The Office of Foundations Relations is pleased to share this open call for funding from the Wellcome Leap Program.
UCSC Contact: Sarah Carle | sacarle@ucsc.edu
Funder: Wellcome Leap
Opportunity: FORM – Foundations of a Resilient Microbiome
Abstract Deadline: November 14, 2025
Overview
The Foundations of a Resilient Microbiome (FORM) is focused on the role of the maternal and developing infant gut microbiome in healthy infant neurodevelopment. Critically, FORM seeks to identify whether an accumulating set of early-life pressures to the developing gut microbiome is one contributing factor to the rise in one form of neurodevelopmental challenge — namely, autism spectrum disorder (ASD). And further, whether resilience to functional disruption can be measured and supported in key developmental windows as a pathway towards reducing the number of children who could go on to experience severe autism-related difficulties.
- Thrust 1: Identify the proportion of children experiencing ASD attributable to gut microbiome dysfunction, and identify what combination(s) of early life pressures (and when) drive the specific microbiome dysfunction influencing neurodevelopment.
- Thrust 2: Develop objective and scalable methods to: 1) screen the functional contribution of the maternal and infant gut microbiome to infant neurodevelopment to predict cognitive, language, social and executive function challenges, and 2) diagnose a gut microbiome-based functional disorder or disorders predictive of severe autism-related difficulties.
- Thrust 3: Pair diagnostic tests with strategies to protect, preserve and restore gut microbiome functions and resilience — in pregnancy and infancy — to support healthy neurodevelopment.
Please read the program announcement for additional information on the program goals and description of thrust areas.
Funding Information
- Award sizes will vary based on the scope and requirements of the selected proposals. Collectively, all performer budgets will comprise the program’s total funding of up to $50 million. Award amounts are dependent on specific proposals and work selected for funding.
- Full direct and government-certified indirect costs appropriate to the execution of the research, are eligible.
- Please review the FAQ section.
Eligibility
- Performers from universities and research institutions: small, medium, and large companies (including venture-backed); and government or non-profit research organizations are invited to propose.
- Multiple collaborators can be on a single submission, but only the Principal Investigator (PI) will be able to submit the application on the portal. There is no limit to the number of Co-PIs.
Timeline
- November 14, 2025 @ 8:59 pm PT Abstract deadline
- November 29, 2025 @ 4:00 am PT Abstract feedback sent
- 29 December 2025 @ 8:59 pm PT Full proposal due
- 28 January 2026 @ 4:00 am PT Decision
Special Instructions
Please notify the Office of Foundation Relations if you are interested in applying to this opportunity (fr@ucsc.edu). For support developing your abstract, please contact the Research Development Specialist (RDS) or send a request to resdev@ucsc.edu. If invited to submit a full proposal, please submit a proposal intake form prior to UCSC’s internal Institutional Deadlines. Your RDS can also help you develop your proposal.
Call sent: October 15, 2025
The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Relations. 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 and corporations 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