Driving research through seed grant initiatives.
The Global Incubator Seed Grants program aims to stimulate high-impact collaborative research linking WashU faculty with international counterparts. Since its launch, the program has helped kickstart 87 new global research projects in more than 30 countries. Seed funding is distributed through an open call for applications published on this page.
We are pleased to announce the FY26 Call for Proposals for the Global Incubator Seed Grants program. Applications for this year’s call will be due on September 15th, 2025 at 12:00 PM CST via the InfoReady portal.
Aligned with the university’s Here and Next strategic plan, the thematic focus areas are: 1) Public and Global health; 2) Environmental research; 3) Digital transformation; 4) Medical research; and 5) Local-to-global connections. For this year’s cycle, projects that emphasize public and global health challenges, as well as projects at the intersection of public/global health and the other areas of interest are especially encouraged.
Projects should present innovative research plans with potential for high-impact outputs (e.g., publications and other scholarly contributions) and future funding from external sources. Proposals should include at least one highly engaged international institution (university, NGO, or industry).
Several additional seed funding programs are also available under the university’s strategic plan to support interdisciplinary research activities at WashU from concept and team development to securing external funding. Please email global@wustl.edu if you would like to be added to our mailing list to learn about new seed grant opportunities.
Nov 2024
20 new Global Incubator Seed Grants awarded with support from the Office of the Provost, the “Here and Next” strategic plan, and the Millard family gift to the McDonnell International Scholars Academy.
dec 2023
Following the completion of the McDonnell Academy’s Global Research Symposium, 8 projects received Accelerator Grants for phase II research, aligned with focus areas of the “Here & Next” Strategic Plan.
jan 2023
The McDonnell Academy, in partnership with the Global Health Center, awarded 5 new seed grants to support collaborations in global health.
oct 2022
The McDonnell Academy and the Office of the Provost awarded approximately $500,000 in Global Incubator Seed Grants funding to support 20 new international collaborations.
jul 2021
The Global Incubator Seed Grants Grants program helped kick-start fifteen new projects on five continents.
Jul 2020
Ten research teams received a total of $250,000 in seed funding to initiate projects with international partners tackling far-reaching issues related to COVID-19.
JAN 2020
Since 2020, the Africa Initiative, Institute for Public Health, Social Policy Institute, and the McDonnell Academy have partnered to provide funding for 17 projects on the African continent, in the areas of global health and international social policy.
