**Now up to $50,000/year for two years**
Application Deadline: 5:00 pm Friday, March 14, 2025
FY26 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 WashU Faculty. Faculty conducting research that aligns with the mission of the Center are eligible from any career track or stage from Instructor to Professor. If at instructor stage or on a non-tenure track (clinical or research track), a letter of support from the applicant’s Department Head stating the department’s commitment to the applicant’s research career development at WU is required.
- 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 up to $50,000 in directs/year for 1-2 years are awarded. Project start date will be July 1, 2025. The project’s full budget will be dispersed in YR1 and may be spent through YR2.
- 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.
- Funds are expected to be used within the time frame stated in the award. A one-time no-cost extension request of up to one year will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Proposal Submission:
- Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Friday, March 14, 2025.
- Applications not meeting the eligibility criteria or following the application instructions may be returned without review.
Submission: FY26 SGP instructions, facepage, and budget form. A single PDF including the full application should be submitted via REDCap.
For questions, contact Carmen Horn.