The McDonnell Center for Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology has an ongoing small grants program to support promising new research initiatives within the Washington University neuroscience community. Applications are welcomed from investigators whose research fits within the Center's overall mission, which is to improve our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying nervous system function in health and disease. Many specific areas of investigation are within this scope, including development, receptor biology, synaptic function, membrane channels, transporters, growth factors, signaling systems, surface factors, control of gene expression, metabolism, neurodegenerative processes, and neuropharmacology. The Center especially encourages interdisciplinary approaches that enhance interactions between clinical and basic researchers.

Grant Application Deadline: March 31, 2008 - for funding on or after July 1, 2008.

The program is intended to promote pilot projects, collaborative ventures, and significant new research directions that are not readily supported by standard grant sources. Applications must originate from tenure track or research faculty at or above the assistant professor level. Grants will be for a period of one year, with a maximum budget of $40,000, starting July 1, 2008. Funds can include equipment, operating expenses, and/or salary for personnel, including Postdoctoral Research Associates (but not for the principal investigator or graduate students). Travel requests should be modest.

The program is intended to promote:

• pilot projects
• collaborative ventures 
• significant new research directions not readily supported by standard grant sources.

Applications are encouraged from faculty not previously supported by either of the McDonnell Centers. Applications must originate from faculty at or above the Assistant Professor level on any track. Proposals must respect limits on number of pages, font size and margins, as described in the instructions on the first page of the application form. Proposals not conforming to the new limits may be returned without review.

To download an application form, click PDF or Word for your desired format. For questions regarding the application, please contact Micki Wilderspin at 314 747-3243 or via email at  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . For other information, contact Charles Zorumski at 314-747-2680 or via campus mail at Department of Psychiatry, Box 8134.
 
All applications will be reviewed for funding priority by a Scientific Advisory Committee.