Funding Opportunities

Funding is available for a wide range of scientific activities—from very specific funder-defined projects to grants to support academics at conferences; from fellowships aimed at developing the skills of an early career researcher to grants to fund novel diabetes and obesity related project. 

The following list of funding opportunities is not exhaustive. Please visit the links below for more opportunities.

Effective Nov. 15, 2022: The use of the Office of Sponsored Projects Administration’s (OSPA’s) Other Support Portal will be REQUIRED for any National Institutes of Health (NIH) Other Support submission for any JIT request, RPPR or proposal submission that requires an Other Support document. The link to the portal can be found here.

To facilitate this requirement, please take time to reference the OSPA website and familiarize yourself with the portal and the associated guide, instructions and FAQs document.

Diabetes and Obesity Research Priority Area and Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center Funding Opportunity

Pathway to Independence Award

The Pathway to Independence Award is a career-enhancement opportunity for University of Kentucky emerging scientists and research-oriented faculty. The purpose of the award is to provide research support and 20-30% protected time for an intensive, supervised (mentored) research and career development experience. This opportunity is designed to foster transition to independent research careers in the fields of diabetes and obesity research.

Award eligibility is limited to:

  • Senior post-doctoral scholars (who have completed at least 2+ years of postdoctoral training or equivalent experience)
  • Staff scientists at UK
  • Research track faculty at UK
  • Clinical track faculty at UK  

The maximum award will be $100,000/year for up to two years. The second year of funding is based on 1) ongoing need, and 2) evidence of satisfactory progress as determined by an annual review performed by the Diabetes and Obesity RPA and BBDOC leadership teams.

Dates & deadlines

•    Release date: Aug. 1, 2024
•    Application deadline: Oct. 31, 2024, 5 p.m. ET

Proposals should be submitted via email to allison.walters@uky.edu. Questions may be directed to Allison Walters at the above email.

Open CCTS request for applications (RFAs)

Center for Clinical and Translational Science Small Grant RFA

Small grants of up to $5,000 are available to help strengthen applications for extramural research grants (for example, NIH R or K awards or awards from private foundations). These grants are limited to six months in duration.

Rolling deadline

Upcoming CCTS RFAs

Disease-Focused Pilot Awards

CCTS-Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center Collaborative Pilot Awards: Applications that address translational aspects of diabetes and/or obesity are encouraged. A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 12 months.

RFA mid-January; funded late spring.

Community Engagement Pilot Awards

This award is for investigators at all stages of career development and is intended to support pilot studies founded on community-engaged research. A maximum of $25,000 will be awarded for a period of 12 months.

RFA mid-January; funded late spring. 

Drug Development Pilot Awards

This award is intended to support new drug discovery and development research with the goal of augmenting the translation of scientific discoveries to therapeutic development. A maximum of $50,000 will be awarded for a period of 12 months.

RFA mid-January; funded late spring. 

Inter-Institutional Collaborative Pilot Grants

UK/Washington University Collaborative Diabetes Research Pilot

The Washington University Diabetes Research Center (DRC) anticipates funding new Pilot & Feasibility Awards through an ongoing collaborative program with UK. The contact principal investigator of this program at UK is Dr. Philip Kern. The goal of this program is to develop preliminary data leading to the submission of new applications for independent (NIH, JDRF or ADA) research grants. Grants of up to $40,000 (direct costs) for one year will be awarded.

RFA mid-April; due June.

CORES (Consortium of Rural States) Pilot Awards

The Consortium of Rural States (CORES, formerly known as the Western States Consortium) consists of six institutions (University of Arkansas, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, University of New Mexico and University of Utah) that have received Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS).

Eligibility for this pilot funding application is limited to members of these institutions' faculty, including early career or senior investigators across all title series. At least two of the participating CTSAs must be collaborating on each protocol, and projects must be approved at each CTSA in order to qualify for funding.

RFA late fall; funded late spring.
Contact:
breanne.johnson@hsc.utah.edu

Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) funding opportunities

Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation (CPRI)

CPRI's COBRE for Translational Chemical Biology supports innovative junior investigator projects and pilots by providing both research funding and mentorship.

Center for Cancer and Metabolism COBRE

The Center for Cancer and Metabolism’s (CCM) pilot program funds projects focused on cancer and metabolism. Pilot grants awarded through this program should have the potential to generate competitive extramural applications and peer-reviewed publications.

National Institute of Health (NIH) and other calls for proposals

See nih.gov/grants-funding for more funding opportunities.

Title: Collaborative Research Using Biosamples from Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Studies (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Sponsor: NIDDK
FOA: RFA-DK-22-021
LOI due: Jan. 28, 2023
More information

Title: New Investigator Gateway Awards for Collaborative T1D Research (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Sponsor: NIDDK
FOA: RFA-DK-21-030
LOI: Feb. 20, 2023
More information

Title: Small Grants for New Investigators to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Sponsor: NIDDK, NIBIB, NHGRI
FOA: PAR-21-313
LOI: N/A
Due dates: Feb. 16, June 16, Oct. 16, 2023; Feb. 16, June 16, 2024
More information

Title: High Impact, Interdisciplinary Science in NIDDK Research Areas (RC2 Clinical Trial Optional)
Sponsor: NIDDK
FOA: PAR-22-069
LOI: 6 weeks prior to application due date
Due dates: June 1 and Nov. 1, 2023; May 30 and Oct. 30, 2024
More information

Title: Collaborative Advancement of Cures for T1D
Sponsor: JDRF
LOI: Dec. 8, 2022
Application due: Feb. 13, 2023
More information

Title: Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Sponsor: NICHD, NIDDK 
FOA: PAR-22-105
LOI: 30 days prior to application due date
Due dates: Feb. 5, June 5, Oct. 5, 2023; Feb. 5, June 5, Oct. 5, 2024
More information

Title: Comprehensive Care for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus from Populations with Health Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Sponsor: NIMHD, NEI, NIDDK
FOA: PA-21-232
LOI: 30 days prior to application due date
Due dates: Feb. 5, June 5, Oct. 5, 2023; Feb. 5, June 5, 2024
More information

Title: The High Obesity Program (HOP)
Sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services
Opportunity Number: CDC-RFA-DP-23-0013
Centers for Disease Control – NCCDPHP
NOTE: This is a forecasted opportunity.

Estimated post date: Jan. 12, 2023
Estimated application due date: March 27, 2023. Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on the listed application due date.
Estimated award date: Aug. 30, 2023
Estimated project start date: Sept. 30, 2023

Other potential funding sources

American Diabetes Association (ADA)

Leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes for those affected by it through research funding, community services, education and advocacy.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)

JDRF is a global organization funding type 1 diabetes research.

American Heart Association (AHA)

Having diabetes means you are more likely to develop heart disease. People with diabetes are also more likely to have certain risk factors, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, that increase their chances of having a heart attack or a stroke.

The AHA’s mission is to help prevent, treat and defeat heart disease and stroke — America’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers. The AHA funds cutting-edge research, conducts lifesaving public and professional educational programs, and advocates to protect public health. 

Alzheimer's Association

Several research studies following large groups over many years suggest that adults with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. According to the one study's results, type 1 diabetics were 93% more likely to develop dementia.

The Alzheimer's Association leads the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support.

American Association for the Study of Liver Disease

AASLD Foundation is a charitable organization that invests in innovative hepatology research and in the people who study and treat liver disease.

The foundation believes that tomorrow's cures for liver disease need funding today, and we are dedicated to leading the way – with our generous supporters and talented researchers and clinicians – toward finding those cures.

American Physiological Society

Physiology is a broad area of scientific inquiry that focuses on the biological function of living organisms. Today, physiology could not be more important. In fact, physiology is essential to answering virtually every critical question facing us in our understanding of life, health and disease.