The Office of the Vice President for Research invites applications for funding to support development of large interdisciplinary grant proposals, including:
building interdisciplinary research teams,
conducting pilot research, and
finalizing grant submissions.
Grants will be distributed in three phases
Phase 1: Team and idea development
Up to $10,000
8-month award period
Phase 2: Pilot research; team and idea refinement
Up to $250,000
22-month award period
Phase 3: Grant application development
Up to $60,000
1-year award period
Many research teams will start at Phase 1 (team and idea development), progress to Phase 2 (pilot research; team and idea refinement), and then move to Phase 3 (grant submission). We also encourage applications from established interdisciplinary research teams. They may “skip” early phases and apply directly for Phase 2 or Phase 3 funding.
The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2026.
Support for networking and team building
The Research and Development Office (RDO) is available to help investigators build teams and identify collaborators.
Please contact vpr-rdo@uiowa.edu for support.
Sign up for a networking and team-building event
These workshops are designed to assist scholars in connecting with others on campus to explore innovative ideas.
Brain Science and Mental Health
Tuesday, Nov. 4
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
C217 College of Public Health Building
Cancer Research and Patient Care
Tuesday, Nov. 11
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
C44A General Hospital
Writing and Communication
Friday, Nov. 21
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
2520-D University Capitol Centre
Each event will include a networking survey, lightning talks, and small group discussions.
Additional events may be announced in priority areas that emerge through applications, discussions, and Phase 1 activities
Priority areas
Proposals from all disciplines and areas will be considered, but funding priority will go to applications that:
- Involve researchers in multiple colleges, departments, and units.
- Are interdisciplinary and propose fresh, innovative ideas.
- Focus on the university’s Distinctive Collaborative Opportunities: brain sciences and mental health; cancer research and patient care; and writing and communication.
- Focus on topics of priority to our state and/or country, such as rural health.
- Will lead to a grant award of $7 million or greater over several years.
- Develop new collaborations across campus units.
Eligibility
Applications are welcomed by scholars who have the background, training, and expertise to oversee and conduct the proposed research, scholarship, and creative activities.
- Individuals may participate on more than one team.
- External collaborators are permitted.
Review process
Submissions at all phases will be peer reviewed by senior research leaders using structured review criteria. The panel will make recommendations for funding to the vice president for research.
Details by phase
Phase 1: Team and idea development
Funding: Up to $10,000
Award Period: Mar. 1 – Oct. 31 of the year of application (8 months)
Apply for Phase 1
Proposal requirements
Two pages, with Arial 11-point font and 0.5” margins
- First page: Description of research area(s) and topic(s)
- Second page: Initial list of collaborators, departments, and college (or university if outside University of Iowa) – this list may expand as the work moves forward
- Budget: All program costs are allowable with appropriate justification
Tasks
- Create an internal team of University of Iowa researchers plus (optionally) collaborators from other institutions.
- Identify the lead PI.
- Identify one or more grant opportunities to apply to.
- Create an external advisory board of 3-5 experts from outside the University of Iowa.
- Host external advisory board meeting in Iowa City to plan next steps. The meeting must be at least a half-day long and in-person.
- Share research ideas with the University of Iowa community through participation in a symposium of awardees.
Deliverables
- List of meeting time(s) with external advisory board
- List of research team members, external advisory board members, and lead PI
- List of possible or known grant funding mechanism
- White paper on the state of the field (3-10 pages recommended), including descriptions of 1-5 pilot projects that could be led by an Iowa team in a 22-month timeframe with modest seed funding.
Phase 2: Pilot research; team and idea refinement
Eligibility: All interdisciplinary research teams with a lead PI at the University of Iowa
Funding: Up to $250,000
Award Period: Mar. 1 of the year of application through Dec. 31 of the year after application (22 months)
Apply for Phase 2
Proposal requirements
- Deliverables from Phase 1
- Updated list of research team members, external advisory board members, and lead PI
- Including departments and college as well as outside university, if applicable
- List of grant(s) the team expects to apply to, including deadline(s) and timeline(s) for submission
- Drafted specific aims or other short (1-2 page) introductory section of grant proposal
- For each proposed pilot project:
- One-page description of science, including PI(s), brief background, and research methods
- Optionally, a figure/table/graphic and references can be included on a second page
- Budget: All program costs are allowable with appropriate justification
- Large subcontracts outside University of Iowa are discouraged
- Consultant fees are appropriate
- Use of agency-required fonts, margins, and formatting
Tasks
- Conduct 1-5 pilot projects.
- Collect data and submit/publish results in peer-reviewed outlets.
- If appropriate for identified grant(s), meet with program officers.
- Meet with external advisory board at least once in person or quarterly via videoconference.
Deliverables
- List of external advisory board membership and meeting times
- Publications resulting from pilot work
- Draft of grant proposal sections, such as leadership structure, cores to be formed, projects to be proposed, resources available, and advisory board bios
- Delineation of leadership structure and plans for grant development and submission, including the PI, who will lead cores and/or research projects, who will lead writing of which section of grant, who will orchestrate details and deadlines, and timeline for submitting the grant
Phase 3: Grant submission
Eligibility: All interdisciplinary research teams with lead PI at the University of Iowa
Funding: Up to $60,000
Award Period: Mar. 1 of the year of application through Feb. 28 of the year after application (12 months)
Apply for Phase 3
Proposal requirements
Deliverables from Phase 2
- List of lead PI and other team members
- Including departments and college as well as outside university, if applicable
- List of grant(s) the team expects to apply to, including deadline(s) and timeline(s) for submission
- List of external advisory board members
- Updated draft of specific aims or other short (1-2 page) introductory section of grant proposal
- Budget: All program costs are allowable with appropriate justification
- Large subcontracts outside University of Iowa are discouraged
- Consultant fees are appropriate
- Use of agency-required fonts, margins, and formatting
Tasks
- Hold an external advisory board meeting in Iowa City as grant proposal is developed.
- Pay students, staff, or external experts to assist with proposal development – including literature reviews, graphic design, logistics and clerical aspects of grant submission, creating timelines and enforcing internal deadlines for grant submission, collection of biosketches and support letters, and proofreading.
- If appropriate for identified grant(s), meet with program officers.
- Pay advisors and other experts to review grant prior to submission.
Deliverables
Grant(s) submitted
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply more than once?
Yes. There is no limit to the number of applications you lead or participate in.
Can I include researchers outside the University of Iowa?
Yes. We recognize that competitive applications for large grants generally include collaborators from multiple institutions. We expect a large portion of grant funds will be spent here at Iowa, but we will allow money to be sent elsewhere if it helps you move toward winning a large grant.
We expect most grant submissions emerging in Phase 3 will include subcontracts to other universities and recognize that grants of this size and scope almost always involve collaborations across institutions. We expect UI to be the lead institution in grants submitted during Phase 3.
I work in an academic field where grants over $7 million are never awarded. Am I still eligible to apply?
Yes, the $7 million number is flexible. If you work in fields where “large grants” are less than $7 million, you should justify your plans in your application.
We already have a research team formed. Can we “skip” early phases of the process and apply directly for Phase 2 or Phase 3 funding?
Yes, absolutely. We encourage existing teams to apply for any phase of funding at any deadline, including for the 2026 and 2027 deadlines. We currently anticipate dropping Phase 1 opportunities for the 2028 and 2029 deadlines.
We plan only one pilot study for Phase 2 and need less funding than $250,000. Is this a problem?
No, this is not a problem. At all phases, ask for the budget you require to complete the work. The figures listed are the maximum amount you can apply for. If budgets are unjustified, we will award less than the amount requested.
We have a multi-person team but are missing key expertise. Can I apply at Phase 1 anyway?
Yes, Phase 1 applications will often have incomplete teams. The Research Development Office will help awardees fill out their teams with appropriate expertise. By Phase 2 applications, we expect you will have most or all of your research team members identified.
One of our expert advisors has been very helpful to development of our ideas. Can we transition them to be a research team member instead of an advisor?
Yes, absolutely. We expect this to be a common situation and encourage you to create the best research team possible, drawing from all sources including your initial set of expert advisors.
Do we have to have an expert advisory board meeting in Iowa City? It might be easier to do it at an academic conference or a hotel near O’Hare airport.
Yes, please meet in Iowa City for Phase 1 work. We intentionally want the teams to be together in Iowa City, experiencing the special culture and identity of our university and city. Phase 2 and 3 meetings can be virtual or in other locations, although we highly encourage meetings in Iowa City during all phases of work.
Can I include students as part of the budget? Postdocs? How about staff salary?
Yes, absolutely. In fact, including trainees is encouraged. Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoc funding can be included in all phases. Staff salary also is permissible in budgets. Faculty salary is highly discouraged at all phases but permitted with detailed and appropriate justification.
I am a research track faculty member. Can I participate?
Yes, research track faculty members are eligible to participate in all aspects of these proposals. It would be unusual for them to lead projects but permitted if well justified. Clinical track, adjunct, visiting faculty, and instructors may also participate with appropriate justification.
I am a research staff member. Can I participate?
Yes, staff members can participate in all aspects of these proposals. It would be unusual for them to lead projects but permitted if well justified.
Are there any restrictions on what I can include in my budget?
There are few restrictions. You must follow university policies and state and federal regulations, of course. Anything permitted by the university can be included in a budget, but it must be justified. We are unlikely to approve large equipment purchases, computer purchases, faculty salary, or large amounts of funding being sent away from University of Iowa. If the costs are well justified to lead to a successful large grant submission, however, we will consider approval.
I already have a major center grant, but our renewal deadline is upcoming. Can I apply to this opportunity to support renewal of our center?
Yes. The priority of this mechanism is to develop new grants at the University of Iowa, but we will consider funding well-justified requests for Phase 3 funding to support grant renewal efforts.
Our team wants to apply to a large grant mechanism at the Department of Defense (DoD). Is that allowed?
Yes. We offer example mechanisms from NIH and NSF, but this opportunity is appropriate for large grant development to any agency, including non-profit and industry opportunities as well as DoD, DOE, NASA, CDC, and other federal agencies.
My DEO and dean are willing to contribute matching funds. Would that help me get funded?
We welcome matching funds but do not require them. Funding decisions will not be impacted by the presence of matching funds.
One of our external advisors works at a university with a travel ban in place. Can we meet virtually instead of in Iowa City?
We will work with teams on a case-by-case basis to address issues such as travel bans or key advisors who are unable to travel. Our recommendation and preference are for in-person advisory board meetings, especially in Phase 1, but we are open to discussing exceptions for special situations.
Our project will require the development of a research core. Can we use Phase 2 funding for that purpose?
Yes, we permit use of funds to develop a research core rather than collecting and publishing pilot data if this activity is consistent with your Phase 3 grant submission goals. Please justify the request in your Phase 2 application.
Are co-PIs permitted?
Yes, with proper justification, co-PIs can be identified in Phase 1 and included in Phase 2 and 3 applications.
We submitted a large grant application already. It got scored but was not funded. Can we apply for Phase 3 to help us review and resubmit the grant?
Yes, this sort of request will be considered. Please justify the need for funding.
We received Phase 3 funding, and our grant application was unsuccessful. However, it got a decent score. Can we submit a request for a second round of Phase 3 funding to resubmit the grant?
Yes, this sort of request will be considered. Please justify the need for funding.