2025 Sarafan ChEM-H Seed Grant: Nucleus Collaborations
Purpose and Scope:
The most transformational human health research projects require expertise, techniques, and instrumentation not typically found in academia. To address these needs, Sarafan ChEM-H launched the Nucleus, a cluster of labs led by experts in areas like drug development, structural biology, and clinical research who collaborate with Stanford labs.
Sarafan ChEM-H is seeking proposals from Stanford labs who would like to start a new collaboration with a scientific team in the Nucleus.
We are accepting proposals for projects that would utilize one or more of the following research areas to pursue basic science and translational research projects:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Metabolomics
- Macromolecular Structure
- Chemoproteomics
- Cryogenic Electron Microscopy
- Protein Engineering
- Cell and Gene Therapies
Track 1: Successful projects will receive $50,000, which will be split between funds awarded to the PI lab and in-kind support. The award period will be 12 months, with the opportunity to request a 6-month no-cost extension.
Track 2: We are able to provide a limited number of pilot funds ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to help initiate new collaborations (see details under How can the funds be used and descriptions for individual Nucleus areas on the ChEM-H website). Funds can be split between the PI lab and in-kind support. The award period will be 12 months, with the opportunity to request a 6-month no-cost extension.
For complete application instructions, please refer to the Sarafan ChEM-H website: https://chemh.stanford.edu/opportunities/funding-opportunities/2025-sarafan-chem-h-seed-grant
What is the Nucleus?
The road from molecules to medicines, from discovery to translation, is complex. No single lab is equipped to address each hurdle on the path. The most transformational human health research projects require expertise, techniques, and instrumentation not typically found in academia. The Nucleus at Sarafan ChEM-H is a cluster of labs that bring scientific expertise, tools, and flexibility to Stanford. Led by a unique cadre of scientists with over a century of combined experience in academic and industrial biomedical research, the groups at the Nucleus provide industry expertise, cutting-edge instruments, and training to Stanford labs. From metabolomics to crystallography, from medicinal chemistry to cell therapies, the Nucleus supercharges research at Stanford.
Learn more at: https://chemh.stanford.edu/research/nucleus
Application Instructions (See complete instructions here)
Applications should be submitted directly to Sarafan ChEM-H. You do not need to submit your applications to your Research Process Manager (RPM) in RMG or through your Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) Contract and Grant officer (CGO) for their approval at this time. Selected projects will be required to submit PDRFs via the SERA system to set up University Research Awards.
All application materials must be submitted to Sarafan ChEM-H through the SlideRoom Portal
Deadline: All application materials must be received by 11:59 pm, Friday, January 23, 2026. Seed grant recipients will be notified by March 6, 2026.
Track 1: Stanford faculty with UTL, UML, NTLR and CE appointments are eligible. CEs should provide a note from their Chair or Division Chief with their application stating that the Department/Division will cover salary support for time devoted to the project. Preference will be given to junior faculty members at the assistant or associate professor level. Collaborative proposals between junior and senior faculty (full professor) are welcome, but we recommend that the junior faculty member be the lead investigator. Faculty who have not yet collaborated with a Nucleus scientist, or those who have generated preliminary data and would like to jumpstart a larger-scale project are especially encouraged to apply.
Track 2: Stanford faculty with UTL, UML, NTLR and CE appointments are eligible. CEs should provide a note from their Chair or Division Chief with their application stating that the Department/Division will cover salary support for time devoted to the project. Faculty at all career stages are encouraged to apply. See details for Track 2 budgets and proposals under How can the funds be used. Faculty who have not yet collaborated with a Nucleus scientist, or those who have generated preliminary data and would like to jumpstart a larger-scale project are especially encouraged to apply.
Track 1: Successful projects will receive $50,000, which will be split between support awarded to the PI lab and in-kind support provided by the Nucleus. The split will be determined on a project-by-project basis. The PI lab support can cover direct costs for study-related expenses, including supplies, consumables, biobanking costs, etc. Student or postdoctoral scholar time can be supported on this award. Faculty and clinician time cannot be supported on this award. In-kind support may include user training and instrument fees, consumables, and Nucleus scientist time. Before applying, each applicant is required to contact the leader of the relevant research area to discuss project scope and budget. More details included in the Research Areas section on this webpage.
Track 2: Successful projects will receive pilot funds ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 to support Nucleus collaborations. Projects requesting a budget of $10,000 or below may have any research focus. Projects requesting a budget between $10,000 and $25,000 should broadly focus on stem cell biology OR therapeutic approaches in treating cancer, with a preference for EGFR-mutant lung cancer, as we have specific funding to support these areas. The PI lab support can cover direct costs for study-related expenses, including supplies, consumables, biobanking costs, etc. Student or postdoctoral scholar time can be supported on this award. Faculty and clinician time cannot be supported on this award. In-kind support may include user training and instrument fees, consumables, and Nucleus scientist time. Before applying, each applicant is required to contact the leader of the relevant research area to discuss project scope and budget. More details included in the Research Areas section on this webpage.
