2024 Multidisciplinary Seed Grants in Immunology
The Cornell Center for Immunology invited applications for funding to pursue multidisciplinary research projects in Immunology for up to $50,000. Proposals were due at 5:00 pm on December 18, 2024, and awards were announced in February 2025. Support for this grant mechanism is provided by the Cornell Center for Immunology and the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation.
Technological advances are rapidly improving our ability to decipher the complexities of disease and immunity. Continued discovery increasingly requires multidisciplinary collaboration, and the Center for Immunology is dedicated to supporting teams of investigators who are able to work together to tackle complex questions and develop innovative technologies that will drive discovery forward. The Center is pleased to invite applications from groups of at least two independent research programs (one of which must have immunological expertise) aiming to submit collaborative grants (standard NSF, NIH multi-PI R01, P01, DOD CDMRP, or similar) featuring an immunological element within two years of receiving pilot project funding.
All applications to this seed grant mechanism must have an immunology component and must be multidisciplinary. To be considered multidisciplinary, the application needs to integrate at least two approaches (e.g. immunology and genomics; basic and applied research; in vivo and in vitro cellular biology, etc). PIs that represent at least two different departments are encouraged.
We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity. Please reach out to Deb Fowell (djf273@cornell.edu), who welcomes the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants on project responsiveness to the RFA.
Award:
$50,000 for one year, per project
Total Possible Awards:
3 – 4.
Eligibility:
- Applicants may request a maximum of $50,000 for the duration of one year and must meet Cornell’s eligibility requirements to serve as principal investigator on sponsored projects.
- While investigators from Weill Cornell cannot serve as PIs, collaboration across Cornell University campuses is welcomed and encouraged.
Application Process:
- Cover page (1-page maximum), including:
- the name and contact information of the Principal Investigator and co-PI(s)
- the project title and scope
- be sure to draw a clear connection between the objectives and the relevance to extramural funding opportunities in the cover letter.
- Abstract of up to 250 words that is appropriate to share in the public domain.
- Research Plan (3-page maximum),including specific objectives of the collaborative proposal
- Significance and Innovation
- Preliminary data
- Experimental design
- Budget (1-page maximum)
- Biosketch for all PIs
Please include current and pending funding for all PIs, if not included within biosketch.
Use of Funds:
Funds are restricted to research expenses, core facility charges, and non-faculty personnel; they cannot be used to support travel, faculty salary, or equipment purchases. Indirect costs are excluded.
Evaluation Criteria:
A panel will review applications. The following items will be score-driving:
- scientific merit and impact of proposed work
- strength and synergy of the collaboration; new collaborations are encouraged
- potential for future extramural funding
Inquiries:
Deb Fowell (djf273@cornell.edu)
Multidisciplinary Immunology Seed Grants
A call for multi-investigator seed grant applications to bring researchers together to tackle essential questions in plant, animal, and human health.
Collaborative Seed Grants – Immunology and Genomics
This was a call for multi-investigator seed grant applications at the intersection of immunology and genomics to support innovative multi-investigator projects that will bring together researchers in the fields of genomics and immunology to tackle essential questions.
Core Facilities Seed Grants – closed February 15, 2020.
This grant was seed funding to pursue immunology-related research projects that utilize modern high-throughput and genome-scale technologies with an emphasis on single cell approaches. Seed funds were intended to allow investigators to explore the use of new technologies, or to facilitate the generation of preliminary data to enhance future grant applications; through the use of services provided by Core Facilities at Cornell Ithaca and Weill Cornell Medicine.
