research grants 2022

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The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. In fiscal year 2022, NIH invested most of its $45 billion appropriations in research seeking to enhance life, and to reduce illness and disability. NIH-funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.

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Field-Initiated Research Grant Programs

Research grants, our research grants are not designed for applicants to respond to a specific request – they are what you, scholars in the field, think we need to know more about..

The goal of all of our research grants is to support rigorous, intellectually ambitious and technically  sound  research that is relevant to the most pressing questions and compelling opportunities in education. We value work that fosters creative and open-minded scholarship, engages in deep inquiry, and examines robust questions related to education. We seek to support scholarship that develops new foundational knowledge that may also have a lasting impact on policy-making, practice, or educational discourse.  

Racial Equity Research Grants

Applications Open: March 18, 2024

Intent to Apply Form Deadline May 29, 2024, 12:00 PM Noon (Central/Chicago Time)

Full Proposal Deadline: June 27, 2024, 12:00 PM Noon (Central/Chicago Time)

Research Grants on Education: Large

Applications Open: April 3, 2024

Intent to Apply May 22, 2024, 12:00 PM Noon (Central/USA Time)

Full Proposal Deadline: June 18, 2024, 12:00 PM Noon (Central/USA Time)

Research Grants on Education: Small

Applications Open: Now closed.

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The U.S. National Science Foundation offers hundreds of funding opportunities — including grants, cooperative agreements and fellowships — that support research and education across science and engineering.

Learn how to apply for NSF funding by visiting the links below.

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NIH Extramural Nexus

FY 2022 By the Numbers: Extramural Grant Investments in Research

Today we present our annual snapshot of NIH grant funding and success rate data for fiscal year (FY) 2022 enacted appropriations. These data are available in the NIH Data Book , which is also being regularly updated with other FY 2022 grants information. Similar to our FY 2021 and FY 2020 posts, spending related to special appropriations for coronavirus are excluded here, but may be found using RePORTER’s advanced search capabilities .

In FY2022, NIH spent $33.3 billion of its total $45.2 billion appropriation for competing and noncompeting grant awards. This is a 3.1% increase (or $1.02 billion) in spending over the previous year. Monies for grants and Other Transaction awards are included while research and development contracts are excluded.

NIH supported 1,576 additional new and renewed extramural grants in FY 2022, for a total of 58,368 competing and non-competing awards (2.8% more than FY 2021). NIH issued grants to 2,707 academic universities, hospitals, small businesses, and other organizations throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Table 1 – All Extramural Research (competing and non-competing, excluding contracts)

The success rate for new research project grants (RPGs) increased 1.6 percentage points from 19.1% in FY 2021 to 20.7% in FY 2022. This is because we received 4,301 fewer RPG competing applications in FY 2022 compared to the previous year (54,571 compared to 58,872), while making 82 more awards (11,311 compared to 11,229). The average nominal cost per RPG rose by 1.9% in 2022 to $592,617 from $581,293 in FY 2021.

Table 2 – Research Project Grants (RPG)

* Success rates are calculated by dividing the number of awards made in a FY by the number of applications received. Applications having one or more amendments in the same fiscal year are only counted once.

Most RPGs are R01-equivalent grants , and they showed similar trends. We spent $19.1 billion on average on R01-equivalent grants in FY 2022 compared to $18.1 billion spent in FY 2021, a 5.4% increase. Like RPGs, the R01-equivalent grant success rate also increased (1.5 percentage points), going from 20.1% in FY 2021 to 21.6% in FY 2022. We spent 2.4% more in average nominal costs on R01-equivalents in FY 2022 ($585,307) compared to $571,561 spent in FY 2021.

Table 3 – R01-equivalent Grants**

**R01-equivalent grants are defined as activity codes DP1, DP2, DP5, R01, R37, R56, RF1, RL1, U01 and R35 from select National Institute of General Medical Sciences and National Human Genome Research Institute program announcements. Not all these activities may be in use by NIH every year.

Please note that NIH does not report the number of applications received in specific research areas, and thus does not report success rates for those areas either.

I would like to thank my colleagues within the NIH Office of Extramural Research’s Division of Statistical Analysis and Reporting for their work on this analysis.

Correction: Previously, we accidently misreported the FY 2021 success rate for R01-equivalent grants. We have corrected the data table to reflect this change, which now makes the percent change calculation correct.

RELATED NEWS

Please check “2022 % Change from 2021” for “Success rates for R01-equivalent applications:”. How did you calculate a 7.5% increase?

Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We accidently misreported the FY 2021 success rate for R01-equivalent grants. We have corrected the data table to reflect this change, which now makes the percent change calculation correct.

Thank you so much for this reporting. I would be interested to learn about data on 1) the average cut in budget made by the NIH before award is made (% of budget) and 2) the incidence in which the duration of the project has been reduced. This latter issue occurs both to align the year-end reporting with NIH workload (resulting in a short first year), but also occurs with an entire year is taken off the project to save money (e.g., a five-year grant is cut to 4 years).

Thank you so much. Could you also report on the numbers and percentages for women and underrepresented researchers?

These success rates seem higher than posted paylines for many institutes and how many colleagues are getting funded. Is this success % of all grants submitted, or those discussed?

You show that there are 7,816 new or renewal R01-equivalent grants. What is the total number of active R01-equivalent grants?

What are the non-R01-equivalent research project grants?

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• Grants & Awards

Research Grants

Stimulating innovative research.

Since 2018, we are offering a series of research grants to stimulate innovative research in challenging areas of future importance. Grants of up to 500,000 € per year for up to 3 years have been made available. In 2024, grants are available in the area as further specified below. 

• Discovery strategies for molecular glue degraders and other protein-protein-interaction stabilizers - 1 grant comprising up to 100,000 €/year for up to 3 years with potential further collaboration
• Augmented Reality Digital Twin  - 1 grant comprising up to 120,000 €/year for 1 year with potential further collaboration
• AI-Driven Drug Discovery – up to 3 grants comprising AIDDISON software licenses for one year with potential further collaboration

Submission deadline 31 August 2024.  

About the 2024 research grants

The Merck research grants program is open to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company.

In the first stage of the Research Grants applications process, applicants submit their application containing non-confidential information only. You may apply for more than one grant or submit your application for more than one category. If your application is successful, you are invited to submit a full proposal under confidentiality and join a deep-dive workshop. All applicants are informed about the decision of the selection committee. 

Deep dive Workshops

The second stage of the Research Grant process is a collaborative step, the deep-dive workshop. Finalists submit their full proposals and then work together with Merck managers and scientists to jointly optimize submitted project proposals. All teams reaching this stage will be informed in October. The deep-dive workshops are currently scheduled to take place in November 2024. The culmination of the deep-dive workshops will be the selection of the research grant winners.

Research Grant Funding

The third stage of the Research Grants process is the Research Grant funding phase. To enable pay-out and project start, Merck enters into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients. Our collaborative Research Grants are a unique opportunity for researchers who are interested in working with Merck‘s scientists and receive guidance from industry. During the Research Grant funding period, there will therefore be regular meetings with Merck scientists. 

Molecular glue degraders and other PPI stabilisers

In this category, we are providing financial support for research initiatives that concentrate on pioneering novel approaches for the screening & discovery of molecular glues.  

Discovery Strategies for Molecular Glue degraders & other protein-protein-interaction stabilizers

Molecular glues are small molecules capable of inducing proximity between a target protein and an effector protein inside the cells, hence relying on the effector protein to elicit target protein function. Molecular glues have been discovered, that lead to degradation (e.g. IMIDs) [1], inhibition (e.g. cyclosporin A) [2] or activation of the target protein (asukamycin)[3].

Targeting proteins via the molecular glue mechanism holds the promise to tackle non-ligandable proteins that are considered “non-druggable". However, the identification of degraders or other proximity inducers utilizing this mode of action for specific proteins has historically been largely serendipitous [1]. 

We are committed to providing financial support for research initiatives that concentrate on pioneering novel approaches for the screening and discovery of molecular glues.

We are offering one grant up up to 100,000 € per year for up to three years with potential further collaboration.

• Geoffrey et al., Screening for molecular glues – Challenges and opportunities,  SLAS Discovery 2023 .  
• Liu et al., Calcineurin is a common target of cyclophilin-cyclosporin A and FKBP-FK506 complexes,  Cell 1991 .  
• Isobe et al., Manumycin polyketides act as molecular glues between UBR7 and P53,  Nat Chem Biol 2020 . 

Augmented Reality Digital Twin

We are seeking research proposals to build an interactive Augmented Reality Digital Twin for our automated system’s monitoring and control. 

We are seeking research proposals to build an interactive Augmented Reality Digital Twin for our automated system’s monitoring and control. 

In an autonomous laboratory, drug discovery integrates the molecular design, chemical synthesis and biological assays and testing into one continuous process: design-make-test-analyse or DMTA. AI, automations and robotics will greatly accelerate the DMTA cycle for faster drug discoveries. 

We have designed an autonomous laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, advanced software tools and novel techniques. This automated system will require an advanced monitoring system. 

We are offering one grant comprising 120,000 € for one year with potential further collaboration.

The submitted proposals should:

• include a proof of concept (Technology Readiness Level 3) and describe the innovativeness of the proposal and the potential impact on Merck
• include proposal for interactive digital twin for dashboarding and/or instrument control using AR technologies
• include descriptions of 3D graphics and/or advanced visualization tools 

AI-Driven Drug Discovery

We are inviting research proposals for hit or lead optimization that you would like to advance using our AIDDISON™ drug discovery software. 

Validating AI-designed molecules

We are inviting research proposals for hit or lead optimization that you would like to advance using our AIDDISON™ drug discovery software.

We have designed AIDDISON™ drug discovery software to combine artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and computer-aided drug design (CADD) methods to act as a valuable toolkit for medicinal chemistry needs. As a unified platform for efficient and effective ligand-based and structure-based drug design, it integrates all the facets for virtual screening and supports methods for lead discovery and lead optimization.

Submitted proposals should:

• include a description of your hit or lead optimization project
• be suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal

We are offering up to 3 grants comprising AIDDISON software licenses for one year with potential further collaboration. This research grant includes extensive interaction with our scientists and training on the AIDDISON drug discovery software for teams selected to participate in the deep dive session. 

How can I register on the submissions platform?

To submit an application, investigators must first register with our online portal. On your first visit, you need to register with a valid email address. 

When is the application deadline?

Submissions will be accepted until 31 August 2024 23:59 central European summer time.

How do I apply?

In order to apply, fill out the application form with your research proposal, using non-confidential information only. Please make sure you have read and accepted the terms and conditions before you submit the application form.

Are there any requirements for the attachments I can submit in addition to the abstract?

During the first phase of the application process, we only require title, abstract and information on the project team. Additionally, you can add documents and graphics that explain the concept. There are no formal requirements for the attachments, most commonly used formats will work (for example, pdf or ppt). Please do not include any confidential information at this stage. Get in touch with us in case you have issues uploading documents to the submissions portal on [email protected] .

Can I send in my application for more than one focus topic?

Yes, you should apply for those research topics that are relevant to your proposal and you may submit multiple applications.

My proposal fits well to the topic description but not sure that it addresses all aspects.

We only will disqualify proposals that fall entirely outside the scope of the grant description. Eligible proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria subject to the research grants terms and conditions. These are currently innovativeness, commercial potential, path forward after 3 years, probability of success, team strength, strategic fit.

What about publicity?

Merck retains the exclusive right to make any press release or any kind of public communication about the Grant and the Awardee(s). Confidential details on project content are not revealed.

What is a Deep Dive workshop?

During the deep-dive workshops, invited top submitters further advance their research proposals together with Merck scientists under confidentiality. For this purpose, a participant's agreement needs to be signed. At the end of the workshop, participants present their optimized research proposals and the winning applicants are selected by Merck.

Where and when will the Deep Dive workshops take place?

The deep-dive workshops are currently scheduled to take place in November 2024. 

When will the research grants be paid out?

Following the Deep Dive workshops, Merck enters into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients to enable pay-out and project start. During the collaboration, there will be regular meetings with Merck scientists.

What happens to applications that are not successful?

Merck will not reveal any information on submissions. In case your submission does not qualify to the next round, you will be notified by email. Please understand that due to the large number of applications we are not able to provide detailed feedback regarding the evaluation process at the abstract submission stage.

Having technical problems with the submission platform?

Please drop us a mail on [email protected] .

Prior calls for research grants

Merck 350 grants.

First edition, our 2018 call for proposals.

Closed calls

• Healthy Lives / Drug Discovery
• Life Reimagined / Synthetic Biology
• Materials & Solutions
• Digitalization / Computing

2020 Research Grants

Our 2022 call for proposals.

• Drug Discovery
• Bioreactor design for culture meat
• Next generation machine learning
• Pandemic preparedness

2021 Research Grants

Our 2021 call for proposals.

• Real time testing and sensors
• Nanoparticle for nucleic acid delivery
• Digital innovation
• Bioelectronics
• Sustainability
• Media recycling for cultured meat

2022 Research Grants

• Drug discovery
• AI for diagnostics & target discovery
• Chemistry in the cloud
• Sustainability in healthcare R&D
• Innovation within green chemistry

2023 Research Grants

Our 2023 call for proposals

• Green Hydrogen

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Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

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NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.

By using the web page, Search for an REU Site , you may examine opportunities in the subject areas supported by various NSF units. Also, you may search by keywords to identify sites in particular research areas or with certain features, such as a particular location.

Top 10 Largest NIH Grants Funding Research in 2022

Andrea Zeek Feb 21, 2023

At IU School of Medicine, 2022 was another year of continued growth for research funding.

During federal fiscal year 2022, the school’s researchers brought in over $214.8 million from the National Institutes of Health , making IU School of Medicine the No. 14 NIH-funded public medical school in the United States.

Read on for a list of the school’s largest NIH grant awards of 2022.

1. IU/JAX/PITT MODEL-AD Center

• Amount: $9.8 million
• Principal Investigator: Bruce T. Lamb, PhD

2. IUSM Alzheimer’s Disease Drug Discovery Center

• Amount: $7.4 million
• Principal Investigator: Alan Palkowitz, PhD

3. National Centralized Repository for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (NCRAD)

• Amount: $6.1 million
• Principal Investigator: Tatiana Foroud, PhD

4. Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (Indiana CTSI)

• Amount: $5.4 million
• Principal Investigator: Sharon M. Moe, MD

5. East Africa International epidemiology Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA)

• Amount: $3.6 million
• Principal Investigator: Kara K. Wools-Kaloustian, MD

6. The Indiana University-Ohio State University Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics Data, Model, Knowledge, and Research Coordination Center

• Amount: $3.4 million
• Principal Investigator: Sara K. Quinney, PhD

7. Indiana Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

• Amount: $3 million
• Principal Investigator: Andrew J. Saykin, MS, PsyD

8. Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center Support Grant

• Amount: $2.7 million
• Principal Investigator: Kelvin P. Lee, MD

9. Toward Safe Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A

• Amount: $2.57 million
• Principal Investigator: Roland W. Herzog, PhD

10. Korean Brain Aging Study, Longitudinal Endophenotypes and Systems Biology

• Amount: $2.53 million

Andrea Zeek

Assistant Director of Research Communications

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Research scholar program

The Research Scholar Program aims to support early-career professors who are pursuing research in fields relevant to Google.

The Research Scholar Program provides unrestricted gifts to support research at institutions around the world, and is focused on funding world-class research conducted by early-career professors.

Program details

Application status, award information, eligibility criteria, funding amounts, supporting cutting-edge research, award recipients.

Applications are currently closed.

Decisions for the November 2023 application will be announced via email by April 2024. Please check back in Fall 2024 for details on future application cycles.

We encourage submissions from professors globally who are teaching at universities and meet the eligibility requirements. It is our hope that this program will help develop collaborations with new professors and encourage the formation of long-term relationships.

Awards are disbursed as unrestricted gifts to the university and are not intended for overhead or indirect costs. They are intended for use during the academic year in which the award is provided to support the professor’s research efforts.

• Post doctoral staff can only serve as a co-PI, not a primary PI.
• We consider exceptions for applicants who have been teaching seven years or fewer and had delays, such as working in industry, parental leave, leave of absence, etc. This exception request can be documented on the application.
• Faculty can only serve as a PI or Co-PI per round. Applicants cannot serve on two separate proposals.
• Applicants can apply a maximum of 3 times within the 7 years post-PhD.

The funds granted will be up to $60,000 USD and are intended to support the advancement of the professor’s research.

Algorithms and optimization

Our team conducts research in graph mining, optimization, operations research, and market algorithms to improve Google's infrastructure, machine learning, and marketplaces. We collaborate with teams across Google and perform research in related areas, such as algorithmic foundations of machine learning, distributed optimization, economics, and data mining.

Health research

Google Health research aims to advance AI and technology to help people live healthier lives through collaborative research with public officials, clinicians, and consumers. We are developing tools to understand population health, novel algorithms to better understand and use complex medical data, and technology to help people find high-quality health information and understand their health status.

We invite proposals that will generate and understand large datasets to improve population health, develop novel algorithms for better understanding of complex medical data, and develop novel methods to extract health insights cheaper, faster, or better.

Machine learning and data mining

Machine learning is the foundation of Google's research, with a broad scope that includes foundational and algorithmic work, critical real-world applications, and topics, such as federated learning, information retrieval, learning theory, optimization, reinforcement learning, robotics, and recommender systems.

Natural language processing

Our team comprises multiple research groups working on a wide range of natural language understanding and generation projects. Our researchers are focused on advancing the state of the art in natural language technologies and accelerating adoption everywhere for the benefit of the user. Natural language processing and understanding plays a major role in driving Google’s company-wide OKRs as language understanding is the key to unlocking Google’s approach: “Build a more helpful Google for everyone that increases the world’s knowledge, success, health, and happiness.”

Quantum computing

The Quantum AI team is developing an error-corrected quantum computer and discovering valuable applications by offering a quantum computing service. We collaborate with academic partners to advance both goals, so if you have a quantum algorithm you would like to run on our service, please submit a proposal.

Software engineering and programming languages

Research on all aspects of software development, including the engineers and the programming languages, libraries, development tools, and processes that they use.

Fundamental and applied science

Large language, visual, and multimodal models have made significant advances in recent years, opening up new possibilities for scientific research. We invite proposals in these four areas:

• Applications : Proposals that demonstrate how large language models can be used to advance scientific discovery in a specific field.
• Foundations : Proposals that explore broad advances in building, tuning, or deploying large models for scientific research, such as integrating language models with specialized scientific tools, developing multimodal models for understanding scientific data, and accelerating scientific analysis, experimentation, and summarization.
• Evaluation : Proposals that develop datasets or methods for benchmarking and evaluating large models for science, including evaluating domain-specific knowledge, assessing factuality and grounding, evaluating multimodal capabilities, and developing tasks that require multi-step scientific reasoning.
• HCI : Proposals that enhance scientific workflows, such as automating complex simulation pipelines, with large language models and human-in-the-loop interaction.

Human-computer interaction

HCI researchers at Google design and build large-scale interactive systems that aim to be humane, simple-to-understand, and delightful to use. We work across a variety of HCI disciplines, including predictive and intelligent user interfaces, mobile and ubiquitous computing, social and collaborative computing, and interactive visualization.

Machine perception

Machine perception researchers at Google develop algorithms and systems to tackle a wide range of tasks, including action recognition, object recognition and detection, hand-writing recognition, audio understanding, perceptual similarity measures, and image and video compression.

Google's privacy research reaches across multiple teams, focusing on different aspects of privacy to advance the state of the art and develop tools to protect users and give them control over their data. This includes work on privacy-preserving technologies using cryptography and differential privacy, machine learning for privacy, user interface design and human-computer interactions to make communication clear and empower users, privacy policy to define Google's guiding principles for user protection, and system analysis and measurement to develop techniques to evaluate the privacy health of Google's systems.

Google's security and anti-abuse research team brings together experts from multiple disciplines to defend users from a wide range of threats. This includes work on access control, information security, networking, operating systems, language design, cryptography, fraud detection, machine learning for abuse detection, denial of service, emerging threats, user interfaces, and other human-centered aspects of security.

Systems and networking systems

Google's systems and networking systems research is focused on building and deploying novel systems at unprecedented scale. Our work spans the entire spectrum of computing, from large-scale distributed systems to individual machines to accelerator technologies.

We address fundamental questions around data center architecture, cloud virtual networking, wide-area network interconnects, software-defined networking, machine learning for networking, large-scale management infrastructure, congestion control, bandwidth management, capacity planning, and designing networks to meet traffic demands.

What is the evaluation criteria when assessing proposals?

To ensure fairness, we use a scoring rubric for consistency across reviews. We look at the criteria below to assess proposals. Proposals must comply with the required format and other Research Scholar Program guidelines.

• Faculty Merit : Faculty is accomplished in research, community engagement, and open source contributions, with potential to contribute to responsible innovation.
• Research Merit : Faculty's proposed research is aligned with Google Research interests, innovative, and likely to have a significant impact on the field.
• Proposal Quality : The research proposal is clear, focused, and well-organized, and it demonstrates the team's ability to successfully execute the research and achieve a significant impact.
• Broadening Participation : Faculty is committed to broadening participation in computing through their work on a variety of initiatives, including, for example, designing and deploying programs, and training and mentoring students from historically marginalized groups.
• AI Ethics Principles : The research proposal strongly aligns with Google's AI Principles .

What are the steps for the selection process?

• November: Applications open
• December/January: Proposal reviews and scoring
• February: Committee reviews proposals, scoring and make selections
• March: Approval process for selected proposals
• April: Applicants are notified of decision

We completely understand the desire to receive feedback and do our best to meet this request. However, due to the high volume of applications received, you may not receive feedback on your proposal.

To ensure fairness, we use a scoring rubric for consistency across reviews.

How many times can I apply for the Research Scholar program?

Faculty may apply up to a maximum of 3 times within the 7 years they received their PhD.

Can I receive this award more than once?

Faculty can receive a Research Scholar award only once. Previous Faculty Research Award recipients are still eligible to receive a Research Scholar award.

Who is eligible to apply for the Research Scholar Program?

Institutions:

• We accept applications from full-time faculty at universities around the world. Funding is focused on supporting the faculty’s research. We do not allow applications from non-degree-granting research institutions.
• Since our funding is structured as unrestricted gifts to degree-granting Universities, we cannot process awards to other institutions (e.g. not-for-profits institutions, hospitals, non-degree-granting research institutes, etc) even if they are affiliated with a University. A Principal Investigator must apply in his or her capacity as a university professor and must be able to accept an award through that University.

Principal Investigator Requirements:

• Global faculty who have received their PhD less than 7 years from submission from degree-granting institutions who are doing research within fields relevant to Google.
• An applicant may only serve as Principal Investigator or co-Principal Investigator on one proposal per round, they cannot be listed on two separate proposals.
• We understand that titles may differ globally. In order for someone without the title of professor to apply, he or she must be a full-time faculty member at an eligible institution and serve as a formal advisor to masters or PhD students. We may, at our discretion, provide funding for Principal Investigators who advise undergraduate students at colleges that do not award advanced degrees.

Past Applicants:

• If an applicant’s proposal was not selected for funding the previous round, they are welcome to apply with a new proposal (or substantively revised proposal) the following round. A Principal Investigator can apply a maximum of 3 times within the 7 years post-PhD.

How do I apply for the Research Scholar Program?

The application process includes filling out an online form requesting basic information and uploading a PDF proposal via the form. As part of the online form, you will be asked to select a topic area. Please select carefully, as this will help us in ensuring your proposal is read by the appropriate reviewers. Do not send any confidential or proprietary information in your proposal. Any information you send us as part of your application will be considered not confidential regardless of any markings or designations on it.

I have a social science background, can I still apply?

Yes. We focus on funding social science research that looks at technology's implications and impacts on individuals and society. We typically review submissions from fields like human-computer interaction, psychology, and science and technology studies, as well as research in computer science fields with a strong emphasis on the human experience.

What is the proper format for a Research Scholar proposal?

• The proposal should be a maximum of 5 pages if you are a sole Principal Investigator.
• If you choose not to include the co-Principal Investigator’s CV then your proposal should only be 5 pages.
• The extra 2 pages will only accommodate for an additional CV, not for additional proposal content.
• The maximum page limit includes the 2-page CV of the primary Principal Investigator, which is required for all applications (again a 2-page CV for a co-Principal Investigator is optional).
• To be fair to you and others, we do not consider proposals longer than the maximum page limit.
• We request a Google Scholar profile link as part of the online application form. Our reviewers find it helpful to be able to easily reference a Principal Investigator's publication history to see how the current proposal relates to past work the Principal Investigator has done in relevant fields. The Google Scholar profile complements, but does not replace, the Principal Investigator's 2-page CV.
• We do not require a budget breakdown since we have flat funding amounts we will grant based on region.
• We would prefer proposals to respect a minimum 10pt font size and 1-inch (2.5-cm) margins. Our reviewers value readability.
• Below is an example of what a proposal may look like (though the relative length of each section may differ by proposal).

Proposal Format

• Proposal Title
• Principal Investigator full name, contact information (postal address, email address, phone), affiliation (university, school, college and/or department)
• Research goals, including a problem statement.
• Description of the work you'd like to do, as well as the expected outcomes and results.
• How this relates to prior work in the area (including your own, if relevant)
• References, where applicable.
• Our goal is to support work where the output will be made available to the broader research community. To that end, we ask that you provide us with a few sentences sharing what you intend to do with the output of your project (e.g. open sourcing code, making data sets public, etc.). Please note that the awards are structured as unrestricted gifts, so there are no legal requirements once a project is selected for funding. This is simply a statement of your current intentions.
• The maximum length of a Principal Investigator CV is two pages. Any submitted CV that is longer than 2 pages may be cut off at two pages before the proposal review process begins.
• We require a CV for at least the primary Principal Investigator on the proposal. We will accept CVs from each of the Principal Investigators listed on the proposal (up to two are allowed). Each CV must be limited to two pages.

Should I add a budget breakdown in my proposal?

Please do not include budget details in your proposal. We will be providing flat funding amounts based on the cost of student tuition on a regional basis.

How much funds will I get if I am awarded?

We provide support up to $60,000 USD depending on the cost of student tuition on a regional basis.

I am not eligible for this program, how can I apply to other programs?

Our website is consistently updated with new programs we offer. We encourage you to connect with our Google researchers at conferences to build more opportunities for applying to research grants.

Are Research Scholar Awards eligible for extensions?

The program is designed to support one year of work. If you are selected as a recipient of a Research Scholar award, we will partner you with a Google sponsor who can navigate the potential of an extension.

Does the co-PI need to meet the same eligibility criteria as the primary PI?

Yes, the co-PI must meet the same eligibility criteria as the primary PI. We are providing an exception if the co-PI is a postdoctoral researcher.

Can I speak to someone from the Research Scholar team to ask additional questions?

We will be providing limited email support via [email protected] . Due to the volume of emails we receive, we may not be able to respond to questions where the answer is available on the website.

Open advice to Google Research Awards proposal writers

As a part of the group of engineers that review proposals for this program, we read a lot of proposals. We'd like to read more good proposals. Here's some advice on how you can improve the content of your short proposal and make reviewing it easier.

A good research grant proposal:

• Clearly specifies a problem. Good research is driven by a great problem or question, and a good proposal starts with a clearly specified one.
• Describes a specific, credible, relevant outcome. Try to identify a specific and appropriately sized outcome, to give us a clear notion of what the research award would be enabling. What will likely come to be that might otherwise not happen? While this outcome should be a decisive step towards achieving your vision, it generally won't be adequate to completely achieve it. It often helps to describe both the minimum that is likely to be accomplished and a potential best-case. Since picking the right datasets and test cases is often important, tell us which ones you plan to use.
• Crisply differentiates the proposed contribution from prior work. Please apply normal practices (citations, etc.) for documenting how your work will materially advance the state of the art. Make it clear how your work will be changing the state of the art, and not simply trying to match it.
• Tells us how the research challenge(s) will be addressed. Successful research projects combine a great problem with ideas for solutions, too. We recognize that all the answers won't be known yet, but we'd like to feel that the direction has been established, and a plausible path has been identified. (Try to avoid proposals of the form "We want to look at problem X".) It's hard to have a big impact without taking risks, but please identify what the difficulties are likely to be and how you plan to mitigate them. It may help to explain how you succeeded in addressing analogous problems in other projects.
• Puts the proposed work in context. Most projects we fund also have support from other sources. To help us understand the expected impact of Google support, please explain what funding you already have for this area of research and how the proposed work relates to your existing plans. Do you plan to build a capability for other research, provide a tool, reproduce a prior result, collaborate with others to try something out, follow up on a promising idea, or explore a new one? All are potentially of interest; we just want to know.
• Makes the case to a non-expert. While we try to have your proposal reviewed by a Google expert in your field, it will also be read by non-experts, so please make at least the motivation and outcomes broadly accessible.

See past Research Scholar program recipients

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Eligibility

Advanced doctoral students (advanced to candidacy – all but dissertation) and established scientists are eligible for Leakey Foundation Research Grants. There are no citizenship restrictions; however, all applications must be written in English.

The Leakey Foundation exclusively funds research related to human origins. Priority of funding is commonly given to exploratory phases of promising new research projects that meet the stated purpose of the Foundation. The majority of The Leakey Foundation’s Research Grants awarded to doctoral students are in the $3,000-$15,000 range with a funding limit of $20,000. Larger grants given to senior scientists and post-doctoral researchers may be funded up to $30,000. As of May 2022, the funding limits have increased to $20,000 for PhD candidates and $30,000 for senior scientists and post-doctoral researchers.

The deadlines for research grant applications are January 10th and July 15th.

We occasionally make exceptions to our application deadline. If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that you believe would preclude you from meeting the deadline, please contact us at [email protected] .  We will consider such requests on a case-by-case basis. 

*New Requirement General Contingency Plan: Considering potential impacts to your project plan (for example, COVID-19, political unrest, natural disasters, emerging infectious diseases, etc.), it is important to have formal contingency plans for your proposed project. In up to one page, please describe the possible risks you may encounter that could hinder a successful completion of the project and describe your plans for adjusting this project if needed. Changes could include modified start dates for travel, fieldwork or data collection, alternative data collection strategies, alternative field sites, or alternative methods for recruitment and engagement of participants, as well as any other potential modifications to research and development activities (including IRB/IACUC approvals/changes).

*New Policy Investigators may only submit one proposal as a principle investigator (PI) per granting cycle. This policy does not apply to co-investigators. For example, you may be the PI on one proposal as well as a co-investigator on another.

Please consider the following if you are thinking of applying for a Leakey Foundation Research Grant:

• Is my research relevant to human origins and evolution?
• For PhD candidates: Will I be advanced to candidacy (all but dissertation) before the deadline for application?
• Am I affiliated with an academic or research institution?
• We do not award funds to individuals.
• Am I fully compliant on all prior Leakey Foundation awards?

How to Apply

Please use the  detailed application instructions  as well as the application guidelines and FAQs to prepare the attachments that you will upload to your new application. Then use the links on this page to apply online.   

Click here to email our grants department at grants at leakeyfoundation dot org.

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Research Grants

Every year, ESCMID allocates around 800k EUR year to propel ground-breaking research projects in the fields of Clinical Microbiology (CM) and Infectious Diseases (ID). We provide individual research grants to aspiring young investigators and as a part of our ESCMID Study Groups (SGs), a complimentary benefit available to ESCMID members. These grants aim to drive collaboration and innovation, pushing CM and ID to new levels and positioning ESCMID as a pioneer in the future of healthcare excellence.

Individual Research Grant

ESCMID Research Grants help in nurturing the next generation of researchers starting out in CM and ID, marking an important start in their journey of research funding. These grants offer a unique opportunity to explore Bacterial Infections & Diseases during even years and Fungal/Viral/Parasitic Infections & Diseases during odd years.

Funding and payment

ESCMID’s research grants offer up to 20K EUR per project. The grant can be used for the entirety or specific aspects of your project. Upon the signing of the grant agreement, 50% of the allocated funds are issued to the grantee’s institution, with the remaining 50% released upon the submission and approval of the final reports (refer to reporting below for more details). ESCMID also reserves up to 50K EUR each for two exceptional projects. Recognised by our esteemed reviewers for their outstanding potential, selected projects have the possibility to receive this additional funding to propel their topics further.

ESCMID Förderverein Grants for Research in AMR and Emerging Infections

As part of the new ESCMID strategy, the ESCMID Förderverein grant enhances funding for research projects focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) or Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID). This support benefits both individual researchers and SGs . As part of this initiative, four additional grants are awarded annually. To qualify, projects must address the challenges posed by AMR and/or EID, aligning with the specified theme for the year. Applications are integrated into our standard grant calls, with clear indications provided in the application form.

Project criteria

Your research project can include laboratory investigations, clinical studies, experimental animal studies, or a combination of approaches. In 2024, the research grant programme will welcome projects focused on bacterial infections and diseases (including diagnostics, pathogenesis, susceptibility and resistance, stewardship, and vaccines. Projects usually last from 12-24 months, starting from the year the grant is received. Should your project align with the specified criteria, it will undergo a rigorous peer review process, with the most promising projects being selected through a meticulous ranking of applications and research proposals. Please note that projects that do not align with the established criteria will be disqualified without a peer review. 

Eligibility criteria

Qualify for our research grant opportunities by meeting the following criteria:

• Serve as the principal investigator for the proposed research project
• Hold a valid ESCMID Young Scientist Membership (YSM) or ESCMID low- or middle-income country (LMIC) membership*
• Have a medical degree (MD, MBBS, PharmD, or equivalent), a PhD, or be actively enrolled in a PhD programme

Applicants who have received any ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) may only apply for a subsequent grant in the year after official completion of the first project. Additionally, you cannot be awarded more than one ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) in a single year or be listed as principal investigator in more than one concurrent project. Please be aware that members of the ESCMID Executive Committee (EC) are not eligible to apply for research grants or provide support letters for applications. *We invite ESCMID LMIC members to apply if they are still in training or completing their training (PhD no more than eight years post-graduation, MD or MD/PhD no more than five years from completion of clinical training or speciality). If this opportunity sparks your interest, we encourage you to contact ESCMID Office and submit documents proving your status as early as possible, no later than two weeks before the application deadline.

What you need to apply

If you meet the above criteria, we welcome you to apply. To ensure a seamless and efficient application process, all documentation must be submitted electronically via our online application form. As you prepare to submit, please have the following documents readily available.

A single PDF document (labelled “YourSurname”.pdf; in Calibri font, size 11, with 2 cm margins, max. 4MB) including the following key elements:

• Abstract of your research project (max. 750 words; with 3-5 keywords that best characterise your project). Please also include the abstract and keywords separately in the online form (in addition to including them in the PDF document) to help facilitate reviewer selection.
• Introduction/Background (max. 500 words)
• Objectives (max. 300 words)
• Purpose and potential impact of your project (max. 700 words)
• Research plan (max. 2,000 words) including design, material and methods, data analysis, project timeline, co-investigators and their contribution to the project; (references/bibliography are not included in word limit)
• Budget including personnel, equipment, consumables (max. 1,500 words; please use tables wherever possible)
• Description of your present research (max. 750 words)
• Your CV (max. 1,500 words) demonstrating how your skills align with the project's requirements. Alternatively, support letters must confirm that adequate mentoring is available to ensure the project’s success. We advise discussing with your supporters to determine the most suitable strategy for your situation.
• Your publication list , highlighting your most relevant publications from the past five years to help reviewers assess your experience and competencies in relation to the project you are submitting (max. of 10)

Two signed letters of support (labelled “YourSurname”_support1.pdf and “YourSurname”_support2.pdf; max. 4MB each).

• The supporters you select to participate in this research journey know you professionally and can judge your work. They may include an advisor of yours during training, or any other previous collaboration partners, but cannot be your current direct supervisor and/or anyone from your same department.
• Projects missing signed letters of support will not be accepted

Potential reviewers: As part of the application process, at least two suitable reviewers should be suggested. Conditions for reviewers include not being directly involved in the project proposal, not having the same affiliation as you, and if possible, not from the same country either. Should there be any individual you prefer not to have as a reviewer, kindly inform us accordingly.

A colour photograph (labelled “YourSurname_Firstname”.tiff, .eps or .jpg; max. 4MB), measuring at least 4 x 6 cm with a 300 dpi resolution, suitable for publication.

You can ensure a smooth submission process by first verifying you have the correct documents and file types before upload. After the deadline, changes will unfortunately be impossible, so we strongly recommend ensuring all details are correct before submission.

Writing your application

For full transparency about the review process, you will find the instructions and rating criteria used to assess your application here. Here are some helpful guidance for writing your research grant application:

• Write as concisely as possible, you do not need to reach the maximum word counts
• Use bullet points to facilitate review
• If English is not your first language, consider having your text proofread before submission
• Clearly specify where funding will be used if your project is selected for a grant, especially if your project combines different funding sources (please note that omission will lead to rejection)

Within six months following the completion of your project, you must submit your financial and scientific reports. We will be happy to provide you with templates and thorough guidelines to support your report writing. Your financial report should illustrate a full breakdown of how the provided funds were used, accompanied by the signature of your head of department. Your scientific report should capture your research journey in a maximum of 1,000 words, covering the key elements listed below:

• A short introduction summarising the current level of knowledge for non-specialists
• Your study hypothesis
• An overview of what was funded by your ESCMID Grant
• A summary of the main findings – potentially including how the data contributed to other projects
• A conclusion on your findings

Should a published scientific article accompany your report, we welcome a concise version of your submission, with references directing to the relevant sections within the article. Please do consider the article should transparently disclose any funding from alternative sources.

Financial report template   Scientific report template

Publication

Grant recipients must acknowledge ESCMID in all scientific publications using the wording “This study/project has been funded by a European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) research grant to (initials of grantee) in (year of grant)”. Grantees should first consider publishing in one of the Society’s official journals Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI) or CMI Communications for initial submission of manuscripts, but alternative journals may be considered depending on the scope of the project. We ask grantees to please share with the ESCMID Office any published scientific articles stemming from their grant-funded projects, regardless of whether the project has concluded, even after all reports have been submitted. These articles are a source of pride for our Society and will be continuously showcased on our official website and in our annual ESCMID yearbook. In this way, we will be able to keep celebrating your research accomplishments and contribution to the global advancement of knowledge in the fields of CM and ID.

Study Group Research Grant

Dive into cutting-edge research with ESCMID SG research grants, tailored for CM and ID related projects. Our SGs cover a vast range of themes, ensuring that there are no limits on the topics eligible for funding each year. Membership of a SG is free and open to all ESCMID members, and will propel your research to new heights of excellence.

With up to 30K EUR offered to cover project costs, ESCMID SG research grants can help you support the entirety or specific elements of your project. Upon signing, ESCMID will assign the designated grant amount. This sum can be used to settle invoices or be transferred directly to your institution for the project's needs.

As part of the new ESCMID strategy, the ESCMID Förderverein Grant enhances funding for research projects focusing on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) or Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID). This support benefits both individual researchers and SGs . As part of this initiative, two additional grants are awarded annually. To qualify, projects must address the challenges posed by AMR and/or EID, aligning with the specified theme for the year. Applications are integrated into our standard grant calls, with clear indications provided in the application form.

Your research project can encompass a range of dynamic approaches, including laboratory investigations, clinical studies, experimental animal studies, or a combination of these approaches. As we value collaboration, your research project should be conducted in partnership with at least two separate institutions across two different countries. Designed for a maximum duration of two years, your project should start after the grant agreement is signed. The full support and engagement of all SGs involved is mandatory.

Applicants who have received any ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) may only apply for a subsequent grant in the year after official completion of the first project. Additionally, you cannot be awarded more than one ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) in a single year or be listed as principal investigator in more than one concurrent project. Please be aware that members of the ESCMID Executive Committee (EC) are not eligible to apply for research grants or provide support letters for applications. Qualify for our research grant opportunities by meeting the following criteria. Each SG may apply with a maximum of two research projects, as indicated below:

• Either one project as a single SG applicant + one project in collaboration with another SG
• Or two projects, each in collaboration with another SG

Two projects as a single SG cannot be accepted as these grants aim to boost interconnectivity across a wide range of topic areas.

• As the applicant, you should be the principal investigator for the proposed research
• Each SG involved should also fully support the proposal by written approval of their respective study group EC
• To qualify, you should be an ESCMID Full, LMIC or YSM, and a member of at least one of the involved SG

To ensure ease and efficiency through the application process, all documentation must be submitted electronically via our online application form. As you prepare to submit, please have the following documents readily available:

A single PDF document (labelled “YourSurname_StudyGroup”.pdf; in Calibri font, size 11, with 2 cm margins, max 4MB, up to 6 pages) including the following key elements:

• Summary of your research (max. 1 page including Gantt chart)
• Introduction (scientific background, objectives, rationale, and purpose of your project)
• Research plan (including project design, tasks of the involved teams, material and methods, and data analysis)
• Importance of the project for the supporting SG (max. 1/2  page)
• Teams involved and their roles (at least two teams from two different countries) (max. 1/2 page)
• Budget , including costs for personnel, equipment, and consumables (max. 1/2 page)
• Description of your present research (max. 1/2 page)
• Your CV and list of relevant publications (max. 2 pages)

A support letter (labelled “YourSurname_support”.pdf; max 4MB) signed by the Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer of the SG involved in the proposal. The letter should clearly state the title of your project, your name as the applicant, and your respective SG.

Importantly, where collaboration between two study groups will be occurring, a single scanned file containing two support letters, one for each involved study group, is required.

A colour photograph (labelled “YourSurname_Firstname”.tiff, .eps or .jpg; max 4MB), measuring at least 4 x 6 cm with a 300 dpi resolution, suitable for publication.

Evaluation process

The Scientific Affairs Subcommittee (SAS) and potentially external peer-reviewers will be taking an extensive look at your proposal, focusing on the following key areas:

Scientific and/or technological excellence

• Soundness of concept and quality of objectives
• State-of-the-art progress
• Quality and effectiveness of the scientific/technological methodology and work plan

Quality and efficiency of implementation and budgeting

• Overall appropriateness of collaborating partners
• Overall quality and relevant experience of individual partners
• Overall suitability and justification of the grant resources for the respective project (budget, staff, and equipment)
• Overall timing and scope of work

Parity assessment

• Geographic distribution of partners
• Gender balance

In making the final decision, please note we may consider other concurrently submitted projects as well as previously approved or ongoing projects within the same SG.

Within 6 months following the completion of your project, you must submit your two-page report summarising your findings. Here is what the report should include:

• Summary overview: a short introduction for non-specialists recapping the current level of knowledge on the topic and any gaps which prompted the research
• Study hypothesis
• Main findings
• Conclusions from the investigation
• Presentations or publications originating from this project (oral/poster)

If peer-reviewed publications covering the funded project are published, please disregard the above report requirement. Further information, together with the ESCMID templates for the scientific and financial reports, will be provided after signing the grant agreement.

Study Group Collaboration Grant

The Study Group Collaboration Grant is a larger-scale grant for innovative research projects in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases organised by an experienced PI with the support of at least three ESCMID SGs collaborating. Please do not apply, if you do not have full support from three or more of ESCMID's SGs. SG membership is free and open to all ESCMID members.

The maximum amount granted per project is 180K €. This includes any potential overhead costs charged by your institution. ESCMID’s funding may support the entire project or part of it. After signing the grant agreement, ESCMID will set aside the amount that can either be used to pay invoices or be transferred to your institution for project use.

We believe that collaboration is key, this is why your project must be supported by at least three ESCMID SGs and be carried out in partnership with institutions from at least two different countries. In addition, each project should include members from each participating SG, ensuring diverse expertise and participation. Your research should encompass a broad range of methodologies, including laboratory investigations, clinical studies, and experimental animal research. Designed for a maximum duration of two years, your project should be of high quality, with a focus on innovation and networking. Please note that projects that do not align with the established criteria will be disqualified without a peer review.

• Be the principal investigator for the proposed research, with previous experience in conducting large research projects
• Have full support of the Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer of each SG, with their written approval
• Be an active ESCMID Full, YSM, or LMIC member

Please note that applications are not accepted from companies/start-up research firms. Applicants who have received any ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) may only apply for a subsequent grant in the year after official completion of the first project. Additionally, you cannot be awarded more than one ESCMID Research Grant (Individual, Study Group or SG Collaboration) in a single year or be listed as principal investigator in more than one concurrent project. Please be aware that members of the ESCMID Executive Committee (EC) are not eligible to apply for research grants or provide support letters for applications.

To ensure ease and efficiency through the application process, all documentation must be submitted electronically via our online application form. As you prepare to submit, please ensure the following documents readily available:

• Completed application form based on the criteria above (labelled “YourSurname”_application.pdf; max 4MB)
• Your CV as the primary investigator along with the list of your top 10 publications (labelled “YourSurname”_CV.pdf; max 4MB) (max 2 pages)
• Support letters signed by the Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer of the SGs involved in the proposal (electronic signatures allowed). The letters must include the title of the project, your name as the applicant, and the SGs involved (labelled “YourSurname”_support.pdf; max 4MB).
• A colour photograph (labelled “YourSurname_Firstname”.tiff, .eps or .jpg; max 4MB), measuring at least 4 x 6 cm with a 300 dpi resolution, suitable for publication
• Optional : supplemental data or graphical abstracts to support the proposal (PDF format; max 4 MB)

We are happy to specify SGs can be part of multiple submissions.

The SAS and potentially external peer-reviewers will be taking an extensive look at your proposal, focusing on the following key areas:

Entry criteria

• Your research project should include a translational component
• The roles of each SG should be clearly defined, and responsibilities appropriately split

Scientific factors

• Clarity and objectives of the proposal (10 points)
• Importance and relevance to ID and CM (10 points)
• Adequacy of preliminary work (10 points)
• Suitability of methods for the project (10 points)
• Innovation of the proposal (10 points)
• Sufficiency of research infrastructure for success (10 points)
• Scientific excellence and proposal feasibility (10 points)

Network considerations

• Inclusion and appropriateness of external collaborators (5 points)
• Priority for projects with partners in Low- or Lower-middle-income countries* (5 points). *As defined by the world bank classification

Logistical components

• Clear definition of all funding sources and realistic pricing for consumables, equipment, and personnel (10 points)
• Clear definition of the team and their roles (5 points)
• Realistic and detailed proposed timeline (5 points)

Total possible score: 100 points

We appreciate high-quality applications aligned with the scoring criteria outlined above. Innovation and networking are key, and as such, we look forward to seeing how your projects incorporate these elements. If it is judged that none of the applications for a given year meet our quality standards, ESCMID may decide to withhold funding.  

• Summary overview: a short introduction for non-specialist readers summarising the current level of knowledge on the topic at hand, and any gaps which prompted the research

As a proud provider of financial support for selected research projects, ESCMID kindly requests grant recipients acknowledge the Society in all scientific publications using the wording “This study/project has been funded by a European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) research grant to [initials of grantee] in [year of grant]”. Grantees should first consider publishing in one of the Society’s official journals Clinical Microbiology and Infection (CMI) or CMI Communications for initial submission of manuscripts, but alternative journals may be considered depending on the scope of the project. We ask grantees to please share with the ESCMID Office any published scientific articles stemming from their grant-funded projects, regardless of whether the project has concluded, even after all reports have been submitted. These articles are a source of pride for our Society and will be continuously showcased on our official website and in our annual ESCMID yearbook. In this way, we will be able to keep celebrating your research accomplishments and contribution to the global advancement of knowledge in the fields of CM and ID.

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Grants and awards

We are supporting some of the brightest doctors, scientists, academics and computational experts in the world..

We support to uncover the biological, physiological, psychological, epigenetic and societal underpinnings of this country’s devastating maternal fetal health crisis – and yet, we know we must do even more, even faster. 

In the last few years, we have shifted our research teams toward a more translational research approach that positively impacts patients in the foreseeable future. 

While we will continue to invest in decisive pieces of basic science research that propel our fundamental understanding of pregnancy and birth forward, the vast majority of our efforts will live in the translational, direct impact, realm, with an eye toward clinical validation and application. This is happening through our four research grants and two career awards.

Featured Publications

Postmitotic accumulation of histone variant h3.3 in new cortical neurons establishes neuronal chromatin, transcriptome, and identity.

Maternal IL-33 critically regulates tissue remodeling and type 2 immune responses in the uterus during early pregnancy in mice

Analysis of Electrophysiological Activation of the Uterus During Human Labor Contractions

Explore Grants and Awards

Basil o'connor starter awards.

Discovery Grants

Reproductive Scientist Development Program

Pediatric Scientist Development Program

Agnes Higgins Award in Maternal-Fetal Nutrition

March of Dimes Richard B. Johnston, Jr., MD Prize

Making an Impact with Research

March of Dimes research is focused on making an impact NOW to end preventable preterm birth; we do this by approaching research in several key ways. At both the bench and bedside– through descriptive research that aims to characterize and understand the factors that lead to preterm birth and other adverse outcomes; and through work that leads to mitigation and prevention of preterm birth- through therapeutics, diagnostics, and/or policy changes. 

We know that pregnancy is complex. March of Dimes research approach takes a whole-system view and brings the best talent and minds to bear, so we can make a difference in our lifetime. 

Recent examples

• How are we making a difference: March of Dimes research programs have made discoveries that lead to direct impact on the health of moms, babies, and their families.
• PRC microbiome studies leading to bedside testing; rapid, low cost predictive testing.
• Early detection of preeclampsia and other adverse pregnancy outcomes through several approaches, including cell-free RNA, data analytics, and other diagnostic markers.
• Understanding maternal-infant nutrition, to wit, NEC and how breastfeeding can improve outcomes   

Your Support Helps us Fund Research

There are a number of ways to support research at March of Dimes. Your time – through volunteering at events, raising awareness in your community, and recruiting new and impactful researcher to our network; your attention – by focused attention on how research can impact your community, your country, and the global family; and your resources – by way of funding, access to your network, and getting involved in research directly. 

We need your help to continue developing diagnostics, therapeutics, and understanding of the complex factors that lead to preterm birth, maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, and overall adverse outcomes in pregnancy. Moms, Babies, and their Families can’t wait for you to step up and get involved. 

Join our amazing volunteer community and make a difference in maternal and infant health across the country.

Advocate for healthy moms and strong babies with March of Dimes. Join our network and make a difference in maternal and infant health.

Help save moms and babies nationwide with your donation. Support lifesaving research and advocacy at March of Dimes.

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NLN Nursing Education Research Grants Program

Research activities advance the NLN's goal of taking the "lead in the conduct of research that informs and promotes evidence-based teaching, advances the science of nursing education, and provides and interprets data about nursing education and the nurse educator workforce." Over the past decade, the NLN has provided funding of more than $1 million dollars for research in nursing education . Proposals for the 2024 cycle will be accepted October 16, 2023, through February 1, 2024 ( t he 2024 cycle is closed ) . Awardees will be recognized at the 2024 NLN Education Summit .   

Available NLN Funding Opportunities

• NLN Research in Nursing Education Grants   (maximum grant up to $30,000) 
• Mary Anne Rizzolo Doctoral Research Award   ($2,500 award for doctoral student) 
• Edmund J.Y. Pajarillo Health Informatics and Innovation Collaborative Research Award   ($2,500 award for graduate student) 

     Co-Sponsored:

• Eastern Nursing Research Society/NLN Doctoral Research Award   ($2,500 award for doctoral student) 
• Southern Nursing Research Society/NLN Doctoral Research Award   ($5,000 award for doctoral student) 
• Sigma Foundation for Nursing/NLN Research Award    ($5,000 award) 
• Western Institute of Nursing/NLN Research Award   ($5,000 award)   

Resources to Review Before Preparing Proposals

• NLN Research Priorities in Nursing Education 2020-2023  (PDF)
• NLN Research Grant Submission Guidelines  (PDF)
• NLN Research Award Submission Guidelines (PDF) - for small grants and doctoral awards
• NLN Grant Proposal Review Rubric  (PDF)
• FAQs   (PDF)
• NLN Grant Proposal Toolkit
• 2023 Research Grant Recipients
• 2022 Research Grant Recipients
• 2021 Research Grant Recipients
• 2020 Research Grant Recipients
• 2019 Research Grant Recipients
• Spring 2016 NLN Report article on past grant recipients

Online Submission System (SurveyMonkey Apply)

Please note:  Submissions are accepted online only. You must have a SurveyMonkey Apply account to submit an application.  Your NLN Member login is NOT valid . If you used the previous system,  FluidReview,  to make a submission, your username and password will remain the same; otherwise you will need to create an account. Please use links above to review specific requirements for each funding opportunity before starting your proposal.

SUBMIT PROPOSAL

TWAS-Samira Omar Innovation for Sustainability Award

Twas-dfg cooperation visits programme - mena, twas-dfg cooperation visits programme - ssa, twas-fayzah m. al-kharafi award, twas-abdool karim award in biological sciences, research and project grants.

TWAS research grants are awarded to both individual scientists and research groups

TWAS research grants fund several programmes that support:

• Researchers in developing countries, allowing them to purchase specialized equipment and consumable supplies, and
• Support Master of Science students.

The calls for 2024 TWAS Research Grants in Basic Sciences—one for  individuals  and one for  groups —closed on 3rd April 2024.

Under this scheme, grants are awarded to promising high-level research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics carried out by individual scientists in one of the S&T-lagging countries identified by TWAS.

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency ( Sida ) provides essential support to TWAS, OWSD and GenderInSITE. Sida-supported programmes focus on research grants and PhD fellowships in 66 S&T-lagging countries , and support the TWAS Regional Offices and its science diplomacy programme. Sida is a government agency working under the Swedish Foreign Ministry. It administers approximately half of Sweden's budget for development assistance to developing countries.

Under this scheme, grants are awarded to promising high-level research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics carried out by research units in the S&T-lagging countries identified by TWAS.

Under this scheme, grants are awarded to high-level scientists for interdisciplinary research projects. Each grant supports a collaborative project jointly carried out by two Principal Investigators (PIs) in the S&T-lagging countries identified by TWAS.

Under this scheme, grants are awarded to past grant recipients of the TWAS Research Grant programme who procured equipment through the grant in one of the S&T-lagging countries identified by TWAS.

With the support of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), UNESCO-TWAS launched a new programme to strengthen the capacity of African countries lagging in science and technology. The programme is aimed at young scientists who are getting established in their country or are about to return home to an academic position. Grants are awarded to promising high-level research projects in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics carried out in African countries lagging in science and technology identified by TWAS.

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) promotes education, science and research.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis, affecting human health as well as economies and societies worldwide. TWAS and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) are offering a competitive grant for research collaboration. Technologists and researchers from IsDB Member Countries are invited to submit research and innovation proposals that can help address challenges related to post COVID-19 pandemic.

Islamic Development Bank

The Islamic Development Bank , founded in 1974, works to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities in accordance with the principles of Islamic Law. It has made significant investments in areas related to science and science capacity, as well as in infrastructure and education. IsDB, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, has 57 member countries. It has regional offices in Rabat, Morocco; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Dakar, Senegal. It also has country gateway offices in Ankara, Turkey, and Jakarta, Indonesia, plus field representatives in 14 member countries.

Under this scheme, grants are awarded to teams of 2-5 women for action-based projects which, although scientific in nature, will take them outside the lab to promote practical and tangible change under the umbrella of the “climate action” SDG in their local context. The principal applicant and project leader is a woman scientist, holding a PhD, living and working in a science and technology lagging country (STLC). Co-applicants are either scientists or technical experts in a field relevant to the project, from any developing country.

The Elsevier Foundation

The Elsevier Foundation provides grants to knowledge centered organizations around the world, with a focus on diversity and inclusion in science, technology and health, research in developing countries and global health. Since 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than 100 grants worth over $6 million to non-profit organizations working in these fields. The Elsevier Foundation is a US based, corporate not-for-profit 501(c)(3), funded by Elsevier , a leading scientific, technical and medical information solutions provider.

The DECIMALS fund has been set up to provide grants to small research teams in developing countries, allowing them to analyze the impacts that Solar Radiation Management might have in their regions. It was launched in response to a common concern voiced at SRMGI’s engagement workshops, where local participants often proposed and widely supported the idea that scientists in developing countries should undertake research on the potential local impacts of SRM, noting that there is typically very little funding available to support research in this area.

Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative

The Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative is an international, NGO-driven project that seeks to expand the global conversation around  SRM geoengineering  research and its governance. The initiative is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, and seeks to engage new voices in discussions of the underlying societal and scientific issues. A global pioneer in bringing developing country voices into SRM discussions, SRMGI co-organised the first major SRM discussion meetings in China, Ethiopia, India, Jamaica, Senegal, Brazil, and many other countries of the Global South, always in concert with local partners.

The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) offers fellowships for women who have completed their PhDs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects and are employed at an academic or scientific research institute in a science and technology lagging country. Early Career fellows will be supported to establish an environment at their institution where they can maintain an international standard of research and attract scholars from all over the world to collaborate.

International Development Research Centre

IDRC supports research in developing countries to create real and lasting change. This knowledge can be used as a tool for addressing pressing global challenges.

Part of Canada’s foreign affairs and development efforts, IDRC invests in knowledge, innovation, and solutions to improve the lives of people in the developing world.

Wellcome grants involving animal research 2021 to 2022

We support the use of animals in the research we fund if researchers can show that it is legally, ethically and scientifically justified. 

This is our analysis of Wellcome grants involving animal research between October 2021 and September 2022.

Grant analysis  

The chart below shows the percentage of grants we’ve awarded over the past five years that have involved the use of animals.

23.2% of the grants we awarded from 2021 to 2022 involved animal research.

The data fluctuates each year because the applications we receive and fund vary each year. This means it's difficult to identify underlying drivers or clear patterns in the figures.

Percentage of grants involving animals

Source: Wellcome

Bar chart showing the percentage of grants Wellcome has awarded over the past five years that have involved the use of animals.

Percentage of grants involving animals  

Zebrafish were the most-used species in Wellcome-funded research, accounting for 49.9% from 2021 to 2022.

Mice make up the next largest proportion (47%).

Breakdown of animals by species 2021/22

Bar chart showing the percentage of animals by species used in Wellcome-funded research.

Other species include:

Non-human primates accounted for less than 0.1% of the animals used.

About the data  

This data is an estimation, based on the number of animals specified in grant applications.

More information  

• Research involving animals
• Use of animals in research policy
• How we influence and inform policy

Contact us  

If you have any questions, contact Ignacio Vazquez.

[email protected]

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Winship teams receive Donaldson Charitable Trust pilot grants

Winship investigators Kimberly Hoang, MD, Jaydev Desai, PhD, MA, Gabe Kwong, PhD, and Madhav V. Dhodapkar, MBBS, have been awarded pilot grants from the Donaldson Charitable Trust Research Synergy Fund.

Investigators from Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have been awarded pilot grants from the Donaldson Charitable Trust Research Synergy Fund, a unique funding opportunity offered jointly by Winship, the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University.

Each one-year grant of $125,000 is funded in part by contributions from the Oliver S. and Jennie R. Donaldson Charitable Trust. The grants are intended to advance collaborative research at the intersection of basic science, biomedical engineering and clinical care, with the goal of accelerating innovations that improve the lives of children and adults with cancer.

This cycle's Donaldson Charitable Trust Research Synergy Fund pilot grant recipients are below:

"Real-time Characterization of Malignant Brain Tumors with Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)"

• Kimberly Hoang, MD   (Principal Investigator) Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery Emory University School of Medicine
• Jaydev Desai, PhD, MA   (Co-Principal Investigator) Professor and BME Distinguished Faculty Fellow, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University

"In Situ Programming of Virus-Specific T cells for CAR T Cell Therapy"

• Gabe Kwong, PhD   (Principal Investigator) Assistant Professor, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University
• Madhav V. Dhodapkar, MBBS   (Co-Principal Investigator) Professor and Anise McDaniel Brock Chair, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology Emory University School of Medicine Director, Center for Cancer Immunology Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Visit   Winship Awards & Pilot Grants   for more information about pilot grants and other funding opportunities for Winship investigators.

• Learn About Winship Awards and Pilot Grants

Projects funded by 2024 New Frontier Grants look toward the future

New Frontier Grants

By | Kate Blackwood , A&S Communications

How will a new multinational power grid affect people and cultures across Asia? Will artificial intelligence aid or hurt the United Nations? How can scholars take a new approach to Haudenosaunee studies? What new instruments will help us understand and harness the power of two different types of quantum materials?

To support the progress of the Cornell researchers asking these questions, the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) has awarded five New Frontier Grants to cutting edge projects in science, social science and the humanities led by A&S faculty, some with collaborators from other colleges.

“Technologies such as AI and quantum computing are developing rapidly with the potential for profound impacts on our society. At the same time we are gaining new insight into history, communities and human endeavor. The New Frontier Grants awarded this year ensure that Cornell researchers are working at the forefront of discovery in these critical and often interconnected areas, steering their adoption and implementation toward the greater good,” said Rachel Bean, interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “This year, five new, innovative projects draw on the expertise of Arts and Sciences faculty, demonstrating our college’s characteristic zeal for interdisciplinary collaboration.

“I am thrilled to announce these ground-breaking research projects conceived by our brilliant scholars, and I am grateful for the donors whose philanthropy has been absolutely vital to the New Frontier Grant program,” she said. 

To date, the New Frontier Grant program has funded 39 projects.

Projects funded in 2024 by New Frontier Grants address a wide range of issues in the humanities, social sciences and sciences. Some cross disciplinary boundaries to solve complex problems while others focus closely on mysteries of nature that have implications for future technologies.

In the project “Engaging Multi-Scalar Dynamics in Trans-Asia Infrastructures,” Shaoling Ma , associate professor of Asian studies (A&S) and Stefano Galelli , associate professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering (ENG) will analyze the dynamic interconnections and divisions between human-natural systems involved in the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project. Power grids challenge researchers with multi-scalar objects of study that range from man-made infrastructures, the natural environment, narratives about displaced communities and environmental degradation to remotely-sensed data sets, requiring a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The project aims to show that computational modeling helps to verify and quantify critical humanities theories, and that the latter can enrich data-driven analysis. By closing existing knowledge gaps that have failed to encapsulate the geopolitical, socioeconomic, environmental and cultural dynamics of trans-Asia energy networks, the researchers hope to help construct an alternative infrastructural future centered on people and ecology instead of profit and capital.

“Reconceptualizing Haudenosaunee Studies” aims to advance Haudenosaunee studies in linguistics, anthropology/archaeology and art/history of art while changing long-dominant methods in the field. Foregrounding involvement of community members and knowledge keepers, particularly Stephen Henhawk , research associate in linguistics (A&S) and program associate in the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the researchers will focus on Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫɁ (Cayuga), the indigenous language and people of the Cayuga Lake region, while touching all the Haudenosaunee nations and the diaspora into which many Haudenosaunee people have been driven. Research goals include revision of the stereotyped “polysynthetic” characterization of Haudenosaunee languages; rewriting the narrative of the long-term Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫɁ habitation in the region; and re-inscription of the Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫɁ physical presence here. The project is led by John Whitman , professor of linguistics (A&S); Kurt Jordan , professor of anthropology (A&S); and Jolene Rickard , associate professor of history of art and visual studies (A&S).

Generative AI is poised to revolutionize various sectors, extending its reach into international organizations such as the United Nations. But adoption of AI in report generation for these organizations could have major implications for governance if AI is inaccurate and biased. In the project “New Frontier for AI in Global Policy Dissemination: Exploring the Use of AI for Evaluating International Organization Country Performance Reports,”  Sabrina Karim , the Hardis Family Assistant Professor of government (A&S) aims to comprehensively examine the advantages and drawbacks of employing AI in policy report writing, leveraging the established infrastructure of the Gender and Security Sector Lab at Cornell, which includes undergraduate research. Karim will also compare how officials perceive reports written by AI compared to humans.

Two projects approach important research frontiers in quantum physics.

In “Development of a Time-Resolved Sagnac Interferometer for Ultra-Sensitive and Ultra-Fast Optical Studies of Spin Dynamics,” Dan Ralph , the F. R. Newman Professor of Physic (A&S), together with Gregory Fuchs , professor of applied and engineering physics (ENG), will investigate the physics of “spintronics,” trying to understand how to efficiently excite and control the dynamics of electron spins in materials where the overall equilibrium magnetism is weak or zero, i.e. ferrimagnets or antiferromagnets. These dynamics are of interest in part because the spin precession speed can be much faster than for conventional strong ferromagnets (0.1-several THz versus 0.1-10 GHz). However, studying these materials requires the development of new experimental techniques with both very high sensitivity and very high speed. The goal of the project is to develop a unique spintronics instrument capable of time resolution down to 200 fs together with the sensitivity to measure even weakly-magnetic nanometer-scale films.   In “Imaging Invisible Spin Orders with Nanoscopic Magnetic Tunneling Junctions” Xiaomeng Liu , assistant professor of physics (A&S) will explore unconventional magnetism, such as quantum spin liquids. A new frontier in quantum materials exploration, unconventional magnetism offers tantalizing quantum properties like long-range entanglement and fractionalized excitations – but probing these materials is challenging due to their vanishing magnetization. This proposal aims to develop an imaging technique that is effective in probing spin orders even in the absence of global magnetization. This approach enables atomic-resolution imaging of spin textures and excitations applicable to both conducting and insulating 2D magnetic materials. This endeavor holds promise for unraveling specific quantum properties critical for future advancements in spintronics and topological quantum computing.

Read the story on the Cornell Chronicle website . 

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American Sign Language has found a growing home on the Hill

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BTPI will research relationship between Bitcoin and financial freedom

National Endowment for the Arts

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National Endowment for Arts Announces Second Round of Grants for FY 2024

Photos from clockwise from top left: Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center's New Mainers on Stage, photo by Firdaws Hakizimana; Neomuralismos de Mexico alejibres workshop, photo by Aaron Johnson-Ortiz for Neomuralismos de Mexico; Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA) Youth Stage at Detroit's Concert of Colors, photo courtesy of DEYA; Living Streets Alliance volunteers, photo by Ernesto Raul Aguilar

Washington, DC —For its second major grant announcement of fiscal year 2024, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is pleased to announce more than $110 million in recommended grants in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions. These grants fall under three NEA funding categories: Grants for Arts Projects, Our Town, and State and Regional Partnerships.

“These projects exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “So many aspects of our communities such as cultural vitality, health and well-being, infrastructure, and the economy are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and this funding at the local, state, and regional levels demonstrates the National Endowment for the Arts’ commitment to ensuring people across the country benefit.”

• List of grant recipients organized by state/territory and city/town 
• List of grant recipients organized by funding category and artistic discipline/field  
• List of the panelists who reviewed these applications for funding 
• All current grants and project details can be viewed through the recent grant search

As part of the application review process, the NEA works with panelists with relevant knowledge and experience who reviewed the applications and rated them in accordance with published review criteria. Recommendations were then presented to the National Council on the Arts . The council made its recommendations to the NEA Chair, who then made the final decision on all grant awards. Learn more about the grant review process or volunteer to be a panelist .

Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) provides expansive funding opportunities to strengthen the nation’s arts and cultural ecosystem. It is the National Endowment for the Arts’ largest grants program for organizations, with matching grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Designated local arts agencies eligible to subgrant may request from $30,000 to $150,000 for subgranting programs. In July 2023, the NEA received 2,129 eligible applications requesting more than $111 million in FY24 support. Following a competitive application review process, 1,135 projects are approved for funding in this round , including to first-time applicants, totaling more than $37 million in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

Grants for Arts Projects supports an expansive range of projects of varying sizes and scope across artistic disciplines with a focus on agency priorities: opportunities for public engagement with the arts and arts education, the integration of the arts with strategies that promote the health and well-being of people and communities, and the improvement of overall capacity and capabilities within the arts sector, including the efforts of nationwide and field-specific service organizations.

Significant investments in these key areas include the following examples:

• An award to Arts Center of the Capital Region in Troy, New York , of $60,000 to support a grant program for individual artists in all artistic disciplines who work or live within a 100-mile radius of Troy. Grant award recipients will be selected through a competitive review process with a focus on funding underserved artists, including emerging, Indigenous, and rural artists. 
• An award to Connect Detroit in Detroit, Michigan , of $75,000 to support Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts (DEYA), an emerging collective impact initiative to develop a citywide arts education plan. In partnership with Detroit Public Schools, the initiative builds on a youth arts community assessment that identified what is needed to improve access to arts education for students in Detroit. 
• An award to Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center in Portland, Maine , of $25,000 to support New Mainers On Stage, a monthly traditional arts performance from an immigrant community in Maine. Local and regional professional artists will represent immigrant communities from Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine, among other countries. 
• An award to the International Association of Art Critics, American Section in Weehawken, New Jersey , of $12,000 to support the Art Writing Fellowship, which will support emerging arts writers by pairing fellows (selected through an open call) with experienced mentors to develop works for publication on the IAAC-USA online magazine. 
• An award to Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi , of $25,000 to support the week-long S.O.S. (Summer Opera/South) Boot Camp, an opera training workshop for undergraduate and graduate students. The camp will be hosted by the Jackson State University Department of Music, home of the Opera/South Company, in collaboration with participating historically Black colleges and universities.
• An award to the Madison Symphony Orchestra in Madison, Wisconsin , of $15,000 to support HeartStrings, a music therapy project. The orchestra's Rhapsodie String Quartet, with training by and participation of certified music therapists, will offer residency programs and perform interactive recitals for individuals with disabilities and other underserved communities. 
• An award to the Writers League of Texas in Austin, Texas , of $10,000 to support author visits to K-12 public schools and public libraries in rural communities across the state. The program will focus on serving rural areas where school and library resources are often not available for this type of programming.

The next deadline for organizations interested in applying for Grants for Arts Projects is Thursday, July 11, 2024. Each discipline has identified the types of projects that are of greatest interest within this program as well as the characteristics of competitive proposals that provide the greatest opportunities for federal support to strengthen the arts ecosystem. Visit arts.gov for guidelines and application resources, including a recording of the Grants for Arts Projects guidelines webinar .

Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program, supporting projects that integrate arts, culture, and design into local efforts that strengthen communities over the long term. Matching grants in this category range from $25,000 to $150,000. Of the 263 eligible applications, 68 projects are approved for funding totaling $5 million in 34 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.

Our Town funding requires a partnership between a nonprofit organization and a local government entity, with one of the partners being a cultural organization. Projects advance local economic, physical, or social outcomes in communities, are responsive to unique local conditions, authentically engage communities, center equity, advance artful lives, and lay the groundwork for long-term systems change.

Examples of recommended projects include:

• An award to Chilkoot Indian Association in Haines, Alaska , of $75,000 to support community gatherings and co-created public art to heal generational trauma in the Tlingit community. The Chilkoot Indian Association and Alaska Indian Arts, with support from a wide range of local partners, will host monthly multi-generational gatherings that combine conversation, storytelling, and traditional Alaska Native arts training. The project will offer a forum for cross-generational healing as well as Native arts skill-building among younger community members, making traditional arts and arts businesses more visible in Haines. 
• An award to Living Streets Alliance in Tucson, Arizona , of $90,000 to support a series of traffic-calming interventions and community activities in Tucson. Living Streets Alliance will work in partnership with the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility, Tucson Housing and Community Development, and local arts organizations to address traffic safety needs. Artists will be trained to facilitate activities such as mural and traffic calming street painting projects and civic artist capacity-building workshops. Living Street Alliance will also present a series of "cyclovias" or closed streets events featuring community arts activities. 
• An award to Neomuralismos de Mexico in St. Paul, Minnesota , of $30,000 to support a communitywide public art project featuring alebrijes , brightly colored fantastical creatures, often featuring a combination of different animals, that are a form of traditional Mexican folk art. Neomuralismos de Mexico, in partnership with the City of St. Paul Department of Parks and Recreation, will bring together community members and Latino artists to conduct workshops and create a large-scale public art exhibition of alebrijes . 
• An award to Rebuild Bay County in Panama City, Florida , of $75,000 to support a community archiving project that will preserve local culture and rebuild cultural assets in Bay County, Florida, in response to 2018’s Hurricane Michael, which exacerbated decades of disinvestment in the formally segregated and largely industrial area. Rebuild Bay County, the City of Panama City, and other partners will co-launch a community archiving project to include artist-facilitated community asset mapping, intergenerational memory preservation, a curated exhibition, temporary art installations, live performances, and teaching artist workshops.

The next deadline for organizations interested in applying for Our Town is Thursday, August 1, 2024. Visit arts.gov for guidelines and application resources.

State and Regional Partnerships 

Each year, approximately 40 percent of the NEA’s appropriated program funds are awarded to state arts agencies, regional arts organizations, and the national service organization to support the work of the states and regions. In total, up to $68.1 million is recommended for these partners in FY 2024 . 

State and Regional Partnership Agreement grants extend the NEA’s reach to even more communities, reflecting investments in locally-determined priorities, and translate national leadership into local benefit. To learn more about how the National Endowment for the Arts is impacting individual states and regions of the country, select a state or territory on the state impact page or visit the regional map .

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Press release: first round of fy2024 funding announced, list of grant recipients organized by state/territory and city/town, list of grant recipients organized by funding category and artistic discipline/field, volunteer to be an nea panelist, about the national endowment for the arts.

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Pa. School Funding Reaches $22,000 per Student in 2023

• Commonwealth Foundation
• May 20, 2024
• State Budget

Pennsylvania Public School Spending Is Growing

Over the last decade, state spending on Pennsylvania public schools reached all-time highs year after year.

• Pennsylvania per-pupil public school funding increased to $21,985 in the 2022–23 school year, up 38 percent since 2014–15, according to recent data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). [1]
• Total school district spending from all sources (local, state, and federal) increased to $36.6 billion in 2022–23.
• State support of public schools increased 53.8 percent from 2014–15 to 2023–24, with a total increase of $5.4 billion.
• Pennsylvania spending per student ranks seventh highest in the nation, approximately $4,100 more per student than the national average (according to the latest available data from 2022). [2]

School District Reserve Funds Are Growing to Excessive Levels

School districts have excessive stockpiles of taxpayer resources.

• School district reserves consist of assigned, unassigned, and committed funds. While the intent for assigned funds may be for capital improvements or unforeseen events, reserve funds are fungible, which allows school districts to repurpose their use.
• The most recent PDE data reveals that school districts collectively hold $6.8 billion in reserve funds (as of 2022–23), up $836 million from the previous year. [3]
• School districts’ collective combined reserve funds increased in 13 of the past 14 years, with a rapid increase of 48 percent since 2020.

These numbers represent school district reserves at the end of the 2022–23 school year (or June 30, 2023), before the $690 million increase in support for public schools included in the 2023–24 state budget.

The state’s previous auditor general, Eugene DePasquale, recommended that reserve funds be no more than 20 percent of the school district’s total spending. [4] Remarkably, more than half of Pennsylvania’s 500 school districts have reserve funds in excess of 20 percent of their spending. The overall school district reserve balance represents 24 percent of expenditures.

• Fifty-six districts have reserves of 40 percent or greater.
• Twenty districts have reserves of 50 percent or greater.

In January 2023, Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor released an audit showing that school districts were misusing reserve funds—shifting funds around in a “shell game” to avoid restrictions on raising taxes.

• The audit covered 12 school districts and found that “common yet questionable practices” allowed the districts to raise taxes 37 of the 48 times they were eligible. The districts raised taxes despite having sufficient funding—an average of more than $360 million collectively—in their reserves. [5]
• Claims of inadequate or inequitable funding fail to take reserve funds into account. Increased funding for public schools must be balanced with a commonsense plan for addressing excessive district reserve fund balances . [6]

School Districts Continue to Hold Federal Funds

Public schools sit on unspent federal aid. This leftover federal money is in addition to the billions school districts hold in general reserves.

• Since 2019, Pennsylvania public schools were granted more than $6.7 billion in federal pandemic aid through three packages: Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), and American Rescue Plan (ARP).
• As of April 30, 2024, Pennsylvania public schools (including district and charter schools) still have $1.4 billion in federal pandemic aid yet to be distributed from the state Treasury. [7]

Despite Record Funding Education Performance Lags

• Keystone results (11th grade) show that 21 high schools do not have one student testing proficient in math. [8]
• The Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) results (3rd–8th grade) show that 13 elementary or middle schools have zero percent of students testing proficient in math. [9]
• About half of Pennsylvania’s fourth and eighth graders cannot read proficiently at grade level.
• More than half of Pennsylvania’s fourth graders and nearly 75 percent of the state’s eighth graders cannot perform math at grade level. And math proficiency remains below pre-pandemic test scores from 2019. [10]
• Among low-achieving schools , only 11 percent of students are proficient in math. And about one in four students in low-achieving schools demonstrate English language arts (ELA) proficiency (24.5 percent). [11]
• Indeed, testimony from the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) notes “the data are less clear” regarding the relationship between spending and academic performance. The highest- and lowest-performing school districts each spent more than the state per-student average for regular instruction.
• A recent study from the Reason Foundation concludes that “there isn’t a consistent relationship between funding growth and outcomes across states” and that benefit spending accounted for at least half of per-student revenue growth in Pennsylvania, with pension debt being the primary driver of this trend. [12]

Past Pension Liabilities Limit Teacher Pay

Pennsylvania teachers are, on average, among the highest-paid teachers nationally. Employee benefit costs have skyrocketed because of past policy decisions—supported by the school unions—to underfund the school pension system and push off needed pension reform.

• This ranks Pennsylvania 11th highest in average teacher pay, according to the National Education Association (NEA). [14]
• From 2012–13 to 2022–23, total public school spending on salaries increased 24 percent; meanwhile spending on employee benefits increased 78 percent, as retirement contributions (i.e., pension payments) increased 238 percent. [15]
• The lion’s share of this contribution rate—27.23 percent—was not for current teacher’s retirement, but to pay off past unfunded pension liabilities (i.e., debt).
• That rate (27.23 percent) equals $20,890 when imposed on the average teacher salary.
• If Pennsylvania had enrolled all employees in a defined contribution plan, like a 401k, there would be no pension debt to pay off. Had lawmakers done so, Pennsylvania public schools could be paying teachers an additional $21,000 per year, without increasing overall spending.

Majority of State Funds to Districts Remain Untied to Enrollment

Pennsylvania public schools lost more than 136,000 students, or 7.6 percent from 2000–01 to the 2022–23 school year. [17] Yet, revenue increased 134 percent from 2000-01 to 2022–23. [18]

• The commonwealth adopted new student-based funding formulas for both basic education and special education by 2014–15, yet most distributions—more than 70 percent of each appropriation in 2023–24—follow the baseline allocation, not the new funding formulas. [19]
• Funding that follows students is the best guarantee that students, especially those in high-poverty neighborhoods receive adequate resources.

Parents and Voters Want Educational Choice

Polling indicates a tremendous mismatch between what type of school children attend and what their parents would prefer. Wealthy families already have options for their children. School choice policies ensure all children—regardless of zip code, income, or race—have similar options.

Pennsylvania currently has two tax credit scholarship programs, the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) that allow businesses to donate to scholarship organizations to provide K–12 scholarships to private schools (as well as donating to PreK scholarship organizations and educational improvement organizations). Yet, while nearly 12 percent of Pennsylvania students attend private schools, the $470 million available for tax credit scholarships represents only about 1 percent of funding.

Education Opportunity Account (EOA) programs like the proposed Lifeline Scholarships, referred to as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) Scholarship Program in Senate Bill 795 , [21] would directly fund students—giving families the resources they need for educational costs and delivering on the promise that every child has access to a quality education regardless of their zip code. 

An overwhelming majority of parents want school choice. A March 2024 poll found that 77 percent of Pennsylvania voters support providing Lifeline Scholarships to families in the lowest-performing schools to use for their children’s educational expenses. In addition, 80 percent of Pennsylvania voters support expanding the commonwealth’s tax credit scholarship program. [22]

Education Choice Works

Studies show that school choice programs have positive, verifiable results for the children who change schools and for the children who stay.

• Studies consistently show that educational choice programs improve the academic outcomes of students. Eleven out of 17 quasi-experimental studies found educational choice improved the test scores of at least some participating students; only three found any negative effects. Another five empirical studies (out of seven) found that school choice improves the long-term educational outcomes of participants. Educational choice was further linked to reducing segregation and increasing civic values. [23]
• A 2022 study of Ohio’s school choice program found no negative impact on school district per-student expenditures. While receiving less state funding for school choice participants, school districts retain local per-student funding—even for students they no longer pay to educate. [24]
• Additionally, EdChoice’s compilation of academic studies of educational choice programs found that 26 out of 29 studies concluded that school choice programs improve the academic outcomes of public school students. By exerting competitive pressure on public schools, school choice programs benefit participants and public school students alike. [25]

Pennsylvania spends $22,000 per student in public schools. This all-time high coincides with fewer district students, more teachers, more administrators, more support staff, and significantly larger reserve funds.

Instead of funding buildings and allowing districts to stockpile resources, state lawmakers should target education funding to follow the student. This includes delivering on the Court’s 2023 mandate that “ every student receives a meaningful opportunity to succeed” by expanding educational options. [26]

[1] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Annual Financial Report (AFR) Data Files, 2014–15 and 2022–23, https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers – Administrators/School Finances/Finances/AFR Data Summary/Pages/default.aspx .

[2] Stephen Q. Cornman et al., “Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2021–22 (Fiscal Year 2022),” (Washington D.C.: National Center for Education Studies, May 7, 2024), 7, https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2024301 .

[3] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Annual Financial Report (AFR) Data: Detailed, “General Fund Balance: 2013–14 to 2022–23,” accessed May 15, 2024, https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers – Administrators/School Finances/Finances/AFR Data Summary/Pages/AFR-Data-Detailed-.aspx .

[4] Jan Murphy, “School Districts Reserve Funds Continue to Grow, Amassing $4.3 Billion in 2014–15.” PennLive Patriot News , June 15, 2016, https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2016/06/school_districts_reserve_funds.html .

[5] Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, “Auditor General DeFoor Questions Annual Property Tax Increases for 12 School Districts; Calls on Legislature to Close Loopholes,” news release, January 25, 2023, https://www.paauditor.gov/press-releases/auditor-general-defoor-questions-annual-property-tax-increases-for-12-school-districts-calls-on-legislature-to-close-loopholes ; Auditor General Timothy DeFoor, “School Districts – General Fund Balances: Applying for Referendum Exceptions, Designating Funds, and Increasing Taxes,” (Harrisburg, PA: Department of the Auditor General, January 2023), https://www.paauditor.gov/Media/Default/Reports/speSchoolReservesAuditReport012523.pdf .

[6] Commonwealth Foundation, “Find Your School District’s Reserve,” May 15, 2024, https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/research/school-reserves/ . Note: This is a searchable database of reserve funds by district sourcing the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Annual Financial Report (AFR) Data: Detailed, “General Fund Balance: 2013–14 to 2022–23.”

[7] Pennsylvania Treasury Accounting Bureau, Status of Appropriation (COVID-ESSER-LEA), April 2024 monthly report, April 30, 2024, https://www.patreasury.gov/tabs/ .

[8] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Keystone Exams: 2023 Keystone Results, https://www.education.pa.gov/DataAndReporting/Assessments/Pages/Keystone-Exams-Results.aspx .

[9] Pennsylvania Department of Education, PSSA Results: 2023 PSSA School Level Data, https://www.education.pa.gov/DataAndReporting/Assessments/Pages/PSSA-Results.aspx .

[10] Commonwealth Foundation, “Stagnating PSSA Scores Illustrate Desperate Need for Education Opportunity,” news release, November 28, 2023, https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/2023/11/28/stagnating-pssa-scores/ .

[11] Pennsylvania Department of Education, PSSA Results: 2023 PSSA School Level Data .

[12] Aaron Garth Smith, Jordan Campbell, and Christian Barnard, “Public Education at a Crossroads: A Comprehensive Look at K-12 Resources and Outcomes for All 50 States,” Reason Foundation, February 2024, https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/public-education-crossroads.pdf .

[13] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Staff Summary: 2023–24 Professional Staff Summary Report, October 2023, https://www.education.pa.gov/DataAndReporting/ProfSupPers/Pages/ProfStaffSummary.aspx .

[14] National Education Association, “Rankings of the States and Estimates of School Statistics 2024,” April 2024, https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/2024_rankings_and_estimates_report.pdf .

[15] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Annual Financial Report (AFR) Data: Detailed, “Expenditure Detail – SDs: 2012–13 to 2022–23,” accessed May 15, 2024, https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/School%20Finances/Finances/AFR%20Data%20Summary/Pages/AFR-Data-Detailed-.aspx .

[16] Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS), “Fiscal Year 2024/2025 Employer Contribution Rate,” December 15, 2023, https://www.psers.pa.gov/FPP/Publications/General/Documents/FY%202024-2025%20ECR%20fact%20sheet%20FINAL.pdf .

[17] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Public School Enrollment Reports, accessed August 18, 2023, https://www.education.pa.gov/DataAndReporting/Enrollment/Pages/PublicSchEnrReports.aspx .

[18] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Annual Financial Report (AFR) Data: Summary (Revenues), accessed May 10, 2024, https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/School%20Finances/Finances/AFR%20Data%20Summary/Pages/AFR-Data-Summary-Level.aspx .

[19] Pennsylvania Department of Education, Education Budget, “2023–24 Estimated Basic Education Funding” and “2023–24 Estimated Special Education Funding,” August 2023, https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers – Administrators/School Finances/Education Budget/Pages/default.aspx .

[20] Commonwealth Foundation, “Education Funding in the Commonwealth,” January 10, 2024, https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/research/education-funding-commonwealth/ .

[21] Sen Judy Ward, Senate Bill 795, Pennsylvania General Assembly, Regular Session 2023–24, https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/billInfo.cfm?sYear=2023&sInd=0&body=S&type=B&bn=0795 . 

[22] Commonwealth Foundation, “Common Ground in the Commonwealth Poll,” Quarter 1, 2024, https://www.commonwealthfoundation.org/research/common-ground-commonwealth-poll/ .

[23] EdChoice, “The 123s of School Choice: What the Research Says about Private School Choice Programs in America,” October 5, 2023, https://www.edchoice.org/research-library/?report=the-123s-of-school-choice-3#report .

[24] Stéphane Lavertu and John J. Gregg, “The Ohio EdChoice Program’s Impact on School District Enrollments, Finances, and Academics,” Thomas Fordham Institute, December 14, 2022, https://fordhaminstitute.org/ohio/research/ohio-edchoice-programs-impact-school-district-enrollments-finances-and-academics?utm_source=pocket_saves .

[25] EdChoice, “The 123s of School Choice: What the Research Says about Private School Choice Programs in America,” October 5, 2023, https://www.edchoice.org/research-library/?report=the-123s-of-school-choice-3#report .

[26] William Penn School District et al. v. PA Department of Education et al., 587 MD 2014, “Memorandum Opinion Filed” (February 7, 2023), https://www.pacourts.us/news-and-statistics/cases-of-public-interest/587-md-2014—william-penn-school-district-et-al-v-pa-department-of-education-et-al .

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Publication of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. In the United States and Canada the subsidiaries of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate under the umbrella brand EMD.

• Grants & Awards

Research Grants

Stimulating innovative research.

Since 2018, we are offering a series of research grants to stimulate innovative research in challenging areas of future importance. Grants of up to 500,000 € per year for up to 3 years have been made available. In 2024, grants are available in the area as further specified below. 

• Discovery strategies for molecular glue degraders and other protein-protein-interaction stabilizers - 1 grant comprising up to 100,000 €/year for up to 3 years with potential further collaboration
• Augmented Reality Digital Twin  - 1 grant comprising up to 120,000 €/year for 1 year with potential further collaboration
• AI-Driven Drug Discovery – up to 3 grants comprising AIDDISON software licenses for one year with potential further collaboration

Submission deadline 31 August 2024.  

About the 2024 research grants

This research grants program is open to scientists in all career stages who are affiliated with any research-based institution, university or company.

In the first stage of the Research Grants applications process, applicants submit their application containing non-confidential information only. You may apply for more than one grant or submit your application for more than one category. If your application is successful, you are invited to submit a full proposal under confidentiality and join a deep-dive workshop. All applicants are informed about the decision of the selection committee. 

Deep dive Workshops

The second stage of the Research Grant process is a collaborative step, the deep-dive workshop. Finalists submit their full proposals and then work together with our managers and scientists to jointly optimize submitted project proposals. All teams reaching this stage will be informed in October. The deep-dive workshops are currently scheduled to take place in November 2024. The culmination of the deep-dive workshops will be the selection of the research grant winners.

Research Grant Funding

The third stage of the Research Grants process is the Research Grant funding phase. To enable pay-out and project start, we enter into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients. Our collaborative Research Grants are a unique opportunity for researchers who are interested in working with our scientists and receive guidance from industry. During the Research Grant funding period, there will therefore be regular meetings with our scientists. 

Molecular glue degraders and other PPI stabilisers

In this category, we are providing financial support for research initiatives that concentrate on pioneering novel approaches for the screening & discovery of molecular glues.  

Discovery Strategies for Molecular Glue degraders & other protein-protein-interaction stabilizers

Molecular glues are small molecules capable of inducing proximity between a target protein and an effector protein inside the cells, hence relying on the effector protein to elicit target protein function. Molecular glues have been discovered, that lead to degradation (e.g. IMIDs) [1], inhibition (e.g. cyclosporin A) [2] or activation of the target protein (asukamycin)[3].

Targeting proteins via the molecular glue mechanism holds the promise to tackle non-ligandable proteins that are considered “non-druggable". However, the identification of degraders or other proximity inducers utilizing this mode of action for specific proteins has historically been largely serendipitous [1]. 

We are committed to providing financial support for research initiatives that concentrate on pioneering novel approaches for the screening and discovery of molecular glues.

We are offering one grant up up to EUR 100,000 for up to three years with potential further collaboration.

• Geoffrey et al., Screening for molecular glues – Challenges and opportunities,  SLAS Discovery 2023 .  
• Liu et al., Calcineurin is a common target of cyclophilin-cyclosporin A and FKBP-FK506 complexes,  Cell 1991 .  
• Isobe et al., Manumycin polyketides act as molecular glues between UBR7 and P53,  Nat Chem Biol 2020 . 

Augmented Reality Digital Twin

We are seeking research proposals to build an interactive Augmented Reality Digital Twin for our automated system’s monitoring and control. 

We are seeking research proposals to build an interactive Augmented Reality Digital Twin for our automated system’s monitoring and control. 

In an autonomous laboratory, drug discovery integrates the molecular design, chemical synthesis and biological assays and testing into one continuous process: design-make-test-analyse or DMTA. AI, automations and robotics will greatly accelerate the DMTA cycle for faster drug discoveries. 

We have designed an autonomous laboratory with state-of-the-art equipment, advanced software tools and novel techniques. This automated system will require an advanced monitoring system. 

We are offering one grant comprising 120,000 € for one year with potential further collaboration.

The submitted proposals should:

• include a proof of concept (Technology Readiness Level 3) and describe the innovativeness of the proposal and the potential impact on Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
• include proposal for interactive digital twin for dashboarding and/or instrument control using AR technologies
• include descriptions of 3D graphics and/or advanced visualization tools 

AI-Driven Drug Discovery

We are inviting research proposals for hit or lead optimization that you would like to advance using our AIDDISON™ drug discovery software. 

Validating AI-designed molecules

We are inviting research proposals for hit or lead optimization that you would like to advance using our AIDDISON™ drug discovery software.

We have designed AIDDISON™ drug discovery software to combine artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and computer-aided drug design (CADD) methods to act as a valuable toolkit for medicinal chemistry needs. As a unified platform for efficient and effective ligand-based and structure-based drug design, it integrates all the facets for virtual screening and supports methods for lead discovery and lead optimization.

Submitted proposals should:

• include a description of your hit or lead optimization project
• be suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal

We are offering up to 3 grants comprising AIDDISON software licenses for one year with potential further collaboration. This research grant includes extensive interaction with our scientists and training on the AIDDISON drug discovery software for teams selected to participate in the deep dive session. 

How can I register on the submissions platform?

To submit an application, investigators must first register with our online portal. On your first visit, you need to register with a valid email address. 

When is the application deadline?

Submissions will be accepted until 31 August 2024 23:59 central European summer time.

How do I apply?

In order to apply, fill out the application form with your research proposal, using non-confidential information only. Please make sure you have read and accepted the terms and conditions before you submit the application form.

Are there any requirements for the attachments I can submit in addition to the abstract?

During the first phase of the application process, we only require title, abstract and information on the project team. Additionally, you can add documents and graphics that explain the concept. There are no formal requirements for the attachments, most commonly used formats will work (for example, pdf or ppt). Please do not include any confidential information at this stage. Get in touch with us in case you have issues uploading documents to the submissions portal on [email protected] .

Can I send in my application for more than one focus topic?

Yes, you should apply for those research topics that are relevant to your proposal and you may submit multiple applications.

My proposal fits well to the topic description but not sure that it addresses all aspects.

We only will disqualify proposals that fall entirely outside the scope of the grant description. Eligible proposals will be evaluated based on the criteria subject to the research grants terms and conditions. These are currently innovativeness, commercial potential, path forward after 3 years, probability of success, team strength, strategic fit.

What about publicity?

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany retains the exclusive right to make any press release or any kind of public communication about the Grant and the Awardee(s). Confidential details on project content are not revealed.

What is a Deep Dive workshop?

During the deep-dive workshops, invited top submitters further advance their research proposals together with our scientists under confidentiality. For this purpose, a participant's agreement needs to be signed. At the end of the workshop, participants present their optimized research proposals and the winning applicants are selected.

Where and when will the Deep Dive workshops take place?

The deep-dive workshops are currently scheduled to take place in November 2024. 

When will the research grants be paid out?

Following the Deep Dive workshops, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany enters into bilateral collaboration agreements with the winning recipients to enable pay-out and project start. During the collaboration, there will be regular meetings with our scientists.

What happens to applications that are not successful?

We will not reveal any information on submissions. In case your submission does not qualify to the next round, you will be notified by email. Please understand that due to the large number of applications we are not able to provide detailed feedback regarding the evaluation process at the abstract submission stage.

Having technical problems with the submission platform?

Please drop us a mail on [email protected] .

Prior calls for research grants

350 anniversary grants.

First edition, our 2018 call for proposals.

Closed calls

• Healthy Lives / Drug Discovery
• Life Reimagined / Synthetic Biology
• Materials & Solutions
• Digitalization / Computing

2020 Research Grants

Our 2022 call for proposals.

• Drug Discovery
• Bioreactor design for culture meat
• Next generation machine learning
• Pandemic preparedness

2021 Research Grants

Our 2021 call for proposals.

• Real time testing and sensors
• Nanoparticle for nucleic acid delivery
• Digital innovation
• Bioelectronics
• Sustainability
• Media recycling for cultured meat

2022 Research Grants

• Drug discovery
• AI for diagnostics & target discovery
• Chemistry in the cloud
• Sustainability in healthcare R&D
• Innovation within green chemistry

2023 Research Grants

Our 2023 call for proposals

• Green Hydrogen

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What Will Adult-Use Marijuana Legalization Mean for Ohio?

Introduction.

On November 7, 2023, Ohio became the 24th state to legalize adult-use cannabis with 57% of voters voting in favor of Issue 2, also known as An Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use Cannabis. This site aims to address questions that many people may be asking, such as when will recreational dispensaries open their doors or how much product will an individual be allowed to purchase, as well as more complex questions, such as what is the expected tax revenue going to be and how might marijuana legalization affect public health and public safety.

The question-and-answer section of this resource is divided into the following subsections: adult-use recreational users, medical marijuana patients, cannabis industry, general questions, public safety impact and public health impact. Each subsection aims to help Ohioans better understand what cannabis legalization could mean for their communities.

It is important to note that the information below reflects the language of the initiated statute passed by Ohio voters. The Ohio General Assembly can make significant changes to any aspect of the statute at any time. 

Within days of the passage of Issue 2, various members of the Ohio General Assembly have proposed making legislative changes to a number of the provisions of the new law. Proposed reforms have been introduced in the General Assembly and legislative hearings continue to be conducted on some of the bills,  including  House Bill 86 ,  House Bill 168 ,  House Bill 341 , and  House Bill 354 .  The table below compares the four proposed legislations to each other, as well as to the currently enacted Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3780 created by Issue 2.

DEPC will continue to monitor legislative proposals, updating this page to reflect any changes that are passed by the Ohio General Assembly (OGA).

Key Takeaways from the Passage of Issue 2

When will ohioans be able to purchase recreational marijuana from licensed dispensaries.

Adult-use dispensaries are likely to begin operating sometime in the summer or early fall of 2024. The Division of Cannabis Control in the Department of Commerce will begin accepting applications for adult-use businesses and testing licenses within six months (early June) of Issue 2’s effective date. Licenses are then required to be allocated within nine months (early September) following Issue 2’s enactment, although the Department of Commerce could act in a speedier fashion.

Until the first recreational dispensary opens in the state of Ohio, Ohioans that do not have an Ohio medical marijuana card will not be able to lawfully purchase marijuana in the state of Ohio.

Key takeaways (if there are no changes by the Ohio General Assembly):

Please note: The Ohio General Assembly can make significant changes to any aspect of the statute at any time. The materials in this section were last updated November 8, 2023.

Additional resources

In addition to content below, DEPC  has produced both research and events that focus on marijuana reforms in Ohio and nationally. The center has produced reports on the estimated tax revenue of adult-use marijuana legalization in Ohio, the existing Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program, lessons to draw from states that have transitioned from medical to recreational marijuana reforms, h ow to effectively incorporate social equity into cannabis laws and regulations, and more.

The Ohio Initiated Statute Process for An Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use Cannabis

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol launched its initiative for adult-use marijuana in summer 2021. Following initial endorsement by the Ohio Attorney General and the Secretary of State's ballot board, the Coalition fell short of the required 132,887 signatures in December 2021. However, by late January 2022, the Secretary approved the additional signatures, and the measure was passed to the Ohio General Assembly, which did not act. A legal tussle over the initial signatures occurring in spring 2022 eventually led to a settlement, allowing the Coalition a streamlined process for the 2023 election. After giving the General Assembly a second chance to act in early 2023, the group embarked on collecting the second round of signatures in early May. Though they initially missed the mark by 679 signatures, an additional 6,545 were approved on August 16, ensuring the measure's spot on the November 2023 ballot.

In an effort to better clarify the process through which an initiated statute can become law in Ohio, DEPC has produced both a visual and an accessible text outline.

Adult Recreational Consumers

Can i grow my own marijuana.

NO – patients and caregivers are not allowed to cultivate their own marijuana.

YES – as of December 7, 2023, adult users are  allowed to grow six plants per individual, with a limit of 12 plants total per residence where two or more adult-use consumers reside at one time.

The vast majority of states (17 of 23) that have legalized adult use allow their residents to grow a limited number of plants for personal use, ranging between two (Montana) and 12 plants (Michigan). In our previous research, we heard from regulators who stressed that effectively managing home grow is necessary for public safety and for limiting the possibility of diversion to the illicit market. Regulators suggested two strategies to limit the potential negative effects of home grow provisions: giving law enforcement agencies clear and enforceable directions and keeping the allowed number of plants relatively low while also incorporating residency limits (limiting the number of plants that can be grown in a residence regardless of how many adults reside there).

• Enables patients to grow their own supply to avoid the uninsurable cost of marijuana
• Consumers can grow specific strains that might otherwise be hard to find in dispensaries
• Potentially creates downward pressure on pricing in the market
• Home cultivation makes enforcement to prevent illegal grows in residential settings more difficult and creates uncertainty among law enforcement as well as the public
• Plants cultivated at home are not tested for harmful pollutants
• Access to marijuana by underage persons may be harder to prevent

For more information, see From Medical to Recreational Marijuana: Lessons for States in Transition .

How much marijuana can I possess?

Possession limits across legalized states vary, but they are generally between 1 - 2.5 oz of cannabis flower in public, with some states having higher limits for concentrates or cannabis infused solid products. The state with the highest permitted possession limit is New Jersey, which permits possession of 6 oz.

The amount of medical marijuana possessed by a registered patient shall not exceed a ninety-day supply:

• Tier I of med. marijuana – 8 oz (226.8g)
• Tier II of med. marijuana – 5.3 oz (150.3g)
• 26.55 grams of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content in lotions, patches, creams, ointments
• 9.9 g of THC content in oil, tinctures, capsules or edible form
• 53.1 g of THC content in oil for vaporization
• Terminally ill patients have higher limits

2.5 ounces in any form except extract, 15 grams of adult use extract. May purchase 2.5 ounces from dispensary per day.

Are there restrictions on how I can consume marijuana?

The smoking or combustion of medical marijuana is prohibited. Any form or method that is considered attractive to children is prohibited. With respect to tetrahydrocannabinol content: plant material cannot have more than 35% of THC content, and extracts are limited to 70% THC content.

No limitation on how cannabis can be consumed. The Division of Cannabis Control will set rules regarding allowable THC content. T he language from the initiative provides additional detail:

• Section 3780.03. Establishment and authority of division of cannabis control; adoption of rules. (C) The division of cannabis control shall adopt, and as advisable and necessary shall amend or repeal, rules on the following: (21) Establishing a tetrahydrocannabinol content limit for adult use cannabis, which for plant material the content limit shall be no less than thirty-five per cent and for extracts the content limit shall be no less than ninety per cent, but that such content limits may be increased or eliminated by the division of cannabis control

Are there employment and other protections for marijuana users?

Employment protection for marijuana use is a complex issue, shaped partially by the continued federal prohibition on marijuana as well as the challenge of detecting how and when past marijuana use may impair job performance. In our annual survey of medical marijuana patients, the fear of losing one’s employment has consistently ranked high as a reason why people abstain from using marijuana. Ohio's employment rules are not unique; the majority of states that have legalized marijuana do not provide employment protections. Three states, Nevada, New York and New Jersey, have enacted laws preventing employers from taking action solely based on the presence of cannabinoid metabolites in the employee’s system or refusing to hire based on individual’s use of marijuana outside of the workplace. However, in all three states employers can continue with drug free workplace policies.

NO – employers are allowed to continue workplace drug policies prohibiting consumption.

However, Act creates additional protections for:

• Concealed Carry Licenses
• Adjudicatory hearings to determine shelter care placement
• Parental Rights and Responsibilities
• Parenting Time Orders
• Eligibility for any public benefit program administered by the state or locality
• Right to medical care and/or inclusion on a transplant waiting list
• Users cannot be rejected as a tenant but owner can prohibit smoking on premises.
• Officers must have an independent, factual basis giving reasonable suspicion that an individual is operating a vehicle under the influence or a test from the person's blood, blood serum, plasma, breath, or urine.

Medical Marijuana Patients

Under the current language of the ballot initiative, existing medical marijuana licensees would get preferential treatment in regard to adult use licenses. However, the question of whether there will be separate dispensaries for adult-use and medical use is not addressed, and neither is the question of whether separate cultivator locations will be required.

Under the current Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (OMMCP) patients are only required to pay existing state and local sales taxes usually ranging between 5.25% and 7.50%. Under the ballot initiative, an additional 10% tax would be levied on purchases of recreational marijuana. The initiative is silent in respect to medical patients, which presumably means that medical marijuana purchases would not be subjected to the additional excise tax. Most states that have legalized adult use marijuana recognize the different nature of use between medical and recreational user and do not impose any additional taxes on patients beyond the standard state sales tax.

Under OMMCP rules, plant material cannot exceed a THC content of more than 35% and extracts cannot exceed THC content of 70%. The initiative proposal would give regulators the power to regulate concentration levels but its text explicitly states that concentration limits cannot be set below 35% of THC content for plant material and 90%, which are the same or higher than the existing OMMCP rules. State regulators will have to make a decision as to whether they want to increase potency limits for medical marijuana patients (assuming that the Ohio General Assembly will not act to change the limits).

How many licenses will be issued and how long will it take?

• Cultivation - Level I Cultivator (25K sqf) & Level II Cultivator (3K sqf) - 37 licenses awarded, 23 Level I and 14 Level II. Initial cap was 12 licenses for each tier. As of August 17, 2023, 13 cultivators received permission to expand. This includes four Level I cultivators who can expand to up to 50,000 sq/ft, and nine Level II cultivators who can expand to up to 6,000 sq/ft.
• Processor – 44 operational processors, plus two with provisional license; initial cap set at 40.
• Testing Laboratory - No limit place on testing laboratory licenses.
• Dispensary – 92 operational dispensaries, plus 41 provisional licenses issued.

There are no official caps on the number of licenses, however, the Division of Cannabis Control will be able to decide whether to issue additional licenses based on the balance of supply and demand in the market. Licenses to current medical marijuana licensees should start being issued within 9 months of enactment.

States have varying regulations for different types of licenses with some limiting how many licenses one entity or one individual can hold at one time to mitigate fears of market domination by large actors. Of the previous 23 states that have legalized adult-use marijuana, ten have enacted license limits based on an established cap or contingent on county population. Arizona limits licenses relative to the total number of pharmacies operating in the state.

• Ability to charge higher licensing fees to support effective regulatory structure
• Because only well-capitalized businesses can enter market due to high fees, it may create a more stable market
• Ability to regulate supply of product and react to changing conditions in the market to prevent oversaturation
• Allows for preferential treatment of certain classes of applicants
• Limits how many entities can enter the industry
• Gives advantage to well capitalized individuals/business, limiting diversity in the industry
• By restricting supply, creates potential for higher prices to consumers
• Necessitates creation of government selection process which can create controversy

How much will licenses cost?

The licensing fees assessed by states for adult-use businesses vary widely from state to state and license to license. In some states, such as Alaska, fees can be as low as $1,000 while other states, such as New York, can assign fees as high as $200,000. There are many considerations that go into determining license fees – states want to ensure that their regulatory structures can be wholly funded by the proceeds from the marijuana industry while at the same time they also need to consider the barrier high fees can create for small and minority-owned businesses. Transparency about the costs of administering a marijuana program and how fees are spent can be helpful in ensuring that fees are not set too low or too high.

• Cultivator Level 1: $20,000 Application fee, $180,000 Licensure fee, and $200,000 Renewal Fee.
• Cultivator Level 2: $2,000 Application Fee, $18,000 Licensure Fee, $20,000 Renewal Fee.
• Processor: $10,000 Application Fee, $90,000 Licensure Fee, $100,000 Renewal Fee.
• Dispensary: $5,000 Application Fee, $70,000 Licensure Fee, $70,000 Renewal Fee.

The licensing and application fees have not been established. The responsibility to set fees upon implementation was given to the Division of Cannabis Control.

Will existing medical marijuana operators get a preference?

• Each medical dispensary will be issued one adult-use dispensary license
• Level I Cultivator shall be issued three adult use dispensary licenses and one Level I Adult use cultivator license
• Level II Cultivator shall be issued one adult use dispensary and one level II adult use cultivator license
• Each dispensary shall be issued one adult use dispensary license at different location if dispensary does not have common ownership or control of any Level I, II, or processor license
• Processor shall be issued one adult use processor license
• Testing lab shall be issued one adult use laboratory license

Most states that have undergone a transition from medical to recreational marijuana market have treated existing medical marijuana licensees as having a preferred status compared to the general population, whether by being able to submit applications ahead of others, having a fast-tracked approval process or being automatically eligible for licenses within the recreational sphere. As with any other policy choice, this carries with it both benefits, such as shorter implementation time, and drawbacks such as limiting the ability of new entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from communities most affected by prohibition to get involved or be prioritized.

• Shorter implementation timeline due to already established growers and retailers
• Smoother start of adult-use regime due to greater levels of familiarity with marijuana regulations and established record of compliance
• Increases perceived legitimacy of the new industry as existing medical participants have already undergone public scrutiny
• Limits the ability of new entrepreneurs to get involved in the industry, possibly limiting involvement of underrepresented communities
• Possibility of greater concentration of the industry in fewer hands, limiting competitiveness of the market

Will there be any preference for in-state businesses?

The 2016 Ohio medical marijuana law required 15% of all licenses for growing, processing, and selling marijuana be awarded to minority-owned businesses. This part of the law was subsequently struck down in 2018 (for cultivators and processors) and in 2019 (for dispensaries). There are currently no provisions for preferential treatment for minority owned businesses.

Division of Cannabis Control shall issue up to 40 Level III adult use cultivator licenses with preference provided to applicants who have been certified as cannabis social equity and jobs program participants. Division of Cannabis Control shall issue up to 50 additional adult use dispensary licenses who have been certified as cannabis social equity and jobs program participants. The initiative does not appear to have any provisions giving preferential treatment based on residence alone.

Requirements for licenses have changed through the years with multiple states removing in-state residency requirements for their adult-use licenses. States were initially concerned with large corporations entering the market and leaving less economic opportunity for state residents. Currently, six states have provisions requiring resident status to qualify for a specific marijuana license. A majority of states have enacted license provisions granting social equity applicants preference for certain license types. Three states, New York, New Mexico and Connecticut, have implemented social equity programs that require 50% of all licenses must be allocated to a social equity registered applicant.

• Can limit the ability of out-of-state investors to enter the market
• Protects existing small businesses from capture by large players
• Provides opportunity for state residents
• Eliminates a potential red flag that could trigger federal enforcement action
• Limits the amount of capital available to the industry
• Can delay the growth of the industry in localities that lack sufficient capital
• Could expose states to legal challenges from out-of-state business owners

General Questions

How much will the state tax marijuana.

The taxation levels under the legalization initiative falls in the mainstream when compared to other states. Most states impose an excise tax on cannabis of 10-15% in addition to their regular sales tax. Based on available information, New Jersey appears to have the lowest tax burden of 6.625% plus a variable local tax of up to 2%; the state of Washington, on the other hand, levies a 37% excise tax, plus 6.5% state sale tax and additional local state tax.

No special tax levied on medical marijuana purchases. Patients are subjected to regular state (5.25%) and local sales tax (0.25 – 2.25%).

10% Excise tax, plus  regular state and local sales tax, totaling between 15.25% - 17.5% tax levy.

How much tax revenue would Ohio collect from adult-use marijuana?

Advocates for cannabis reform in Ohio and in other states often stress the tax revenue that can be raised through legalization. While predicting future tax revenue is always subject to unforeseen circumstances, our center estimates that by year five of operation, Ohio could see between $276 million to $403 million in annual tax revenues if the tax structure is not altered by the General Assembly . These numbers are small compared to the overall size of the state budget, which for fiscal year 2023 stands at $81.1 billion. In other words, similar to other legalized states, even if tax revenues exceeded our estimates, it is unlikely that they would reach beyond 1% of the overall state budget. 

For more information, see What Tax Revenues Should Ohioans Expect If Ohio Legalizes Adult-Use Cannabis? .

How will money be spent?

Every state with legalized adult-use marijuana has established a plan to allocate marijuana revenue generated through the tax and fee collection. The plans vary widely, with some states focusing on funding education and law enforcement, while others distribute resources to localities, substance abuse programs, social equity programs, research, veteran services and others.

Sales tax from marijuana products goes to the state general fund. There are no designated expenditure areas.

Adult Use Tax fund - all funds initially deposited in this fund and distributed quarterly as follows: 36% for the Cannabis Social Equity and Jobs fund, 36% for the Host Community Cannabis Fund, 25% for the Substance Abuse and Addiction Fund and 3% for the Division of Cannabis Control and Tax Commissioner Fund.

What social equity provisions are incorporated?

Over the last decade, social equity has slowly become a major concern. States whose initial regulations did not include social equity provisions have amended the original legislation to include provisions assisting communities and individuals disproportionately impacted by marijuana enforcement. Almost every state, besides Alaska and Maine, have implemented some form of expungement or record sealing for past marijuana offenders, with 16 states providing for some form automatic record relief for a marijuana-related offense. Additionally, some states have set aside licenses for social equity applicants and established funds to help communities negatively impacted. 18 states have established funds to assist these communities either through reduced licensing fees, loan programs, business assistance, or programs to aid youth development and violence prevention.

Though providing earmarked funds and a list of activities for the cannabis social equity and jobs program, the initiative does not create a clear set of instructions for the use of funds nor specific details on how various activities will be pursued.

No social equity provisions incorporated beyond the 15% set aside for minority-owned businesses that was subsequently struck down in court.

The initiative includes establishment of the cannabis social equity and jobs program in the interest of remedying the harms resulting from the disproportionate enforcement of marijuana-related laws and to provide financial assistance and license application support to individuals most directly and adversely impacted by the enforcement of marijuana-related laws who are interested in starting or working in cannabis business entities. Additionally, Division of Cannabis Control shall issue up to 40 Level III adult use cultivator licenses and 50 additional adult use dispensary licenses with preference provided to applicants who have been certified as cannabis social equity and jobs program participants.

Will my locality be able to prohibit marijuana businesses?

Almost every state has adopted laws enabling localities to completely prohibit or significantly limit adult-use marijuana establishments from operating within their jurisdiction. Localities can prohibit establishments through ordinances or opt-out through voter referendum. Unlike the rest of adult-use states, New Mexico is the only state where the legislation included provisions preventing local jurisdictions from completely prohibiting adult-use licenses from operating.

YES - The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may adopt an ordinance, or a board of township trustees may adopt a resolution, to prohibit, or limit the number of, cultivators, processors, or retail dispensaries licensed under this chapter within the municipal corporation or within the unincorporated territory of the township, respectively.

YES - Localities may adopt ordinances to prohibit adult-use dispensaries but may not prohibit or limit existing operational medical marijuana cultivators, processors, or dispensaries; or an adult use cultivator or an adult use processor, or an adult use dispensary who is co-located with adult use cultivator and an adult use processor, who have, or whose owner have, a medical marijuana certificate of operation at the same location as of the effective date of the act. A municipal corporation or township may vote to prohibit the operation of an adult use dispensary within 120 days of the dispensary license being issued.

Public Safety and Public Health

Marijuana reform, especially legalization for recreational purposes, raises important questions about how such policy change might impact public safety and public health. Because marijuana legalization is a new development and takes various forms in different locales, rigorous research into questions related to effects on crime, impaired driving, youth use of marijuana and other impacts on health and safety has only just begun. To date, research results do not yet paint a clear picture on most of these important questions. The small sample of studies presented in the sections below were selected to demonstrate that, while researchers are starting to explore these questions, data limitations and the relative recency of these changes means that continuing and sustained research is needed to help policymakers design regulations and policies to minimize potential harms and maximize potential benefits.

Will we see an increase in traffic accidents?

To date, researchers have found mixed results when looking at the question of whether marijuana legalization results in higher number of traffic accidents or higher rates of impaired driving.

To assess the effect of legalization on traffic fatalities in Colorado and Washington, a 2020 study by Hansen, Miller, and Weber used a synthetic control approach with data on fatal traffic accidents between 2000 and 2016. The authors found little evidence to support the idea that recreational legalization dramatically increased traffic fatalities. Specifically, synthetic control groups had similar changes in marijuana- and alcohol-related traffic fatality rates, as well as a similar change in overall traffic fatalities, despite not having legal marijuana.

On the other hand, a 2023 study by Adhikari, Maas and Trujillo-Barrera  found that legalization of recreational marijuana resulted in an increase of 1.2 traffic death per a billion of miles traveled, which translates roughly into 1000 excess fatalities on annual basis for all states that have legalized recreational marijuana.

Most studies that have looked at the question of road safety note important data limitations as well as lack of clear understanding of marijuana impairment. For example, Windle and co-authors  found that marijuana legalization and decriminalization were correlated with an increase in positive cannabis tests among drivers. However, they determined that many of these studies were at risk of bias due to potential confounders and measurement error. The authors also emphasized that while more drivers may have tested positive for cannabis, this does not necessarily mean they were driving impaired as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be detected for long periods of time after consumption.

For more information, see Effects of Drug Policy Liberalization on Public Safety: A Review of the Literature .

Will we see an increase in crime rates?

Whether marijuana legalization is linked to an increase or decrease in crime is of great interest to policymakers and researchers. Unfortunately, this question is also very difficult to study due to data limitations that exist in our criminal justice system, the relative recency of legalization and the number of confounding factors present. Nevertheless, several studies have tried to ascertain the relationship between marijuana legalization and crime.

A 2019 study focusing on Colorado found that the opening of medical and recreational dispensaries decreased violent crime in nearby neighborhoods with incomes above the median although it had virtually no impact on aggregate rates of violent and property crimes overall. The authors also found a decrease in non-cannabis drug- and alcohol-related crimes near dispensaries. While they found that vehicle break-ins were elevated within a mile of dispensaries, they concluded that marijuana legalization had a net benefit with regard to crime rates. An additional study  focusing on recreational legalization in Washington and Oregon found that legalization likely caused a drop in crime. Specifically, the authors found that legalization resulted in a significant reduction in rape and property crime on the Washington side of the border compared to both the Oregon side and the pre-legalization years. Furthermore, while marijuana consumption increased, use of other drugs and alcohol decreased.

At the same time, some studies found increases in crime rates after cannabis legalization. For example, using UCR data from 2007 to 2017 to examine the effect of marijuana legalization on crime rates in Oregon, one study  found increases in crime rates for several types of offenses, including property and violent crime. In another study pertaining to crime in Oregon, Wu and Willits  found that the rate of simple assault had increased following legalization. However, they noted that their post-legalization time frame was fairly short and should be reassessed by future research.

Other research found no significant changes in crime following marijuana legalization. For example, using UCR data, Lu et al.  conducted a quasi-experimental study to examine crime rates in Colorado and Washington. They found no statistically significant effects of marijuana legalization on violent or property crime. Similarly, a review study  looking at data from several legalized states indicated that violent crime neither increased nor dropped dramatically following cannabis legalization.

Overall, the literature exploring the relationship between liberalization of marijuana policies and crime seems to suggest that legalizing marijuana is not a threat to public safety.

Will we see an impact on arrest rates?

Unlike other public safety questions around marijuana legalization, whether there is an impact on arrest rates is fairly straightforward. Numerous studies indicate significant drops in the number of arrests following the legalization as well as decriminalization of adult-use marijuana. Firth and co-authors used National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data on marijuana-related arrests and found that marijuana arrest rates among people over 21 fell dramatically after legalization of marijuana possession in Washington State, and that rates stayed at similar levels following the opening of the retail market. However, while marijuana-related arrest rates for both White and Black adults decreased, relative disparities increased. African Americans previously had an arrest rate 2.5 times higher than the White arrest rate, but this increased to 5 times higher after the opening of the retail market. Similarly, recent research on Colorado and Washington has also found that while cannabis-related arrest rates generally declined after legalization, racial disparities persisted. Thus, while legalization lessens the absolute number of people who come into contact with the criminal justice system overall, more needs to be done to specifically address racial disparities.

Will we see an increase in youth consumption of marijuana?

As with questions about public safety, the research findings on many questions related to public health are mixed. In respect to rate of use, some research indicates an increase in marijuana use overall, while other research shows decreased rates of use among teens. According to a 2021 study  that reviewed existing research on the topics, use in states where marijuana is legal tends to be higher than the average rate of use in the United States, however, this difference mainly pre ‐ ​dates legalization.

In a 2019 report  from the Journal of the American Medical Association, the enactment of adult-use legalization laws showed no significant association with marijuana use or marijuana use frequency among high school students. Similarly, medical cannabis laws did not impact youth usage rates. A 2020 study  that looked at teen use in California and Washington found that both states recorded a drop in teen use post-legalization, which was consistent with data from non-legalized states suggesting an overall national drop in teen use of marijuana. This was later supported by a 2023 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which highlighted that past 30-day cannabis use among U.S. high school students in 2021 was the lowest since 1991, with male teens experiencing a significant decrease from 26% in 2011 to 14% in 2021, and female students use remaining relatively stable with 18% using in 2011 and 16% reporting use in 2021.

As with previous questions, continued rigorous research focused on rates of use among adults and adolescents is needed to ensure that policymakers and regulators have the necessary information to effectively regulate legal cannabis markets. Special attention should be paid to harmful levels of use.

Will we see an increase in emergency room visits?

A number of studies have noted an increase in the number of cannabis-related emergency room visits over the last two decades. For instance, a CDC study from 2023  noted an increase in cannabis-involved emergency room visits for people under the age of 25 during the COVID pandemic, while also noting a statistically significant increase prior to pandemic. However, this study was not specifically focused on states with legalized recreational marijuana or on tracking the impact of such legalization on emergency room visits.

A recent study  looked at cannabis positivity rates in 17 emergency departments across the US with different stages of marijuana legalization. According to the authors, most states experienced a significant increase in cannabis positivity rates as legalization progressed, however, the positivity rates differed. In most states with no cannabis legalization, there was still a significant, albeit smaller, increase in cannabis positivity rates in emergency room visits. Additionally, a study  conducted at two Boston medical centers from 2012 to 2019 showed an increase in both positive THC IA results and cannabis-related ICD-10 codes in the ED, particularly among females, patients aged 30-39, older adults (>59 years), and the highest income bracket. Similarly, a 2018 study  from Colorado noted an increase in emergency room visits for patients between 13 and 21 years of age from 2005 to 2015.

In summary, there has been an observed increase in emergency room visits related to marijuana use in states that have legalized marijuana. It is important to keep in mind though that even states that have not legalized marijuana have seen an increase in emergency room visit, and studies that were conducted in legalized states had some significant limitations. While these limitations are worth noting, there also appears to be a consensus among scholars that regulators should pay specific attention to mandating child-proof containers for cannabis product and prohibiting marketing of products whose packaging mimics popular child-friendly snacks and candy.

Impact on the Workplace

The connection between marijuana legalization and the labor market is of great interest to employers and policymakers alike, prompting questions about changes to the prevalence of workplace incidents, changes in productivity and labor participation, and impact on worker compensation costs. But as with many other questions surrounding marijuana reform, the research to date provides mixed evidence, with very little research being available on the impact of recreational adult use legalization specifically.

In respect to workplace injuries, majority of research to date focuses on whether there is a link between use of marijuana and workplace accidents, rather than on the link between marijuana legalization and injuries. In a 1990 study , prior to any state legalizing an adult-use or medical program, researchers found that individuals that tested positive for marijuana through a urine analysis had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, and a 78% increase in absenteeism. A 2023 study found that individuals that consumed marijuana on the job, were nearly twice as likely to experience some form of workplace injury, although there was no negative effect for consumption of marijuana outside of the workplace. In respect to medical marijuana legalization, some research actually showed a positive impact, with a 2018 study finding that legalization of medical marijuana was associated with a 19.5% reduction in expected workplace fatalities for individuals 25-44.

In regard to labor supply, a 2019 study found a positive relationship between medical marijuana laws and labor supply among older adults. For adults 51 years and older, the study showed an increase in probability of full-time employment as well as hours worked. Another study from 2018 found no changes in the labor market following medical marijuana legalization, with employment status, hours worked and wages remaining unaffected.

When it comes to research focused on recreational marijuana legalization, the results are also mixed. While a 2017 study by Maclean et al. found an increase in disability claim applications and longer disability periods after recreational marijuana legalization, another study from 2021 by Abouk et al. showed reductions in workers’ compensation claims and benefits.