Best Grants for Public Health in Connecticut

Connecticut medical students interested in public health and related research can access funding through the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, which awards US $7,000 for 2–12 month projects. Eligible first- and second-year students at schools with active Alpha Omega Alpha chapters may propose clinical, epidemiology, health services, leadership, or professionalism studies.

Early-career postdoctoral and clinician investigators in nonprofit academic, medical, or research institutions in Connecticut can apply for Health Resources in Action’s mentored research awards, offering up to US $200,000 for human disease–focused clinical and population health studies. Projects may include patient-oriented, epidemiological, behavioral, outcomes, or health services research, including work on health inequities.

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Lucy C. Perry Scholarship

Preference for funds from this scholarship is given to applicants studying at Indiana University and interested in public health.

Nurses Educational Funds

Nurses Educational Funds, Inc. depends solely on donations to advance our only mission, to promote nursing leadership through annual scholarship support for professional nurses seeking masters and doctoral degrees in nursing education, practice, research, and administration.

NEF’s only purpose is to provide nursing scholarship assistance to make graduate level nursing education possible. NEF is one of the largest, national, private, professionally endorsed source of funds for advanced nursing study with over one hundred years of service to and for professional nursing. NEF is a non-profit organization with 501(c) status.

Liesel M. Hiemenz Scholarship

This permanent scholarship was established in memory of Ms. Hiemenz, a nurse from Germany. Preference is given to applicants interested in public health.

This funding opportunity aims to bolster the cancer surveillance workforce through educational initiatives. By enhancing collaborations with cancer partners and developing tools for improved data quality, this program will expand the capacity of registrars. Efforts will focus on recruitment and retention, ultimately ensuring compliance with Public Law 102-515. Strengthening the cancer registrar workforce will lead to timely and accurate cancer data submission, supporting public health objectives.

The NIH is announcing a funding opportunity for competitive revisions of ongoing grants to tackle unforeseen public health crises. This Urgent Competitive Revision program aims to facilitate timely responses to emerging health challenges. Once the Notice of Funding Opportunity is published, eligible applications will be directly routed to the appropriate NIH awarding component. Only submissions in response to an Urgent Guide Notice published by an NIH Institute or Center will be accepted.

The CORE Funding: Lilly Research Grant aims to advance research on genetic hearing loss. It invites investigators to explore the genetic factors contributing to hearing loss, promoting innovative projects that enhance understanding in this critical area. Supported by the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation, the grant fosters significant research efforts to improve outcomes and strategies in otolaryngology, ensuring a comprehensive approach to hearing health.

The CORE Funding: AHNS Trainee Pilot Research Award supports innovative research in head and neck oncology, encouraging trainees to engage in clinical or translational studies. Since its inception, CORE has provided over $14 million in grants, facilitating significant advancements in otolaryngology. This initiative aims to enhance research efforts, reduce fragmentation, and promote collaboration among various stakeholders to improve outcomes for patients with head and neck neoplastic diseases.

Research institutions and medical organizations in Connecticut conducting basic, translational, or clinical thyroid cancer studies can access funding through the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation. Grants of US $10,000 support projects on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, or pathophysiology of thyroid cancer, which may benefit broader public health efforts.

Connecticut research institutions and clinical teams working on head and neck cancer epidemiology and public health can apply for funding to integrate emerging technologies into translational studies. Focused on advanced head and neck cancer, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation supports projects using tools like multi-omics, AI-enabled pathology, imaging, and remote monitoring to improve detection, prevention, and treatment.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students in public health or environmental science at accredited U.S. institutions can receive need-based scholarships ranging from US $100 - US $30,000. With a mission to support Indigenous scholars, Native Forward Scholars Fund provides this aid nationwide; Connecticut students in eligible fields may benefit.

Nonprofits, schools, and government agencies in Connecticut seeking support for public health and community well-being can apply for Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation’s Thriving Community Impact Fund Support Grants, offering up to US $2,499. Funding may back programs in physical, mental, and social health, poverty and economic stability, and neighborhood or built-environment improvements.

Health systems, research institutions, and clinical teams working on public health and integrative care can pursue NIH funding to improve management of co-occurring chronic pain and opioid use disorder in Connecticut and nationwide. The HEAL IMPOWR BEACON Center opportunity supports hybrid implementation-effectiveness trials, collaborative care models, and capacity building to scale evidence-based CP and OUD services.

Connecticut research institutions and organizations working in epidemiology and public health can pursue funding to support aerospace and operational medicine research under this CHEERS opportunity. Focused on human performance, aerospace medicine, occupational and environmental health, and preventive medicine, the Department of the Air Force invites white papers for studies that advance medical readiness and support current and future DoD missions.

Master’s students in school-based health education programs at accredited U.S. colleges or universities, including those in Connecticut, can receive a $1,000 Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship for any educational expenses. Society of Health and Physical Educators also provides a complimentary one-year student membership in SHAPE America to recipients.

Connecticut undergraduate students majoring in school-based health education can receive scholarship support for their public health studies through the Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship. Offered by the Society of Health and Physical Educators, this annual US $1,000 award includes a one-year complimentary student membership in SHAPE America and can be used for any personal or educational expenses.

Health systems and research institutions in Connecticut and nationwide working on integrated chronic pain and opioid use disorder care can apply for US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health funding. This NOFO supports studies on collaborative care models, implementation strategies, and innovative health system approaches that improve sustainable, integrated OUD and pain services in clinical settings.

Public health and epidemiology organizations in Connecticut and other eligible U.S. jurisdictions can seek funding to enhance antibiotic resistance surveillance in retail food specimens. With a mission to protect and promote public health, the FDA provides support to strengthen NARMS sampling, detection of drug-resistant bacteria, and expansion to new surveillance sites, with awards up to US $200,000.

Public health and healthcare organizations in Connecticut can seek funding for medical research, public health initiatives, hospital care, and improved health care access. Grants from E S Prentiss Foundation help epidemiology and public health programs, hospitals, and health institutions, with a preference for private-sector, direct care–oriented projects and commitments of up to five years.

Public interest lawyers providing free civil legal aid on opioid use disorder can apply for Equal Justice Works’ two-year Opioid Crisis Response Program Fellowship, which funds Attorney Fellows’ salaries to expand legal services and wraparound support. Connecticut public health organizations hosting fellows to serve OUD-affected, underserved communities may benefit from this national program.

Federally recognized tribes, state or local governments, and nonprofits serving eligible Colonias can obtain funding to build basic drinking water, wastewater, and storm-water systems in rural low-income communities. With a mission to improve rural health, USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants that may benefit Connecticut public health efforts in qualifying areas.

Public health-focused Tribes, governments, and nonprofits in Connecticut can seek funding to build safe drinking water, wastewater, and storm-water systems in eligible rural or Tribal areas. Focused on sanitation and community health, USDA Rural Development invites applicants serving predominantly Tribal members facing significant health risks from inadequate, unaffordable water or waste disposal services.

Research institutions and multidisciplinary teams studying public health and health disparities in Latin America and among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos, including those based in Connecticut, can apply for this NIH opportunity. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health supports clinical epidemiology, policy evaluation, and measurement validation projects on high-burden non-communicable and chronic diseases, with at least one PI from a Latin American institution.

Graduate and medical students, residents, and post-doctoral fellows conducting human sexuality or sexual wellness research in the U.S. or Canada may be eligible for this program. Focused on sexual medicine, the Sexual Medicine Society of North America invites Connecticut public health and related researchers to apply for support of research-related expenses through their Scholars in Sexuality Research Grants Program.

Graduate and medical students, residents, and post-doctoral fellows conducting sexuality or sexual wellness research in the U.S. or Canada can receive US $5,000 to support research-related expenses. Focused on human sexuality and public health, the Sexual Medicine Society of North America invites projects that may include work benefiting Connecticut communities and underserved populations.

The Healthy Lifestyles in Youth program, funded by the Indian Health Service, aims to empower Tribes and Tribal Organizations to deliver essential public health services. This new cohort of NPHR awards supports initiatives that foster healthier lifestyles among youth in Indigenous communities, addressing critical health disparities and promoting well-being through culturally relevant programs and services.

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Awards, Grants, & Fellowships

Ambitious freelancers who want to tackle an in-depth reporting project often find that the fee from a potential publisher doesn’t come close to covering their costs and time. Grants and fellowships can fill that gap, but freelancers have to know about them in order to apply. In this section, the Freelance Center is compiling a list of non-AHCJ grants, fellowships and awards (for when the hard work is done).

Sunshine Award

Presented by AHCJ’s Right-to-Know Committee

AHCJ’s Right-to-Know Committee established the Sunshine Award at Health Journalism 2026 as a way to elevate the work of journalists like STAT’s Bob Herman who fight for government transparency. We plan to continue this tradition annually from now on. Award winners receive free registration and a one-night hotel stay for our annual conference, a free year of AHCJ membership, a trophy and a certificate.