Funder: Michelson Medical Research Foundation
Due Dates: April 1, 2025 (portal opens) | June 22, 2025 (applications due) | September 1, 2025 (shortlist) | December 2025 (award notice)
Funding Amounts: $150,000 per award for a 1-year project; no indirect costs allowed.
Summary: Supports early-career researchers (≤35 years old) advancing human immunology and vaccine development through innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches.
Key Information: Strict age limit: applicants must be born on or after June 22, 1989; only one application per person; electronic submissions only.
Description
The Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants are annual awards of $150,000 designed to support early-career researchers who are developing innovative approaches to advance human immunology, vaccine discovery, and immunotherapy for major global diseases. The program seeks to address critical roadblocks in vaccine development and expand the understanding of immune processes essential for successful vaccine and immunotherapy development. Proposals from a wide range of disciplines—including clinical research, biochemistry, molecular biology, protein engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, biophysics, and nanotechnology—are encouraged, provided the research is focused on human immunology and vaccine development.
Due Dates
- Application portal opens: April 1, 2025
- Application deadline: June 22, 2025, 11:59 pm EDT (UTC -4)
- Short-listed applicants notified: September 1, 2025
- Supplementary information due: October 2025 (exact date to be communicated)
- Notice of award: December 2025
- Grant cycle: January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026
Funding Amount
- Award: $150,000 (total, for a 1-year project)
- Indirect costs: Not allowed; $150,000 is the full award amount
- Salary support: Permitted for the applicant and project staff
Eligibility
- Age: Applicants must be 35 years old or younger (born on or after June 22, 1989)
- Career stage: Open to doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, early-career faculty, and researchers in non-tenure track positions
- Discipline: Open to all relevant disciplines, provided the research focuses on human immunology and vaccine development
- Citizenship/Location: No specific restrictions; international applicants are welcome
- Application limit: Only one application per person per cycle
- Co-investigators: Grants are awarded to individuals, but applicants may assemble a research team as needed
Application Process
- Submission: All applications must be submitted electronically via the Michelson Prizes application portal
- Format: No paper applications accepted; once submitted, applications cannot be changed
- Required materials: Research proposal focused on human immunology and vaccine development; no preliminary data required for initial submission
- Selection criteria: Innovation, potential impact, and relevance to human immunology and vaccine research
- Shortlisting: Selected applicants may be asked to provide supplementary information (no preliminary data required)
- Award administration: Funds are awarded to the applicant’s institution; the award can move with the recipient if they change institutions during the grant period
Additional Information
- Use of funds: Grant funds may be used for salary, project expenses, and to support team members
- Indirect costs: Not permitted
- Multiple applications: Not allowed; only one application per applicant
- Collaborations: While the award is to an individual, collaboration and team assembly are encouraged for project success
- Firm deadline: The application deadline is strict; late or incomplete applications will not be considered
External Links
Contact Information