June 24, 2021

Call for applications: Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund

The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is soliciting applications for research awards from the Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund. The Cohen Fund supports high-risk, ground-breaking research with the potential to open new fields of scientific inquiry and biomedical impact. Initial awards of up to $100,000 (direct costs) will be made from the Fund. Awardees can receive a second year of funding, pending adequate progress. 

The awards honor and are in memory of Professor of Biochemistry and 1986 Nobel Laureate Stanley Cohen, whose discovery of epidermal growth factor and its mechanism of action revolutionized our understanding of cellular signaling in fields of biomedical research such as development, wound healing, and cancer and led to high impact therapies across a range of diseases. Professor Cohen’s work will serve as the prototype for research that will be supported by the Fund.

Nomination process: 

Applicants should be tenured or tenure-track faculty with their primary appointment in a School of Medicine department. They must be nominated by their Department Chair and only one nomination will be accepted from each department. The following nomination materials must be submitted as a PDF document to LSO@vanderbilt.edu by July 31:

  • Two-page description of the research plan including figures (references can be separate)
  • Budget with justification (travel and entertainment costs are not allowed)
  • NIH Biosketch
  • Brief letter of nomination by the department chair

Given the intent of the Fund, emphasis should be placed on the novelty of the proposed research and the potential for future discovery and impact. Research that is a continuation or incremental extension of ongoing research programs will not be considered.

All applications will be peer reviewed by a committee that will select final nominees. Finalists will be asked to give a presentation on their proposed research project to the committee in August, 2021. Funds will be available September 2021.

Any questions about this opportunity can be directed to chuck.sanders@vanderbilt.edu or s.meyn@vumc.org