Funding Announcements

Please find below additional research funding opportunities, along with dates for upcoming informational webinars.

Nathan Shock Centers - Pilot Awards │ October 16 Webinar

University of Washington Nathan Shock Center and Healthy Aging and Longevity Research Institute Pilot Project Awards: The projects should utilize the specific services provided by one or more of the UW Nathan Shock Center Cores.
Funding: The awards are generally up to $15,000, depending on the specific needs of the applicant. Applications from institutions outside of the University of Washington are strongly encouraged.
Deadline: October 15.
The University of Minnesota NSC Pilot Awards: The University of Minnesota NSC Pilot Awards are intended to provide collaboration between the awardee and the core services provided by the UMN NSC. Projects will primarily support junior level geroscience investigators. Applications from more established investigators whose research is pivoting to aging will also be considered.
Deadline: October 17.
Oklahoma NSC Pilot Awards: The Oklahoma Nathan Shock Center (OKNSC) is currently soliciting applications for three (3) types of pilot awards: 1) General Pilot Awards, 2) Translational Research Pilot Awards, and 3) Gene Discovery Pilot Awards. The General Pilot Awards and Translational Research Pilot Awards are designed to support the research of early-stage investigators, and that of senior investigators initiating research programs in aging or geroscience. For both, General Pilot Awards can serve as the basis for the development of new applications for NIH funding. Deadline: November 5.

Clin-Star Webinar: “The Art and Science of the Pilot study: Challenges and Solutions”

Thursday, Oct. 16 at 4-5 p.m. ET

Registration: Zoom registration link

Objectives:

To describe challenges and solutions in the design of a pilot study protocol
To describe challenges and solution in the conduct of a pilot study
To list publication and funding opportunities for pilot studies

Featuring Kenneth Edwin Schmader, MD
Professor of Medicine
Director, Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Senior Fellow, Duke Aging Center
Duke University School of Medicine

With Carl F. Pieper, DrPH
Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics
Analysis Core, Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Senior Fellow, Duke Aging Center
Duke University School of Medicine

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) 2026 Capital & Other Funding Programs │ October 17

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) is now accepting applications for its 2026 funding programs to support innovation, research, and health equity in the life sciences ecosystem.

Biobank ($1M): Designed to break barriers by establishing Alzheimer’s Disease and Colorectal Cancer accessible biobanks sourced from diverse patient populations across Massachusetts.
Bits to Bytes ($750,000): Grants for scientific projects that generate and analyze large datasets to answer pressing life science questions, and to attract and train data scientists in the Commonwealth.
Frontiers Fund ($200,000+): Supports early-stage, high-risk translational research in historically underfunded and understudied sectors of the life sciences.
Novel Therapeutics Delivery ($750,000): Capitalizes and incentivizes translational projects to address complex challenges in “therapeutic” delivery—from biomanufacturing, to targeted delivery, to biomaterials and more.
Research Infrastructure and Equipment ($1.5–$5M): Grants for capital projects that catalyze the life sciences ecosystem by accelerating life sciences research and development in the Commonwealth.
Women’s Health Initiative ($500,000): Supports projects in women’s health in the area of pregnancy-induced hypertension and perimenopause/menopause.
Women’s Health Collaboration ($750,000): Supports collaborative projects that aim to improve the discovery, technical innovation, and/or analysis of datasets to answer pressing life science questions around women’s health.

Deadlines:

Biobank: October 3 at 2 pm
All other programs: November 21 at 10 am

Informational session zoom registration link

October 23 at 11 am

Submission Process: There are no limits on the number of applications BU can submit. However, overlap between proposals is discouraged.

Interested investigators should submit a form expressing their interest to apply via InfoReady Review by Friday, October 17 For the Research Infrastructure and Equipment Grant, investigators will also be asked to provide an abstract (250 words maximum) describing their intended proposal.

For additional support:

Bits to Bytes, Novel Therapeutics Delivery, ARC Awards, and Women’s Health Collaboration Programs require an industry partner. Please reach out to Industry Engagement at engagebu@bu.edu to help identify and facilitate these industry partnerships.
All proposals must be submitted to Sponsored Programs per their proposal submission policy and well in advance of the submission deadline date.

NSF Artificial Intelligence Research Resource: the NAIRR Operations Center (NAIRR-OC) │ October 19

BU is soliciting a call for faculty interested in leading or collaborating on an institutional proposal for the NSF NAIRR-OC.

The NSF NAIRR-OC is soliciting proposals to establish a community-based organization responsible for the foundational coordination, operations, and development activities supporting an integrated national infrastructure for AI research and education. Proposals are expected to direct foundational operations for the NAIRR. The NAIRR-OC is expected to be awarded via a cooperative agreement between NSF and the awardee institution.

The primary functions of the NAIRR-OC are in providing organizational, management, and coordination support for national AI infrastructure. As a result, the awardee is expected to accomplish the following overarching goals and functions:

Organizational leadership: Establishing the operational framework, organizational management, and success metrics for the NAIRR and its successful operations according to the vision, goals, and requirements established by the NSF and other federal partners.
Building NAIRR capabilities and community: Undertaking specific development activities in support of NAIRR stakeholders, including interfacing with partner organizations and resources, deploying a unified web portal, integrating data-focused and other resources into the NAIRR, and conducting outreach and community building activities.
Interfacing with Pilot Operations: Coordinating with existing NAIRR Pilot contributing partners and interfacing with the independently supported teams conducting NAIRR Pilot operational functions, while developing tailored plans to execute such functions via the NAIRR-OC in the future.

Many researchers and educators lack the necessary access to the capabilities and tools to fully conduct their work and to train the rapidly expanding AI workforce. As indicated in the NAIRR Pilot, NAIRR aims to provide a shared national research infrastructure to bridge this gap by connecting U.S. researchers and educators to AI resources — computation, data, software, models, training and educational materials — to advance research, discovery and innovation. The overarching goals for the NAIRR are to:

Accelerate AI and AI-powered discovery and innovation.
Expand the AI workforce and train the next generation of AI researchers and educators.
Increase capacity, integration, and use of world-class public and private-sector AI resources.
Advance AI interpretability, security, and trust.

Thus, the awardee of NAIRR-OC will navigate the transition from the pilot phase to a long-term, nationwide infrastructure aimed at strengthening US AI innovation, education, and competitiveness.

FUNDING INFORMATION: NSF will make 1 award for up to $35M for a period of up to five years.

ELIGIBILITY: There are no restrictions or limits on who may serve as a PI. The PI must serve as the Director of the NAIRR Operations Center.

PIs and co-PIs may only be listed on one proposal. Organizations may only submit one proposal.

The leadership team (PI, co-PIs and senior investigators) shall be affiliated with a single submitting organization to the maximum extent possible. Strong central leadership and management via the submitting institution is expected. If a skill set gap exists within the submitting institution, leadership from one additional institution may be added. Proposals that include substantial use of sub-awarded partners or affiliate appointments at the leadership level are not aligned with the goals of this grant.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST PROCESS: Medical Campus faculty interested in leading or collaborating on an institutional proposal are invited to submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by Sunday, October 19.

Contact Information.
Interest statement describing how you would contribute to the institutional proposal and what interests you about the program (max 1 paragraph).

The Office of Research will contact applicants to coordinate a proposal by Friday, October 31.

DEADLINES:

Expressions of Interest Due: Sunday, October 19, by 11:59 p.m. ET.
Letter of Intent Due: Monday, December 15, by 5 p.m. ET.
Full Proposal Due: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, by 5 p.m. ET.

Charles A. King Trust Fellowship Award │ November 6

Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Research Fund │ October 30 Office Hours

The Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Research Fund, managed by Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, is accepting proposals for its current funding cycle. Established in 1947, the fund supports non-profit and academic organizations in Greater Boston that serve children and adolescents with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional disabilities.

The fund prioritizes:

Community-led projects
Community-based participatory research
Racial and health equity-focused initiatives

Projects may involve pilot studies, research, or evaluations aimed at improving quality of life for youth with disabilities.

Award Amount: Up to $160,000 over two years.

Eligibility Summary: To be eligible for funding from the Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Research Fund, projects must meet the following criteria:

Target Population: Children and adolescents (birth to 23 years old) with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional disabilities requiring long-term or interdisciplinary support services.
Inclusion & Diversity: The research team must include individuals with disabilities and consider intersectionality with other marginalized identities.
Geographic Requirement: At least 60% of project participants must live within the Fund’s designated Greater Boston area (refer to the official Application Guidelines for the full list of eligible towns and cities).
Applicant Affiliation: Applicants must be affiliated with a nonprofit organization or institution located within the Fund’s geographic area.
Qualifications: No advanced degree is required. Eligible applicants include a broad range of professionals such as medical providers, researchers, educators, therapists, social workers and community members working with children and adolescents with disabilities. Proposals must include at least one team member with research expertise. S. citizenship is not required.

Refer to the Application Guidelines for a complete list of eligibility details.

Office Hours: October 30 at 1-2 p.m. ET
Registration Required.

Deadlines:

Initial Proposal Deadline: Thursday, December 4, by 12 Noon ET
Full Proposal Deadline (by invitation): TBD, Spring 2026
Funding Period: September 1, 2026 – August 31, 2028

Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center - Pilot Grants │ November 21 ADRC Research Day

The Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (BU ADRC) Pilot Grants invites proposals for innovative research in biomedical, epidemiological, behavioral, legal, ethical, health systems, or other areas related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Funding: Two NIH-funded awards of $25,000 in direct costs for one-year, non-renewable studies. Grant Mechanism: Development Grants (NIH-funded, P30-AG072978)
Purpose: To support new investigators entering the ADRD field and pilot studies generating preliminary data for future grant applications.
Not Eligible: Established investigators seeking to expand or supplement existing funded projects.
Eligible Applicants: Assistant professors, instructors, postdoctoral fellows, doctoral students, or senior investigators new to ADRD research.

ADRC Research Day

Join us in person on November 21, in the Hiebert Lounge to learn more about BU ADRC Pilot Programs and the grant application process.

Why attend: Get details about the Pilot Grant, ask questions, and network with fellow researchers.

RSVP and indicate if you’ll present a poster.

Submission Guidelines

Deadline: January 23, 2026
Format: Submit a single PDF using the NIH PHS 398 form.

Proposal Requirements

Title Page: Grant program name and proposal title
Research Plan: Specific aims, background, preliminary results, and experimental methods (max. 5 pages, excluding references)
Key Personnel: Biosketch(es)
Budget: Detailed budget and justification
Advisor Letter: Required for postdoctoral and student applicants

No appendices allowed.
If involving human subjects, include a Target Enrollment form.
Department or administrative signatures are not required.
Email the completed proposal to sheppard@bu.edu.

Review & Funding

Proposals will be reviewed by at least two experts and scored on scientific merit.
The Executive Committee will make final funding decisions.
Funding period: July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027
No extensions or carry-over of funds permitted.

Additional Considerations

Proposals using BU ADRC resources (e.g., participant registry, brain bank) or addressing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) are strongly encouraged.
Partnerships that support recruitment and retention of diverse research participants are encouraged.
All resulting publications and abstracts must cite NIH grant P30-AG072978.

Contact: Dean Sheppard — sheppard@bu.edu | (561) 312-8174

More details are available under the “For Investigators” tab at bu.edu/alzresearch.

DARPA Expedited Research Innovation Series │ Last day of every month

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), in collaboration with the Applied Research Institute (ARI), has updated its long-term open call under the Expedited Research Innovation System (ERIS), now renamed the Expedited Research Innovation Series. This initiative seeks novel technologies, methods, or research that support DARPA-related objectives. Submitted ideas, presented via video pitches, will be evaluated and curated for potential rapid funding and acquisition by the Department of Defense. The update includes new ERIS topic areas and revised selection criteria.

The updated ERIS call introduces new topic areas:

Detecting and tracking elusive objects across air, land, and space domains
Overcoming limitations of current sensing systems
Enhancing resilience, efficiency, and effectiveness of strategic systems
Defending against chemical and biological threats (natural or human-made)
Optimizing human health and performance across all phases of military operations
Developing innovative methods and metrology for complex, emergent, and adaptive systems, including:
Scalable quantum-aware metrology
Engineering materials across length scales
Designing adaptive, resilient human–AI ecosystems

Applicants must submit a video pitch (max seven minutes) outlining a DARPA-relevant problem, potential innovations, team expertise, and market impact. Selected pitches will be featured in the ERIS Marketplace for 12 months, allowing DARPA and other DoD entities to review and rapidly acquire promising technologies. DARPA recently used this process for its Ag X BTO initiative under the Biological Technologies Office (BTO).

Submission Criteria: DARPA’s updated ERIS submission criteria now include two categories: New Submissions (first-time submissions or those corrected for compliance issues) and Resubmissions (previously peer-reviewed submissions deemed “non-awardable”).

The updated call also includes revised ERIS selection criteria.

Evaluation Criteria: DARPA updated the Evaluation Criteria ERIS video submissions with the following weightings:

Advancing the state of the art – 40%
Team capability – 30%
Problem definition – 20%
Defense or commercial impact – 10%

DARPA emphasizes that being assessed as “awardable” and placed in the ERIS Marketplace does not guarantee a current or future award.

Due Date: ERIS submissions are accepted monthly, with a deadline at noon (ET) on the last day of each month. Early submissions may receive feedback and can resubmit before the deadline if necessary.

Additional information:

Submission checklist: ERIS Checklist v2
Training course: ARI Navigating and Using the DARPA ERIS Marketplace

Contact: Email the ERIS coordinator at eris@darpa.mil

National Science Foundation New Translation to Practice Program │ January 20, 2026

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) new Translation to Practice (TTP) program purpose is to identify and support translational research, develop partnerships between higher education and industry, government, open-source ecosystems and other entities, and advance STEM education and training for all Americans, especially students and post-doctoral researchers. NSF TIP’s goal for translation of research to practice is to ensure that innovations developed through research have tangible and positive impacts for the U.S. such as improving quality of life, promoting economic and job growth, ensuring national security, and maintaining global competitiveness.

The NSF Translation to Practice (TTP) program offers three funding tracks representing different stages of research translation.

TTP-Explore (TTP-E): For researchers with active NSF awards to pursue early, high-risk translational work. Offers up to two years of extended funding. Requires pre-approval from the NSF Program Officer.
TTP-Translate (TTP-T): Supports use-inspired research and translational activities like prototyping and community engagement. No prior NSF funding required, but awardees must complete I-Corps training.
TTP-Partner (TTP-P): Funds projects involving strategic partnerships beyond academia (e.g., industry, government) to support commercialization. Requires collaboration with an NSF-Catalyzed Partner and inclusion of their personnel on the proposal.

NSF emphasizes that TTP tracks are independent and applicants should choose the track that aligns with their innovation’s maturity. While NSF Catalyzed Partnerships are only required for the TTP-Partner track, they are allowed and strongly encouraged in TTP-Explore and TTP-Translate proposals. NSF also plans to pursue direct partnerships with external stakeholders for potential co-funding and may issue additional Dear Colleague Letters to announce future partner-specific TTP opportunities.

Total Funding and Award Size: NSF expects to award $30M across 29 projects. Award limits by track are:

TTP-Explore: Up to $600,000
TTP-Translate: Up to $1.2M (36 months),
TTP-Partner: Up to $2M (48 months)

Each PI or Co-PI may submit only one TTP proposal at a time across all tracks. PIs must hold a full-time research, teaching position. They must wait for a decision on any submitted TTP proposal before applying again.

Due Dates:

TTP-Explore (TTP-E): Rolling submission, allowed anytime after email approval from the NSF Program Officer.
TTP-Translate (TTP-T) and TTP-Partner (TTP-P): Submit on the third Tuesday of September, January, and May each year.
- Upcoming deadlines:
  - Sept. 16, 2025
  - Jan. 20, 2026
  - May 19, 2026

Webinars: Register for the NSF TTP informational webinars to be held July 22 and Aug. 12, at 2 p.m. ET.

If you have any questions about these funding opportunities contact us.