Other Funding

Proposals that advance care models, novel business solutions, and substantial technical innovation. Proposals relate to clinical tool, technology, and platform development, prevention detection, prophylactic treatments, population-level approaches, and improving robustness of healthcare systems. [Expires: 3/20/2029.]

Individuals or organizations may submit unsolicited proposals that include an abstract, statement of work, key personnel, and the type of support needed from the agency. [Rolling deadline.]

Projects benefitting and informing both military and civilian medical practice and knowledge, including basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, and, under certain conditions, may include activities involving advanced component development and prototypes. Relevant research areas include female and male reproductive health. Submission of a pre-proposal/pre-application required; must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal. [Full proposals due: 9/30/27.]

2-year award includes: (1) 10 biological samples from any body system (2) All costs including tissue preservation reagents and shipping costs (3) Letter of support and budget justification help for required subsequent NIH grant application(s) and (4) Technical support for tissue procurement protocol design. Open to ESIs OR established investigators transitioning to using human biospecimens. [Application deadline: 5/1/26, 5 pm ET.]

Projects targeting a system or function affected by spinal cord injury or its sequelae during the acute or chronic injury period. Should demonstrate novelty, high scientific merit, and potential for substantial impact on treatment and care.  Up to 2y funding for preclinical studies, up to 3y for human subjects research. $400,000 max total cost for both 2y & 3y projects. Budgets <$200,000 in any year (10% max for indirect costs). For independent investigators of any career stage. [LOI Deadline: 5/22/26. Full application deadline: 11/12/26.]

For postdoctoral researchers conducting basic biological research in all areas of life science at a non-profit university or research institution. $255,000 in direct costs ($85,000 / y for 3y). Submit applicant information, 7-page research proposal, 3 reference letters, 1 proposed supervisor letter, and demographics. [Deadline: 10/31/26 at 8 pm ET. Award begins: 8/1/27.]

Projects that design novel or greatly improved research tools and methods advancing contemporary biology in any research area supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences at NSF, focusing on broadly applicable research infrastructure in 3 areas: (1) Bioinformatics, (2) Instrumentation, and (3) Research Methods. Supported projects expected to improve scientists’ abilities to manipulate, control, analyze, or measure critical aspects of biological systems. Proposals should: (1) develop novel infrastructure, (2) significantly redesign existing infrastructure, or (3) adapt existing infrastructure in novel ways. Open to all career stages, award size and duration varies. [Deadline: rolling.]

Projects that advance mechanistic understanding of the structure, function, and evolution of molecular, sub-cellular, and cellular systems, esp research on quantitative and predictive knowledge of complex behavior and emergent properties. Interdisciplinary research drawing on knowledge from and interfacing w/ other biological sub-disciplines or other disciplines encouraged. Proposal research areas: Molecular Biophysics; (ii) Genetic Mechanisms; (iii) Cellular Dynamics and Function; and (iv) Systems and Synthetic Biology. Open to all career stages, typical awards last 3-5 yrs, budgets not limited. [Deadline: rolling.]

For independent investigators of any professorship level at U.S.-based, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) independent and educational institutions carrying out collaborative research projects with other U.S.-based organizations. Research topics include: microbiome, structural biology, cellular physiology, immunology, microbiology & infectious diseases. Up to $700,000 for 3y. Up to 3 institute-nominated Letter of Inquiry (LOI) applications / institution / grant cycle. Must register for application portal and receive institutional nomination >2 weeks prior to due date. [Upcoming LOI deadline: 7/17/26 at 8 pm ET.]

Previously funded areas range from biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, medicine, immunobiology and microbiology, and more. Open to MD and/or PhD tenure track faculty members in their 1st-4th year at American institutions conducting basic and/or translational research. Cannot have current R01 or similar funding. Up to $75,000 direct costs annually / 3y. Submit 5 page project proposal, 1-2 page lay summary, letters of approval, budget, and biosketch. [Annual Deadline: 7/1.]