The Office of Foundation Relations is pleased to share two open calls for funding from the McKnight Foundation.
UCSC Contact: Caroline Rodriguez | caroline@ucsc.edu|
Funder: McKnight Foundation
Opportunity 1: Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award – DUE October 15, 2025
Opportunity 2: McKnight Scholar Awards – DUE December 1, 2025
You can no longer apply for both a Scholar Award and the Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award in the same year.
1. Overview Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award
We are interested in proposals that address the biological mechanisms of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This includes proposals that provide mechanistic insights into neurological functions at the synaptic, cellular, molecular, genetic or behavioral level across different species, including humans and vertebrate and invertebrate model organisms. A new additional area of interest is the contribution of the environment to brain disorders. We are particularly interested in proposals that incorporate new approaches and in those that provide potential paths for therapeutic interventions. Collaborative and cross-disciplinary applications are encouraged.
For a list of past awardees, please see here.
Award Amount & Terms
- The total award is $300,000, paid in equal installments of $100,000 in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
- Not more than 10% of grant funds may be used for indirect costs, nor can grant funds be used for the recipient’s salary.
Eligibility
A candidate for a McKnight Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award must
- work as an independent investigator at a not-for-profit research institution in the United States,
- must have held a tenured or tenure-track faculty position for at least three years
- must wait at least one year before reapplying after two unsuccessful applications.
- Those holding other titles such as Research Professor, Adjunct Professor, Professor Research Track, Visiting Professor or Instructor are not eligible.
- A candidate may not apply to both Scholar Awards or Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Awards in the same funding cycle. Example: a Scholar Awardee can later apply for an NBD Award once they have completed their Scholar Award funding.
Changes to the Application for 2026
- Instead of a two-stage application with a letter of interest, McKnight is asking for one 5-page proposal.
- Applicants now must have held a tenured or tenure-track faculty position for at least three years, and must wait at least one year before reapplying after two unsuccessful applications.
- You can no longer apply for both a Scholar Award and the Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award in the same year.
- The 2026 NBD award now starts on July 1, 2026, instead of August 1.
Timeline
- Applications due October 15, 2025, 2:00pm PT
- Applicants notified April 2026
- Candidate interviews May 2026
- Award Start Date July 1, 2026
2. Overview McKnight Scholar Awards
The McKnight Scholar Awards are given to exceptional young scientists who are in the early stages of establishing an independent laboratory and research career. The intent of the program is to foster the commitment by these scientists to research careers that will have an important impact on the study of the brain. The program seeks to support scientists committed to mentoring neuroscientists from underrepresented groups at all levels of training. Applicants for the McKnight Scholar Award must demonstrate their ability to solve significant problems in neuroscience, which may include the translation of basic research to clinical practice. They should demonstrate a commitment to an equitable and inclusive lab environment.
For a list of past awardees, please see here. For FAQs please see here.
Award Amount & Terms
- The total award is $225,000 paid in equal installments of $75,000 in 2025, 2026, and 2027.
- Funds may be used in any way that will facilitate development of the Scholar’s research program, but not for indirect costs
Eligibility
Candidates for the McKnight Scholar Award must:
- be independent investigators at not-for-profit research institutions in the United States;
- must hold a faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor
- must have served at that rank for less than five years at the time of the application deadline
- must not have started serving in the rank of Assistant Professor any earlier than December 1, 2020
- must hold an official appointment as Assistant Professor (or equivalent) on the date of application submission to be eligible.
- Individuals holding other titles in non-tenure track positions such as Instructor, Research Assistant Professor, Adjunct Assistant Professor, or Instructor are not eligible.
- McKnight seeks to enhance geographic, gender, and racial diversity in neuroscience, and encourages women, members of communities of color, and faculty at institutions that have never previously received a McKnight award to apply.
- Applicants to the Scholar Award may not apply in more than two rounds of competition, have already been granted tenure, or hold another award from the McKnight Endowment Fund.
Changes to application for 2026
- Applicants can no longer apply for both a Scholar Award and the Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award in the same funding cycle.
- The 2026 Scholar Award will start on June 1, 2026.
- Please submit a CV of no more than five pages, rather than a Biosketch.
Timeline
- Applications due December 1, 2025, 2:00pm PT
- Applicants notified March 2026
- Candidate interviews March-May 2026
- Awards announced May 2026
- Awards start June 1, 2026
Special Instructions
Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). Please submit a proposal intake form prior to UCSC’s internal Institutional Deadlines. For support developing your proposal, please contact the Research Development Specialist assigned to your unit or send a request to resdev@ucsc.edu.
Call sent: August 20, 2025
The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Advancement. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits. For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website: FR Calls for Funding.