The UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC) invites applications for seed funding for feasibility or new interdisciplinary collaborations with strong potential to lead to a funded submission for a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) or another grant award.
Seed awards are intended to support activities that are ready to commence upon disbursement of funds, one to two weeks following submission. Seed awards are supported by the EHSC Exposure Core and Integrated Health Sciences Facility Core. Learn more about EHSC's core resources.
2025-2026 Seed Funding Application
Due October 22, 2025
What should I focus on?
Exposure Core
Examples of high-priority topic areas within the Exposure Core include (but are not limited to):
- Development of new measurement methods for exposures to wildfires and other extreme weather-related events
- Development of methods for environmental and biologic exposure measurements that can be tied to a health study
- Development or testing of personal sampling methods, such as wearable sensors or other devices for use in epidemiologic studies
- Measurements of exposures from samples in vulnerable communities to assist in the development of a grant application or to expand an existing grant with a new aim
- Measurement of samples broadly obtained to generate preliminary data in support of a grant application or to expand an existing grant for addressing additional aims
Community Engagement Core
Community Engagement Core seed funds are intended to support the pre-award participation of community-based organizations in research development (i.e. preliminary data gathering and analysis, planning and organizing, proposal development). High-priority topic areas for CEC Seed funding are:
- Development of research partnerships with groups that are underrepresented in environmental health science research and structurally vulnerable to environmental hazards, including unhoused populations, incarcerated/ formerly incarcerated populations, tribal groups, and agricultural, outdoor, and other at-risk workers (e.g. firefighters, nail salon, domestic workers)
- Preliminary research or research planning (i.e. co-developing a large community engaged proposal) on any of the Center’s Community Research Priorities.
Translational Research Support Core
- Examples of high priority topic areas of the Translational Research Support Core include: (but are not limited to):
- Human health impacts from wildfire and other extreme weather-related disasters in California
- The use of animal models or other model systems (in vitro, organoid, etc.) to study pathogenetic mechanisms from exposures to wildfire and extreme weather events
- Technology development for addressing short- or long-term health impacts from wildfire, extreme heat or other intensive weather events
- Translational research projects involving vulnerable populations or communities
- Data mining or omics approaches to determining health impacts of environmental exposures—in broad populations or groups with low resources or reduced resilience
- Testing feasibility of interventions to improve health outcomes
How much is the seed award?
Seed funding is intended to provide time-sensitive support ($6-$10k) that helps lay the groundwork (e.g., method development, generation of preliminary data, etc.) for a future EHS proposal aligned with the Center’s priorities. Those planning to apply are encouraged to discuss proposal ideas with the relevant EHSC Core Leads prior to application to ensure that their submitted application is in alignment with Core goals, as well as with the NIEHS Strategic Plan.
How do I apply for seed funding?
- Seed funding requests must be submitted online via InfoReady
- For any other questions about this funding opportunity, please contact Ruth Williams (ruwilliams@ucdavis.edu)