April 18, 2022

Limited Submission Opportunity: Mathers Foundation Grant Program, Summer 2022; deadline is May 16

These instructions are for VUMC investigators. VU investigators should apply through InfoReady and address any questions to VU-LSO@vanderbilt.edu.

VUMC may submit up to four letters of intent for the summer 2022 cycle of the Mathers Foundation grant program. The mission of The G. Harold and Leila Y. Mathers Foundation is to advance knowledge in the life sciences by sponsoring scientific research that will benefit mankind. The Foundation’s grants program seeks to support innovative, potentially transformative basic science projects in fields including immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, and neuroscience. The grant duration is three years and requested budgets should be realistic for the project (consider the type of investigation, models used, supply requirements, size of the team, etc.) Indirect costs may not exceed 10%.

Funding Priorities:

  • The Foundation primarily supports basic science, ideally with potential translational applications.
  • Immunology, microbiome, genomics, structural biology, cellular physiology, neuroscience, etc. are noteworthy examples of current research support. Plant Biology and Oceanography research will not be considered for support.
  • Requests for funding previous federally supported research, and/or applications pending federal approval will not be accorded priority consideration.
  • Requests for support of clinical trials or drug discovery will not be approved.
  • Investigations in basic science and translational research may be reliant on collaborative, interdisciplinary projects. Interdisciplinary project proposals may require additional information regarding collaborator(s)’ achievements and relevant expertise.
  • Awards may not be used to purchase capital equipment.
  • LOIs that have been declined should not be resubmitted.
  • Renewal applications for the same or related research will not be accorded priority consideration, and applicants should consider proposing a new research direction.

See the program page for more information.

Internal Application Process:

Anyone interested in being considered as one of VUMC’s nominees must submit the following (in a single PDF) to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by 5 p.m. on May 16:

  1. Brief research plan including summary budget (2 page maximum);
  2. Include discussion of previous or related work in the field, e.put your proposal in context of previous/ongoing efforts from your own group or other investigators.
  3. Letter of support from department chair/center director;
  4. Brief CV or NIH Biosketch(5 page maximum)

Submissions should reference the program name in the subject line of the email.  Any questions about this opportunity or the LSO process may be directed to LSO@vanderbilt.edu.