Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences

Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences is sponsored by The Pew Charitable Trusts. This program provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. Awards are granted in the broad field of biomedical research, including areas such as bioengineering, biophysics, and chemistry.

(CLOSED) The Pew Charitable Trusts: 2026 Pew Biomedical Scholars – Research and Innovation Strategy Skip to primary navigation You are here: Home / Limited Submissions / (CLOSED) The Pew Charitable Trusts: 2026 Pew Biomedical Scholars Internal Deadline: Friday, March 28th, 2025, 5pm PT Closed.

LOI: May 14, 2025 – nomination form External Deadline: September 3, 2025 Estimated Number of Awards: Approximately 20-24 Anticipated Amount: $300,000; $75,000 per year for a four-year period Link to Award: https://www. pewtrusts.

org/en/projects/pew-biomedical-scholars/program-details Candidates must meet all of the following eligibility requirements: Hold a doctorate in biomedical sciences, medicine, or a related field, including engineering or the physical sciences. As of Sept. 3, 2025, run an independent lab and hold a full-time appointment at the rank of assistant professor.

(Appointments such as research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, assistant professor research track, visiting professor, or instructor are not eligible). Current appointments such as research assistant professor, adjunct assistant professor, assistant professor research track, visiting professor, or instructor are not eligible to apply.

Must not have been appointed as an assistant professor and run an independent lab at any institution prior to June 11, 2021, whether or not such an appointment was on a tenure track. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, in work toward board certification, or on parental leave does not count as part of this four-year limit.

Candidates who need an exception on the four-year limit should contact Pew’s program office to ensure that application reviewers are aware an exception has been given. Please note that the eligibility criteria above have been temporarily expanded to account for COVID-related lab shutdowns. This extension will end after this upcoming application cycle.

Beginning next year, the eligibility window for the 2027 grant will revert to the three-year period. Please direct any questions to the program office at scholarsapp@pewtrusts. org .

May apply to the program a maximum of two times. All applicants must be nominated by their institution and must complete the 2026 online application. If applicants have appointments at more than one eligible nominating institution or affiliate, they may not reapply in a subsequent year from a different nominating entity.

May not be nominated for the Pew Scholars Program and the Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research in the same year. Based on their performance during their education and training, candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise as contributors in science relevant to human health. This program does not fund clinical trials research.

Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied biomedical research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply. Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged.

Selection of the successful candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications.

In evaluating the candidates, the National Advisory Committee gives considerable weight to both the project proposal and the researcher, including evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has the skill set needed to carry out their high-impact proposal. Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from nonprofit associations do not pose a conflict with the Pew scholars program.

If you have questions concerning eligibility, please contact Pew Biomedical Programs ( scholarsapp@pewtrusts. org ) in advance of applying. It is expected that Pew scholars will spend at least 80 percent of their time in work or activities related to the accomplishment of their overall research goals (which are not restricted to the specific aims proposed for this award).

However, Pew provides flexible support to the general research aims of the scholar and does not require effort reporting. Process for Limited Submissions PIs must submit their application as a Limited Submission through the Research Initiatives and Infrastructure (RII) Application Portal: https://ris. usc.

edu/oor-portal/ . Use the template provided here: RII-Limited-Submission-Application-Template. Materials to submit include: (1) Two-Page Proposal Summary (1.

0” margins; single-spaced; font type: Arial, Helvetica, or Georgia typeface; font size: 11 pt). Page limit includes references and illustrations. Pages that exceed the 2-page limit will be excluded from review.

You must use the template linked above. (2) CV – (5 pages maximum) Note: The portal requires information about the PIs in addition to department and contact information, including the 10-digit USC ID#, Gender, and Ethnicity. Please have this material prepared before beginning this application.

The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. The program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in their first few years of their appointment at the assistant professor level.

An award of $75,000 per year for four years will be provided to the sponsoring institution for use by the scholar, subject to annual review of the scholar’s progress. Grant agreements will be issued in August of the award year. The awarded funds may be used at the discretion of the Pew scholar, for personnel, equipment, supplies, or travel directly related to the scholar’s research and as to best advance his or her research and career.

The amount of the award that may be used for the principal investigator’s salary is limited to $12,500 per year (including benefits) or $50,000 over the duration of the grant. There are no limits on student or postdoctoral salaries. Not more than 8 percent ($24,000) of the total award value may be allocated for facilities and administration (F&A) charges or indirect costs (IDCs).

Should the funds not be immediately required, they may be accumulated and carried over through the grant period and, with written approval of the program office, the grant may receive a no-cost extension for one additional year (without additional funds).