Best Grants for International Development in Puerto Rico

The Street Outreach Program (SOP) offers vital street-based services to runaway and homeless youth at risk of sexual abuse and trafficking. By focusing on areas where these youths gather, the program aims to empower them with healthy choices, access to shelter, food, hygiene supplies, and information on available services, ultimately promoting their safety and well-being. Funded by the US Department of Health & Human Services, this initiative plays a crucial role in supporting vulnerable populations.

The REPI Challenge, initiated by the DOD's REPI Program, aims to protect critical testing and training capabilities through funded projects. Since 2012, over $193 million has been allocated to 69 initiatives, leveraging more than $512 million in partner contributions. The upcoming 2026 REPI Challenge will focus on strategic mission safeguarding, with up to $20 million available for preventing land use conflicts and enhancing military resilience, thus ensuring the longevity of vital defense capabilities.

The NIDCD invites R01 grant applications aimed at independent research projects related to the mission of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. This opportunity promotes workforce development by supporting Early Stage and New Investigators, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds in health sciences. Letters of Intent are encouraged 30 days before the proposal deadline, allowing diverse researchers to collaborate and contribute to vital health-related studies.

The Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program in Puerto Rico provides essential funding for rural communities to ensure access to clean drinking water, sanitary sewage disposal, and effective storm water drainage. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, nonprofits, and federally-recognized tribes. The funds can be utilized for construction, improvement, and financing of water systems, as well as related activities like legal fees and land acquisition, supporting sustainable community development.

The ACT on Health Equity Community Solutions Challenge Grant, backed by the Astrazeneca Foundation, aims to enhance health equity by funding community-based nonprofit programs. Since its inception in 2021, it has allocated over $2.6 million to initiatives addressing nutrition, healthcare access, and lung health for historically marginalized populations. Eligible US-based 501(c) organizations can apply, with a focus on projects serving underserved communities and improving health outcomes through targeted support.

The Future Conservationist Award by the Conservation Leadership Programme supports early-career conservationists in the Asia Pacific region. This grant invites proposals focused on protecting at-risk species, with eligibility criteria including project duration of three to twelve months and a team of at least three members. The award aims to empower individuals with less than five years of experience, fostering the next generation of conservation leaders dedicated to preserving global biodiversity.

Amgen is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to advancing medicine through Independent Medical Education (IME). It funds accredited educational programs that empower healthcare providers to enhance patient care. IME funding supports critical areas such as oncology, bone health, cardiovascular education, and more. Amgen's commitment ensures that these educational activities remain unbiased and compliant with applicable guidelines, fostering innovation and improved health outcomes for patients worldwide.

State Farm's Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants aim to enhance community safety, development, and education. Focused on long-term impact, they support initiatives in auto and home safety, disaster preparedness, affordable housing, and educational programs. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. However, funding is not available for individuals, religious programs, or organizations outside the U.S. By addressing critical community needs, these grants foster safer and more resilient neighborhoods.

The Hope Funds for Cancer Research offers a three-year Postdoctoral Fellowship for innovative research in understanding difficult-to-treat cancers. Candidates with MD, PhD, or equivalent degrees can apply, focusing on novel approaches to cancer mechanisms and treatments. The fellowship provides a stipend starting at $56,000, with annual increases, and a travel grant of $1,500 for conferences. This initiative aims to enhance life expectancy through groundbreaking research in cancer treatment and prevention.

The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) offers 24/7 crisis counseling to individuals in the U.S. and its territories facing emotional distress from disasters. Managed by SAMHSA, the helpline aims to enhance and strengthen access to crucial support services year-round, ensuring that those affected by natural or human-caused disasters receive the help they need to mitigate behavioral health impacts.

The NFWF's Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program aims to enhance community capacity for sustaining local natural resources through financial assistance for diverse partnerships. With approximately $2.5 million available, projects focus on improving water quality, restoring habitats, and engaging underserved communities. By promoting ecological improvements and community outreach, this program seeks to increase access to nature's benefits while addressing environmental hazards. A blend of urban and rural initiatives is expected for effective implementation.

The AHRQ Small Health Services Research Grant Program (R03) invites applications for health services research focused on enhancing healthcare quality and patient safety. This funding opportunity supports diverse research settings, including hospitals and home healthcare. Projects may involve collaboration with various stakeholders such as patients, clinicians, and policymakers. By addressing AHRQ research priorities, this initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery and practice while promoting effective partnerships across the healthcare spectrum.

The AHRQ Health Services Research Projects (R01) aims to fund innovative health services research that aligns with AHRQ's priorities, such as enhancing healthcare quality and safety. This initiative encourages applications from various healthcare settings including hospitals and home care, promoting collaboration among diverse stakeholders like patients and policymakers. By addressing key areas of healthcare delivery improvement, this funding opportunity seeks to foster advancements in patient care and overall health system performance.

The AHRQ Health Services Research Demonstration and Dissemination Grants (R18) aim to support innovative health services research that addresses priorities in quality, safety, and effective healthcare delivery. These grants encourage collaboration among various stakeholders, including patients and policymakers, to enhance healthcare practices across diverse settings. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. This initiative fosters improvements in healthcare outcomes and delivery systems.

The NIDCD Cooperative Agreement for Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (U01) aims to support clinical trials that evaluate interventions for communication disorders. This funding opportunity encourages collaboration between NIDCD Project Scientists and investigators, focusing on trials that require FDA oversight, establish efficacy, or pose risks of harm. By fostering well-designed studies, the NIDCD seeks to advance treatment and prevention strategies in the field of communication disorders.

The NIDDK High Risk Multi-Center Clinical Study Implementation Planning Cooperative Agreements (U34 Clinical Trial Optional) supports innovative, hypothesis-driven clinical studies with a focus on diseases relevant to NIDDK. This initiative facilitates early peer review and assessment of study designs while providing essential support for operational documents. Applicants are encouraged to consult with NIDDK staff before submission to enhance the chances of success.

The NIDDK High Risk Multi-Center Clinical Study Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Required) invites applications for high-risk clinical trials that involve multiple centers and aim to change clinical practice or public health. Applicants are encouraged to submit Letters of Intent 30 days before the proposal deadline, with various deadlines set from February 2025 to October 2026. Planning activities must be completed before submission, and consultation with NIDDK staff is advised.

Funding Innovative Research

Cannonball Kids’ cancer Foundation (CKc) prioritizes funding clinical trials, research that is nearing translation to a clinical trial, and young investigator grants.

Grants funded by CKc must be innovative and provide better quality of life or symptom relief than current treatments. 

When possible, CKc will prioritize funding research:

• with a focus on cancers that are under-funded or under-researched,
• with a focus on patient populations who are traditionally underserved.

When possible, CKc will prioritize funding researchers of diverse backgrounds.

For CKc, “innovation” means the invention or application of novel methods or treatments, specifically treatments that have fewer side-effects than standard care, increase a child’s quality of life, and/or create an option for care where there otherwise were few or none (either on primary diagnosis, relapse, or for recalcitrant cancers).

Research Grants

Grant Program: Young Investigator

$100,000 over 3 years

• PI must hold an academic appointment at the instructor level or higher
• PI must be within 5 years of completing a training fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology or a closely related discipline that has direct clinical contact with pediatric cancer patients
• Research must be within 2-3 years to translation to a clinical trial or already associated with a clinical trial

• Evidence of Mentor's commitment to the PI's career development plan
• Translational potential

The HEAL Initiative aims to combat the opioid crisis through action-oriented research that enhances the translation of addiction epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and recovery services into practice. It prioritizes scalable, evidence-based approaches targeting various levels, including individual and community. The initiative supports a range of methods for research deployment, emphasizing collaboration between researchers and decision-makers to improve outcomes for those affected by addiction and related chronic pain.

The Doris Duke Foundation's Environment Program grants aim to foster a resilient environment through effective conservation efforts. By supporting U.S. nonprofit organizations, the foundation seeks to protect biodiversity, address climate change, and advance equity, particularly for marginalized communities. The program emphasizes land conservation, natural climate solutions, and inclusive practices, ensuring that conservation efforts benefit both wildlife and people. This initiative is pivotal for enhancing the health of ecosystems and communities across the United States.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is inviting applications for the Multidisciplinary Research to Accelerate Hepatitis B Cure in Persons Living with HIV and HBV (MRA-HBV) program. This initiative aims to enhance understanding of hepatitis B persistence and pathogenesis, identify biomarkers, validate drug targets, and create non-invasive diagnostics. It supports observational cohorts paired with multidisciplinary teams utilizing existing clinical data, contributing to innovative research in hepatitis B cure strategies.

The NIDDK Disease Research and Translational Core Centers (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) program invites applications to support innovative biomedical research focused on cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. These centers foster collaboration, provide essential resources, and mentor early-stage investigators, enhancing the research landscape. Funding will support pilot programs and access to shared services, ensuring efficient use of resources while promoting a robust scientific community dedicated to advancing health outcomes.

The Roy A. Hunt Foundation's Environment Initiative Grants aim to support projects that enhance ecological health and sustainability. With an annual budget of approximately $3.4 million, the foundation prioritizes initiatives that promote responsible environmental practices, clean energy, and waste reduction. Grants between $25,000 and $75,000 are available for projects at various levels, focusing on innovative solutions that foster community partnerships and address root causes of environmental challenges.

The Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Program, celebrating 100 years of supporting research, offers financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students. Members can receive grants ranging from $500 to $5,000, while non-members can apply for up to $1,000. Additionally, there are specific funds available for astronomy and vision-related research. This program fosters collaboration between students and mentors, promoting scientific excellence through hands-on experience.

The US Dept. of Health & Human Services, through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, is set to announce a funding opportunity focused on HIV research for pediatric and maternal populations. This initiative aims to foster innovative clinical trials addressing critical research areas in HIV, inviting collaborations from experts in various fields. Applications are not currently solicited, but potential applicants are encouraged to prepare for this opportunity.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) seeks to advance its mission by supporting the Centers for Structural Biology of HIV and other Infectious Diseases. This solicitation will support multidisciplinary groups of scientists to determine the 3-dimensional structures of molecules and molecular complexes involved in priority infectious diseases. The effort focuses on exploring biomolecular complexes that can be targeted to make new medicines and tests to prevent or treat infections and improve human health. The centers will drive cutting-edge research and development of structural biology technologies, including high-resolution 3D structural analyses, computational molecular dynamics, functional and mechanistic characterization at the molecular and cellular level, visualization at the atomic level of molecular complexes in cells and tissues, and advanced structure-guided design of molecules to combat infectious diseases. The centers will maximize use of common resources, establish broad collaborations, and mentor future structural biology researchers. Grant authorities that allow NIAID to forecast this opportunity are as follows: Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 2 CFR Part 200.

The HEAL Initiative aims to identify new druggable targets for pain within the understudied proteome. This funding opportunity invites applications for pilot projects that generate preliminary data and tools for exploring these targets. The initiative seeks to enhance research on understudied proteins related to pain management, providing essential funding for biochemical and biological work. This NOFO is part of the NIH's broader effort to develop novel medications that address various aspects of opioid addiction and its consequences.