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. |
Voucher AwardStudies 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. |
Recurring Funding Opportunities
The CTSI is proud to offer these funding mechanisms:
- Ignition Funding
Deadline: 2/3/26
- Research Salary Bridge Funding
Deadline: 4/1/26
- Early Career Salary Support
Deadline: 4/1/26
School of Medicine and Advocate Health 2026 Requests For Proposals
The Wake Forest University Program for Leadership and Character invites proposals from any Wake Forest University 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 2026: 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.
The Character in Medicine Grant is hosted by Wake Forest University’s Program for Leadership and Character, which “inspires, educates, and empowers leaders of character to serve humanity.” Toward this end, the Program develops and disseminates evidence-based educational programming that supports professionals’ growth as leaders of character. The Kern Family Foundation funds the work of the Program for Leadership and Character in medical education.
Funding amount will vary from $1,000 to $30,000. Any project over $7,500 will require assessment; see more info in the Application Questions section.
Any employee of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and/or Advocate Health System whose job responsibilities include designing, delivering, and/or assessing educational programming may apply for a Character in Medicine grant. Award recipients must be connected to an office (or resources) that will be able to carry out all of the program spending, reimbursements and budget tracking.
The Program is currently accepting applications for projects that will:
- Have a start date at least 2 months out from application submission in order to allow time for review. Review periods can take between two to six weeks.
Download Character in Medicine Grant Application.
Contact Suzanne Danhauer, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Well-being at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, or Lauren Iley-Spear, Program for Leadership and Character in the Professional Schools, with questions.
January Deadlines
__________________________________________________________
Robert A. Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA)
Step into the future of medical research with the Robert A. Winn Career Development Award (Winn CDA)—a transformative opportunity for early-career physicians who are ready to spark real change in their fields and communities! This two-year program isn’t just about research; it’s about igniting your potential through an immersive 4.5-day workshop, a cutting-edge curriculum focused on community engagement, and a dynamic, multi-tiered mentorship model. As a Winn CDA Scholar, you’ll collaborate with renowned leaders, shape the future of clinical trials in cancer, cardiovascular, cardiometabolic, or neuropsychiatric disease, and gain hands-on experience as both a mentee and a mentor.
Webinars for interested applicants will be held virtually January 12th, February 10th and March 11th. To register for one of the webinar sessions, please click here.
The Award
$240k over 2 years ($120K/year for 2 years) to cover a portion of the scholar’s salary — approximately 40% of their time — allowing them the protected space needed to fully engage in the program’s intensive training and research activities. (Note: Awards will be given to organizations, not to individuals). The award is intended to support the career development of the scholar; it does NOT fund the project in the application.
Eligibility
- Must have a demonstrated commitment to improving patient participation in clinical trials.
- Must be a physician (MD, DO, or international equivalent) AND have an active US medical license.
- Must be a US Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
- Must focus on one of the following clinical research areas: cancer, cardiovascular or cardiometabolic diseases, or neuropsychiatry.
- Must be in the first to eighth year of a full time clinical faculty appointment.
Program Components
- At the start of the program, Winn CDA Scholars participate in a 4.5-day intensive workshop on Design and Implementation of Clinical Trials (Winn-AACR DICT Workshop).
- Then, over the course of 2 years, they engage in a Community-Oriented Clinical Trialist (COCT) curriculum that is designed to develop and train a new generation of first-rate clinical trialists with the additional knowledge, skills, and competencies to effectively engage with communities to foster active community participation in clinical and translational research.
- Tiered mentoring: scholars receive mentorship from established principal investigators at their institution (Institutional Mentors). Scholars will also receive mentorship from the Winn-AACR DICT Faculty and Program Mentors. Scholars will serve as mentors to a student participating in the Winn Clinical Investigator Pathway Program (Winn CIPP) during the summer of the first year.
Spring Deadlines
__________________________________________________________
More Information Coming Soon!
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 Funding Opportunities
Interested applicants may contact the Foundation Relations Team.
| Dermatology | National Psoriasis Foundation | Bridge Grant |
$100,000 | 1/30/2026 |
| Cancer, Pediatrics | Children's Tumor Foundation | Clinical Research Award LOI | $200,000 | 2/3/2026 |
| Orthopaedics | Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation | OREF/Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation Research Grant | $100,000 | 2/16/2026 |
View More Foundation Funding Opportunities
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.
__________________________________________________________
Other
_______________________________________________
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
NIH
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
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