Seed Grant RFA

2024 Seed Grants Request for Applications

Program Description

The Center of Regenerative Medicine (CRM) is a multidisciplinary research center that spans multiple schools and numerous departments at Washington University in St. Louis. The CRM is focused on advancing regenerative medicine through excellence in research and education. For more information about the CRM, please visit: https://regenerativemedicine.wustl.edu/

Through the generous support of our WashU departments and dean, the CRM is pleased to offer 1-year research Seed Grants. The intent of these grants is to facilitate innovative research in regenerative medicine. Any project of high merit will be considered, but priority for 2024 will be given to the following areas:

• Applications of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and organoids in regenerative medicine with defined work to be performed by staff in the Human Cells, Tissues, and Organoids Core (hCTO)
  • Free consultation and collaboration meetings can be set with the hCTO by emailing Dr. Kuo-Chan Weng at kuochan.weng@wustl.edu
• The intersection of precision medicine and regenerative medicine
• Translational and/or entrepreneurial regenerative medicine
• Newly initiated interdisciplinary collaborations in regenerative medicine between campuses and departments

There are two seed grant funding opportunities for 2024, as detailed below. We anticipate administering four total awards for FY2024, two in each category, depending on the applications that are received.

Funding Opportunities and Eligibility

Opportunity #1 – $50,000 Regenerative Medicine Seed Grants. Awardees must hold a faculty appointment at Washington University for the duration of the award and be current members or eligible for membership in the Center of Regenerative Medicine for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. There is no citizenship requirement. The grant may include up to 10% coverage for faculty salary (maximum, total). The grant may not be used for equipment, journal subscriptions, memberships, or the purchase of general reference materials. Funds may be allocated to support grant-related publication fees or travel to present the work.

Opportunity #2 – $10,000 Regenerative Medicine Staff and Postdoctoral Pilot Grants. Awardees must hold a staff or postdoctoral appointment at Washington University for the duration of the award. Awardees must be in the lab of a faculty that is a current member or eligible for membership in the Center of Regenerative Medicine for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. A letter of endorsement must be provided by this faculty sponsor. There is no citizenship requirement. The grant will support research expenses (only) and up to $1,500 for related travel to present the project. Grants may not include salary support, equipment, journal subscriptions, memberships, or the purchase of general reference materials.

Terms

Grants will be awarded in the specified amount for 1-year (direct costs only). Awards may not be transferred or renewed. Funding is anticipated to begin April 1, 2024. Successful proposals must be approved, if applicable, by the Human Studies, Animal Safety, Biosafety, and/or Radiation Safety Committees. Approvals may be pending at the time of application.  Grantees should acknowledge funding from the CRM in publications and are expected to provide a progress report at the end of the grant period. In addition, grantees are expected to engage with the CRM and participate in various activities, such as subsequent grant review. Grantees will also be required to present the results of their work, with presentation details to be determined at a future date.

Questions may be directed to the CRM at crminfo@email.wustl.edu

Review

A selection and review committee identified by the leadership of the Center of Regenerative Medicine will review applications. Notification of award is anticipated in March 2024 with funding to start April 1, 2024.