Updated October 28, 2026
Public Health Research Grants 2026
Open public health research grants for 2026 from NIH, CDC, and foundations like RWJF, covering prevention, health policy, and disparities. Updated daily.
Public health research grants in 2026 come mainly from NIH, CDC, and health foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Commonwealth Fund, and this page lists the ones open now. The administration proposed deep cuts to NIH and CDC for fiscal 2026, but Congress kept both close to prior funding levels and blocked the proposed cap on NIH indirect costs. Even so, specific programs have been cut, paused, or rescoped, which makes it harder to rely on any single federal source.
Featured grants
Updated automatically from Atom's grant database. Summaries are AI-generated.From Insight to Action: Health Equity Research that Meets This Moment
From Insight to Action: Health Equity Research that Meets This Moment supports community–research partnerships to generate evidence for policy and systems changes that advance health equity.
Health and Healthcare Variations across the Population
NBER's Health and Healthcare Variations across the Population grant supports research into disparities and patterns in health outcomes and care among diverse groups in the US and peer countries.
Champions for Health Services and Prevention Research Program
This program trains early- and mid-career health researchers in policy communication and advocacy to promote evidence-based health policy through hands-on engagement with policymakers.
Foundations are shifting too. RWJF is winding down its signature research programs, including Evidence for Action, Health Data for Action, Policies for Action, and Systems for Action, by the end of 2026 to launch a new health equity research initiative. Other funders focus on health policy and insurance, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, and community health, and many prefer applied, policy-relevant work with community partners. For most public health researchers, the practical approach is a mix of federal mechanisms and two or three well-matched foundation calls.
This collection ranks open public health research funding across federal agencies, foundations, and nonprofits, covering epidemiology, prevention, health policy and services, health equity, and environmental and community health. It updates as funders post new calls and deadlines pass. For rural-specific funding, see Atom's Rural Health Research Grants collection.
Investigator Initiated Research Program
Investigator Initiated Research Program supports Michigan medical and doctoral-level investigators conducting evidence-based research to close health knowledge gaps and improve health outcomes and care.
Research Training Program in Child Health Disparities
Brown University's Research Training Program in Child Health Disparities provides mentored research and training for students and postdocs focused on advancing science in pediatric health equity.
Health Equity Nursing Research Grant
The Health Equity Nursing Research Grant funds nurse-led research advancing health equity for women, newborns, and families, with a focus on innovative, evidence-based approaches, from the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.
Public Health Research Scholars Program
Public Health Research Scholars Program supports early-career investigators studying HIV and viral hepatitis to address unmet patient needs, health inequities and knowledge gaps in global public health.
Health & Well-Being
Health & Well-Being supports organizations providing health services, community improvements, and scientific research to help people in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties live healthier lives.
Innovative Research to Improve Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Health Outcomes (R34 - Clinical Trial Optional)
This grant funds planning and pilot research, co-developed with community partners, to develop and test interventions that improve health and reduce disparities for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations.
Community-Academic Partnership Awards
Community-Academic Partnership Awards support community and academic investigators in generating or implementing healthcare evidence to address health needs identified by communities.
Policy Research Grants
Policy Research Grants support researchers conducting health policy studies that inform public and private strategies to improve health care affordability, access, quality, and value in the United States.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers: 2027 Special Interest Project Supplements (SIPS)
This grant provides extra funding to CDC Prevention Research Centers to conduct special projects focused on real-world research and interventions for preventing major diseases and promoting public health.
Public Health and Public Policy Research Award
The American Lung Association's Public Health and Public Policy Research Award funds research that informs and advances policies impacting lung health, air quality, climate change, and health disparities.
Jeffress Trust Awards Program in Research Advancing Health Equity
This grant supports collaborative research in Virginia focused on advancing health equity through policy, systems, and environmental change strategies.
Healthy People
The Healthy People grant from Greater Cincinnati Foundation funds evidence-based, community-driven projects to improve health outcomes and address disparities in Greater Cincinnati.
Cooperative Research Agreements Related to the World Trade Center Health Program (U01)
NIOSH seeks research proposals to improve diagnosis, treatment, and knowledge of physical and mental health conditions related to the 9/11 terrorist attacks for affected populations.
Public Health and Public Policy Research Award - American Lung Association
Funds research on public policy interventions to improve lung health, focusing on air quality, tobacco control, health disparities, and related public health issues.
Community-Based Participatory Research
Gilead Sciences' Community-Based Participatory Research grant funds community-led HIV research to improve prevention, care, and outcomes in Australia, Canada, and Europe.
Community Impact Grant Program
Funds community-led research and initiatives in Wisconsin that address social determinants of health and advance health equity for populations facing structural inequities.
FDA OMHHE Health Equity Innovation Award: Enhance Equity Funding Opportunity (U01) Clinical Trials Not Allowed
FDA grant to fund research advancing minority health equity through diverse clinical trials, data, and patient perspectives.
Frequently asked questions
NIH funds the largest share of public health research through institutes such as NIMHD, NHLBI, and NICHD, and CDC funds prevention and injury research. Private funders include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund for health policy, and many disease-focused and community foundations.
Not as much as proposed. The administration asked Congress for deep cuts to NIH and CDC for fiscal 2026, but the final spending law kept both close to prior levels and blocked the proposed 15% cap on NIH indirect costs. Individual programs have still been cut or paused, so researchers are pairing federal applications with foundation proposals.
RWJF is winding down its signature research programs, including Evidence for Action and Policies for Action, by the end of 2026 to make way for a new health equity research initiative. It still runs open research calls, so check its current listings rather than older program pages.
This collection focuses on research funding, so studies of prevention, policy, and population health rank above grants for running health programs. Program and service grants for health departments and community organizations are available in Atom's full grant search.