Washington University has an outstanding history of breakthrough scientific and medical discoveries, nurturing 24 Nobel Laureates in medicine, physics, chemistry and economics and playing pivotal roles in the Human Genome Project, imaging the brain, curing cancer, exploring Mars, tapping the power of photosynthesis to produce clean energy, and much more. The university is world-renowned for biomedical research, and our School of Medicine is one of the top five in the country. We also have notable strengths in chemistry, physics, materials science and energy research. The university attracts the best minds in science and medicine and offers a world-class research environment that fosters a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach, transcending departmental lines and traditional boundaries of scientific fields. In short, Washington University is an ideal partner for donors interested in supporting discovery science.
PURPOSE AND FOCUS:
The Discovery Science Innovation Fund targets exceptionally inventive basic research that epitomizes scientific ingenuity and has the potential to lead to scientific breakthroughs, yet is too early-stage for federal funding.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Washington University faculty working in any branch of science are eligible to apply for three types of competitive awards: New Investigator Awards, Transformational Science Awards, and Technology Awards.
APPLICATION AND REVIEW:
Decisions are made based on review by a committee of top scientists from across the university and, in the case of Transformational Science Awards, by external reviewers who are national leaders in the field of research.
TYPE OF SUPPORT:
New Investigator Awards – $150,000 per year for five years
Transformational Science Awards – $500,000 per year for three years
Technology and infrastructure Awards – up to $10 million
To learn more about the program, view the Washington University Full Description.