Whole Health Seed Grant Program

Whole Health Seed Grant Program is sponsored by Virginia Tech Whole Health Consortium. Supports innovative, community-engaged research advancing whole health across disciplines, systems, and communities, with priority areas including mental health, rural health, and technology for whole health.

Awards that will enable researchers to form collaborative and interdisciplinary teams. The aim is to prime these teams for high-impact, community-engaged research, setting the stage for them to develop research proposals robust enough to compete for larger, more substantial future grants. Seed Grant Funding | Whole Health Consortium | Virginia Tech The Whole Health Consortium (WHC) has closed its 2025–2026 seed grant application cycle.

Thank you to all applicants for your interest in advancing collaborative, interdisciplinary, and community-engaged research. The Whole Health Consortium Seed Grant Program supports innovative, community‑engaged research that advances holistic health and well‑being across biological, behavioral, social, environmental, and structural levels.

These grants help faculty–community teams generate new insights, build collaborative partnerships, and develop the foundational work needed to pursue large‑scale external funding that transforms systems of care and improves the lives of individuals and communities.

Funding Tracks at a Glance Track I – Advancing Partnerships Purpose: Supports established multidisciplinary teams (3–5 interconnected projects) ready to deepen existing collaborations and prepare competitive proposals for major external grants (e.g., NIH P/U Series, NSF, PCORI).

Track II – Incubating Emergent Collaborations Purpose: Seeds early‑stage, cross‑disciplinary partnerships to build proof‑of‑concept data, pilot ideas, or rapid‑response studies that position teams for future growth and larger funding pursuits. The next WHC seed grant cycle is expected to open in September 2026. More details will be announced as the launch date approaches.

Browse priority areas from previous funding cycles: 2023-2024 Priority Research Areas 2024-2025 Priority Research Areas 2025–2026 Priority Research Areas FUNDED SEED GRANT PROPOSALS | The Whole Health Consortium 2025 | Track 1 | Anti-scam Conversational helper for On-call Resilience (ANCHOR) for Older People A community‑guided initiative developing real‑time AI phone‑scam detection and immersive training tools to empower older adults with greater safety, confidence, and resilience against fraud.

2025 | Track 1 | Suicide Prevention: Leveraging Episodic Future Thinking with a Community Approach A transdisciplinary, community‑engaged effort to adapt and test Episodic Future Thinking as a brief, whole‑person intervention that helps individuals at risk for suicide build hope, future‑orientation, and improved well‑being across community and clinical settings.

2025 | Track 2 | A Qualitative Study on the Integration of Holistic Healthcare Services in Small, Rural, Independent Schools A community‑engaged qualitative study examining how holistic health services can be integrated into small, rural, independent schools, comparing insights with public‑school SBHC models to develop adaptable, sustainable approaches that improve student and family well‑being across rural communities.

2025 | Track 2 | Walking on Eggshells: The Mental Health Consequences of Immediate Rule Adjustment for Domestic Violence Shelter Residents A community‑engaged study examining how shelter rule communication affects the mental health of domestic violence survivors and co‑developing trauma‑informed approaches that promote safety, autonomy, and emotional well‑being during shelter transitions.

2025 | Track 2 | Soft Robotic Compression Socks for Musculoskeletal Support and Fatigue Reduction in Frontline Nurses A nurse‑informed, wearable technology project developing soft‑robotic compression socks to reduce fatigue and musculoskeletal strain, supporting frontline nurses’ health, resilience, and long‑term well‑being. Funding is generously provided in collaboration with Carilion Clinic.

2025 | Track 2 | Data‑Driven Analytical Frameworks for Uncovering Systemic Determinants of Mental‑Health Access in Rural Populations in Virginia A Virginia Tech–Carilion collaboration developing a combined simulation and machine‑learning framework to identify and address systemic barriers to mental‑health access in rural Southwest Virginia, testing solutions—from telehealth expansion to patient navigation—that improve appointment follow‑through and continuity of care.

Collaborative funding for this project is provided by the Whole Health Consortium in partnership with the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE) at Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic. 2024 | Track 1 | Geospatial Analysis and Optimization for Veterans’ Health Care Access in Pain Management This project will identify underserved areas and create solutions to improve veterans’ access to pain management.

2024 | Track 1 | Psychosocial and Physical Environments of Health Care This project will involve investigating how hospital design, environment, and communication among patients, clinicians, and families affect wellness during patient care activities.

2024 | Track 2 | Developmental Disability Abuse Prevention and Response The aim of this project is to understand and address unique prevention and response strategies around sexual abuse affecting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

2024 | Track 2 | Development of an Accessible, Integrative Treatment for Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder in Appalachia This project will lay the groundwork for novel interventions that reduce chronic pain and opioid misuse, tailored to Appalachian communities.

2024 | Track 2 | Ethical Dilemmas of Medical Interpretation in Indigenous Languages The goal of this project is to examine how medical interpreters balance objectivity with culturally responsive advocacy for Indigenous patients.

2023 | Track 1 | Stressed Out Moms - Targeting the Body to Treat the Brain and Prevent Intergenerational Transmission of Mental Health Issues This project will address the need for alternative, non-pharmacological approaches to depression, particularly in mothers and children.

2023 | Track 1 | Designing AI as a Mental Health Resource for Autistic Adults: Enhancing Therapeutic Approaches with Multimodal Interactions The goal of this project is to collaboratively design an interactive artificial intelligence (AI) system using large language models to support the mental health needs of autistic adults, with a specific focus on repetitive negative self-talk.

2023 | Track 2 | Community Advisory Groups to Inform Youth Mental Health Needs in Southwest Virginia The goal of this project is to build collaborative partnerships between Virginia Tech’s Child Study Center, schools, and families in Southwest Virginia to identify current youth mental health needs and resources, and to leverage community perspectives in ongoing and future mental health related research.

2023 | Track 2 | The Development of a Brief Self-Compassion Intervention to Improve Mental Health Among Caregivers Experiencing Food Insecurity This project aims to create an intervention that is tailored and accessible to caregivers of young children experiencing food insecurity, such as nutrition education programs, food banks, and pantries.