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:
- engineering and the quantitative sciences
- chemical and molecular biology
- the social sciences, humanities and professional schools of education, law and business
Applying for Seed Grants
Seed Grant competitions occur every two years. Awards of $300,000 each ($150,000/year for two years) are awarded to up to five research teams.
Funded Seed Grant projects
Inflammation, Major Histocompatibility Class I and human brain development
Maternal infection is linked to increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. This proposal examines how virus-associated cytokines, specifically interferons, affect human neurons modeled in brain organoids or studied directly in fetal brain samples.
Magnetic Recording and Stimulation of Neural Tissue
We propose a new magnetic sensor that is sensitive to picoTesla-scale fields, a localized magnetic stimulator with small form-factor, and a seamless integration of both systems for applications in experimental and clinical neuroscience.
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.
Elucidating the biophysical mechanisms of latrophilin activation in excitatory synapse formation
Rapid brain-wide optogenetic screening with a noninvasive, dynamically programmable in vivo light source
Quantifying auditory-vocal affect in human social communication
This proposal brings together faculty with this diverse expertise to develop the first gold standard test of auditory-vocal affect. Once developed, validated, and normed, we will deploy this test in the clinical context of autism to quantify impairments and direct neurobiological investigation.
Seed Grant Award Announcements
Sep 2, 2021 - Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute announces fourth round of seed grants
Oct 7, 2019 - Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute announces third round of seed grants
Sep 13, 2017 - Stanford Neurosciences Institute awards second round of Seed Grants
Aug 27, 2015 - Stanford Neurosciences Institute awards first round of Seed Grants