Funding Opportunities
Internal and external funding opportunities collected by the CTSI.
CTSI PilotsThe Translational Pilot Program will solicit, review and award pilot grants designed to produce and test novel tools and methods to bridge translational gaps. |
Ignition FundsProviding ignition funding to accelerate progress for clinical and translational research projects. |
K12 FundingProviding 2-3 years of support for early-career research faculty from Wake Forest. |
Community Partnered Research AwardCommunity Engagement provides funding to support community and academic researchers via the Community Partnered Research Award. |
Special Populations Voucher FundsStudies that identify a financial need can request funds from the voucher program to help overcome barriers related to transportation, child care, etc. |
Team Grant AcceleratorSupporting planning, pre-award, and post-award stages to incentivize investigators to pursue new large awards. |
Internal
Recurring Funding Opportunities:
- CTSI - Translational Pilot Program Ignition Funds - Deadline: 03/04/25
- CTSI - Research Salary Bridge Funding - Deadline: 04/01/25
- CTSI - Early Career Salary Support - Deadline: 04/01/25
School of Medicine and Advocate Health 2024 Requests For Proposals
The WFU Program for Leadership and Character invites proposals from any WFU School of Medicine or AHWFB or Advocate Health System employee with ideas for character development programs for current and/or future clinicians (i.e. students) and/or care team members.
Character in Medicine Grant
The Character in Medicine Grant exists to empower employees of the Wake Forest University and Advocate Health System to design, implement, and/or more rigorously assess educational programs that promote participants’ character development. This grant will fund proposals to launch pilot projects, revise existing programs, and/or implement research and/or assessment on programs to better understand their character growth impacts. Funding amount will vary from $1,000 to $30,000. Projects costing above $7,500 require a preliminary discussion with Elizabeth Whiting and/or Lauren Iley-Spear.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis between May 2024 – August 2025. Faculty or staff from The Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Advocate Health System are encouraged to apply. Estimated time required to complete application: 30+ minutes. Download Character in Medicine Grant Application.
Contact Elizabeth Whiting or Lauren Iley-Spear with questions.
March Deadlines
The Center for Healthcare Innovation Announces that LAUNCH 2025 is Accepting Applications
LAUNCH is the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Center for Healthcare Innovation’s annual innovation incubator, competition and accelerator program. The 3-day this year will be back in Winston-Salem on September 4-6. This event brings together leading industry experts across the Advocate Health enterprise to not only compete for funding and personnel support on their project, but also to network and collaborate with individuals across the system. We encourage all of our applicants to have teams comprised of members from more than one market or region.
First established in 2022, the main goal of LAUNCH is to identify and accelerate the development of solutions pertaining to various issues across the healthcare system. Each year, a theme is chosen that best fits both the efforts by the Center for Healthcare Innovation (CHI) and its sponsors but also the larger enterprise.
THEME: For LAUNCH 2025, CHI is seeking innovative solutions and enablement strategies related to pragmatic research or “discovery to bedside to home” around the theme of digital care navigation. The discovery/research should be focused on new care models or new/improved uses of AI, software, or device technology that improves pathways in clinical care and/or in clinical trials. Submissions are encouraged from the Research Centers and the Service Lines. Some suggested project focus areas include: "Moving Wellness in the Home” and/or “Digital Tools to Support Clinical Trials.”
See the LAUNCH 2025 RFA for additional details. All applications will be submitted through REDCap and must be received by March 24, 2025 at 5:59pm EST. If you have any additional questions or trouble applying for the LAUNCH Program, please email Renee Woodard or Andricka Oliver.
Research Centers
An Institutionally-Supported Research Center is an interdepartmental unit focused predominantly on translational, clinical and/or basic science research which facilitates development of a common, focused research agenda aligned with strategic priorities, coordinating contributions from multiple disciplines (other centers, divisions/departments, and programs). We are pleased to announce the following opportunities are now available:
- Research Centers – The purpose of this RFA is to invite applications to develop an Institutionally-Supported Advocate Health/Wake Forest University School of Medicine Research Center. This document also provides the framework for a renewal application of an existing center. Research Centers support mature areas of research that reflect depth in translational, clinical and/or basic science research. View the full RFA for Research Centers here.
- Emerging Research Centers - The purpose of this RFA is to invite applications to develop an Institutionally-Supported Advocate Health/Wake Forest University School of Medicine Emerging Research Center. This document also provides the framework for a renewal application of an existing center. Emerging Research Centers support new ideas in need of investment for growth. The investment is intended to catalyze the formation of a team for the specific purpose of developing a strategic vision in order to grow a critical base of extramurally funded research. This research can be established in translational, clinical and/or basic science research. View the full RFA for Emerging Research Centers here.
Direct questions and applications to Lynne Wagenknecht, Vice Dean for Population Health Research, and/or Lindsay Trost, CTSI Administrative Director.
Foundation
Interested applicants may contact the Foundations Relations team at foundations@wakehealth.edu.
| Infectious Disease | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | Enhancing HIV and TB Diagnosis: Adjunct Technologies for Sample Collection and Processing |
$250,000 | 3/25/2025 |
| Varied | Human Frontier Science Program | Research Grants - Program LOI |
$500,000 | 3/27/2025 |
| Pediatrics | Gerber Foundation | Pediatric Research Grant Concept Paper |
$350,000 | 5/15/2025 |
The Duke Endowment
The Duke Endowment has a long history of supporting our health system across the Carolinas.
In accordance with the Endowment's request, all inquiries from the health system will be routed through the designated Philanthropy/Foundation representatives in each market. If you are based in the Charlotte market, please reach out to Rachel Ellis. Those in the Winston market, please contact Chad Daniel.
The Duke Endowment will not accept or review any applications submitted directly by faculty who have not coordinated with the Philanthropy/Foundation representative in their market. This ensures all submissions are properly managed and align with the Endowment's expectations and current funding priorities.
Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Scholar Award
The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Scholar Award seeks novel approaches to treat rare diseases. Proposals of interest include discoveries demonstrating rigorous science, innovation, and potential for clinical impact. Projects with novel, validated targets are of particular interest. The current focus areas of the OHC are neurological disorders, developmental and metabolic disorders, and rare cancers, but we welcome applications directed to other rare, genetic indications with a high unmet need. Any therapeutic modality will be considered.
Key considerations also include:
- Novel approaches to treat rare diseases (either European or US definition of a rare disease can be applied. Ultra-rare diseases will also be considered)
- Potential to be developed into a commercial program
- Strong intellectual property (IP) or protection strategy
For more information, including eligibility requirements, please visit their website.
Deadline: March 10, 2025
William T. Grant Foundation: 2025 William T. Grant Scholars Program
The William T. Grant Foundation is inviting eligible institutions to nominate one (1) faculty member to apply for the 2025 William T. Grant Scholars Program. The Foundation’s mission is to support research to improve the lives of young people ages 5-25 in the United States. They pursue this mission by supporting research within two focus areas. Researchers interested in applying for a William T. Grant Scholars Award must select one focus area: Reducing Inequality or Improving the Use of Research Evidence.
Applicants must be a Wake Forest University School of Medicine faculty member. Applicants must have received their terminal degree within seven years of submitting their application. Applicants must be in career-ladder positions. Scholars will receive $425,000 over five years.
Interested applicants should submit pre-proposals following the Limited Submission Pre-Proposal Instructions electronically to the application system by Friday, March 21, 2025, at 11:59PM EST.
For more details, please see the RFA.
Deadlines:
Internal Deadline: March 21, 2025, 11:59PM EST
Selection of External Applicant: April 7, 2025
External Mentor and Reference Letter Deadline: June 11, 2025, 3PM EST
External Application Deadline: July 1, 2025, 3PM EST
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Presents Global Grand Challenges
On behalf of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are pleased to announce five new Grand Challenges (GC) requests for proposals (RFPs). We encourage you to apply to the Challenges for which you are eligible - and to share this information with other interested parties.
Like all Grand Challenges projects over 20-plus years, the newly announced RFPs will foster innovation to address urgent global priorities, and the grantees, funders, and others in the Grand Challenges network will work in the spirit of partnership to maximize their combined impact.
We invite you to read summaries of selected Grand Challenges grants, explore an interactive world map of projects across the Grand Challenges network, and sign up on the Grand Challenges website to receive email updates.
The deadline for all of the following opportunities is March 25, 2025 at 11:30 AM PDT.
- "Innovations for Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery," a unique collaboration among three partners, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wellcome, and the Gates Foundation. Through this GC RFP, the partners are launching a new initiative, the Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery Innovator (Gr-ADI). Gr-ADI will bring together funders, research institutions, and industry partners to address the problem of anti-microbial resistance, now the third leading cause of death globally. This RFP serves as the source of Gr-ADI's first projects and is focused on the discovery of antibiotics with broad spectrum activity against Enterobacteriaceae, using Klebsiellaspp. as the pathogen to initiate a discovery program.
- "Accelerating Innovations to Address Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Women in Low-Resource Settings"
- "Enhancing HIV and TB Diagnosis: Adjunct Technologies for Sample Collection and Processing"
- "Innovative Data and Modeling Approaches to Measure Women's Health"
- "Reducing the Burden of Preeclampsia"
The following informational webinars are planned for these opportunities:
Accelerating Innovations to Address Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Women in Low-Resource Settings:
- February 25, 7:00-8:00 AM Pacific Time - webinar link/submit a question
Enhancing HIV and TB Diagnosis: Adjunct Technologies for Sample Collection and Processing:
- February 26, 6:00-7:00 AM Pacific Time - webinar link/submit a question
Innovations for Gram-Negative Antibiotic Discovery:
- February 27, 6:00-7:00 AM Pacific Time - webinar link/submit a question
Reducing the Burden of Preeclampsia:
- February 27, 7:30-8:30 AM Pacific Time - webinar link/submit a question
NIH
- RFA-AG-24-039: Development and Validation of Harmonized Methodologies to Measure NAD+ and Related Metabolites in Clinical Trials (U01 Clinical Trial Required)
- PAR-23-240: Alcohol and Other Substance Use Research Education Programs for Health Professionals (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Professional Associations and Societies
Please refer to the individual Program or Funding Opportunity Announcement for deadline information.
- American Cancer Society
- The Triological Society
- American Heart Association
- American Gastroenterological Association
- American Federation for Aging Research
- Alzheimer's Association
- ALS Association
- American Diabetes Association
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education
- Society for Pediatric Dermatology
Other Opportunities
Veterans Affairs (VA) Research Career Development Award (CDA)
The VISN 6 Career Development Award (CDA) program supports the identification and development of qualified investigators in VISN 6 VA facilities. These investigators are intended to conduct research that directly addresses health care needs in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). While CDA’s are open for all research areas, preference will be given to scientifically sound projects addressing VHA and VISN 6 priorities and proposals for clinical research, rehabilitation research, health services research, and/or translational research with strong clinical relevance.
VISN 6 VA CDA provides 62.5% effort support (up to a max of $190K/year) for two years + $85K per year for a research study expenses to support junior investigators in furtherance of a research career in areas applicable to Veteran health. This opportunity is for junior investigators that are US citizens within 8 years of final training program graduation. For more information, view the RFA. If you have any questions, please reach out to Robin Hurley, MD, FANPA.
The deadline for CDA applications is March 10, 2025. Funding must start July 01, 2025.
All of Us Research Program
All of Us Research Program Seeks Engagement and Enrollment Partners: The National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program has issues a new funding opportunity soliciting proposals to support outreach, community engagement and participant enrollment and retention efforts. The opportunity spans four specific areas of interest, including community, participant and health care provider engagement, enrollment and retention; researcher engagement; Tribal engagement; and integration of participants and advocates in program oversight.
• Proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis through May 23, 2025
• Read the Full Announcement
NeuroNEXT Grant
The NeuroNEXT Network is designed to efficiently conduct Phase II Clinical Trials. NeuroNEXT Network is now accepting proposals. Applications for exploratory clinical trials of investigational agents (drugs, biologics, surgical therapies or devices) that may contribute to the justification for and provide the data required for designing a future trial, for biomarker validation studies, or for proof of mechanism clinical studies are encouraged. Successful applicants will be given access to the NeuroNEXT infrastructure to support the efficient implementation of the proposed study at multiple sites and statistical and data management.
If you are interested, please schedule a meeting to discuss your proposal with the NeuroNEXT Study Team. This opportunity is ongoing until 2028.
- Benefits of Partnering with NeuroNEXT
- Applying for a NeuroNEXT Grant
- Contact: Mysha Sissine, Program Manager
Additional Resources
Listed below are some quick ways to find external funding opportunities through search mechanisms and announcement listservs.
Additional Resources
- For detailed information on funding opportunities, search www.grants.gov with keywords related to your research interests.
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- NIH Career Development Awards (K-Series)
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- North Carolina Biotechnology Center