Best Grants for Public Health in Oregon

Oregon medical students seeking support for public health or clinical research can apply for the Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, which awards US $7,000 for 2–12 month projects. First- and second-year students at schools with active Alpha Omega Alpha chapters may be eligible for epidemiology, health services, or related medical research.

Students enrolled in Oregon State University’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences or College of Forestry can receive scholarship support for their studies in Oregon. Focused on higher education in public health and related fields, Benton Community Foundation gives preference to minority U.S. citizens and international graduate students through the Charles F. and Elaine Mellen Sutherland Education Fund.

The Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP) aims to enhance access to essential preventive clinical and public health services for children through community-driven initiatives. Funded by the US HHS: Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), this program focuses on empowering local communities to implement effective strategies that improve children's health outcomes and promote overall well-being. Projects funded under this initiative will play a vital role in ensuring healthier futures for children.

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.

Grants from the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation help Oregon public health and cancer researchers pursue thyroid cancer studies. U.S.-based projects focused on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, outcomes, or pathophysiology of thyroid cancer may be eligible for US $10,000 in basic, translational, or clinical research support.

Oregon research institutions and clinical teams working in public health and oncology can seek funding for head and neck cancer studies that integrate emerging technologies. Focused on translational clinical and epidemiologic research, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation offers US $15,000 awards to advance early detection, prevention, and treatment strategies using tools like AI-enabled pathology and advanced imaging.

American Indian and Alaska Native graduate students pursuing full-time public health or environmental science degrees at accredited U.S. institutions can receive need-based support from Native Forward Scholars Fund, with awards ranging from US $100–$30,000. This mission-driven funding helps Indigenous scholars, including Oregon students, advance studies in epidemiology and broader public health fields.

Nonprofits, schools, and government agencies running public health and community well-being programs in Western Wisconsin, Southeast Minnesota, or Northeast Iowa can seek US $2,500 - US $49,999 for larger initiatives. Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation’s Thriving Community Impact Fund backs projects improving physical, mental, and social health, poverty and economic stability, and neighborhood environments, which may interest Oregon public health organizations with similar models.

Nonprofits, schools, and government agencies in Oregon working on public health, wellness, and community development can seek small support grants for community health impact programs. With a mission to strengthen community well-being, Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation provides up to US $2,499 for initiatives addressing physical, mental, and social health, poverty, and neighborhood environments.

US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health provides Oregon public health and healthcare organizations with funding to study integrated management of chronic pain and opioid use disorder. Eligible research teams may test collaborative care models, implementation strategies, and health-system approaches that improve scalability, sustainability, and access to evidence-based CP and OUD services.

Oregon research institutions and organizations working in epidemiology and public health can seek funding for human performance and aerospace medicine research that supports Department of Defense missions. Focused on operational medicine and public health, the US DOD Air Force program invites white papers under the CHEERS announcement for studies in areas like occupational and environmental health.

Graduate students in school-based health education programs can receive US $1,000 for any educational or personal expenses, plus a one-year student membership, through the Barbara A. Cooley Master’s Scholarship. Society of Health and Physical Educators provides Oregon public health and physical fitness students, and those in other eligible U.S. locations, with this annual support.

Oregon undergraduate students majoring in school-based health education at accredited U.S. colleges can access funding through the Society of Health and Physical Educators via the Bill Kane Undergraduate Scholarship. This US $1,000 award supports future public health and community health education professionals and includes a complimentary one-year SHAPE America student membership.

Health systems and research institutions in Oregon working on public health, chronic pain, and opioid use disorder can apply for National Institutes of Health support to study integrated OUD/pain care. Funding backs collaborative care models, implementation strategies, and innovative system-level approaches to sustainably deliver combined chronic pain and OUD services.

With a mission to strengthen epidemiology and public health, the Food and Drug Administration provides Oregon public health entities with support to enhance antibiotic resistance surveillance in retail food specimens. Eligible organizations in Oregon and other U.S. jurisdictions can receive up to US $200,000 to expand NARMS sampling sites and improve detection of drug-resistant bacteria in food.

Nonprofit hospitals and health institutions focusing on healthcare and public health can apply for grants supporting medical research, public health initiatives, and hospital care from the E S Prentiss Foundation. Grants from E S Prentiss Foundation help Oregon public health organizations with direct care projects, capital improvements, equipment, and programs improving access to competent medical care, especially for low-income individuals.

Public interest lawyers providing free civil legal aid on opioid use disorder in underserved communities, including Oregon, can apply for Equal Justice Works’ two-year Opioid Crisis Response Program Fellowship. Fellows receive a salary while building capacity at legal services organizations and helping remove legal barriers to treatment, recovery, and wraparound public health services.

Federally recognized tribes, state and local governments, and nonprofits can use this USDA Rural Development program to build basic drinking water, wastewater, and storm-water systems in low-income rural Colonias communities. With a mission to strengthen rural health, USDA: Rural Development (RD) provides loans and grants that may benefit Oregon public health efforts serving eligible Colonias areas.

Focused on public health infrastructure, USDA Rural Development invites Oregon Tribes, rural local governments, and nonprofits to seek funding to build safe drinking water, wastewater, and storm-water systems. Eligible projects must serve low-income Tribal communities facing significant health risks and meeting specific income, unemployment, and Tribal-member population requirements.

Nonprofits, healthcare providers, tribal governments, and community-based organizations in Eastern Oregon can seek up to US $50,000 for one-year projects improving access to quality care for EOCCO members. Focus areas include telehealth, workforce strategies, EMT and substance use collaborations, maternal health supports, and reducing health disparities, benefiting public health across EOCCO’s Oregon service counties.

Public health and research organizations studying non-communicable and chronic disease disparities can seek funding to conduct epidemiologic, policy, and health services research in Latin America and among U.S. Hispanics/Latinos, including Oregon communities. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health supports multi-disciplinary teams with at least one principal investigator based at a Latin American institution.

Graduate and medical students, residents, and post-doctoral fellows conducting human sexuality or sexual wellness research in Oregon (or elsewhere in the U.S. or Canada) can apply for support from the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Focused on sexual health and public health topics, projects in underserved populations may be especially competitive.

The SMSNA Scholars in Sexuality Research Grants Program supports junior investigators in exploring human sexuality and sexual wellness. Funded by the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, this initiative provides $5,000 to undergraduate, medical, and graduate school students. Awards are disbursed in two payments, with specific reporting requirements. This program aims to enhance research in sexual medicine and foster diversity in the field, particularly focusing on historically underserved populations.

The Douglas Community Fund offers scholarships to graduates of Douglas County high schools, administered by the Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC). Eligible students must be pursuing majors in fields such as biology, health occupations, medical technology, nursing, and public health. Applications are due by March 1, with an early-bird deadline of February 15 recommended for timely submission.

The Urban Indian Health 4-in-1 Program is designed to enhance the health and well-being of urban Native Americans through targeted initiatives in immunization, health promotion, disease prevention, mental health support, and addressing alcohol and substance abuse issues. Funded by the US Dept. of Health & Human Services, this program aims to improve access to essential health services and foster healthier communities among urban Indian populations.