Next Gen Pregnancy Initiative
Next Gen Pregnancy Initiative supports scientists pursuing basic research on pregnancy biology to understand healthy pregnancy and prevent preterm birth, later pregnancy loss, and preeclampsia.
Funder: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Due Dates: November 3, 2026 (Eligibility check) | November 17, 2026, 3:00 p.m. EST (Full proposal)
Funding Amounts: Up to $700,000 over four years ($175,000 per year)
Summary: Supports high-risk, high-reward basic science on pregnancy biology and prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Key Information: Full professors and current or prior BWF Preterm Birth or Next Generation Pregnancy awardees cannot apply as PI.
Description
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund’s Next Gen Pregnancy Initiative supports innovative basic science research by scientists committed to an academic career in pregnancy research. Its four priorities are mechanisms of healthy pregnancy, preterm birth, pregnancy loss after 12 weeks including recurrent pregnancy loss, and preeclampsia. Projects addressing adverse outcomes should focus on prevention, using molecular or physiological approaches to deepen mechanistic understanding.
The initiative especially welcomes research that subtypes adverse pregnancy outcomes, investigates maternal–fetal interactions, or integrates animal models with clinical outcomes. It supports less-developed or riskier projects with a solid basis for expanded study, helping investigators build evidence for larger federal or philanthropic grants. No particular preliminary-data threshold is required. The program grew from BWF’s Preterm Birth Initiative and broadened its scope following a 2019 Pregnancy Think Tank.
