Seed Grants Program

A graphic logo depicting a teal plant pot containing a neuron-shaped structure with branching dendrites at the base. The neuron seamlessly transitions into a plant stem, growing two translucent leaves with visible veins, symbolizing growth and innovation.

Our Seed Grants program sparks new collaborations between scientists from across the university to engage in innovative, collaborative research projects in the neurosciences. 

Seed grant research projects should involve at least two independent co-PI's who combine their expertise in an innovative fashion to address important problems in basic and clinical neuroscience.

We encourage applications from teams forming unique connections between neuroscience and other bastions of disciplinary strength at Stanford (e.g.: engineering and the quantitative sciences, chemical and molecular biology, the social sciences, humanities and professional schools of education, law and business). 

Open

Seed Grants 2025 - Applications open Feb 4 to Apr 25

Successful proposals will be awarded for a two-year period in the total amount of $300,000 ($150,000 per year).

Application Details (Stanford email log-in required)

Funded Seed Grant projects

View all Seed Grants
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2021
Mapping the Mitophagy Network in Parkinson’s Disease

We will comprehensively define the gene network associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkinson's disease using a cutting-edge technology, CRISPR, to understand how these nerve cells die in PD and how we can reverse the cell death to treat the disease.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2017
Remote and localized neural activation using sonomagnetic stimulation
This proposal aims to develop a new modality of noninvasive neural stimulation, sonomagnetic stimulation, that can generate an electrical current focused in a small volume deep in neural tissue, a goal not possible with any existing method of neurostimulation.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2019
Genetic tools to determine circuit-specific roles of myelination

These tools will enable us to dissect how myelin contributes to specific brain circuits and types of neurons, bringing us closer to a holistic understanding of how cells in the brain collaborate to build a functional nervous system.

Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2015
Brain mechanisms of spatial reasoning in mathematics
We aim to understand how brain mechanisms of spatial reasoning are brought into play during symbolic mathematical cognition and to identify individual differences in these mechanisms that co-vary with mathematical ability and mathematical experience.
Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute
Seed Grant
2017
TrkA-ing the chronic pain
A faculty team bridging chemistry and pain research will use optogenetics to understand an important signaling pathway involved in chronic pain.

Seed Grant Award Announcements

2023 - Neurosciences seed grants fuel research in childhood epilepsy, eating disorders, Alzheimer's and more

2021 - Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute announces fourth round of seed grants

2019 - Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute announces third round of seed grants

2017 - Stanford Neurosciences Institute awards second round of Seed Grants

2015 - Stanford Neurosciences Institute awards first round of Seed Grants