understanding the impacts of climate change on human health and diminishing their effects. This grant will support new discovery toward defining the health impacts of climate change, developing potential interventions, translating discovery science into practical application, and outward-facing work that can help public understanding of Climate + Health or strengthen connections between research and communities whose health has been harmed by climate change. The goal of the sponsor is to help these Centers of Excellence achieve their strategic goals by supporting activities that help build stable collaborations between people, departments, and institutions.  The CHEX awards will provide up to $2,000,000 a year for five years. The sponsor anticipates that up to three awards will be made over two rounds of applications.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Innovation Partnerships Program

Applications due December 5, 2024

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 submit 2 applications to the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Innovation Partnerships Program. The Innovation Partnerships Program is structured to build stronger relationships between university members and ORAU collaborators by focusing on research and education topics that align well with ORAU’s expertise and current priorities. Innovation Partnerships grants provide up to $4,000 (indirect costs not allowed) to support an in-person or virtual event that involves participants from more than one ORAU member institution, including students. 

Applications should focus on focused workshops/conferences that highlight Vanderbilt University’s strategic STEM research and education growth areas, and where collaborations with other member universities would add value.  Such events may include visits to an ORAU institution by a renowned speaker, conferences or workshops with a focused theme, or a technology transfer/business plan competition. ORAU is specifically interested in events that can bring more thought leadership in building a national strategy for STEM education and workforce capacity building. Member universities are encouraged to collaborate around this topic in anticipation of federal funding initiatives. 

Active External Non-Limited Calls

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.

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research Drug Discovery Award

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Sue Reeves, Foundation Relations (sue.reeves@vumc.org or 615-936-2964) before starting an application

Concept Letters due by November 11

Overview:

The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research is dedicated to accelerating exciting academic discoveries into new therapies and platforms that will substantially improve outcomes for cancer patients. Currently, there are few options for academic scientists to obtain the resources and know-how to advance drug discovery efforts for promising new cancer targets.

To stem this gap, the Mark Foundation has established the Drug Discovery Award program. Through this program, the Mark Foundation aligns with investigators working to discover and progress a new therapeutic agent into preclinical development providing not only resources to support post-target validation through early lead development but also the expertise of seasoned biopharma R&D scientists who will advise on activities on the critical path to developing a new therapeutic agent.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Science Diversity Leadership Award

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Sue Reeves, Foundation Relations (sue.reeves@vumc.org or 615-936-2964) before starting an application

LOIs due December 3

Overview

The Science Diversity Leadership Award (SDLA) from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) will support Principal Investigators who are outstanding early- to mid-career biomedical researchers at US universities, medical schools, or nonprofit research institutes who - through their outreach, mentoring, teaching, and leadership - have a record of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in their scientific communities. They will have made significant research contributions to the biomedical sciences, show promise for continuing scientific achievement, and demonstrate leadership in efforts to diversify the sciences. CZI is committed to supporting representative science, which ensures universal benefits from scientific advances, such as studies of diseases that adversely affect underserved populations from specific ancestries, and promotes diversity among researchers toward more inclusive and comprehensive outcomes.

Each award consists of a $1.15M grant distributed over five years ($230,000 total costs per year, including 15% for indirect costs).

Simons Foundation Fellows-to-Faculty Award

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Sue Reeves, Foundation Relations (sue.reeves@vumc.org or 615-936-2964) before starting an application

Applications due January 14

Overview

The Fellows-to-Faculty Award is a new iteration of the previously offered Simons Foundation Independence Awards. The award supports talented early career scientists and their research vision as they transition into tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions. Fellows engage in a lively, interdisciplinary community and participate in scientific and career development activities.

The 2025 RFA is intended for senior postdoctoral scholars or equivalent researchers whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science and whose future research program advances the mission of either the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) or Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB).