Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Pilot Grant Program is sponsored by University of Rochester Medicine. Provides funding for novel, high-risk research to advance understanding of the brain and central nervous system.

Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience / Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Funded Projects Our Funding by the Numbers Researchers Funded to Date The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Pilot Program for 2026 The Ernest J.

Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience (Del Monte) is pleased to announce the availability of up to 15 pilot project awards (with a maximum budget of $50,000 per award) to support novel basic, clinical, and translational projects in the neurosciences. These awards will be supported under eight programs for 2026 and are open to all faculty members across both the Medical School and the Undergraduate Campus.

Funds available for this year’s program are $750,000. Del Monte supports the following programs: The Schmitt Program in Integrative Neuroscience The Schmitt Program in Integrative Neuroscience (SPIN) supports pilot and feasibility awards (up to $50,000 per award) for basic science and translational projects that advance our understanding of both normal and abnormal brain functioning (up to 5 awards available). Ernest J.

Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Research Pilot and Feasibility Program The Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience Research Pilot and Feasibility Program supports pilot and feasibility awards (up to $50,000 per award) for basic science, translational, and clinical projects that advance our understanding of both normal and abnormal brain functioning (up to 2 awards available).

Friends of the Del Monte Funds Friends of the Del Monte Funds supports pilot and feasibility awards (up to $50,000 per award) for novel basic, clinical, and translational projects in the neurosciences, limited to Assistant Professors and Research Assistant Professors . Funds for one award are provided by generous philanthropic gifts of many individuals who support the mission and vision of the Del Monte Institute (1 award available).

Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation The Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Foundation (MF) offers pilot and feasibility awards (up to $50,000 per award) for basic, clinical, and translational projects that specifically support research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (1 award available).

The Feinberg Research Fund supports pilot and feasibility awards (up to $50,000 per award) for basic, translational, and clinical projects that advance our understanding of both normal and abnormal brain function (1 award).

Golisano Intellectual and Developmental Disability Fund Golisano Intellectual and Developmental Disability Fund supports pilot and feasibility awards (up to $50,000 per award) for clinical, translational, community, and basic science projects that advance our understanding of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Disorders (up to 1 award available). Carol K.

Kellogg ’70 (PhD) Fund for Neuroscience Education and Discovery (The Kellogg Fund) (up to $50,000 per award) supports pilot and feasibility awards. Exciting proposals from any branch of neuroscience will be given full consideration. Applications that include undergraduate experiences within the pilot are preferred.

(1 award). Institute for Human Health and the Environment Research Catalyst Program with Neuroscience The Institute for Human Health and the Environment Research Catalyst Program with Neuroscience (up to $50,000 per award) supports pilot research studies to elucidate how environmental factors, individually or in combination, influence normal brain function and diseases or disorders that affect the nervous system.

Proposals that include basic science, translational, computational, and clinical research related to the broad theme of understanding how cumulative exposures and interactions among environmental factors modulate brain health and disease across the lifespan are particularly welcome (up to 2 awards available).

Neuroimmunology Research Pilot and Feasibility Program Fund The Neuroimmunology Research Pilot and Feasibility Program Fund (up to $50,000 per award) supports interdisciplinary research that examines the interactions between the nervous system and the immune system, with a focus on mechanisms such as immune responses in the brain, the role of neuroinflammation, and the impact of immune system dysfunction on neurological conditions.

Awards are given for basic science and translational projects that advance our understanding of both normal and abnormal neuroimmunology. Interdisciplinary multi-PI teams, particularly those leveraging the strengths of faculty within Microbiology and Immunology, and neuroscientists across URMC, are encouraged to apply (1 award available). For more information on the above awards, download the RFA .

Application Process and Deadlines The programs support research in the neurosciences. Applications may request up to $50,000 (funds depend on the specific program). Principal investigators must be faculty members (tenured or non-tenured) within the University of Rochester's neuroscience community.

PIs must also be members of the Ernest J. Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience. A short membership application is available on the Del Monte website or by clicking here .

Applications will be accepted starting March 27 th , 2026. Applications will be submitted online , with a short informational online page and a single pdf application file . Title, submitting PI information, co-PI information List of major collaborators (past 3 years) Technical abstract (300 words): This will be used to assign reviewers, and should include overall goal, specific aims, and techniques used.

Lay abstract (300 words): this will be used to convey information to the public, and should be easily understandable to the non-scientist. This will be public, and so should not contain proprietary information.

The written application is modeled after an NIH R21 research proposal and should include: Cover letter with title, investigators, and description that indicates how the SPIN, Del Monte Friends, or Del Monte mechanism would extend research objectives that will lead to a competitive extramural grant application [one page limit]. You may indicate more than one choice if relevant. Select which program or programs you are applying for.

Research description (limited to 6 pages) including Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Preliminary Studies, Research Design and Methods. Supporting materials (Human Subjects, Vertebrate Animals, and Literature Cited) can follow on additional pages. Supporting materials (Human Subjects, Vertebrate Animals, and Literature Cited) can follow on additional pages.

Budget (detailed, not modular) with justification ( faculty salary support is specifically excluded ) Bio-sketches of all Co-Investigators and key personnel. Resources and Environment Review criteria will include but are not limited to: The likelihood of a subsequently successful application for extramural support (e.g. new NIH RO1). The significance and innovation of the proposed project.

Where relevant, the interdisciplinary/collaborative character of the project (across faculty and laboratories). Reporting - Following receipt of an award, investigators will be contacted annually for 10 years to update their reported data. The application deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Applications will be submitted online at https://redcap. link/DMINPilot_Application2026 . Open Date (Earliest Submission Date) is March 27, 2026.

Address all questions about applications to: Ian_Dickerson@urmc. rochester. edu An internal review committee will work with a panel of independent external reviewers to determine which projects are most competitive for support.

The Program is administered through the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience. Funding is scheduled to begin August 1, 2026 . Funds are available for a maximum of one year.