Brain Research Foundation 2012 Seed Grant Application Guidelines (Illinois Only)

Please note the LOI period for the the 2012 Seed Grant Program has closed. Please check back in the future for information on 2013 submissions.

The Brain Research Foundation’s (BRF) annual seed grant program was initiated in 1981. Since that time, we have awarded 589 seed grants, totaling more than $9.2 million. The purpose of our program is to provide start-up monies for new research projects in the field of neuroscience that will likely lead to extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other outside funding sources. Click here to read about current and past research projects we've helped support.

The Brain Research Foundation’s Scientific Review Committee will review the Seed Grant proposals and make recommendations for funding to the Foundation. The Committee consists of senior scientists broadly representing the various neuroscience-related programs. Two or more representatives of the Brain Research Foundation are also present when the Committee meets.

  • Objective
  • Funding and award period
  • Funding preferences
  • Utilization of funds
  • Eligibility
  • Nondiscrimination statement
  • Application procedures
  • Review procedures
  • Animal and Human subject assurances

Objective

The objective of the Seed Grant Program is to support new and innovative projects, especially those of junior faculty, who are working in new research directions. The BRF Seed Grant awards are not intended to supplement existing grants. 

Funding and award period

Based on the quality of applications, the Brain Research Foundation anticipates the Seed Grant program will fund a total of $400,000 - $600,000 in grants. Each total award is limited to $40,000 (direct costs) for a one-year grant period from the specified dates only. The first grant payment of $37,500 will be made upon completion of the Seed Grant Acceptance Form. The final payment of $2,500 will be made contingent upon receipt of a Preliminary Financial Report 30 days before the end date of the grant period. Note: If applying for funding the following year and accepted into Phase II (submitting a full application), PI will be required to turn in an additional financial report with the application.


Funds must be utilized within the grant period. Financial and progress reports, including a lay summary, will be required within 30 days of the end of the grant period. 

Funding preferences

  • Funding is to be directed at pilot research projects that are both innovative and will likely lead to successful grant applications to NIH and other public and private funding entities.
  • Assistant Professor - Junior faculty with a new research project that will generate pilot data that will lead to RO1 funding or a comparable outside grant will be first priority.
  • Associate Professor/Professor - Senior Faculty who are pursuing new research directions. Must explain how the project is a new research direction. Must provide abstract for current grant(s).
  • PI can receive a maximum of 2 consecutive years of funding. PI may reapply after one year of not receiving funding.
  • Seed Grants are NOT to be used for bridge funding between grants.
Note: The Brain Research Foundation may fund up to five renewals of Seed Grantees. 

Utilization of funds

100% of these Seed Grant funds must be utilized for direct costs. 

Costs that may be covered by Seed Grant funds include: 
  • Purchase and care of laboratory animals 
  • Small pieces of laboratory equipment, totaling $5,000 or less
  • Laboratory supplies 
  • Salary for scientific (including postdoctoral fellows) and technical staff (including laboratory technicians)

Costs not permitted: 
  • Facilities and administrative costs
  • Salary recovery for the PI
  • Domestic and foreign travel
  • Conference or seminar fees
  • Personal computers, computer hardware or software
  • Large laboratory equipment
  • Tuition reimbursement
Publications resulting in projects funded in whole or part by the BRF seed grant will acknowledge the BRF as a funding source. 

Eligibility

To be eligible, PI must be a tenure-track or tenured faculty, at an institution in Illinois, working in the area of studies of the brain function. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease. The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. 

  • PI is ineligible to submit more than one BRF Seed Grant proposal in a funding period.
  • PI is ineligible if you they BRF funding that will overlap this grant period.
  • Pi is ineligible if they have been awarded prior BRF funding, but have failed to submit scientific and financial reports at the end of their one year grant period.
  • PI is ineligible if they are not tenure-track or tenured faculty at an institution in Illinois.
  • Pi is ineligible if they are a member of the BRF Scientific Review Committee.

Nondiscrimination statement

The Brain Research Foundation does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, color, ethnic origin, and age. 

Application procedures

The application process will be conducted in two phases. 

Phase I: Letter of Intent (LOI) – The first step in applying for a BRF seed grant is to submit a Letter of Intent. The purpose of the LOI is to determine worthy projects that will be asked to submit a complete Seed Grant application for further review. The LOI and invited application must be submitted by a single investigator. 

The LOI form includes:
  • Name and academic title of PI
  • Contact information, including mailing address, telephone number, fax number, and email address
  • Title of program project
  • Brief summary of program project including proposed budget
The deadline for LOI submission is December 1, 2011, at 4:00 pm CT. LOI will not be accepted after the deadline. No exceptions will be made. 

Phase II: Application – If the LOI receives a favorable review, PI will be invited to submit a seed grant application.

The 5-page grant proposal deadline is March 1, 2012, 4:00 pm CT. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline. No exceptions will be made. 

Review procedures

LOI submissions are reviewed and rated by the BRF Scientific Review Committee. So there is not a conflict of interest, the proposals will not be reviewed by committee members from the same institution as the applicant. (Note: Review procedures and guidelines will be followed according to NIH Conflict of Interest, Confidentiality and Non Disclosure Rules.) 

Grant applications are subject to a two-stage peer-review process. In the first stage, proposals are reviewed and rated by senior scientists from the BRF Scientific Review Committee. The second stage includes further review and discussion of the scores and comments resulting from the initial review process. This process is also carried out by the BRF Scientific Review Committee.

Animal and human subject assurances

The Brain Research Foundation requires animal welfare and human subject certifications that apply to your specific project. The certifications are not required for the LOI, but are required when submitting a completed grant application. 

For more information about seed grant application process, you may contact the Brain Research Foundation by email or by calling (312) 759-5150. 
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