Biomedical, Clinical & Life Sciences

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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. 

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Z. Yan (Chemistry and Biochemistry)

Limiting Language
Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Program Description
Our commitment to enriching the research skills and professional growth of young faculty members at ORAU member institutions is embodied in the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Awards Program. These competitive research awards provide seed money for junior faculty members that often result in additional funding from other sources. The award amount provided by ORAU is $5,000. The applicant’s institution is required to match the award with at least an additional $5,000. This grant has a duration of one year, running from July 1 to June 30, with award notifications issued in early June.

Eligibility for the Powe Awards is open to full-time assistant professors at ORAU member institutions within two years of their tenure track appointment at the time of application. If there is a question about eligibility, your ORAU Councilor makes the final determination. Only two nominations are allowed per institution.

Research must fall within on of these seven diciplines:

• Engineering and Applied Science
• Life Sciences
• Mathematics/Computer Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Policy, Management, or Education
• Critical Mineral Constraints on SMR Deployment Capacity in the U.S.
• Responsible AI in STEM Education Policy

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

Purpose
The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to support research and/or preclinical development of highly efficacious vaccines against malaria - one of the deadliest mosquito-borne diseases - by capitalizing on recent technological innovations, particularly in structure-based immunogen design, improved formulations, and combination vaccines. The goal is to achieve long-lasting, highly effective protection that can save lives, strengthen public health security in the United States, and serve as a model for, or are potentially effective against, other mosquito-borne diseases. 

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Limiting Language
Only one application per institution is allowed.

Program Description
The overall goal of this program is to accelerate scientific discovery, improve research efficiency, and enhance the translation of research findings into improved health outcomes. Centers funded under this program will also foster multidisciplinary collaboration, support workforce development across career stages, and promote training in emerging areas such as data science, artificial intelligence, and implementation research. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) requests applications for the NIAMS P30 Centers Program to support integrated research Centers within its mission areas of skin biology and diseases; bone, muscle, and orthopaedic research; and rheumatic diseases.

The NIAMS P30 Centers Program supports Centers that provide coordinated research infrastructure, shared resources, and methodological expertise to advance basic, translational, and clinical research.

These Centers are expected to integrate state-of-the-art research resources with capabilities that support clinical and translational research, including the development, testing, and dissemination of novel analytical methods, study designs, outcome measures, and data-driven approaches.

Full sponsor guidelines are linked here.

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Limited Language
This is a limited submission opportunity: each institution may nominate ONE applicant for this funding opportunity 

Program Overview
At Susan G. Komen®, we are committed to saving lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to conquer deadly and aggressive breast cancers. We are determined to change the unacceptable reality that each year about 43,000 people in the U.S. will die from breast cancer. As part of this goal, we are focused on improving the care and outcomes for people with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a rare and highly aggressive form of breast cancer.  

IBC is characterized by tumor cell emboli blocking the breast lymph vessels. This blockage causes inflammatory-like changes in the breast, including swelling and skin reddening. The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) guidelines define IBC by the rapid onset (less than 6 months) of erythema occupying at least 1/3 of the breast, edema, peau d’ orange (orange peel-like appearance) and/or warmth (with or without an underlying mass), and pathologic confirmation of invasive carcinoma. Although IBC has been recognized as a distinct form of breast cancer for over a century, its etiology and underlying biological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Consequently, no validated, widely adopted IBC-specific biomarkers or targeted therapies exist, and current management is largely informed by evidence from non-IBC breast cancer. This limited understanding of IBC biology remains a significant barrier to the development of more precise diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, highlighting the need for research focused on the unique mechanisms driving the disease. Therefore, the goal of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) Research Grant is to support innovative, hypothesis-driven research that advances our understanding of the biological underpinnings of IBC and opens new avenues of investigation into the disease.  

To identify areas where investment could have the greatest impact, the Susan G. Komen-IBCRF IBC Collaborative, in partnership with the Milburn Foundation, convened the Biology of IBC Task Force, a group of IBC researchers and patient advocates. The Task Force identified three broad areas of scientific opportunity that require significant investigation to advance the field: 

• 1. IBC onset and development, including studies focused on the tumor and host microenvironment, epigenetic and proteomic drivers of disease, host genetic factors and biological contributors to health disparities. 

  2. IBC metastatic dissemination, including mechanisms of cell migration and mobility, biological characteristics associated with therapeutic response and the role of tumor and host, epigenetic and proteomic factors in IBC disease progression. 

  3. IBC monitoring and detection, including approaches to detect minimal residual disease (MRD), improve prognostication, assess therapeutic response and advance theragnostic strategies. 

Eligibility 
Applicant/PIs and Institutions must conform to the following eligibility criteria to apply for an Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Grant. Grants will be awarded to a single Principal Investigator (PI). Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs) are not allowed. CoInvestigators are permitted. 
Applicant/PI 

• Must be nominated as the sole Applicant/PI from their institution by the Institution’s Office of Sponsored Programs, Grants Office, or equivalent. This is a limited submission opportunity, and the Applicant/PI cannot self-nominate.  
• Must have a doctoral degree, such as M.D., Ph.D., D.Ph., D.O. or equivalent. 
• Must hold a full-time faculty appointment or have a formal offer letter from the Institution that confirms position and start date by the Full Application due date (January 18, 2027), documented by the Applicant/PI Biosketch.  
• May NOT be the PI of an active Komen Grant that includes specific aims or objectives focused on IBC at the Full Application due date (January 18, 2027).  
• May NOT be the PI of two or more active Komen Grants at the Full Application due date (January 18, 2027) 
• Must ensure that all past Komen-funded Grants are up to date and in compliance with all Komen requirements, e.g., progress and financial report submissions, IRB approvals, etc. by the Full Application due date (January 18, 2027), if applicable. 
• Is not required to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. 
• The institution-nominated Applicant/PI may submit only one Letter of Intent in response to this funding announcement.  

Institutionally Coordinated // Limit: 3* 

For additional information, please contact Marie Teemant. 

Limiting Language
Each institution may submit up to three nominations, one in each disciplinary category of Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences.

Program Overview
The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists recognize the United States' most promising faculty-rank researchers in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences. One Blavatnik National Awards Laureate in each disciplinary category will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds, and additional nominees will be recognized as Finalists, and will receive $15,000 in unrestricted funds.

Eligibility
The nominee must:

• Have been born in or after 1985*.
• Hold a doctorate degree (PhD, DPhil, MD, DDS, DVM, etc.).
• Currently hold a tenured or tenure-track academic faculty position, or equivalent, at an eligible institution in the United States.
• Currently conduct research as a principal investigator in one of the disciplinary categories in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, or Chemical Sciences.

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Limiting Language
A maximum of three RGP applications will be accepted from one institution in any one grant cycle; it is the responsibility of the Lead Applicant and the host institution to coordinate the number of applications submitted. Institutions are encouraged to contact us to discuss the prioritisation of their applications, if needed. The INSPIRE Research Challenge is delivered as a separate grant call, so you are welcome to make another three applications as an institution to this.

Research Priority Areas
To focus this expanded programme where it can have the greatest impact, our 2026-27 grant calls will include six priority areas, identified through evidence gaps highlighted by the Global Cancer Update Programme, our strategic objectives and consultation with our scientific stakeholders.

For the 2026-27 grant call, applications must focus on at least one of the six priority areas. Applications may span more than one priority area where this is scientifically justified; applicants should identify all relevant areas and make the main alignment of the proposed research clear.  Alignment with a priority area does not replace the usual requirements for scientific quality, relevance to WCRF International’s remit, feasibility and potential impact. For this year’s grant call, sleep will be included as a primary exposure alongside diet, nutrition, physical activity and body composition.

1. Integrative Oncology
2. Lifestyle and weight-loss medications
3. Early-onset cancers
4. Early-life exposures
5. Ingested contaminants
6. Ultra-processed foods