NF Northeast Seed Grant and Seed Funds for Researchers (United States)

Deadline: 13-Oct-2026

The NF Northeast Seed Grant and Seed Funds provide up to $75,000 for one year to support early-stage biomedical research focused on neurofibromatosis (NF). The program is designed primarily for early-career researchers developing promising research ideas that can generate preliminary findings and strengthen future applications for larger federal, foundation, or industry funding. Program Overview The NF Northeast Seed Grant and Seed Funds support innovative biomedical research that can improve understanding, diagnosis, treatment, or management of neurofibromatosis. The program is particularly valuable for early-career faculty and researchers who need initial funding to establish a new research direction and generate preliminary data. Projects should demonstrate the potential to contribute meaningfully to NF research while creating a strong foundation for future external funding. Key Objectives

The grant program aims to:

- Advance biomedical research related to neurofibromatosis. - Support promising early-stage research ideas. - Help researchers generate preliminary data. - Encourage long-term commitment to NF research. - Strengthen the productivity and research capacity of early-career investigators. - Prepare researchers for larger federal, foundation, or industry grants. - Promote institutional support for researchers pursuing NF-related studies. Institutional commitment is an important consideration during the selection process. Funding Amount and Duration Successful applicants can receive up to $75,000, including a maximum of 10% indirect costs.

Key funding details include:

- Maximum award: $75,000

- Project duration: 1 year

- Indirect costs: Maximum 10%

- Research area: Biomedical research focused on neurofibromatosis

- Funding purpose: Early-stage research and development of future fundable research programs

What Expenses Can the Grant Cover? Allowable expenses may include costs directly related to conducting the proposed research.

Eligible expenses can include:

- Salary support. - Research technician or research coordinator support. - Laboratory and research supplies. - Project-related travel. - Other justified research expenses. Tuition and coursework-related expenses are not eligible. Applicants should ensure that every requested expense is clearly connected to the proposed research and appropriately justified in the budget. Who Is Eligible? The program is primarily intended for early-career faculty and researchers conducting neurofibromatosis-related biomedical research.

Eligible candidates may include:

- Early-career faculty members. - Researchers with more than two years of postdoctoral experience. - Investigators developing new lines of NF research. - Researchers with institutional support for the proposed work.

Applicants must have:

- Institutional support. - A guaranteed funded appointment covering the project period. - A research proposal relevant to neurofibromatosis. - The ability to conduct the proposed research during the one-year funding period. All supported research must comply with applicable institutional, local, state, and federal requirements governing human and animal research. Why This Grant Matters Early-stage biomedical research often requires preliminary evidence before researchers can compete successfully for larger grants. The NF Northeast Seed Grant and Seed Funds address this funding gap by providing researchers with resources to test promising ideas, collect preliminary data, and establish evidence for future studies. The program can therefore serve as a research development and bridge-funding opportunity for investigators seeking to build a sustainable NF research program. What Types of Research Are Supported? The funding is intended for biomedical research that advances knowledge or treatment related to neurofibromatosis. Potential research may focus on questions that improve understanding of NF biology, disease mechanisms, diagnosis, therapeutic approaches, or other clinically relevant areas. The strongest proposals should clearly explain: - The NF-related research problem. - Why the research is important. - What knowledge gap the project addresses. - How the proposed work will generate meaningful evidence. - Why seed funding is needed at this stage. - How the results could support future research and larger funding applications. Application Requirements Applications must be submitted as one PDF document containing the required materials.

The application should include:

- Cover letter - Project proposal - Lay summary - Research plan - References - Curriculum vitae - Conflict of interest disclosure - Institutional support letter, where applicable - Detailed project budget - Budget justification

Applicants should also clearly disclose:

- Current sources of research support. - Pending funding applications. - Any scientific overlap with existing or pending projects. - Any budgetary overlap with other sources of support. How to Apply Applicants should prepare their application systematically before submission.

Step 1: Develop an NF-focused research question

Define a clear biomedical research problem directly relevant to neurofibromatosis.

Step 2: Prepare the research proposal

Explain the scientific rationale, objectives, research approach, expected outcomes, and significance of the project.

Step 3: Prepare the lay summary

Describe the proposed research in language that can be understood by a non-specialist audience. Clearly explain why the research matters to people affected by NF.

Step 4: Confirm institutional support

Ensure that the applicant has the required institutional backing and a guaranteed funded appointment for the entire project period.

Step 5: Prepare the budget

Request only allowable and well-justified costs. Include the applicable indirect costs within the 10% limit.

Step 6: Disclose existing and pending funding

Identify all current and pending support and explain any scientific or financial overlap with the pro