Tell a Friend | Sign Up for Newsletter | Latest News

font size: A | A | A

Brain Research Foundation seed grant application guidelines


The Brain Research Foundation’s (BRF) annual seed grant program was initiated in 1981. Since that time, we have awarded 557 seed grants, totaling more than $7.9 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 throughout Chicago. Two or more representatives of the Brain Research Foundation are also present when the Committee meets.

Objective

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

Return to top

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. 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 Final Progress Report and Final Financial Report within 60 days of the end date of the grant period.

Funds must be utilized within one year of disbursement. Financial and scientific reports, including a lay summary, will be required at the end of the grant period.

Return to top

Funding preferences

The Brain Research Foundation’s order of funding preference is as follows: Young investigators with a new research project Senior faculty who are pursuing new research directions BRF Scientific Review Committee’s view that the seed grant proposal will lead to additional NIH funding Applicant’s success with prior seed grant funding

Note: The Brain Research Foundation may fund up to five renewals of Seed Grantees.

Return to top

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 and 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
Publications resulting in projects funded in whole or part by the BRF seed grant will acknowledge the Brain Research Foundation as a funding source.

Return to top

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be a tenure-track or tenured faculty, at a greater Chicago area institution, working in neurobiology and associated disciplines. The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources.
  • You are ineligible to submit more than one BRF Seed Grant proposal in a funding period.
  • You are ineligible if you have been awarded prior BRF funding, but have failed to submit scientific and financial reports at the end of their one-year grant period.
  • You are ineligible if you are a member of the BRF Scientific Review Committee.

Return to top

Nondiscrimination statement

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

Return to top

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
NOTE: The deadline for LOI submission is December 1, 2009, 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, you will be invited to submit a Seed Grant application.

NOTE: The 5-page grant proposal deadline is March 1, 2010, 4:00 pm CT. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline. No exceptions will be made.

Return to top

Review procedures

LOI submissions are reviewed and rated by six to eight scientists from 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 six to eight 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 you submit 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.

Return to top