Funding and research opportunities

The SHE+ Foundation seeks to fund cutting-edge research aimed at understanding and addressing women’s sexual health issues. Grants will fund research, educational programs, community outreach, and innovative treatments that align with the foundation’s mission to advance women’s sexual health. Letters of Intent are due January 21.

WashU’s Clinical Research Training Center is accepting applications for KL2 Career Development Awards (due January 25) for postdoctoral researchers and early junior faculty, and the TL1 Translational Sciences Postdoctoral Program (due January 31).

WashU is eligible to nominate one candidate for the 2026 Kleberg Foundation Medical Research Grant. The funding supports innovative and groundbreaking medical research proposals from top-tier institutions in both basic biological and applied research that will have the greatest impact on scientific knowledge and human health. Applications are due January 26.

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood supports innovative projects that improve the well-being of children from birth to age 7 across the U.S. Areas of interest include health, education, play, family support, and social integration. The foundation awards seed funding for creative, high-impact projects with national relevance and range from $30,000–$75,000. Applications start by submitting a letter of inquiry through the Caplan website. Some are then invited to submit full proposals. LOIs are due January 31. 

The Elevance Health Foundation supports community-based nonprofit organizations nationwide that are improving lives in vulnerable populations with a focus on four key areas: maternal/in­fant health; food as medicine; behavioral health; and community resiliency & disaster relief. Grants generally span one to three years, and funding levels are determined per project need. The application process varies by focus area, with current deadlines January 31 for Behavioral Health and July 31 for Maternal/Infant Health.

NIH’s Office of Dietary Supplements announced its “Supplements, Facts First: A Digital Adventure for Every Age” competition, which aims to transform static dietary supplement fact sheets into engaging digital experiences. Phase 1 of the three-phase competition opens January 20 and Phase 1 submissions are due by April 6. Prizes total $869,000.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Research Grant Program supports innovative studies aimed at understanding and preventing suicide. For 2024–2026, priority areas include research on ethnic and racial diversity, understudied high-risk populations, and survivors of suicide loss. Grants are open to investigators across disciplines, and fund both basic and applied research that includes a suicide outcome measure. Seven categories of grants are available, with awards up to $500,000 per year for three years, with a two-year funding window for most mechanisms. For more information on criteria and the application processes, visit this page on suicide prevention research grants.

The WashU Office of Technology Management (OTM) is accepting applications for the GAP Fund, which provides critical early-stage funding to help bridge the gap between academic research and market-ready innovation. The program supports promising non-drug technologies developed at WashU with strong commercial or societal potential. Funding can be used to advance prototypes, validate feasibility, or gather data to attract outside investment or industry partners. Applications may be submitted at any time.

The WashU Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS) Precision Health Innovation Awards provide up to $25,000 for research on rare diseases. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and are designed for independent faculty launching early-stage projects.

The ICTS also has the ICTS Just-In-Time Core Usage Funding Program, which provides rapid, flexible funding to support access to affiliated research cores. This program helps researchers advance medical knowledge and improve human health through collaborative, timely use of shared resources. Applications are due by 5 p.m. CT on the 10th of each month.