Updated February 2025. We make an effort to update this list. Please comment below with links to additional grants that should be added to this list. 

Freezing funds, government firings, reduction of overhead, program uncertainties, universities under pressure

We have put this list of grants out annually to help our clients and really all microbiome scientist to advance their research. Previously, I have commented on the difficulty of venture capital funding for microbiome companies, but I never imagined we would see scientific research and grant funding under attack like we are seeing in the United States right now. These are confusing and difficult times.

Since World War II, investment in science and technology has driven global economic prosperity. In the U.S, advances in science and technology are responsible for 85% of American economic growth. I think this holds true globally. Research generates new technologies, innovations and solutions that improve the quality of life and drive economic development. It is the investment in basic research that led to such great discoveries like quantum computing and AI, and monoclonal antibodies and mRNA vaccines. So, I am just astonished by what is happening in the U.S. now.

We put this list together a month ago before the current turmoil and, sadly, many of the grants are from the very institutions that are under attack in the U.S., such as the NIH and the NSF. I wish this were not the case, I wish there were better news. Half of our clients are based in the U.S. in universities, research institutions, hospitals, and government agencies. If there is anything we can do to facilitate your research, please let us know. At a minimum, the exchange rate favors the strong U.S. dollar making work in Canada less expensive. If you know of any grants or granting agencies we have missed, and you feel comfortable sharing them, please let us know and we will add them to our list. Even before this assault on science, we needed to work together and now, more than ever. 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. 

Microbiome Grants 

These are all the grants we found, please help us find more. 

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: January 8th, 2025
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: January 31st, 2025 
https://www.packard.org/what-we-fund/science/packard-fellowships-for-science-and-engineering/ 

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: Early Career Scientists 
Amount: $25,000 USD cash prize and travel accommodation
Deadline: February 14th, 2025
https://www.science.org/content/page/noster-science-microbiome-prize 

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 

AGA RESEARCH AWARds

Funder: American Gastroenterological Association
Area: Gastrointestinal health 
Location: USA
Description: A collection of awards and grants centered around health research and gastrointestinal health/disease
Availability: Open availability
Amount: $500 - $300,000 USD
Deadline: February 20, 2025
https://gastro.org/research-and-awards/apply-for-awards/ 

Notice of Special Interest: Promoting Mechanistic Research on therapeutic and other Biological Properties of Minor Cannabinoids and Terpenes

Funder: NIH
Area: Cannabanoids & Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: Research interests include: "Studies on the interaction between the microbiome and minor cannabinoids or terpenes" and "studies of the interaction between the oral microbiome and minor cannabinoids or terpenes.
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: July 1st, 2025
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AT-22-027.html

Notice of Special Interest: Investigations on inborn errors of immunity/primary immunodeficiencies

Funder: NIH
Area: Immunodeficiencies
Location: USA
Description: This Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to support the discovery and characterization of Inborn Errors of Immunity, also referred to as Primary Immunodeficiencies, to understand the causes and mechanisms of disease, to enable early detection and molecular diagnosis, and to support the development of strategies to treat and eventually cure these disorders.
Availability: Open to U.S. based individuals and institutions
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: March 17, 2027
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-AI-24-024.html 

Engineering of Biomedical systems

Funder: NSF
Area: General-biomedical engineering
Location: USA, UK
Description: Projects may include: methods, models, and enabling tools applied to understand or control living systems; fundamental improvements in deriving information from cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems; or new approaches to the design of systems that include both living and non-living components for eventual medical use in the long term.
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: No deadline
https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/engineering-biomedical-systems 

Plant Biotic interactions

Funder: NSF
Area: Plant biotic interactions
Location: USA
Description: The Plant Biotic Interactions (PBI) program supports research on the processes that mediate beneficial and antagonistic interactions 1 between plants and their viral, bacterial, oomycete, fungal, plant, and invertebrate symbionts, pathogens and pests
Availability: Open to U.S. based individuals and institutions
Amount: $18,500,000
Deadline: Proposals accepted anytime
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20576/nsf20576.pdf 

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Investigator-initiated research projects (MCB)

Funder: NSF
Area: General 
Location: USA
Description: The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) supports quantitative, mechanistic, predictive, and theory-driven fundamental research designed to promote understanding of complex living systems at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels.
Availability: US non-profit/non-academic institutions or US based institutes of higher education.
Amount: $100,000,000 USD
Deadline: Continuous submissions accepted
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21509/nsf21509.htm 

proof of principle

Funder: The Weston Foundation
Area: General Health
Location: Canada
Description: Funding program to provide support of Canadian research efforts on the microbiome, focusing on advancing the application of the microbiome in improving human health.
Availability: TBA
Amount: Up to $300,000 over a maximum of 30 months
Deadline: TBA
 https://westonfoundation.ca/proof-of-principle/ 

PennCHOP Microbiome Pilot and Feasibility Grant Program

Funder: PennCHOP
Area: General, Microbiome Focused 
Location: USA
Description: Projects can focus on the microbiota at any human or animal body site and can focus on composition and/or function of bacterial, fungal, archaeal, or viral communities as well as their physiological and pathological effects on their hosts.
Availability: Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or have a permanent resident visa and hold one of the following credentials: MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or DVM. All eligible faculty members, including instructors and research associates, of the University of Pennsylvania and CHOP scientific communities are invited to submit proposals.
Amount: Up to five awards will be granted for microbiome pilot projects, each with up to $50,000 total costs.
Deadline: February 17, 2025
https://www.research.chop.edu/announcements/apply-by-feb-17-2025-for-pennchop-microbiome-pilot-and-feasibility-grant-program 

2024-2025 Danone North America Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Fellowship Grant

Funder: Danone North America
Area: Gut Microbiome
Location: USA
Description: The grant's focus on health and wellness, long-term health and longevity, growth and development, or performance. Such topics may include the role that probiotics or yogurt play on brain function, growth and development, digestive health, weight management or heart health; and factors, such as foods or nutrients, that influence the gut microbiome.
Availability: Be a current U.S. citizen (proof of citizenship is required) or permanent U.S. resident (proof of residency is required).
Amount: Two graduate students a grant of $25,000 each.
Deadline: Upload completed application online within the allotted acceptance period January 14 to March 21, 2025.
https://fellowship-application.danonenorthamerica.com/ 

Microbiome Seed Fellowship Funding

Funder: Goodman - Luskin Microbiome Center
Area: Gut Microbiome 
Location: USA
Description: Gut bacteria focus - Early stage Microbiome Projects
Availability: GLMC early career investigators (ESI by NIH standards) and trainees (e.g. postdoctoral fellows, graduate students) who want to pursue a new research direction in microbiome studies that involves collaborative research with a GLMC core facility.
Amount: Awards are $30,000 for one year to support salary/stipend of the lead researcher and/or research expenses
Deadline: January 24, 2025
https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/medicine/gastro/microbiome/training-funding-education/seed-fellowship-funding 

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Chronic Inflammation of the Oral Cavity - An Agent for Oral Mucosal Disease

Funder: NIH
Area: General Health
Location: USA
Description: This grant encourages studies with a mechanistic focus on chronic inflammation as they relate to onset or progression of dental, oral and craniofacial diseases.
Availability: Open availability
Amount: Based on necessary budget
Deadline: May 10, 2027
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DE-23-007.html 

Biocodex Microbiota Foundation INTERNATIONAL Grant

Funder: Biocodex Microbiota Foundation
Area: Gut Microbiome
Location: France 
Description: Funds research projects focused on human gut microbiota related to health and disease.
Availability: The grant is open to physicians, PhD's and Pharm-D's working in the subject area (gastroenterology, pediatrics, microbiology, infectious diseases and internal medicine, etc).
Amount: The annual grant is set at €200,000 VAT included, independently of the duration of the project (between 1 and 3 years).
Deadline: TBA
https://www.biocodexmicrobiotafoundation.com/international-research-grant/international-call-projects 

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.