Early Career Researcher Innovation Grants
The Early Career Researcher Innovation Grants from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention fund innovative suicide prevention research by early career scientists with required mentorship.
Funder: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Due Dates: November 15, 2026 (Full application deadline for Innovation Grants, including Early Career Researcher Innovation Grants)
Funding Amounts: Up to $140,000 over 2 years; $14,000 must support mentorship by an established researcher; up to 8% indirect costs allowed.
Summary: Supports assistant professors and below in innovative suicide prevention research, requiring formal mentorship and a focus on suicide outcomes.
Key Information: Formal mentorship plan required; PI must be at or below assistant professor level.
Description
The Early Career Researcher Innovation Grants from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) are designed to support promising investigators at or below the assistant professor level as they conduct innovative research focused on suicide or suicide prevention. The program aims to foster professional growth by requiring a formal mentorship plan, with a portion of the grant specifically allocated to an established research mentor. Funded projects must include at least one suicide outcome measure and are expected to contribute to strengthening research methodology and impact in the field. AFSP encourages systematic assessment of sexual orientation and gender identity in research and provides guidance on mentor selection. Funded investigators are expected to engage with the AFSP research community and share their findings.
