Best Seed Grants for Nonprofits in American Samoa

The Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) aims to enhance state food testing laboratories' capabilities, supporting an integrated food safety system. By prioritizing sample testing and food defense preparedness in microbiology, chemistry, and radiochemistry, this cooperative agreement facilitates method development and expands testing capacity, ensuring safer food for consumers.

The Trans Justice Funding Project (TJFP) provides grants to grassroots trans-led organizations in the U.S. and territories, focusing on those with budgets under $250,000. TJFP supports initiatives that address varying needs within trans communities, including health, legal aid, and mutual aid projects. The organization prioritizes groups led by trans people of color and emphasizes the importance of centering marginalized voices in the fight for trans justice.

The NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI) program aims to enhance entrepreneurial education for graduate students and early-career scientists in aging and Alzheimer's research. This initiative prepares trainees for diverse career paths beyond traditional research, focusing on vital skills such as scientific communication, intellectual property, and market needs assessment. Through innovation-focused applications, the REDI program seeks to increase the number of Ph.D.-trained scientists ready for various career opportunities in translational sciences and entrepreneurship.

The National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) aims to support a collaborative network, the NIDCD National Human Ear Resource Network. This initiative provides essential resources for researchers focusing on auditory and vestibular disorders through the procurement and preparation of human ear tissues. The network enhances biomedical research by improving tissue preservation techniques, sharing digitized images, and offering specialized training for handling post-mortem human temporal bones.

The BRAIN Initiative's BBQS Program aims to revolutionize the study of brain function by facilitating high-resolution tracking of complex behaviors alongside neural activity. This transformative research opportunity seeks to develop innovative tools for minimally intrusive measurements of various biobehavioral functions while accounting for environmental variables. Emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration, it focuses on creating new analytical frameworks that model neurobehavioral function as dynamic systems influenced by an organism's surroundings, thereby advancing our understanding of behavior at the organismal level.

The FY26 Bone Marrow Failure Research Program's Resource Development Award aims to create a multiomic atlas from human bone marrow failure samples. This resource will be open-access, providing essential data for researchers and clinicians to enhance their understanding of bone marrow failure diseases. A comprehensive Data Resource Sharing Plan is required to ensure timely availability of the developed resource, fostering collaboration within the scientific community.

The National Swine Resource and Research Center (NSRRC) is a pivotal resource that enhances biomedical research by providing genetically modified models. This centralized facility reduces variability and costs for researchers, allowing them to focus on scientific discovery. NSRRC offers breeding, cryopreservation, and genotyping services, ensuring consistent access to high-quality models. By consolidating these resources, it promotes reproducibility and supports the development of innovative methodologies in research, ultimately advancing our understanding of human health and disease.

The FY26 Hearing Restoration Research Program (HRRP) Focused Research Award (FRA) aims to enhance drug discovery and therapeutic development for hearing restoration following military-related auditory injuries. The award supports preclinical and clinical studies aligned with HRRP focus areas. It features two funding levels, including a Partnering Principal Investigator option, and evaluates proposals based on research rationale, strategy, impact, and personnel. Notably, it excludes funding for clinical trials, tinnitus, and vestibular research.

The Samuel Robinson Award is a scholarship for college juniors and seniors attending Presbyterian-related institutions. To qualify, students must memorize the Westminster Shorter Catechism's 107 questions and answers within 18 months. Eligible applicants for 2024 are those graduating in 2024 or 2025. This award encourages academic achievement and religious education among students committed to their faith and educational pursuits.

The FY26 Breast Cancer Research Program's Transformative Breast Cancer Consortium Award fosters significant collaborations that aim to revolutionize care for individuals affected by breast cancer. This award supports a multidisciplinary consortium of leading scientists, clinicians, and advocates to tackle major challenges in breast cancer research. Proposals must address at least one of the program's overarching challenges and demonstrate a transformative impact that cannot be achieved by individual investigators alone.

The FY26 Parkinson’s Research Program Investigator-Initiated Research Award supports innovative, multidisciplinary research projects aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The award encourages collaboration among multiple principal investigators, requiring preliminary data and allowing clinical trials to enhance research outcomes. This initiative is vital for fostering impactful discoveries within the four specified focus areas of the program, ultimately improving patient care and management.

The FY26 Military Burn Research Program (MBRP) Discovery Award aims to support groundbreaking research in combat-relevant burn care. This award encourages innovative and exploratory studies that provide new insights and foundational data for future clinical research. The focus is on novel approaches that lay the groundwork for scientific advancements and product development in burn care, ensuring robust preliminary data generation for subsequent research initiatives.

The Translational Transplantation Tolerance Cooperative Study Group, supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, aims to advance transplant tolerance strategies that promote long-term graft survival without lifelong immunosuppression. This initiative focuses on developing, optimizing, and evaluating methods to induce immune tolerance in allogeneic transplants through collaborative efforts across multiple centers, utilizing translationally relevant models to ensure effective outcomes.

The FY26 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program's Clinical/Translational Research Award supports pivotal research aimed at translating innovative therapeutic strategies into clinical applications for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Two funding levels cater to diverse project complexities, along with a Partnering PI Option promoting collaboration between early-career and established investigators. This initiative emphasizes the integration of preliminary data and encourages pilot trials to advance DMD therapies effectively.

The DoW Ovarian Cancer Pilot Award fosters innovative research that challenges existing paradigms in ovarian cancer. It aims to propel groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in the field. Notably, the award prioritizes originality over scientific merit alone, ensuring that innovative ideas are at the forefront. The application process includes a blinded pre-application screening to maintain confidentiality and integrity, encouraging fresh perspectives in ovarian cancer research.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is advancing research on immune tolerance through its Collaborative Network. This program aims to clarify the mechanisms of immune tolerance and develop interventions for related diseases, including transplant rejection and autoimmune disorders. Key objectives include conducting clinical trials on tolerogenic strategies and refining immune assays. This initiative is supported by regulations under the Public Health Service Act, ensuring a structured approach to improving patient outcomes.

The National Network of STI Clinical Prevention Training Centers (NNPTC) aims to enhance the education and training of clinicians and disease intervention professionals in STI patient care. This initiative focuses on improving the ability of healthcare providers and systems to effectively diagnose, manage, and counsel individuals at risk for STIs, ultimately reducing morbidity and enhancing public health outcomes on both local and national levels.

The DoW Neurofibromatosis Research Academy – Leadership Award supports established neurofibromatosis investigators to lead a virtual research academy. Designed for early-career scholars, this award promotes mentorship and collaboration in neurofibromatosis research. The Academy Director and Deputy Director, both at the Associate Professor level, will oversee pilot research projects that engage scholars and their mentors, fostering a dynamic research environment. This initiative aims to enhance the future of neurofibromatosis research through innovative leadership and collaboration.

The INCLUDE Project aims to enhance the health and quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome by generating comprehensive genomic and multi-omics data. This initiative encourages applicants to submit samples to NIH-supported resources, facilitating the exploration of molecular mechanisms related to health conditions associated with Down syndrome. The data will be shared via the INCLUDE Data Hub, promoting collaboration within the research community, though no direct funding is available to applicants.

The FY26 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program's Idea Development Award promotes innovative, high-risk research aimed at advancing treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). It encourages projects with a strong scientific basis and feasibility, focusing on therapies that work across all ages, including infants and nonambulatory patients. Eligible applicants include experienced and transitioning investigators, fostering diverse expertise to enhance DMD research and improve patient outcomes.

The FY26 Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) Early Investigator Research Award supports early-career researchers focusing on prostate cancer. Eligible applicants must possess a doctoral degree and less than three years of postdoctoral experience. Each application requires a mentorship component, ensuring guidance from an experienced researcher, along with a detailed development plan outlining the skills and expertise necessary for project completion and career advancement. This award addresses critical challenges in prostate cancer research.

The Ovarian Cancer Research Program (OCRP) Investigator-Initiated Research Award aims to support impactful research addressing critical needs in ovarian cancer and patient care. It requires a robust research plan with preliminary data and allows for studies across all research phases, excluding clinical trials. A unique Partnering Principal Investigator option encourages collaboration between two PIs to enhance research outcomes beyond individual efforts, promoting innovation in the field of ovarian cancer.

The NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research program aims to support innovative clinical trials focused on chronic eye diseases. This funding opportunity encourages multifaceted research addressing the causes, treatment, and rehabilitation of vision conditions, ensuring comprehensive oversight by the NIH. The program includes components like Chair's Grant and Coordinating Centers, fostering collaboration among researchers to enhance public health outcomes related to vision.

The NHLBI Catalyze program aims to transition basic science discoveries into effective treatments for diseases under the NHLBI mission. This initiative supports early-stage product definition, prototype design, and assay development for HLBS disorders. The R61 phase focuses on initial designs and experimental setups, while the R33 phase extends support for prototype testing and user feedback. Successful completion prepares products for in vivo testing, enhancing health and societal outcomes with NIH and other support.

This funding opportunity invites applications for R01 grants focused on molecular imaging methods to explore cancer inflammation in vivo. It aims to enhance understanding of dynamic interactions between inflammation and cancer through innovative imaging techniques. The initiative encourages collaborations between cancer researchers and imaging scientists to leverage molecular imaging for identifying cellular physiology changes in response to treatment. Deadline dates for applications range from February 2025 to October 2027, emphasizing timely submission for prospective researchers.

The Integration of Imaging and Fluid-Based Tumor Monitoring in Cancer Therapy (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) aims to enhance cancer treatment by integrating imaging and liquid biopsy assays. This initiative, led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), encourages grant applications focused on assessing therapy responses and resistance emergence in patients. Key deadlines for submissions span from February 2025 to January 2028, providing ample opportunities for researchers to contribute to this vital area of cancer research.

The ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund, managed by Refed Inc., supports innovative solutions to minimize food waste and reduce methane emissions, a cost-effective strategy for climate action. This fund prioritizes initiatives that enhance food recycling and improve supply chain efficiency in the beef and dairy sectors. By focusing on proven methods, the grant aims to accelerate impactful changes in the food system, ultimately fostering sustainable practices and collaborative efforts to combat food waste.