Osher Pilot Research Awards

The Osher Research Grant applications are currently closed. Applications for the next cycle will open in fiscal year 2027.

The Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University supports innovative, inclusive and impactful research that advances whole-person health. This funding opportunity invites proposals that align with the Osher Center's mission and research focus areas and foster collaborative, cross-disciplinary inquiry.

We seek scientifically rigorous projects that demonstrate innovation and collaboration across disciplines. Proposals may include:

  • Pilot studies generating essential preliminary data.
  • Novel, integrative medicine aims to add to existing funded research.
  • Efforts to sustain momentum in promising ongoing work.

Priority will be given to projects with high potential for external funding.

All members of the Northwestern research community — including postdoctoral fellows, research faculty, and clinician-researchers — are eligible to apply. Individuals may serve as principal investigator (PI) on only one submission.

Application Process

Submit one PDF document containing the following components, in the following order:

1. Cover letter (one page) – please address how your proposed project meets the review criteria and addresses the mission and research interests/strategic themes of the Osher Center for Integrative Health.

2. Title page (one page), including:

  1. Title of the proposed research project
  2. Applicant's name, department/division, hospital affiliation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine professional appointment, office or laboratory address, phone number and email address

3. Scientific Proposal (maximum five pages)

Format: Single-spaced, Arial 11-point font, 0.5-inch margins. The proposal must include all figures and tables within the five-page limit. References may be listed separately.

Your proposal must contain the following sections:

  1. Background/Significance (include preliminary data if relevant)
  2. Specific Aims and Hypotheses
  3. Innovation
  4. Research Approach (include clear study design and procedures, experimental details, timeline, detailed analysis plan, plans for future funding and contributions of each team member)

4. Biosketch(es) of principal investigator, co-investigators and key personnel in NIH format.

All required application documents must be submitted through Competitions.

Selection Process

Applications will undergo a formal peer review by the Osher Center Pilot Grant Review Committee. The Osher Center Leadership Team will further evaluate top-scoring proposals. Final funding decisions will be announced following this review.

Please note: Written critiques will not be provided, and all materials will remain confidential.

Reciprocity Requirements

Awardee Expectations

Successful applicants will be expected to:

  • Participate in a progress update meeting at six months
  • Present their work — via oral or poster format — at the IPHAM Research Day or another venue that highlights Osher Center-supported research, either during or at the conclusion of the one-year funding period
  • Notify the Osher Center of any additional grants received that stem from this pilot funding
  • Acknowledge the Osher Center for Integrative Health in all resulting publications and notify Osher Center staff upon submission of such manuscripts

Indirect Cost Policy

Requested budgets must be for a one-year period, between $15,000 and $50,000. This grant will not allow indirect costs, including any indirect costs associated with subawards. PIs may use funds for any purpose deemed necessary and sufficiently justified to successfully carry out this research.

Contact Us

Questions about eligibility and the application process may be sent to the Osher Center research coordinator.

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