Limited Submission Funding Announcements

These research funding opportunities have a submission limit, meaning only a certain number of applications can be submitted. Faculty interested in applying must submit a preliminary proposal for review by an internal selection committee. Below are the available funding opportunities along with their respective internal submission deadlines.

W. M. Keck Research Program │ September 3, 2026

The W. M. Keck Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting basic science research projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach, question the prevailing paradigm, or have the potential to break open new territory in their field. Grants support pioneering biological and physical science research and engineering, including the development of promising new technologies, instrumentation, or methodologies.

Examples of funded projects can be found on the Keck Foundation’s Grant Abstracts page.

FUNDING INFORMATION

Requests can be $1 to 1.3M over three years. Larger grants will require stronger justification from applicants. No indirect costs are permitted. Institutions are expected to provide in-kind support by waiving indirects.

ELIGIBILITY

PIs must be tenure-track faculty or equivalent (normally eligible to submit proposals without exceptional approvals). Past grantees may apply with significantly different projects.

Funding is awarded to projects that fall into one or more of the categories below:

High-impact research in basic physical, life, and biomedical sciences, including instrumentation and engineering in service of basic science
Pioneering, fundamental discoveries in important and emerging research areas
Novel approaches that are distinctive, innovative, field-expanding, and challenge existing paradigms
High-risk, high-reward proposals

The Keck Foundation does not fund:

Medical devices or bench-to-bedside translational research
Projects solely focused on engineering equipment, tools, or materials
Engineering for efficiency, optimization or cost reduction
Clinical trials, therapies, procedures
Drug discovery, development, or delivery
Disease biomarker screening
Digital twin implementations
User facilities or equipment for shared facilities
Supplements, renewals, or follow-on funding
Resubmissions of declined proposals
Conferences or science policy

INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS

The internal selection process depends on whether your grants are managed by BU or Boston Medical Center (BMC). Use the steps below to determine this information:

Step 1: Open the BUMC Home Institution Finder
Step 2: Log in to search the database – search using your last name
Step 3: Follow one process:
- If you see BU or BU-CAMED, follow BU Process below
- If you see BMC, follow the BMC Process below

BU Process

BU may submit up to three applications regardless of the area of science. Interested applicants should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by by September 3, 2026.

Concept Paper (two pages max) without images/illustrations that addresses the following:
Project overview: What are the unique aspects, positioning relative to field, preliminary data, if available
Methodologies: What is validated, what is new
Key personnel: Why is this the right team
Knowledge gap: What is the basic scientific question to be answered
Impact: What will ~$1M enable
Innovation: How is this distinctive from existing work, especially any recent similar awards by Keck, in what ways does it challenge existing norms
Risk: What features of this project are high-risk
References/Citations may be included on one additional page
Up-to-date CV

As necessary, a faculty review committee will review internal applications and select the institutional nominee(s). Foundation Relations will support applicants to prepare their materials for submission by December 7, 2026. If your primary appointment is BU-CAMED and you have questions about this process or your application, please reach out to Julia Huntsman (jhunts@bu.edu) or Gahyun Yoo (gyoo0818@bu.edu) in the Proposal Development Office.

Do not contact the Foundation directly if you have questions. All inquiries must be submitted through BU’s institutional liaison: Susan Sheng, Assistant Director of Foundation Relations at slsheng@bu.edu.

The Keck Foundation has changed their application process for this cycle. However, you can still view past sample materials from previous successful applications in BU’s Proposal Library.

BMC Process

BMC may submit up to three applications. If you are a BUMC faculty member who works in BMC space or you are a fellow whose faculty advisor is a BMC investigator, please contact the Program Manager of Strategic Research Growth, Carolina Giudice (carolina.giudice@bmc.org) by Friday, August 21 to express interest in this opportunity.

DEADLINES

BMC Expression of Interest Due: Friday, August 21, 2026
BU Internal Materials Due: Thursday, September 3, 2026 by 11:59 pm ET
Anticipated Notification Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
External Materials Due: Monday, December 7, 2026

In requesting to be considered for this limited submission funding opportunity, you are making a commitment, if selected, to submit your proposal to the sponsor in a timely manner and to Sponsored Programs in accordance with the Proposal Submission Policy

Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship in Basic and Clinical Neurosciences │ September 4, 2026

The Warren Alpert Foundation Distinguished Scholars Fellowship in Basic and Clinical Neurosciences program supports postdoctoral scientists of exceptional creativity in the field of neurosciences. These transitional awards aim to help postdoctoral researchers advance to full-time faculty positions at the assistant professor level or higher while promoting the development of a laboratory program that can secure independent funding.

FUNDING INFORMATION: $200,000 per year for two years to cover salary, lab costs, and related expenses, inclusive of indirect costs of up to 15%.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Must have an MD, PhD or both.
Must hold a post-doctoral research position at a medical school, research institute or academic institution in the United States.
Must have a minimum of three years and no more than six years of post-doctoral fellowship experience by July 1, 2027.
Research must be focused in the field of neuroscience.
A commitment of at least 75% effort is required.

INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS:

The internal selection process depends on whether your grants are managed by BU or Boston Medical Center (BMC). Use the steps below to determine this information:

Step 1: Open the BUMC Home Institution Finder
Step 2: Log in to search the database – search using your last name
- If you are not in the database, search by your faculty advisor
Step 3: Follow one process:
- If you see BU or BU-CAMED, follow BU Process below
- If you see BMC, follow the BMC Process below

BU Process

BU may forward one nominee. If you are a fellow whose faculty advisor is a BU investigator, please submit the documents listed below via InfoReady Review by September 4.

Two-page summary with introduction and importance of project.
NIH biosketch.
One letter of recommendation from chair or section head.
Budget in NIH format.

As necessary, a faculty review committee will review internal applications and select the institutional nominee(s). If your primary appointment is BU medical campus and you have questions about this process or your application, please reach out to Julia Huntsman (jhunts@bu.edu) or Gahyun Yoo (gyoo0818@bu.edu) in the Proposal Development Office.

BMC Process

BMC may forward one nominee. If you are a fellow whose faculty advisor is a BMC investigator, please contact the Program Manager of Strategic Research Growth, Carolina Giudice (carolina.giudice@bmc.org) by Friday, August 14 to express interest in this opportunity.

DEADLINES:

BMC Deadline to Express Interest: Friday, August 14
BU Internal Materials Due: Friday, September 4.
Anticipated Notification Date: March 2027
External Materials Due: Sunday, November 1, 2026

RRF Foundation for Aging Responsive Grants in Advocacy, Professional Education, or Research │ September 15, 2026

The RRF Foundation for Aging Responsive Grants in Advocacy, Professional Education, or Research funds research that seeks to identify interventions, policies and practices to improve the well-being of older adults and/or their caregivers. RRF is particularly looking to fund projects aimed at generating practical knowledge and guidance that can be used by advocates, policymakers, providers, and the aging network, especially the following:

Interventional trials; translational studies; and health services and policy research.
Projects that build on the investigator’s past studies.
Proposals that include robust dissemination plans, if appropriate, to assure that findings reach audiences positioned to act on them.

Interested applicants can view similar grants funded by this call on the RRF website.

FUNDING INFORMATION

RRF Foundation does not indicate a minimum or maximum funding amount. Funding is provided based on realistic budgets that include all expenses needed to effectively implement the proposed project. 10% of the requested amount can be allocated to indirect costs.

In 2025, awards amounts ranged from $30,000-$300,000 with an average award of $100,000-$150,000 for 18 months across advocacy, education, and research areas. Interested applicants can find more information on RRF’s Grant History page.

ELIGIBILITY

RRF provides an Eligibility Quiz (opens 1 month prior to LOI deadline) to quickly assess the areas described below. If you are eligible and want to apply, you must complete the internal application process.

Research Grants are provided to nonprofit organizations that are:

Proposing applied research projects that have immediate and direct implications on the adult population, age 60 and older.
Proposing a project that will have national relevance across the U.S. or regional relevance within the state of Illinois.

RRF generally does not fund:

Projects that are not intentionally focused on older people, age 60 and above.
Projects outside of the United States.
Grants to individuals.
Lobbying.
General operating expenses or support for ongoing programs without significant changes in strategy or focus.
Biomedical research, basic theory development for social science research, or research and development for new technology.
Construction of facilities, capital improvements, or computer equipment.
Conferences, publications, or production of films and videos unless they are integral components of a larger project.
Dissertation research, tuition expenses, or education programs for undergraduate or graduate students.
Endowments, capital campaigns, or fundraising events.
Private foundations.
Financial deficits.

INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS

The internal selection process depends on whether your grants are managed by BU or Boston Medical Center (BMC). Use the steps below to determine this information:

Step 1: Open the BUMC Home Institution Finder
Step 2: Log in to search the database – search using your last name
Step 3: Follow one process:
- If you see BU or BU-CAMED, follow BU Process below
- If you see BMC, follow the BMC Process below

BU Process

BU may submit one LOI per school/college per cycle.
Interested applicants should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review September 15, 2026.
Proposal Abstract (500 words max) describing the aims of the proposed project, the target population, and how it aligns with RRF’s mission
Up-to-date CV or Biosketch for the PI

As necessary, the relevant Associate Dean of Research (ADR) will review applications and recommend candidates to submit an LOI by September 11, 2026.

BMC Process

BMC may submit one LOI per cycle. If you are a BUMC faculty member who works in BMC space or you are a fellow whose faculty advisor is a BMC investigator, please contact the Program Manager of Strategic Research Growth, Carolina Giudice (carolina.giudice@bmc.org) by Friday, September 11 to express interest in this opportunity.

DEADLINES

BMC Expression of Interest Due: Friday, September 11, 2026
BU Internal Materials Due: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Anticipated Notification Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
External Materials Due: Sunday, November 1, 2026

Klingenstein Philanthropies Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Fellowship Program │ September 17, 2026

The Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation awards fellowship grants annually to outstanding postdoctoral or junior faculty candidates who are investigating the causes, prevention, and treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD or depression, especially those from low-income families and under-resourced communities, or other minoritized populations that may have limited supports and resources. The Fellowship supports two-year research projects that could lead to federal funding and other national research awards.

The Foundation supports research that produces direct and tangible benefits to children and their families, while also supporting promising, early career scientists. It particularly encourages postdoctoral or junior faculty candidates from underrepresented and minoritized groups and/or with lived experience applicable to their work to apply.

FUNDING INFORMATION
$50,000 per year over a two-year period ($100,000 total). Payment in the second year is contingent on sufficient progress during the first year. The program prefers to avoid indirect costs, if possible, but also understands that an institution waiving this request signals their support of the proposal. As such, the program aims to limit indirect costs to no more than 10% without penalty, but this amount will be deducted from the awarded funding.

ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible, candidates must:

Hold a PhD or MD and have completed all clinical training in their field.
Currently be in a department of psychology, psychiatry, pediatrics, developmental pediatrics, social work, or public health or education.
Be at the postdoctoral or junior faculty level on a trajectory for attaining faculty status.
Be nominated by their department chair.
Have a primary mentor for the project.

The Foundation also considers applicants who:

Have or have applied for K awards.
Are in T32 or other research training programs.
Have not yet applied for a K award and hope to use a KTGF fellowship as a steppingstone to K or other awards.

Investigators are not eligible if they have already received major research awards (e.g. NIH R01 or equivalent level of funding) or who have applied for a Transformation of Mental Health Care grant in the same year.

INTERNAL SELECTION PROCESS
For this opportunity, all medical campus investigators, regardless of their Home Institution (BU vs BMC), should submit an application through InfoReady Review as outlined below.

BU may forward one investigator for each of the two fellowship areas – ADHD and depression – per department. Faculty and investigators interested in being nominated should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by September 17, 2026.

Primary Organization/Affiliation
Medical campus investigators: please use the Home Institution Finder to identify this information
Research Abstract (1 page max) describing the proposed project and written for a scientific audience outside of the specific field and containing the following sections: aims/hypotheses, design, methods, and anticipated outcomes. References may be included on 1 additional page
Department Chair contact information
Primary Mentor(s) contact information
List of current and pending funding

As necessary, the relevant Department Chair will review applicants from their department and recommend institutional nominee(s).

If your primary appointment is BU-CAMED and you have questions about this process or your application, please reach out to Julia Huntsman (jhunts@bu.edu) or Gahyun Yoo (gyoo0818@bu.edu) in the Proposal Development Office. If you are a BMC investigator and you have questions about this process or your application, please contact Carolina Giudice (carolina.giudice@bmc.org).

DEADLINES

Internal Materials Due: Thursday, September 17, 2026 by 11:59 pm ET
Anticipated Notification Date: Friday, October 9, 2026
External Materials Due: Friday, November 20, 2026