FY25 Application period is closed.
FY25 McDonnell Cellular Small Grants Application
Overview: Applications are welcomed from investigators whose research fits within the Center’s overall mission, which is to improve our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying nervous system function in health and disease. Many specific areas of investigation are within this scope, including but not limited to brain development, neural stem cell biology, axon and dendrite biology, synapse function, receptor biology, membrane channels, transporters, growth factors, signaling mechanisms, control of gene expression, mechanisms of intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders and other neuropsychiatric disorders, brain tumors, and neurodegenerative diseases.
The program promotes:
- Pilot projects
- Collaborative ventures featuring interdisciplinary approaches including between basic scientists and clinical investigators
- Significant new research directions not readily supported by standard grant sources
Eligibility:
- Applications must originate from tenure track or research faculty, at or above the level of Assistant Professor on any track.
- Applications are encouraged from faculty not previously supported by either of the McDonnell Centers.
- For those faculty who have previously received support, priority will be given to those who have not received support in the past 5 years.
Awards:
- Grants will be awarded for a period of one year, with a maximum budget of $50,000, starting July 1, 2024.
- Funds can be used to acquire equipment, research supplies, and/or for personnel, including Postdoctoral Research Associates (but not for the Principal Investigator).
- Travel to conduct research or present findings is allowed (must be modest).
- Laptops/desktops/tablets are generally not allowed. A compelling justification and prior approval are required.
Usage:
- Funds must be used within WU and cannot be sent to other institutions.
- No-cost extension requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Proposal Submission:
- Specific instructions are found on the first page of the application form: as described, proposals must respect limits on number of pages, font size and margins.
- Proposals not conforming to the new limits may be returned without review.
- Completed applications should be assembled into a single PDF and sent to the Project Manager (Carmen Horn, horn_c@wustl.edu).
- They will be reviewed by the Small Grants Review Committee with decisions made and notifications sent in June; award periods will commence on July 1st.
For questions, contact Carmen Horn.