Funding and Grants

Pilot Grants

Accepting Applications Now.

NOTE:  After submissions have been approved at UofL, they must be submitted to NIGMS for final approval and funding. 

To Apply: Please send applications as a single pdf to Steve Mahanes at steve.mahanes@louisville.edu.

Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026

Funding: Available funding is up to $75,000/yr in annual direct costs for one year (up to $50,000/yr. in annual direct costs from the NIH with an additional $25,000/year in institutional matching funding from the University). A second year of support may be offered but is not guaranteed and will depend on the availability of funds and the scientific productivity of the pilot project team.

Eligibility: UofL early-stage faculty members, and fellows who have completed residency but are still in training, as well as those from LCTRC participating institutions, UofL Health, Norton Healthcare, Robley Rex VAMC, and Owensboro Health, are eligible to apply.  Applicants must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree. All junior faculty (i.e., assistant professors and instructors) will require a letter of support from their Division Director or Chair indicating a commitment to recruit or retain the faculty and a letter of support from the primary mentor.

Audience: The pilot awards are specially designed to lead to early career awards such as NIH K-awards.  These applications must be clinical/translational in nature.  This round will favor applications from junior investigators (per NIH definition of a New Investigator (NI) or an Early-Stage Investigator (ESI)). 

Application Requirements: 

• NIH Form, Page 1: Face Page (does not require a signature)
• NIH Form, Page 2: Project Summary
• NIH Biosketch of PI
• NIH Biosketch of Primary Mentor
• NIH Biosketch of Secondary Mentors
• Abstract of Proposed Work (150 words or less)
• Specific Aims (1 page maximum)
• Research Plan (3 pages maximum excluding references and including 1) Background and Significance; 2) Innovation; 3) Approach, including statistics; and 4) Brief description of mentoring plan and future funding plans)
• Letter(s) of Support
• Human Subjects & Vertebrae Animals Forms will be required before funding is released from NIH

A biostatistical consultation is required. Request a biostatistical consultation.

Questions: Contact the LCTRC at LCTRC@louisville.edu. 

Developmental Grants

Accepting Applications Now.

NOTE:  After submissions have been approved at UofL, they must be submitted to NIGMS for final approval and funding. 

To Apply: Please send applications as a single pdf to Steve Mahanes at steve.mahanes@louisville.edu.

Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026

Funding: Available funding is up to $125,000/yr in annual direct costs for one year (up to $75,000/yr. in annual direct costs from the NIH with an additional $50,000/year in institutional matching funding from the University). A second year of support may be offered but is not guaranteed and will depend on the availability of funds and the scientific productivity of the pilot project team.

Eligibility: UofL early-stage faculty members, as well as those from LCTRC participating institutions, UofL Health, Norton Healthcare, Robley Rex VAMC, and Owensboro Health, are eligible to apply.  The applicant must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree. All junior faculty (i.e., assistant professors and instructors) will require a letter of support indicating a commitment to recruit or retain the faculty at a participating institution and a letter of support from the primary mentor.

Audience: The project should be led by an investigator with the background and scientific expertise to lead the proposed research. Grants should address a health concern of importance to Kentuckians. Those performing community-engaged research are especially encouraged to apply. This round will favor applications from junior faculty, and applications may include a mentoring component.

Application Requirements: 

• NIH Form, Page 1: Face Page (does not require a signature)
• NIH Form, Page 2: Project Summary
• NIH Form, Page 4: Detailed Budget for Initial Budget Period
• NIH Form, Page 5: Budget for Entire Proposed Project Period and Detailed Budget Justification
• NIH Biosketch of PI 
• NIH Biosketch of Primary Mentor
• NIH Biosketch of Secondary Mentors 
• Abstract of Proposed Work (150 words or less)
• Specific Aims (1 page maximum)
• Research Plan (6 pages maximum excluding references and including 1) Background and Significance; 2) Innovation; 3) Approach, including statistics; and 4) Brief description of mentoring plan and future funding plans)
• Letter(s) of Support (if applicable) 
• Human Subjects & Vertebrae Animals Forms (if applicable)

A biostatistical consultation is required. Request a biostatistical consultation.

Questions: Contact the LCTRC at LCTRC@louisville.edu. 

Presidential Scholarship

No Longer Accepting Applications. A new request for proposals will be announced in early 2027.

View the Presidential Scholars webpage for additional information.

PURPOSE: 
The Louisville Clinical and Translational Research Center (LCTRC) is seeking applications to support faculty who need to protect their research time to build their research careers. We shall appoint up to two faculty annually to the prestigious Presidential Scholars program. Presidential Scholars will be provided 50% protected time for research for one year. A second year of support may be offered but is not guaranteed and will depend on the availability of funds and scientific productivity. 

Presidential Scholars will benefit from mentorship and career development support from the LCTRC. This solicitation is well suited to faculty who are preparing for a career conducting independent research and major grant support (e.g. NIH, DOD, or Foundations). Presidential Scholar awards will favor applications from faculty within 5 years of their initial faculty appointment and who have not yet secured substantial research funding as principal investigator.

For clarity, an investigator who has secured an NIH K-award, an R-01 award, or similar-sized awards from other agencies would not be eligible for consideration. However, applicants who have secured smaller, short duration research awards like NIH R-21 or R-03 grants are eligible and competitive. Areas of research can be clinical and/or translational research or basic science research with clinical and translational significance through the process of turning laboratory, clinic, and community observations into interventions that improve health. Projects very close to initiation will be given priority, so projects for which the relevant human subjects and/or animal care and use reviews are in process or approved may be given priority.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: 
Applicants must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree. The Presidential Scholar Program applicants must be University of Louisville faculty in any academic unit at the University of Louisville. Faculty on the tenure-track or the term-track will be given preference. 

Faculty must have Department Chair approval.

SELECTION & SCORING METHOD: 
Scores will be based on the current NIH scale, ranging from 1.0 (outstanding, few weaknesses) to 9.0 (major weaknesses). Reviewers will be asked to provide scores with feedback and an overall impact paragraph that includes comments on the proposed work's significance and potential impact, relevance to the Louisville Clinical and Translational Research Center’s mission, and overall project strengths and weaknesses.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES: 
Applications must be submitted online using the InfoReady platform. UofL applicants do not need to register to use the InfoReady system. Applicants should click on the application for Presidential Scholars at InfoReady - Applications (infoready4.com) and log in with their UofL credentials by clicking the University 
of Louisville Login in the blue box at the top of the page. 

Applicants will need to create a profile and answer basic information before uploading the required forms and PDFs. All applicants will be notified if they have been selected to receive or not receive a Presidential 
Scholars award. 

The application packet must include the following (applicants are required to use NIH PHS 398 forms): 
1. NIH Form Page 1: Face Page (no signature required)
2. NIH Biosketch of Candidate
3. NIH Biosketch of Primary and Secondary Mentors
4. The Specific Aims of the project (limited to 1 page) - PDF
5. Research Strategy (3 to 6 pages (maximum) excluding references) - PDF
The Presidential Scholars application will not fund research projects, only faculty time. However, reviewers need to assess the applicant’s career development strategy in the context of their research plans. Please provide a research plan up to six pages.
6. Mentorship Plan (3 page maximum) - PDF
Mentor(s) Selection: Describe the mentor(s) you have selected for the program, including their qualifications and experience in clinical and translational research. Mentoring Goals: Outline the specific goals of the mentorship and how the mentor(s) will support your career development and research. Collaborative Environment: Describe how the mentor(s) and any collaborators will create a
supportive research environment and contribute to your success in the program.
7. Career Plan (3 page maximum) – PDF
Short-Term and Long-Term Goals: Clearly outline your career goals, both in the short term and long term, and how they align with the objectives of the CTR program. Skills and Knowledge: Describe the skills and knowledge you aim to develop through the program and how these will contribute to your career trajectory. Alignment with Research Interests: Discuss how the program will help you achieve your research and career goals, ensuring alignment with your current 
and future research interests. Milestones and Timeline: Provide a timeline of key milestones you plan to achieve during the program.
8. Letters of Support (2 or 3, of which 1 letter must be from the primary mentor) -PDF
At least one letter from a current or past research mentor who can speak to your research potential, experience, and commitment to a research career. Letters should address your qualifications in relation to the evaluation criteria: research experience, leadership, research potential, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Additional letters may come from faculty or professionals who can provide insights into your academic achievements, leadership abilities, and readiness for the program, such as the Department Chair or Division Chief.
NIH PHS 398 forms can be found here: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html

SUPPORT: 
To request support or a consultation regarding your application, email LCTRC@louisville.edu or Kristi.Treitman@louisville.edu. 

For questions regarding accessing or navigating the InfoReady application, email resdevel@louisville.edu.

Dean's Research Scholars

No Longer Accepting Applications. A new request for proposals will be announced in September 2026. 

View the Dean's Research Scholars webpage for additional information.

PURPOSE: An opportunity for aspirant physician scientists. The University of Louisville Center for Clinical and Translational Research offers an opportunity for University of Louisville Medical Students to apply to the Dean’s Research Scholars Program. 

The prestigious Dean’s Research Scholars Program provides: 

• One-year, full-time paid research fellowship for medical students dedicated to becoming physician scientists that conduct research to improve human health.
• Discussions on various biomedical topics led by established physician-scientists.
• An end-of-the-year meeting where fellows present their work and attend mentoring/career guidance workshops.
• A mentoring program that includes guidance in residency selection and ongoing career advice. 

By providing medical students with opportunities to spend dedicated time in research, the LCTRC Dean’s Scholars Program aims to increase the pipeline of future physician-scientists. Training today’s medical students in clinical and translational research provides intensive mentored training experience that will advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. 

We shall select up to four Dean’s Scholars. The fellowship supports one year of mentored, research training in any area of biomedical research that promises to ultimately transform health. Single-degree medical students in good academic standing, and who have passed the USMLE Step 1 examination and who are interested in a dual career in research and patient care are eligible for selection as Dean’s Scholars. The proposed project must be in the basic, translational, or clinical biomedical sciences. The Dean’s Scholar Program does not fund health services, or health policy research. We shall support projects that expose students to how research advances fundamental understanding related to health. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: 

Applicants must be in good academic standing and must be enrolled in the University of Louisville School of Medicine as either 3rd year or 2nd year students. Applicants must commit to conducting 12 months of continuous, full-time mentored research with minimal interruptions. The mentor must be faculty at the University of Louisville. Students who are selected as Dean’s Scholars will need to apply for a one-year leave of absence from the medical school to complete the Dean’s Scholar fellowship between M3 and M4 or between M2 and M3. Any 3rd year medical student applicant must have passed USMLE Step 1 on their first attempt. No second-year medical student will be appointed as a Dean’s Scholar without passing the USMLE Step 1 examination on first attempt before the start of the program. The Dean’s Scholars Program is committed to promoting diversity in science and research. We strongly encourage applications from members of minority groups underrepresented in medicine and science. 

STIPEND AND ALLOWANCES: 

For the 2026-2027 fellowship year the stipend is $50,000. Scholars are responsible for tuition and health insurance. The LCTRC will consider well-justified travel expenses for the scholar to attend a National Conference to present their work. 

SELECTION METHOD: 

Fellowships are awarded based on the applicant’s potential to become a physician-scientist and how the year out experience will enhance such potential. The applicant’s ability and promise are assessed through the personal statement and proposed research plan. Quality of training is evaluated through the research plan and information provided in the mentor’s endorsement, including the mentor’s research qualifications (expertise and publication record in the research area, external grant support to fund the research project for the entire proposed fellowship term). Evaluations of the review committee will not be made available to the applicant. 

APPLICATION GUIDELINES: 

We require the following components of a complete application: 

1. Personal Statement: Outline motivation for applying for the Dean’s Scholar Program. 1 PAGE MAXIMUM. 
2. CV: The student applicant’s curriculum vitae. 
3. Research Plan: Describe the specific aims of the research and outline the significance, innovation, and experimental approach. 3 PAGES MAXIMUM. 
4. Letter of Support from the faculty research mentor: Letter to provide assurance that the student will receive the resources needed to conduct the research, including dedicated mentoring of the student. 
5. Biosketch of Research Mentor: The research mentor’s NIH-format biosketch. 

We ask the applicant to develop a research plan in consultation with a UofL faculty research mentor. The applicant is responsible for selecting the research mentor and making arrangements to work in that person’s laboratory. The designated mentor must be the faculty member who will directly supervise the proposed research. A mentor can have only one applicant in any competition year. A mentor should have active research programs, sustained external grant support, a strong record of training students, and the time and interest to train the applicant. An applicant may have a co-mentor if their research plan crosses areas of expertise or if a co-mentor would strengthen the research training experience. 

SUPPORT: 

Inquiries, requests, and correspondence about Medical Scholars Research Fellowship should be directed to: Kristi Treitman Associate Director, Professional Development Dean’s Research Scholars Fellowship E-mail: kristi.treitman@louisville.edu