PSOM Update: Funding News & Opportunities

A New Penn Medicine-Protected AI Tool for Your Everyday Use

Introducing Microsoft Copilot Chat at Penn Medicine, a secure, LLM-powered chatbot to replace Penn AI Chat. It's a violation of HIPAA and Penn Medicine policy to share patient or proprietary Penn Medicine data on public AI tools. Instead, use Copilot Chat to ensure enterprise data protection for AI tasks and inquiries. Sign in below with your Penn Medicine credentials or download the app on a Penn Medicine-managed mobile device.

Please direct inquiries to: Breanna Ransome

NEW Research Security Training Requirement

Both NIH and NSF have announced new requirements for the completion of Research Security training for PIs and Senior Key Personnel starting in October 2025. The training should be completed at the time of proposal. For more information about Research Security Training, including federal agency timelines for training requirements, please visit the Office of Research Services' dedicated page below.

Please direct inquiries to: Missy Peloso or Jessie Buchanan

Disclosure of Foreign Components to Federal Funding Agencies

In order to assist Penn investigators in complying with recent federal requirements for the disclosure of foreign components, the Office of the Vice Provost for Research created a dedicated website featuring guidance and key information regarding these requirements. See below for details.

PSOM Resource Hub

Please be sure to visit our Resource Hub where helpful information concerning the current tools, updates, and resources supporting research are seamlessly featured – including the Human Resources Support and FAQs and Wellness pages.

Check out the new PSOM Matching Tool, developed to help departments identify and share available staff capacity.

Pennsylvania Department of Health Spinal Cord Injury Research Grant

Letter of Intent deadline: September 25, 2025

Full application: November 10, 2025

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, Health Research Office, issued a Request for Applications on September 16, 2026. This grant is titled "Spinal Cord Injury Research Grant and can be found at the below link on PA-eMarketplace. Please note the following information:

* The grant term is anticipated to run from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030

* $2,450,030.08 is available for award

* Three to six awards are anticipated to result.

Please share with any others that may be interested.

Please direct inquiries to: PA DOH

The Blood Cancer United Academic Clinical Trials (ACT) Program is Open

Letter of Intent deadline: October 13, 2025, 3PM EDT

Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) is pleased to announce the opening of the Academic Clinical Trials Program. The Blood Cancer United ACT program, in a collaborative partnership with the Rising Tide Foundation, will fund clinical trials, up to $1M USD over three years. The primary focus will be Phase 1 or 2 trials positioned to begin enrolling patients within 3-6 months of the July 1, 2026, award start. Visit www.bloodcancerunited.org for details and application instructions.

Important: Because of particular contractual requirements, any faculty interested in applying should first seek approval by emailing Michael Ostap, Chief Scientific Officer, and Robert Vonderheide, Director of the Abramson Cancer Center. Careful consideration of proprietary information or potential IP from the proposed work is required; if there are specific questions about IP, please contact Benjamin Dibling, Managing Director of the Penn Center for Innovation.

Roybal Center on Behavioral Economics and Health Funding Program

Letter of Intent deadline: October 15, 2025

Full application: January 5, 2026

The Roybal Center on Behavioral Economics and Health seeks applications that: - Explore mechanisms of behavior change - Generate knowledge at an appropriate stage that contributes to effective and scalable interventions - Incorporate one or more of the Penn P30 themes: Design thinking, digital platforms, and dynamic adaptation - Have focus on Food is Medicine (preferred) and cardiovascular risk reduction Total costs: $200K Duration: 18 months, with an anticipated project start date of June 1st.

Please direct inquiries to: Joelle Friedman

The Blood Cancer United Translational Research Program (TRP) is Now Open

Letter of Intent deadline: October 16, 2025, 3PM EDT

Blood Cancer United (formerly the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 application cycle of the Translational Research Program (TRP), which was formed to enhance the transfer of basic research findings to clinical usefulness. Visit www.bloodcancerunited.org for details.

Funding Opportunity for FTD research

Letter of Intent deadline: November 3, 2025

Full application: February 9, 2026

The Kissick Family Foundation Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) Grant Program is now accepting letters of intent for its third cycle. The RFP calls for basic science or early-stage translational research projects that focus on building a fundamental understanding of sporadic FTD. The Kissick Family Foundation, with guidance from the Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC), welcomes research proposals that request up to $500k over two years.

Please direct inquiries to: SPARC Team

CIFAR Global Scholars Program

Submission deadline: November 5, 2025

CIFAR is now accepting applications for the 2026-2028 cohort of the CIFAR Global Scholars Program. This unique initiative provides junior faculty the opportunity to develop and lead high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research, expand their professional networks and receive focused leadership training in their pivotal first years as independent investigators.

Please direct inquiries to: CIFAR

Upcoming Research Funding Deadlines at the American Heart Association

Details have been set for the following American Heart Association research programs. See each program’s web page for specifics. Before beginning an application, review the eligibility and requirements that apply to all Association research awards on the Application Resources page. Also, the Association continues to seek proposals related to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Strategically Focused Research Network (SFRN) on Earlier Detection and Delaying Progression of Valvular Heart Disease - October 29, 2025

Career Development Award - December 2, 2025

Innovative Project Award - December 10, 2025

Using AHA Get With the Guidelines® Research Data in the Precision Medicine Platform to further address current gaps in understanding of CVD - January 15, 2026

Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars Fellowship Award in Neuroscience

Submission deadline: September 28, 2025

The Warren Alpert Distinguished Scholars program will support individual postdoctoral scientists of exceptional creativity in the field of neurosciences. These transitional awards are to enable a postdoctoral researcher to advance to become a full-time faculty member at the Assistant Professor level or higher and to promote the development of a laboratory program that will lead to independent funding.

Please direct inquiries to: Joshua Darfler

The Brody Family Medical Trust Fund Fellowship In “Incurable Diseases”

Submission deadline: September 28, 2025

The Brody Family Medical Trust Fund was established by Dr. Louis Brody, Dora and Hans Brody, Ida Brody, Benjamin Brody, and Sara Brody to support medical research in the field of “incurable diseases.” Designed to foster the career development of outstanding young scientists and to expand their potential to make significant contributions in the field of “incurable diseases.”

Please direct inquiries to: Joshua Darfler

PSOM Limited Application - Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists

Submission deadline: October 22, 2025

The University has been invited to nominate one faculty member for each of the three disciplinary categories: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemical Sciences. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR) is managing the final candidate review and selection process.

Please direct inquiries to: Kaitlyn Hagarty

PERFORM-KUH TL1 - Next Application Round

Submission deadline: Late 2025-Early 2026

The Philadelphia Program for Mentored Research Training in Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (PERFORM-KUH) institutional network award would like to announce the next round of PERFORM-KUH grant applications! Please find attached the RFA to participate in this program. We ask you to identify students or post-doctoral fellows from within your research programs or labs, forward this information to them, and with your help, encourage your trainees to apply.

Please direct inquiries to: Adam Mussell

Frontiers Planet Prize - 4th Edition

Submission deadline: September 30, 2025

The $1M Frontiers Planet Prize recognizes exceptional scientists enhancing our understanding of planetary health and developing solutions to stay within safe operating limits. The deadline for the internal submission is Sept. 30, 2025. Read the full posting for eligibility guidelines, criteria, and detail on the Penn internal selection process.

Please direct inquiries to: Ximena Trujillo

2026 University Research Foundation Grants Program

Submission deadline: September 30, 2025

The University Research Foundation (URF) at Penn supports faculty research and scholarly activities through two grant types: (1) Research Grants and (2) Conference Support Grants. The core mission is to support early-career faculty, help established faculty explore new research areas, and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations. Applicants for either grant type will apply to one of four panels: Biomedical Science, Natural Science & Engineering, Humanities, or Social Science & Management.

Please direct inquiries to: Office of the Vice Provost for Research

Penn Center for Global Oncology: Foundational Research and Capacity Building Grants in Global Oncology

Submission deadline: October 10, 2025

The Foundational Research and Capacity Building Grants provide up to $60,000 in funding to a Penn faculty member to support early-stage global cancer research that generates preliminary data for future external grant applications that focus on research and capacity building. Successful proposals will build collaborative teams, advance scientific discovery and capacity building, and lay the groundwork for sustainable global oncology programs at Penn and with partners in LMICs.

Please direct inquiries to: Kierstyn Claycomb

2026–2027 Penn and CHOP Provost Postdoctoral Fellowship

Submission deadline: October 13, 2025

The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowship is a prestigious opportunity designed to support early-career scholars across all disciplines. This fellowship offers highly mentored research training, generous resources, and opportunities to develop the skills needed for successful careers—whether in academia, industry, government, or nonprofit sectors.

Please direct inquiries to: Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

UPDATED Penn CFAR Developmental Pilot Grant Program RFA

Submission deadline: November 14, 2025

The Penn Center for AIDS Research (Penn CFAR) invites Pilot Grant applications. Projects can be in any areas of HIV/AIDS supported by the U.S. National Institutes of Health including clinical, basic, behavioral and implementation science research.

Please direct inquiries to: Cherylann McGee

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