Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants Program (US and Canada)

The Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund support early-stage, interdisciplinary collaborations that investigate the impacts of climate change on human health. Grants range from $2,500 to $50,000 and are intended to initiate partnerships, test innovative ideas, and explore cross-disciplinary approaches between biomedical, environmental, and population-focused fields. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and degree-granting institutions in the U.S. or Canada.

Overview of the Program

The Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants program encourages innovative research addressing the complex intersection of climate change and human health. The initiative emphasizes early-stage collaborations that integrate perspectives from:

• Biomedical sciences

• Ecology and environmental sciences

• Geology, geography, and planetary sciences

• Epidemiology, public health, demography

• Economics and urban planning

The program fosters new partnerships across disciplines to stimulate creative solutions and strengthen understanding of how climate change affects public health.

Funding Details

• Total funding committed: $1 million (Fall 2023 – Summer 2026)

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

• Purpose of funding:

  • Initiate partnerships and collaborations

  • Test new interdisciplinary ideas

  • Explore approaches that may lead to long-term research initiatives

• Allowable costs:

  • Salaries for support personnel

  • Materials necessary for project implementation

  • Reasonable consultant costs (when justified)

  • Benefits included as direct costs

• Ineligible costs:

  • Indirect costs or institutional overhead

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants:

  • Non-profit organizations and degree-granting institutions in the U.S. or Canada

  • Must hold a valid U.S. IRS determination letter if incorporated in the U.S.

• Collaborative focus:

  • Encourages partnerships between researchers or professionals from separate disciplines

  • Proposals from a single institution must demonstrate new collaborations

  • Multi-institution proposals are strongly encouraged

• Restrictions:

  • Applying institution must play a significant project role

  • Fiscal agents are not permitted

  • Individuals may serve as principal investigator/project director on only one application per review period

Reporting and Accountability

• Host institutions manage funds and maintain accurate financial records

• Annual progress and financial reports are required

• Any unused funds exceeding $500 must be returned unless prior approval is granted

Program Objectives

The Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants program aims to:

• Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration

• Generate innovative approaches to address climate-related health challenges

• Facilitate exploratory research that could inform future public health strategies

• Build partnerships that bridge gaps between biomedical, environmental, and population-focused research

How to Apply

1. Confirm eligibility: Ensure your institution is a U.S. or Canadian non-profit or degree-granting organization.

2. Develop a collaborative proposal:

   • Include participants from diverse disciplines

   • Demonstrate that collaboration is new and not previously funded

3. Prepare a budget: Cover personnel, materials, and justified consultant costs. Exclude indirect costs.

4. Submit the proposal: Follow Burroughs Wellcome Fund application guidelines and deadlines.

5. Ensure reporting capability: Commit to annual progress and financial reporting.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

• Focus on interdisciplinary approaches that link biomedical sciences with ecological, environmental, or population-level perspectives

• Clearly articulate how the project addresses climate change impacts on human health

• Demonstrate the potential for the project to grow into long-term collaborations or research initiatives

• Include a well-justified budget, emphasizing allowable direct costs

Why This Funding Matters

Climate change poses complex risks to human health, affecting disease patterns, environmental exposures, and socio-economic systems. By funding early-stage, interdisciplinary collaborations, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund:

• Stimulates innovative thinking to tackle urgent health challenges

• Builds networks across disciplines that may not otherwise interact

• Generates insights that can inform policy, prevention, and public health strategies

• Supports the next generation of collaborative researchers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply?

Non-profit organizations and degree-granting institutions in the U.S. or Canada.

2. What is the grant range?

$2,500 – $50,000 for early-stage seed projects.

3. What types of collaborations are encouraged?

Projects that combine biomedical, environmental, ecological, or population-focused perspectives, forming new partnerships.

4. Can indirect costs or institutional overhead be included?

No. Only direct costs for personnel, materials, and consultants are allowed.

5. How many applications can an individual submit?

An individual may serve as principal investigator/project director on only one application per review period, and a maximum of two funded proposals over time.

6. Are collaborations with for-profit organizations allowed?

Yes, but the non-profit applying institution must play a significant role and cannot serve merely as a fiscal pass-through.

7. What reporting is required if funded?

Annual progress and financial reports must be submitted, and any unused funds over $500 must be returned unless approval is granted.

Conclusion

The Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants program empowers non-profit and academic organizations to explore innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to the pressing health challenges posed by climate change. By fostering new collaborations and early-stage research, the program helps generate insights, build partnerships, and inform future strategies for protecting human health in a changing environment.