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NSF X-Labs Initiative – From Sequence to Function (Topic 4)

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 2

Limiting Language
An eligible organization can submit a maximum of two Written Proposals per Topic Announcement for Phase 0 as a lead organization. Senior/Key Personnel may be listed on a maximum of one Written Proposal per Topic Announcement. 

Topic Description
It is time for the next leap in the study of biology. By reliably linking protein sequence and structure to biological function, the United States can unlock a new era of biological engineering in which biological components are designed rather than discovered. Platform technologies that enable precise control over protein function will open the door to entirely new products and processes that use engineered biological components and outputs, such as enzymes. These capabilities will reshape the economics of biomanufacturing, chemical engineering, biosensing, and agriculture, among other sectors. 

Although recent advances allow us to predict the static structure of proteins, we lack insight into their dynamic behavior. Even in minimal cells, the function of many genes and proteins remains unknown. NSF X-Labs in this space will close that gap by creating platform technologies that enable the intentional design of individual proteins or entire genomes whose function is predictable and/or controllable. Teams will pioneer and integrate advances in protein design/synthesis, genome assembly, synthetic cells, or experimental functional discovery and validation. Additionally, NSF X-Labs might use super intelligence (SI) to dramatically accelerate our ability to engineer the behavior of designed proteins or synthetic cells, including their metabolic requirements, stability, functional outputs, by-products, or system-level interactions.  

Examples of relevant Missions include, but are not limited to: the creation of models that enable the prediction of protein–molecule interactions, including novel approaches to the collection or integration of SI training data; the design and application of nanoscale protein-based molecular motors; an enzyme function platform to discover and engineer enzyme pathways that have specific molecular behaviors; and a synthetic cell/genome platform to design and instantiate genomes with predictable and controllable biological function.  

An NSF X-Labs Mission in this Topic must be transformative, accelerating breakthroughs in our understanding of the relationship between sequence and function, and catalyzing capabilities to engineer proteins or entire genomes with exceptional new capabilities. Successful teams will develop platform technologies, demonstrate measurable impact on the U.S. biotechnology landscape, and position their technologies for widespread use by overcoming technical barriers that limit implementation and investment. Although NSF X-Labs in this space will have widespread applicability, each team should identify 2-3 high-utility domains and should eventually establish projects in them. Teams proposing to this topic should identify how their approach to biosafety and biosecurity is tailored to their Mission and its pilot application domains including an assessment of dangerous gain-of-function and an accompanying plan to mitigate unintended consequences. 

Examples of challenges not considered in scope for this Topic include: development of technologies where the impact is narrow and not widely deployable; fundamental research without potential for application in platform technologies; incremental advancement of the state of the art; standalone predictive models that do not generate or integrate new experimental data; and advancement of technologies that are already developed or supported by existing R&D investments by the U.S. public or private sectors. 

Funding Type
External Deadline
2/8/2026
Internal Deadline
Internal Time
5:00PM
Solicitation Type

Mathers Foundation Grant Awards Program - Spring 2027 Cycle

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 3 // Tickets Available: 3

Limiting Language 
The Mathers Foundation Grants Program is a limited competition, where eligible organizations may submit up to three (3) institute-nominated Letter of Inquiry (LOI) applications per grant cycle. 

Program Overview
Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

The mission of The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation is to advance knowledge in the life sciences by sponsoring scientific research that will benefit mankind. The foundation’s grants program seeks to support basic science, ideally with potential translational applications. Immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience, etc., are some noteworthy examples of current research support.

For many years the Foundation has enjoyed special recognition in the research community for supporting “basic” scientific research, realizing that true transformative breakthroughs usually occur after a thorough understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying natural phenomena. More recently, and with the advent of newer investigative methodologies, technology, and tools, the Foundation now embraces innovative translational research proposals.

The grant duration must be three years. The budget should be reasonable based on the aims of the project. Indirect costs may not exceed 10%. Preliminary Budgets are required during the LOI phase. A detailed budget justification is not required until the proposal phase. The Foundation’s grant award is not intended to be utilized for purchasing capital equipment (“bricks-and-mortar”) for the lab and is intended only to support the actual investigation. The Foundation assumes and expects that capital equipment must be provided by the research institution or university.

Application Guidance:

  • Grant budgets cannot exceed $600-750K
  • The Foundation primarily supports basic science, ideally with potential translational applications.
  • Immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience, etc., are some noteworthy examples of current research support.
  • Covid-19-related research projects (aims or sub-aims) will not be considered for support.
  • Medical imaging technology-related projects and/or electrical engineering technology development projects will not be considered for support.
  • Plant Biology Research, Oceanography, Space Exploration. and Global warming-related research will not be considered for support.
  • As technology continues to advance, it is apparent that investigations in the area of basic science and translational research may become more and more reliant on collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. It is important to note that any interdisciplinary project proposals may require additional information regarding the collaborator(s)’ achievements and relevant expertise.
  • Feedback for declined LOI Requests will not be provided; LOIs or Formal Proposals that have been declined should not be resubmitted at a later date for consideration.
  • Renewal applications for the same or related research will not be accorded priority consideration. It is strongly advised that any re-application for grant renewal consider a new direction based on prior research or emphasize some new potential translational aspects and not merely an extension of previously funded research.
  • Requests for funding previously federally supported research and/or applications pending federal approval will not be accorded priority consideration.
  • Requests for support of clinical trials or drug discovery will not be approved. The Foundation will not support projects which we consider pre-clinical drug development.
CycleInstitutional Nominations and
Portal Registration
LOI ApplicationInvited Formal Proposals
Spring 2027January 28, 2027
8pm EST
February 11, 2027
8pm EST
April 15, 2027
8pm EST

Please note, while RDS and SPS will manage submitting the institutional nomination, it is the responsibility of the selected faculty members to complete the portal registration by the January 28, 2027 at 8pm EST deadline.

Funding Type
External Deadline
1/28/2027 (Institutional Nomination and Portal Registration); 2/11/2027 (LOI Application); 4/15/2027 (Invited Full Proposals
Internal Deadline
Internal Time
5:00PM

Glioblastoma Therapeutics Network (GTN) (U19 Clinical Trial Required)

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language 
Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique entity identifier (UEI) number or NIH IPF number) is allowed

Description
Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) solicits applications for research on novel therapies for adult glioblastoma (GBM). The goal is to improve the treatment of adult GBM by developing novel effective agents that can cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and testing them clinically. Successful early-stage trials of new drugs from this NOFO would transition seamlessly to later stage trials using well-established NCI clinical trial mechanisms.

To implement this concept, a highly collaborative GBM Therapeutics Network (GTN) of cross-cutting teams will be established, each team capable of driving therapeutic agent(s) from pre-clinical development, through investigational new drugs (IND) studies, into pilot clinical studies in humans. Appropriate therapeutic agents include: (1) novel agents or (2) agents or combinations approved for other indications and repurposed for treatment of GBM following appropriate preclinical studies. The scope of the NOFO, from late pre-clinical through early (Phase 0/1) clinical studies, uniquely spans a gap in the GBM drug development process.

Funding Type
External Deadline
1/11/2027
Internal Deadline
Internal Time
5:00PM
Solicitation Type

OpenAI Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation’s Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services opportunity

Request Ticket // Limit: 2 // Tickets Available: 1

O. Leal-Neto (Global Health Institute) 

Limiting Language
An organization is allowed to submit up to two applications in the same or different focus areas. Joint projects with multiple organizations count as a single application under the lead applicant.

Overview
Nearly half of the world’s population lives in cities. Public services shape those residents’ everyday lives. They affect whether they can get health care, find meaningful work, live safely, and have a voice in local decisions. City governments and their partners are on the front lines of delivering these public services. 

Artificial intelligence now offers new ways to meet these needs. AI can help residents access services, anticipate problems before they become crises, and respond to resident needs more effectively. Putting these capabilities to work requires solutions built around residents’ needs and developed in partnership with city governments. 

In 2023, we convened over 40 civic leaders to explore how AI could improve city services. City data and AI leads across six continents, along with academic, philanthropic, and nonprofit partners, shared their use cases and discussed how to best optimize AI’s promise while mitigating the potential risks. Throughout the two- day convening, the partners expressed a clear and consistent theme: cities want to have the talent, tools, and resources to improve city services and resident wellbeing with cutting-edge technologies. In response, The Rockefeller Foundation supported partnerships for three cities to test how AI could improve livelihoods. Building on this experience, we are pleased to deepen our collaboration and expand our ambition to improve the wellbeing of city residents. 

There is growing demand, and growing potential, to strengthen public services on a global scale. Philanthropy is well-positioned to support the innovation and partnerships necessary to meet this potential. 

The Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation are committing $50 million to Cities Deliver to support this work. The initiative will provide grants of $500,000 to $2 million to organizations working with city governments to improve public services through AI, especially for underserved communities. Together, these projects will aim to reach up to 100 million city residents worldwide. 

Building on the lessons from this cohort and others, we aspire to grow our reach and impact through new funding partnerships, supporting the actors, sectors, and conditions necessary for safe AI solutions to benefit humanity. As societies work to shape the future of AI, we aim to spark imagination and make possible a future in which a mix of AI innovation and human ingenuity improves opportunities and wellbeing for the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Funding Type
External Deadline
11/29/2026 (Round 1 Proposals); 3/1/2027 (Invited Round 2 Proposals)

OJJDP FY 2026 Internet Crimes Against Children On-Line Child Protection System (ICACCOPS)

Request Ticket // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
You may submit only one application to only one category of the NOFO. If you submit multiple applications, only the most recent systemvalidated version will be reviewed.

Purpose
The  Office  of  Justice  Programs (OJP) is committed  to  advancing  work that  furthers the  U.S.  Department  of  Justice’s (DOJ) mission  to  keep  our country safe  and  secure and  uphold  the  rule  of  law  and  protect  the  rights of  American  citizens.  OJP  provides federal leadership,  funding,  and  other critical  resources to  directly support  law enforcement,  combat  violent  crime,  protect  American  children,  provide  services to American  crime  victims,  and  address public safety challenges,  including  human  trafficking  and  the  opioid  crisis.  

This is a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for the OJJDP FY 2026 Internet Crimes Against Children On-Line Child Protection System (ICACCOPS). This opportunity supports maintenance of and enhancements to the Internet Crimes Against Children On-line Child Protection System (ICACCOPS) investigative tools. ICACCOPS is a system that provides a common information technology infrastructure for child exploitation and child sexual abuse material (CSAM) investigative tools and services. ICACCOPS supports investigative applications and data by providing data services, system services, network services, security and authentication services, and management tools to support users and the delivery of investigative data and services. Ultimately, this work supports the work of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force program, a national network of 61 multi-agency, multijurisdictional task forces engaged in investigations, forensic examinations, and prosecutions related to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation.

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
11/16/2026 (SF-424 to grants.gov); 11/23/2026 (Full Application to JustGrants)

2027 National Digital Newspaper Program

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 1

Limiting Language
An organization may submit only one application under this notice.

If you submit multiple applications, NEH will accept only your last validated submission prior to the deadline under the applicable Grants.gov funding opportunity.

Purpose
NDNP is a partnership between NEH and the Library of Congress (LOC) to create a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers published between 1690 and 1963, from all 56 states and U.S. jurisdictions. LOC will permanently maintain this freely accessible, searchable online database (Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers). An accompanying national newspaper directory of bibliographic and holdings information directs users to newspaper titles available in all formats. LOC also will digitize newspaper pages drawn from its own collections and contribute them to Chronicling America.

If your application is successful, you will select newspapers published in states or jurisdictions between 1690 and 1963 and, over a period of two years, convert approximately 100,000 pages into digital files (preferably from microfilm), according to the technical guidelines outlined by LOC. 

NEH welcomes applications that involve collaboration between state and jurisdictional partners, which might involve arrangements to manage the creation and delivery of digital files; regular and ongoing consultation about project management; or formal training for project staff. States and jurisdictions are encouraged to digitize titles published within their current geographic boundaries, including those from Native American Tribal nations, but cases for digitization beyond such boundaries can be made. For example, a state may digitize Native American newspapers that were published in another state, or a state may partner with a jurisdiction to digitize the newspapers from there. If you propose to digitize titles published outside of what is now your state or jurisdiction, you must provide the rationale for doing so. 

NDNP supports dissemination activities that engage the wider public in exploring the digitized content, within limits. Your budget may include staff time, consultation with outside experts, and other eligible expenses related to disseminating NEH-funded products, but the primary purpose of this program is to create a national digital resource of historically significant newspapers. 

Your proposed project must include an advisory board. The advisory board could include scholars, teachers, traditional knowledge keepers, librarians, and archivists at a variety of institutions, and the board should be involved in selecting the newspapers to be digitized. The advisory board should also help disseminate information about the project’s progress and Chronicling America more generally. NEH has programmatic expectations depending on how many NDNP awards your state or jurisdiction has previously received and will consider the number of previous NDNP awards when making funding decisions.

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here. 

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
1/13/2027
Internal Deadline
Internal Time
5:00PM

Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot

Limit: 1 // Tickets Available: 0

K. Limesand (Graduate College)

Limiting Language
Applicant institutions are limited to no more than one letter of intent or application as the lead institution.

Executive Summary
American scientists and engineers will power the super intelligence (SI) revolution in science and innovation through the Genesis Mission. DOE SC hereby invites applications from United States (U.S.) Institutions of Higher Education and domestic doctoral-granting institutions to develop and demonstrate the effectiveness of novel four-year doctoral training pilots with dual competency in SI and another scientific discipline. Two high-impact research experiences are required as part of the pilot, one at a DOE National Laboratory or SC user facility and one in industry. The purpose of this pilot is to lay the foundation for the first cohort of Genesis Mission Graduate Fellows, representing a new generation of Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers with exceptional training in SI and scientific disciplines along with practical research experiences. All graduate fellowships supported by this NOFO must support research activities related to SC-relevant Genesis Mission National Science and Technology Challenges as detailed in the Request for Applications (RFA), DE-FOA-0003612.

Funding Type
External Deadline
11/9/2026 (Required LOI), 1/12/2026 (Application)

John A. Hartford Foundation New Partners Program

Request Ticket // Limit: One Proposal per Division (topic and implementation sites must be distinct)

M. Fain (Center on Aging - COM-T)

Limiting Language
Only one LOI may be submitted per organization unless they come from separate divisions and are addressing distinct topics with non-overlapping implementation sites.

Overview
The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) is entering a new chapter that builds on its work to improve care for older adults and support family caregivers while bringing new organizations, leaders and ideas into its community of grantees and partners.

Through this funding opportunity, JAHF is seeking proposals from organizations that have not previously received a major grant from the foundation.

Proposed initiatives must have a national or multi-site scope and align with at least one of the foundation's three priority areas:

The initiatives should introduce innovative approaches or build on existing work in new ways. To ensure eligibility and programmatic fit, please review our full CFP and FAQ.

Funding Type
External Deadline
10/21/2026 (Portal Registration); 10/27/2026 (Required LOI); 3/3/2027 (Invited Full Proposal)
Solicitation Type

2027 RTX University Research Program - Ten Topic Areas

Apply to Internal Competition // Limit: 50 (five per topic area) // Tickets Available: 50

Limiting Language 
Please note that we are limiting each university to five total applications per RFI.

Program Description

Full sponsor guidelines are available at this box link (NetID login required). 

The RTX University Research Program provides funding for academic research that aligns with RTX strategic technology priorities and long-term development objectives and its three industry-leading businesses: Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon. These projects help to strengthen and extend our collaborative research relationships with our select university partners.  Please read all the information below regarding the process and the timeline for awards. 

The ten topics are as follows: 

  1. Sensing Systems
  2. Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
  3. Microelectronics
  4. Autonomy
  5. Advanced Propulsion
  6. Artificial Intelligence
  7. Digital Lifecycle
  8. Integrated Battlespace
  9. Intelligent Aviation
  10. Integrated Power and Thermal Systems

Who can apply?

We accept applications from Principal Investigators (PIs) who meet the eligibility criteria:

  • PI’s institution: PIs must belong to a university or educational institution.
  • PI’s position: PIs must be a full-time professor (adjunct professors and adjunct researchers are not eligible) or researcher and be eligible to supervise Ph.D. students at the PI’s institution.
  • Full professors, associate professors, and assistant professors are eligible to apply.
Funding Type
External Deadline
11/19/2026 (RFI); 2/4/2027 (RFP)
Internal Deadline
Internal Time
5:00PM
Sponsor
Solicitation Type

Limited Competition: NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (REACH) (SB0 Clinical Trial Optional)

Institutionally Coordinated via Tech Launch Arizona, please contact Doug Hockstad // Limit: 1

 

Limiting Language
Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique NIH IPF number) is allowed.

The primary applicant organization must be a university or other research institution that participates in the NIH STTR program. Participation means that a university or other research institution has been a formal partner to a small business on an STTR award. Many NIH-supported universities or other research institutions will be eligible. Please contact the Scientific/Review staff listed below for clarification.

Purpose
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announces the renewal of the NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program, established to facilitate and accelerate the translation of academic biomedical discoveries into products that improve patient care and public health. Through this program, NIH will provide the qualifying institutions with the funds to seed the creation of academic entrepreneurship Hubs. Hubs will be responsible for providing innovators with both the initial investment and resources to support the proof-of-concept work and the mentorship in product development and commercialization needed to develop high priority technologies within the NIH's mission. Funded Hubs are intended to work as a consortium to enable: (1) the infrastructure for identifying the most promising technologies, (2) funding for product definition studies (e.g. feasibility studies, prototype development, proof-of-concept studies) provided to individual researchers, (3) access to resources and expertise in areas required for early stage technology development (including scientific, regulatory, reimbursement, business, legal, and project management), and (4) skills development and hands-on experience in entrepreneurship. Establishing public-private partnerships and providing additional non-federal funds will be critical for success. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a Limited Competition that will invite applications from eligible organizations to apply. Please see Section III. Eligibility for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.
 

Research Category
Funding Type
External Deadline
11/10/2026
Solicitation Type