Updated December 2022.

Grants are a critical resource for funding microbiome research. We’ve taken the time to identify some relevant grants and funding opportunities for individuals looking to conduct large-scale microbiome studies. This list of grants also contains funding opportunities that may not be specific to just the microbiome but also includes grants that are related to environmental research,  public health and general scientific study - areas where the microbiome is important and can be incorporated. 

We’ve taken a look at past and ongoing grants offered primarily in the United States and Canada, and we’ve also added a few grants available to researchers in Europe. Naturally, this list does not cover every available funding opportunity - rather we hope to offer a snapshot view of the current funding landscape, and give readers some suggestions on where to start looking. If you are a researcher at an academic institution, there may be a number of funding options available for you to take advantage of. Be sure to check with your institution ahead of time.

A well-designed study is key in securing any funding for a project. If you’re looking for help in research planning, be sure to check out our microbiome study guide. 

Microbiome Insights provides sequencing and analysis services. If you require a letter of support to support a grant submission, fill out this form with the details of your microbiome study. 

All Microbiome Grants 

These are all the grants we found. 

Microbiome Grants by Country

These are the same grants organized by country. 

We will make an effort to update this list. Please add a comment below with links to additional grants that should be added to this list. 

List of Microbiome Grants USA

All this data is in the table above. 

Modulating Human Microbiome Function to Enhance Immune Responses Against Cancer (R01)

Funder: NIH, NCI
Area: Cancer Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: Research looking into mechanisms through which the human microbiome interacts with anti-tumor immune responses (inhibitory or excitatory)
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on the necessary budget
Deadline: February 5th
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-22-061.html

Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering

Funder: The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Area: General
Location: USA
Description: General grant-awarding individual funding to early-career professors with prominent ideas for research
Availability: University professors
Amount: $875,000 USD over 5 years
Deadline: No deadline
https://www.packard.org/what-we-fund/science/packard-fellowships-for-science-and-engineering/ 

Clinical and Applied Research Strategies for the Prevention and Control of Fungal Diseases

Funder: CDC
Area: Fungal Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: To support clinical and applied research that will ultimately help reduce illness and death due to fungal diseases around the world caused by both known and emerging pathogens.
Availability: Non-profit and academic institutions
Amount: $200,000 - $500,000 USD
Deadline: March 4th
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=334842 

NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize

Funder: Noster and Science
Area: General Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: The NOSTER Science Microbiome Prize has been established to reward innovative research by young investigators working on the functional attributes of the microbiota of any organism that has the potential to contribute to our understanding of human or veterinary health and disease or to guide therapeutic interventions.
Availability: Health researchers
Amount: $25,000 USD cash prize and travel accommodation
Deadline: February 7th
https://www.science.org/content/page/noster-science-microbiome-prize 

Modulating Human Microbiome Function to Enhance Immune Responses Against Cancer (R21)

Funder: NIH, NCI
Area: Cancer Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: Research looking into mechanisms through which the human microbiome interacts with anti-tumor immune responses (inhibitory or excitatory)
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: February 16th
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-22-062.html 

Advancing Translational and Clinical Probiotic/Prebiotic and Human Microbiome Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Funder: NIH
Area: Probiotic/Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: To study measurable functional benefits of probiotic/prebiotic components and/or their combinations
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: None set
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-18-902.html 

The Mechanistic Role of the Microbiome in the Pathobiology of Heart, Lung, Blood, and Sleep Diseases (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Funder: NIH
Area: Microbiome Pathology
Location: USA
Description: To support functional microbiome research geared around understanding the mechanisms by which the microbiome may modulate or interact with heart, lung, blood and sleep physiology
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: None set
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-18-784.html 

Role of Gut Microbiome in Regulating Reproduction and Its Impact on Fertility Status in Women Living with and Without HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Funder: NIH
Area: Virology/Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: The overarching goal is to gain fundamental insight into the possible role of the gut microbiome in regulating reproduction through hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal (HPG), hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), and hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes in the brain.
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: None set
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-18-838.html 

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): The Functional Oral Microbiome

Funder: NIH
Area: Oral Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: Research studies responding to this NOSI must focus on exploring interkingdom microbial interactions or complex community systems and networks in physiologically relevant environments to understand the role of community interactions in the maintenance of health and in driving transition to dysbiosis and disease in the oral cavity.
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: September 7th 2025
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DE-21-015.html 

Host Immunity and Novel Immunization Strategies for Clostridioides difficile Infection

Funder: NIH
Area: Immunology/Bacteria
Location: USA
Description: to advance knowledge of immunity against CDI by leveraging clinical samples, identifying new protective antigens, and employing novel vaccine and adjuvant platforms.
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget (cannot exceed $1 million USD)
Deadline: May 21st
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AI-22-001.html 

Notice of Special Interest: Understanding Alzheimer's Disease in the Context of the Aging Brain

Funder: NIH
Area: Alzheimer's, Gut-Brain Axis
Location: USA
Description: The goal of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to solicit applications that aim to establish the role and underlying mechanisms by which brain aging impacts the development and progression of AD.
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: November 13th, 2024
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AG-21-039.html 

Notice of Special Interest: Advancing Research in Gastrointestinal Dysfunction in People with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Funder: NIH
Area: Gut Brain Axis
Location: USA
Description: Identifying the etiology of existing neurological conditions, including mechanisms involving central, peripheral, and enteric nervous systems; brain/gut interactions; immunological or neuroimmunological factors; or other genetic or environmental susceptibility factors
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: July 17th, 2024
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-NS-22-003.html 

Are you planning a microbiome study? 

We created this guide for anyone interested in studying microbial communities. It covers all the key steps from study design and execution through to analysis and interpretation, including many useful resources and supporting documents.