Sprouts Grant Program
The O’Donnell Brain Institute Sprouts Grant Program is a highly competitive funding mechanism that givestrainees the opportunity to take an independent role in formulating and carrying out a new research question relevant to their ongoing study. Sprouts grants facilitate the collection of pilot data exploring novel ideas that are not easily covered by other funding sources. Funding is intended to encourage creative, high-quality research that also advances the training of young laboratory or clinical scientists and enhances the portfolio of OBI research.
Who is eligible? These awards are primarily aimed at supporting new ideas from trainees working with OBI Investigators. The applicant must be a trainee working under the supervision of an OBI Investigator (e.g., a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, resident, or clinical fellow.)
What areas of research are eligible? All brain-related research areas are eligible, including both laboratory and clinical research. Preference will be given to proposals in the following areas:
- Cell and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease
- Delineation and/or modulation of normal and disease-altered brain circuits
What is the level of support? We will award up to four grants annually subject to availability of funds. The maximum total funding per project is up to $25,000.
See full details about eligibility and how to apply.
2024 Sprouts Grant Winners
Navid Ardestani, M.D., Ph.D.
Neurology Resident, Stuve Lab
Research: Characterizing the effects of antiCD317 monoclonal antibody treatment of CD88+CD317+ BMC on a relapsing model of EAE among SJL/J animals
Nil Saez Calveras, M.D.
Neurology Resident, Diamond Lab
Research:Unraveling the basal-ganglia halamocortical loop: Tagging, modulation, and context-specificity of motor programs in zebra finches
Mandy Eckhardt
Graduate Student, Stroud Lab
Research:Characterizing the role of BEND6: a novel neuronal DNA methylation recognition factor
Rahulraj Mishra, M.S.
Graduate Student, Roberts Lab
Research:Unraveling the basal-ganglia halamocortical loop: Tagging, modulation, and context-specificity of motor programs in zebra finches
Bangjie Wang, M.S.
Graduate Student, D’Mello Lab
Research: Exploring language system reorganization pediatric cerebellar disruption through high-resolution neuroimaging