Technology Development Seed Grant Eligibility Guidelines

The Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine at Stanford University funds proposals for Technology Development Seed Grants to support innovative applications for either:

1) the development of new and improved instruments or devices

2) the development of new methodologies to be used in biomedical research

The proposed research may involve conceptualization, design, fabrication, and/or testing of new instruments or devices. Applications to develop novel experimental techniques and protocols using existing instrumentation are also invited. It is expected that these technique development applications will have broad application to biomedical research.

Areas of emphasis are biomedical engineering and technologies for the study of structure and function of biological systems at all levels of complexity. The Beckman Center will give preference to grant applications that are interdisciplinary and that have a translational research focus.

Applicants for the Technology Development Seed Grants should be Stanford University faculty members holding University, Research or Medical Center line positions (UTL, MCL or NTLR faculty appointments). Proposed projects require an active collaboration between two or more faculty members from different disciplines. The Beckman Center will give preference to proposals that have a disease focus and are truly innovative. Collaborations between basic and physician scientists are encouraged. Awards may not be subcontracted.

Awards will be for a maximum of $200,000 in direct costs for a period of two years ($100k/year). The grants are sponsored by the Beckman Center for Molecular and Genetic Medicine with funding from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation.

Research applications will be selected for funding on the basis of their potential for stimulating new, interdisciplinary collaborations. Part of the evaluation for the Technology Development Seed Grants will be an assessment of the likelihood that the pilot research project will attract new or additional extramural funding. A peer review process will be used to select the awardees. The Selection Committee will be composed of members of the Beckman Center Advisory Board.

Proposals are to be a maximum of five pages in length (including any figures but excluding the cover page, abstract, NIH biographical sketches, literature cited and other support). Proposals must be submitted via our online proposal system in pdf and must include the following:

A. Cover Page that includes:

1. Project title
2. Names of co-investigator(s) with rank and departmental affiliation(s)
3. Contact information for investigators

B. Abstract of the proposed research written in language suitable for a layperson.

C. Scientific Proposal including the following:

1. Introduction
2. Specific aims
3. Preliminary data
4. Experimental design and methods
5. Literature cited

D. NIH bio-sketches and other support of named faculty members.

E. The scientific proposal should be written in single-spaced, Arial 11 font, with one-inch margins throughout.

Note: Section C must not exceed five pages.

The program is currently not acceptiing applications. Please check back here for updates.