2027 Smith Excellence Awards Program for Excellence in Biomedical Research
The 2027 Smith Excellence Awards by Health Resources in Action support early-career faculty pursuing innovative basic or translational biomedical research at select institutions.
Funder: Health Resources in Action
Due Dates: October 8, 2026: Full-stage (invited) proposal submission deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to five awards of $400,000 each over three years (inclusive of up to 5% indirect costs); funding period April 1, 2027–March 31, 2030.
Summary: Supports early-career biomedical researchers at select institutions to advance innovative basic or translational biomedical science.
Key Information: Only invited applicants may submit full proposals; strict eligibility and funding overlap rules apply.
Description
This program, administered by Health Resources in Action for the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, aims to launch the careers of newly independent faculty conducting innovative basic or translational biomedical research. The awards target early-career investigators at nonprofit academic, medical, or research institutions in Massachusetts, as well as Brown University and Yale University (and their affiliate research hospitals). The initiative encourages applications from researchers in all fields of basic biomedical science, including those in physics, chemistry, and engineering whose work is relevant to biomedicine. Clinical trials are not supported. The program is highly competitive and seeks to catalyze breakthroughs that advance medical knowledge.
