As the spring semester winds down and (finally) gives way to warmer days, many of us are looking forward to a well-earned summer break. At the same time, we know how quickly the academic calendar turns — fall will be here before we know it. This is an ideal moment to start thinking ahead about grant opportunities with late-summer and early-fall deadlines.
We encourage you to take a few minutes now to explore current RFPs in the ORS External Funding Opportunities Database and begin shaping your plans for submissions in August and September. Early preparation can make a significant difference in both proposal quality and stress levels.
If you’re considering a submission, please also let us know as soon as possible through our form. Advance notice helps our team ensure we can support you effectively at every stage, from concept development to final submission.
Enjoy the transition into summer, and when you’re ready, we’re here to help you get a head start on what comes next.
News and Announcements
As the Office for the Vice Chancellor for Research prepares for the changes outlined in the last issue of this newsletter, we encourage you to review the full Urban Triage report that is shaping this work. Reading the report now will provide helpful context for upcoming conversations and decisions across campus.
To help keep projects on track, please submit new requests for agreements and contracts through our form as early as possible. Current RSP review timelines are at least 4–6 weeks once the ORS Contracts Team has started the negotiations process. However, RSP can process unmodified UW–Madison templates within a few days. Early submission and encouraging sponsors to use the unmodified UW templates can significantly help prevent delays. Contact the ORS Contracts Team for assistance with selecting the appropriate template.
NIH has recently issued several updates and resources. Here’s what you need to know:
- A new NIH policy went into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, limiting PIs to no more than six grant applications per calendar year. This includes renewals, resubmissions and revision applications.
- NIH will begin enforcing changes to common forms and is ending its previous period of leniency. Review the full notice for details on what this means for any upcoming NIH submissions.
- In a recent “You Ask, We Answer” column, the team wrote about what it means for an application to be scored as “Competitive but not Discussed.” Read about how review processes were modified when activities resumed after the lapse in appropriations.
The Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR) Pathway Program is recruiting for the next cohort of scholars, with applications due May 11, 2026. The Pathway Program supports the mentorship and professional development of scholars conducting clinical and translational research at different stages of an academic career through a variety of programs. Learn more and apply on ICTR’s website.
This week, the American Heart Association announced proposal deadlines for five research programs, with funding to begin in 2027. More programs will be announced in the future. View details for all of the current programs in the ORS External Funding Database.
The American Educational Research Association (AERA) Grants Program, with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), has begun accepting proposals for dissertation grants and research grants. The next deadline is Wednesday, May 20, 2026.
The UW Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Program supports early-career scholars with a research focus on women’s health or sex differences research. An NIH administrative supplement will potentially add one to three new scholars to the current cohort and provide 50-75% salary support and $25-50K in research funding annually for one to two years. Applications are due May 7, 2026, with rolling review through May 20, 2026.
Events and Learning Opportunities
- May 14, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.: 2026 Teaching & Learning Symposium
- May 14, 2026, 1–6 p.m.: Teacher Education Research Colloquium
Art Exhibits:
- Angela Johnson, Synthesis: Bits and Pieces | Mandelbaum and Albert Family Vision Gallery, McPherson Eye Research Institute, 9th floor, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, 1111 Highland Ave., Madison, WI | Feb. 5–May 29, 2026
- Gerit Grimm, Farther Afield | Overture Center for the Arts, Gallery III, 201 State Street, Madison, WI | March 17–May 31, 2026
- Andy Rubin, Dialogue | Abel Contemporary Gallery, 524 East Main Street, Stoughton, WI | April 24–June 14, 2026
- Michael Velliquette, Cut It Out: Papercutting Traditions and Beyond | Racine Art Museum, 441 Main Street, Racine, WI | Feb. 18–Oct. 3, 2026