እንዴት ማመልከት ይቻላል

ብቁነት

A candidate for a McKnight Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award must work as an independent investigator at a not-for-profit research institution in the United States, must have held a tenured or tenure-track faculty position for at least three years, and must wait at least one year before reapplying after two unsuccessful applications.

Those holding other titles such as Research Professor, Adjunct Professor, Professor Research Track, Visiting Professor or Instructor are not eligible. If the host institution does not use professorial titles, a letter from a senior institutional official (e.g., Dean or Director of Research) must confirm that the applicant has his/her own dedicated institutional resources, laboratory space, and/or facilities.

A candidate may not apply to both Scholar Awards or Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Awards in the same funding cycle. Previous McKnight Awardees are eligible to apply so long as they have not already been awarded the same kind of award.

There is no limit for how many applications we can receive from the same institution in the same funding round, and while we aim to support a broad range of institutions, there have been cases when more than one applicant from the same institution has been awarded in the same grant period.

Changes to the Application for 2026

1. Instead of a two-stage application with letter of interest, McKnight is asking for one 5-page proposal.
2. Instead of a Biosketch, the committee would like to see a CV (see details below)
3. Applicants now must have held a tenured or tenure-track faculty position for at least three years, and must wait at least one year before reapplying after two unsuccessful applications.
4. You can no longer apply for both a Scholar Award and the Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award in the same year.
5. The 2026 NBD award now starts on July 1, 2026, instead of August 1.

Application

The application process is completely online, and the portal will open for submission on August 1, 2025.

Please include the following information (no application form is provided):

1. 1. Face Sheet. One face sheet listing multiple PIs; if PIs are at different institutions list the institution to which the grant will be paid – can be more than one page. The face sheet should include:

• • title of project
  • principal investigator(s)
  • sponsoring institution (recipient institution of award funds)
  • department, address, telephone numbers, email address
  • personnel information (postdoc, grad students, etc. working on the project)
  • project period (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029)
  • contact name and address of responsible financial officer at sponsoring institution
  • total amount of other sources of funding
  • total amount of overlapping funding (if any)

2. Research Proposal. Should clearly describe how the proposed research will uncover mechanisms of brain injury or diseases related to the neurobiology of brain disorders and how it will translate to diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or cure. Please include:

a) What clinical problem are you addressing?

b) What are your specific aims?

c) How will the knowledge and experience you have gained in basic research be applied to improving the understanding of a brain disorder or disease?

d) How is the proposed research novel or disruptive in the field?

e) How are you fostering a lab environment where all members feel valued and supported? (not more than one page)

f) How are you addressing an environmental contribution to brain disorders (if applicable)?

Formatting Requirements:

• • 5-page limit, numbered, single-spaced with one-inch margins

• • 12-point Arial font

• • Figures/tables within the 5-page limit (text within figures may be less than 12 font as long as easily readable)

• • No appendices
  • Bibliography does not need to be included in the 10-page limit

3. Showing major categories, including indirect costs of up to 10 percent of the award (the allowance for indirect costs is included within the total $300,000 award). Please limit “other” funds to 15% of the budget and break down any large categories, i.e. do not simply list $50,000 for supplies. Funds may be used toward a variety of research activities, but not the recipient’s salary. Please include a budget of $100,000 for each year of the award, i.e. July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027; July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028; and July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029.
4. Other Sources of Funding for your Laboratory. Please include amounts for each award listed, e.g., R01, $100,000 annual direct costs, project title. Other funding will be considered in evaluation of the proposal. You do not need to list proposals currently under consideration that have not yet been awarded. Please indicate whether any current funding is dedicated toward the project outlined in this proposal (overlapping funding).
5. Biographical Sketch. Please submit an NIH biosketch. Please include biosketches for each PI, if collaborating.
6. Weblinks to Reprints. Include three to five, representative of previous work. Please submit links for only three reprints for each PI if collaborating. Do not include full publication text, only links. 

Please upload ONE PDF of all application materials and reprints. Applications must be received by Wednesday, October 15, 2025  (by 5 PM Central time).

የምርጫ ሂደት

ሀ የግምገማ ኮሚቴ will evaluate the proposals and later invite the top 8-10 applications to interview with the review committee, likely in April 2026.

Following interviews, the committee will recommend up to four awards to the Board of Directors of the Endowment Fund. The board will make the final decision.

The Endowment Fund will fund up to four awards, each providing $100,000 per year for three years. Awards will be announced in May 2026 and begin in July 2026.