Pilot Grants
Accepting Applications
The Stanford Maternal and Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) Pilot Grants funds innovative clinical and translational research focused on maternal and child health in the following categories:
Category I: Pilot Early Career ($50K)
Category II: New Ideas for Mid/Senior Investigators ($50K)
All projects must be significantly related to the health of expectant mothers and children. Eligible applicants include any practitioner or scientist focusing on maternal or child health research.
We advise all applicants to notify their division or finance managers prior to submitting their application.
MCHRI members and their mentees planning to apply for the Pilot Grant can schedule a consultation with a data scientist.
Office Consultation Dates: January 9, 13, 24, and February 7.
To ensure availability, please request QSU consultations at least 8 weeks in advance of the submission deadline. The QSU may not accommodate requests within the 8-week window. For more information about the QSU and relevant deadlines, please visit their website.
Funding is offered in the following categories:
- Category I: Pilot Early Career - $50,000
- Category II: New Ideas for Mid/Senior Investigators - $50,000
The project proposed must be feasible and completed within 18 months.
- have, or intend to have, a focus on maternal child health research.
- Both applicants and their mentors must be MCHRI Members.
- A Primary Research Mentor must be identified for instructors or assistant professors.
- The mentor should be at the Associate Professor or Professor rank.
- Applicants must maintain their appointment as an Instructor rank or above for the duration of the award, including any extensions.
- The following are not eligible:
- Clinician Educators (CEs). (See Clinician Educator Grants Program)
- Visiting scholars to Stanford
- Adjunct Faculty or Affiliates
- Senior Research Scientists, Research Associates/Assistants
- Former recipients of MCHRI/PRF/SMCH-sponsored awards who have not complied with award/reporting requirements.
- Mentor or applicants with unresolved overdrafts from previous MCHRI awards.
Eligibility by Investigator Type
| Instructor | Assistant Professor | Associate Professor | Professor | |
| Early Career | * | * | ||
| New Idea | * | * |
ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
DEADLINE
April 1, 2025
NOTIFICATION OF AWARD
June 2025
AWARD START DATE
July 1, 2025
| YEAR | # of Applications | # of Awards | Funding Rate | Total Awarded |
| FY 25 Fall | 17 | 3 | 18% | $149,153 |
| FY 24 | 34 | 10 | 29% | $476,948 |
| FY 23 | 30 | 9 | 30% | $279,991 |
| FY 22 | 17 | 7 | 41% | $239,857 |
| FY 21 | 34 | 9 | 26% | $291,881 |
| FY 20 | 37 | 9 | 24% | $311,466 |
| FY 19 | 30 | 9 | 30% | $315,000 |
| FY 18 | 43 | 12 | 28% | $420,000 |
Please contact MCHRI Administration at mchri_admin@stanford.edu or 650-724-0279 with any questions.