The Ignite Microbiome Award, offered by University of South Florida (USF) Health, provides small, rapid-access awards to investigative teams at USF working on microbiome research.

Awards are designed to help teams maintain momentum on feasibility projects with high probability of bridging research gaps, generate pilot data for subsequent extramural grant applications, or provide internal funding for peer-reviewed research projects that need support to reach a fundable range. Funds of up to $5,000 must be spent within three months of the award.

The application process is rolling, and investigators are invited to apply at any time. Eligibility is restricted to investigative teams at the University of South Florida.

2025-2026 Ignite Microbiome Award We are accepting applications for the Ignite Award .

These awards are intended to be small, rapid-access awards to 1) help investigative teams maintain momentum on feasibility projects with high probability of traversing research gaps related to microbiome research, 2) obtain pilot data that will allow for the submission of a subsequent, larger extramural grant application, or 3) provide internal funding for new research projects that have been peer- reviewed and scored to help move grants to a fundable range.

Funds will be awarded for up to $5,000 to be spent within a maximum of 3 months of the award. This application process will be rolling, with investigators invited to apply at any time that is convenient to them. Ignite Award Announcement 2025-2026 USF Microbiome Awards Winners Novel therapeutics combating C.

difficile infection without disrupting intestinal microbiome : PI: Dr. Xingmin Sun; Co-PI: Dr. Jianfeng Cai Gut Microbiome as a Noninvasive Biomarker of Treatment Response and Adverse Event Risk in Endometrial Cancer : PI: Dr. Maya Yasukawa; Co-PI: Dr. Matthew Anderson Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Driver of Sinonasal Microbiome Dysbiosis in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps : PI: Dr. Seong H. Cho; Co-PIs: Drs.

Lindsey “Les” Shaw, Mark Tabor, Narasaiah Kolliputi Development of an Ultra High-Resolution Spatial Mapping Platform for Tissue-Resident Microbiomes : PI: Dr. Rays H. Y. Jiang; Co-PIs: Dr. Richard A.

Jacobson, Dr. Timothy Yeatman 2024-2025 Microbiome Research Award winners We are pleased to announce this year’s Microbiome Research Award recipients: Feeding Tampa Bay’s microbiomes: A pilot study Ryan Pace, Usha Menon, Hariom Yadav.

Laura Szalacha, Shalini Jain, Jennifer Kue, David Himmelgreen A Gut Microbiome Intervention to Improve Cognitive Function in Older Adults Hariom Yadav, Ram Bishnoi, Shalini Jain, Ambuj Kumar LpD3. 5 Intervention in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (LIBD) Study Shalini Jain, Scott A.

Manski, Hariom Yadav, Ambuj Kumar Developing Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems for Lunar Habitats: Enhancing Membrane Bioreactor Stability and Microbiome Viability Daniel H. Yeh, Valerie J.

Harwood Role of REG3A in regulation of gut dysbiosis in the context of Alzheimer’s disease Aurelie Joly-Amado, Kevin Nash, Hariom Yadav, Christian Brechot Ancient Plague Proteomes: Investigating Dental Calculus of Black Death Victims Robert H. Tykot, Andrea Vianello, Rays Jiang The impact of “conditioned” microplastics on animal development and immune maturation.

(Ignite Award) Past Microbiome Award Recipients 2023-24 USF-TGH Cancer Institute (TGHCI) Microbiome Joint Pilot Research Award Applying Quantitative Approaches to Study the Lipidome and Microbiome in Colorectal Cancer Ganesh V.

Halade, Timothy Yeatman Beyond bystanders – uncovering the role of tumor-resident microbiome in women’s cancers Rays Jiang, Matthew Anderson, Adrian Kohut Below is a list of external grant opportunities in the field of microbiomes. They include grants that specifically support microbiome research, as well as those that, while not microbiome-specific, would certainly be applicable.

If you see a microbiomes-related funding opportunity that is not listed here, please send it to graca@usf. edu and it will be added to the list. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mechanistic Research on Precision Probiotic Therapies (R33 Clinical Trial application budget must not exceed $350,000 in direct costs per year.

microbiomes : The National Cancer Institute (NCI) supports research on the microbiome's role in cancer, particularly the effects of pre/probiotics on cancer prevention, interception, progression, and treatment. Cancer Biology is interested in basic and mechanistic studies on how probiotics affect tumor formation at the molecular level and the interactions between probiotics, host cells, and the resident microbiome.

It focuses on how these interactions influence cellular signaling, physiology, and metabolism.

Research on Women's Health is interested in supporting projects focused on accelerating precision probiotic interventions for specific women's health conditions across the lifespan, including but not limited to reproductive health, pregnancy, postpartum health, lactation, vaginal microbiome (bacterial vaginosis), menopause-related symptoms, and autoimmune disorders that are more information : https://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-25-210.

html Prospective Observational or Biomarker Validation Study Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) October 5, 2025; November 5, 2025; January 7, 2026; February 5, 2026; March 5, 2026; May 7, 2026 microbiomes : “Applications of cohort studies assessing associations of psychosocial and behavioral factors with -omics changes (including epigenetic modifications to the human genome and/or oral microbiome alterations) and impact of the associations upon oral diseases and conditions; Applications of cohort studies that analyze interaction of the human genome and oral microbiome in response to environmental stimuli and impact of the interaction on oral diseases and conditions.

” information : https://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-25-239.

html Partnerships for Translation of Technologies for Diagnosis and Treatment (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Due Dates: October 5, 2025; November 5, 2025; February 5, 2026; budgets are limited to $499,000 (direct costs) per year.

microbiomes : “For analysis of exposures, including environmental and chemical exposures, and cancer-relevant microbiome and virome; host-microbiome interactions, and tools for gene-environment interaction”. information : https://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-25-338. html Cancer Control and Population Sciences (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Due Date(s): October 5, 2025, November 5, 2025, February 5, direct costs for any year may not exceed $250,000 (excluding consortium F&A costs).

Within that limit, applications need to reflect the actual needs of the microbiomes : Evaluation of cancer risk associated with exogenous (e.g., chemical agents, infectious agents, radiation, medication, nutrition, tobacco, and drug use) and endogenous (e.g., metabolome, microbiome, adductome) factors, mixtures and interaction of these factors, and effects during early life and critical periods across the life course.

information : https://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-25-172.

html Grants in Cancer Control (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) October 16, 2025, November 16, combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in a single year”. https://grants.

nih. gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-25-253. html Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Award (R33 Clinical Trial Required) February 23, 2026; March 17, 2026 Relevance to microbiomes: Research interests include: Studies that examine the effects of prebiotics/probiotics and other natural products on gut microbiome-brain interactions.

Of particular interest are studies of prebiotics/probiotics for depression, anxiety disorders, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or chronic pain. Link: https://grants. nih.

gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-25-270. html Special Interest (NOSI): Chronic Inflammation of the Oral Cavity - An Agent for notice applies to due dates on or after February 5, 2024, and subsequent receipt dates through September 7, 2026. For more information: NOT-DE-23-007: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Chronic Inflammation of the Oral Cavity - An Agent for Oral Mucosal Disease (nih.

gov) Special Interest (NOSI): Leveraging Microbial Exposure for Improving Mouse microbiomes : Research interests include “Applications of cohort studies assessing associations of psychosocial and behavioral factors with -omics changes (including epigenetic modifications to the human genome and/or oral microbiome alterations) and impact of the associations upon oral diseases and conditions; Applications of cohort studies that analyze interaction of the human genome and oral microbiome in response to environmental stimuli and impact of the interaction on oral diseases and conditions.

” information : https://grants. nih. gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AI-24-078.

html National Science Foundation (NSF) Plant Biotic Interactions Notice Number: NSF 18-590 Approximate Funding Amount: $18,500,000 depending on availability of funds$10. 5M from NSF for new standard or continuing grant awards, and approximately $8M from USDA/NIFA for new awards. Both estimates depend on availability of appropriations.

USDA/NIFA will support projects for up to four years in duration. Although there are no formal upper or lower limits to award amounts, they typically range from $50,000 to $300,000 per year, with durations of two to four years (and five years for CAREER awards). Enactment of additional continuing resolutions or an appropriations act may affect the availability or level of funding for this program.

For more information: https://www. nsf. gov/funding/pgm_summ.

jsp? pims_id=505267 Transitions to Excellence in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Research (Transitions) Notice Number : NSF 21-508 Anticipated Funding Amount : $6,000,000 Pending availability of funds For more information : https://www. nsf.

gov/pubs/2021/nsf21508/nsf21508. htm Physiological and Structural Systems (PSS) For more information : https://beta. nsf.

gov/funding/opportunities/physiological-structural-systems-pss Biocodex Microbiota Foundation - Gut Microbiota International Call for Projects Due Date : November 30, 2025 For more information : https://www. biocodexmicrobiotafoundation. com/international-research-grant/international-call-projects American Gastroenterological Association Grants For list of Grants : https://gastro.

org/research-and-awards/apply-for-awards/ American Society of Transplantation Research Grants For more information : https://www. myast. org/research/research-grant-opportunities Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Grants & Fellowships For more information : https://www.

crohnscolitisfoundation. org/research/grants-fellowships Investigator - Initiated Studies + Educational Grants - Bausch & Lomb For more information : https://www. bausch.

com/product-innovation/independent-research-cme-grants/ AbbVie - Investigator-Initiated Studies For more information : https://www. abbvie. com/science/clinical-trials/investigator-initiated-studies.

html US Forest Service (USFS) Postdoctoral Fellowship for the Integration of Microbiome, Disease, and Climate Factors Associated with Southern Pine Species Due Date: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis. Location: US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) within the Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) located in Fort Collins, Colorado. For more information : https://www.

zintellect. com/Opportunity/Details/USDA-USFS-SRS-2024-0153 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Postgraduate Fellowship in Foodborne Pathogen Research Due Date: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis.

Location: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Animal Disease Center (NADC), Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit located in Ames, Iowa. Relocation will be required. For more information : https://www.

zintellect. com/Opportunity/Details/USDA-ARS-MW-2024-0125 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)- Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Undergraduate Student Internship in Bioinformatics Due Date : Applications may be reviewed on a rolling-basis, and this posting will remain open until a qualified candidate is identified.

Location : A research opportunity in Bioinformatics is available with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Sustainable Agriculture Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland. For more information : https://www. zintellect.

com/Opportunity/Details/USDA-ARS-2022-0054 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Fellowship in Microbiome and Infectious Disease Due Date : Applications will be reviewed on a rolling-basis, and this posting will remain open until filled.

Location: Laboratory of Dr. Paul Carlson in the Office of Vaccines Research and Review (OVRR) at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Silver Spring, Maryland For more information : https://www. zintellect.

com/Opportunity/Details/FDA-CBER-2022-17 Nutrition and Human Performance Fellowship at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) Location : Natick, Massachusetts Due Date : Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and fellowships will be filled as qualified candidates are identified. For more information : https://www. zintellect.

com/Opportunity/Details/USAMRDC-RIEM-2022-0037 USDA-ARS Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Plant Pathology Due Date: Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis. Location: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Fort Pierce, Florida.

For more information : Zintellect - Climb Higher U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Fellowship Research Opportunity in Microbiology, Immunology, and Veterinary Science Due Date: Applications are reviewed on a rolling-basis. Location : U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), located in Ames, Iowa. For more information : https://www.

zintellect. com/Opportunity/Details/USDA-ARS-MW-2024-0135