Apply for Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grant Program (US and Canada)

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund is offering the Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grant Program to support collaborative, early-stage projects exploring the impact of climate change on human health. Grants range from $2,500 to $50,000, with a total of $1 million available between Fall 2023 and Summer 2026. Applications are open to non-profit organizations and degree-granting institutions in the U.S. and Canada, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration, innovative approaches, and measurable community or population impact.

Overview

The Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grant Program aims to foster new collaborations among scholars, practitioners, educators, and communicators to understand and reduce the health impacts of climate change. The program emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches that bridge biomedical science with environmental, ecological, geographical, and population-centered perspectives.

Key program focus areas:

• Linking early-stage biomedical research with climate-focused thinking

• Examining health care delivery outside traditional institutions

• Studying the health and system impacts of extreme weather events or crises

• Strengthening climate and health outreach, communication, and education

• Piloting sustainable systems for health care, research, and public health interventions

Projects must meaningfully integrate climate-related thinking rather than solely highlighting issues like heat, air pollution, or flooding. Innovative collaborations that catalyze transformative research and community impact are strongly encouraged.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Non-profit organizations or degree-granting institutions in the United States or Canada

• Collaborative teams rather than individual investigators

• Single-institution proposals must create new partnerships, while multi-institution collaborations are also accepted

Exclusions:

• Biomedical research proposed by individual investigators

• Projects extending existing work without creating new collaborations

• Indirect costs or fiscal agents

Funding and Project Details

• Grant Amount: $2,500 – $50,000 per project

• Total Funding Available: $1 million from Fall 2023 to Summer 2026

• Project Duration: One year, with the option for one no-cost extension

• Direct Costs Eligible: Salaries of support personnel, materials, justified consultant fees

• Ineligible Costs: Indirect costs, fiscal agents, or ongoing projects without new collaboration

The program supports creative transdisciplinary activities including academic research, physician-led initiatives, public health efforts, science outreach programs, and community-based projects. Projects should clearly define the populations or communities impacted and demonstrate measurable benefits.

How to Apply

1. Prepare Proposal: Include clear rationale, objectives, populations served, and expected outcomes

2. Develop Collaborations: Ensure proposals involve meaningful partnerships beyond existing collaborations

3. Compile Required Materials:

   • Institutional information and proof of non-profit status

   • Partnering organizations and roles

   • Cover sheet and narrative proposal (up to five pages)

   • Budget and justification

   • Short-form CVs of key personnel

4. Submit Through Online Grant Portal: Ensure submission by the eligible institution managing the award

5. Include Contingency Plans: For projects involving gatherings, address potential COVID-19 disruptions

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals are assessed quarterly based on:

• Logic and Feasibility: Clear rationale and well-defined methodology

• Collaborative Nature: Ability to catalyze new transdisciplinary efforts

• Impact: Potential to advance understanding or mitigate human health effects of climate change

• Innovation: Creative approaches linking biomedical science, population studies, and climate perspectives

• Sustainability: Ability to create lasting outcomes and community benefit

Reviewers include experts recommended by the National Academy of Medicine, with past successful applications including community-based organizations and academic institutions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Submitting proposals from single investigators without collaboration

• Failing to integrate climate-focused thinking into biomedical or public health projects

• Extending ongoing projects rather than creating new collaborations

• Omitting required documentation or budget justifications

• Neglecting contingency planning for events or meetings

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can apply for funding?
Non-profit organizations or degree-granting institutions in the U.S. and Canada with capacity for collaborative, early-stage projects.

2. What is the grant range?
$2,500 – $50,000 per project.

3. Are individual investigators eligible?
No, only collaborative teams are eligible.

4. What types of projects are supported?
Projects addressing climate impacts on human health, sustainable health systems, outreach, and education, or transdisciplinary biomedical research.

5. How long should projects last?
One year, with an optional one-year no-cost extension.

6. Can indirect costs be included?
No, only direct project costs are eligible.

7. How are proposals evaluated?
Based on logic, collaborative potential, innovation, impact, and sustainability.

Why This Program Matters

Climate change poses increasing risks to human health, including extreme weather events, system disruptions, and public health challenges. By fostering transdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Seed Grant Program enables institutions to develop actionable solutions and raise awareness about climate and health issues.

Conclusion

The Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grant Program offers a unique opportunity for collaborative teams to pioneer solutions at the intersection of biomedical science, public health, and climate research. By supporting early-stage, transdisciplinary projects, the program strengthens understanding, communication, and mitigation strategies for the health impacts of climate change, benefiting communities and populations most at risk.