As our resourceful INI faculty know, funding for research can come from a variety of sources. While the NIH is often considered the primary source for support in the United States, many non-governmental organizations including companies and nonprofits have active funding portfolios and are more often willing to support research that is high risk/high reward than NIH or other federal sources. Some non-governmental organizations, additionally, support research areas that may fall outside of the current focus areas for federal funding. For 2025, the INI requests Accelerator Grant proposals that represent a pivot toward non-federal funding streams. 

 

 

AWARDS 

  • Projects should lead to a funding application to a non-NIH/non-federal organization.
  • Awards will be budgeted based on the anticipated funding level of the identified target organizations:
    • Accelerator awards of $25,000 for future applications of $150,000-$299,999.
    • Accelerator awards of $50,000 for future applications of $300,000 or more.
  • Awardees must report final progress to the Iowa Neuroscience Institute and acknowledge the INI in all publications resulting from funded Accelerator Grants.
  • Awardees must present their work at an INI Collaboration meeting.

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QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • The Accelerator application must demonstrate a pivot to a new topic for the PI. Topics may involve any basic, translational, or clinical neuroscience research.
  • The Accelerator plan may involve applying to organizations that have funded the PI in the past, but the topic must be distinct from the previously funded topic.
  • The PI must either be a member of the INI or be someone qualified to join the INI as a member. 

APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE: 

  • A cover page that includes:
    • Project title
    • PI contact information
    • Public lay abstract highlighting the goal and importance of the project (no more than 200 words).
  • A 2-page proposal that includes:
    • A one-page description of the project including: short background, significance, and specific aim(s).
    • A half-page description of how your proposal aligns with the aims and interests of the target agency and grant program. Where such information is available, you may wish to bolster this by noting recent awards made by the agency that support the relevance of your topic/approach. Please include details about the specific funding mechanism you want to target, including the agency, the specific program (if there are several), their areas of interest, dollar amounts ($150,000 is the minimum allowable target award), and stated indirect cost rate.
    • A half-page description of the budget with justification. Direct costs for research (e.g., research personnel, core usage, animal care, etc.) are allowed. Travel, tuition and faculty salary are not allowable expenses.
  • PI NIH biosketch including current funding.
  • Additional materials may be required after submission for review. 

 

EVALUATION

INI Accelerator Grants will be evaluated on 

  • Scientific impact and approach
  • Evidence of a pivot to a new topic
  • Potential for future funding through the organization identified by the applicant 

TIMELINE

  • Applications are due October 15, 2025.
  • Funding decisions will be announced by November 17, 2025.