METABOLIC PSYCHIATRY SCHOLAR AWARD
Promoting Careers to Advance Metabolic Psychiatry
A primary objective of Baszucki Group is to transform mental health outcomes by supporting initiatives at the intersection of metabolism, psychiatry, and neuroscience.
The Metabolic Psychiatry Scholar Award will recognize up to four outstanding early-career researchers and clinicians advancing the field of metabolic psychiatry. Through this award, the Baszucki Group seeks to generate evidence, build capacity, and advocate for the growth of the metabolic psychiatry movement. This initiative will provide awardees with the tools, resources, and community needed to drive significant advancements in understanding the relationship between metabolism and mental health, specifically as it relates to therapeutic nutritional ketosis and other metabolic therapies.
Awardees who demonstrate exceptional achievement and commitment during the funding period may be considered for ongoing support through our grant program.
KEY DATES
January 28, 2025
Request for Proposals
February 3, 2025
Application Portal Opens
March 18, 2025 @ 9 pm ET
Letter of Intent Deadline
Mid April 2025
Full Application Invitations
May 20, 2025 @ 9 pm ET
Full Application Deadline
Mid July 2025
Anticipated Award Notifications
September 2025
Anticipated Project Start Date
Opportunity Overview
Funding
Each awardee may request up to $150,000 USD to support their work for 18 months, providing significant financial backing to foster innovative studies and impactful findings.
Mentorship and Networking
Awardees will receive mentorship from the metabolic psychiatry community, ensuring guidance and insight to refine their research and accelerate their professional growth. Additionally, networking opportunities with senior researchers and practitioners in the field will be fostered, expanding professional networks and potential collaborations.
Training
The program includes specialized training opportunities tailored to enhance the awardees’ skills and knowledge, preparing them for advanced roles in their careers.
Communication Support
Awardees will receive support in effectively communicating their research findings, including assistance with manuscript writing, presentations, and public engagement to broaden the impact of their work.
Community Building
The program will facilitate connections among awardees, creating a vibrant community of early career investigators.
I can genuinely say that becoming a Baszucki Research Fellow in Metabolic Psychiatry has been one of the best things to happen in my life. It has allowed me use to both my research experience and my lived experience as a means to investigate new metabolic treatments for serious mental illness, and to see many patients benefit mentally and physically from this work.”
Request for proposals
Baszucki Group seeks to recognize and support outstanding early career investigators advancing the field of metabolic psychiatry. Researchers may propose translational or clinical studies. Multidisciplinary approaches are desired. Requests may be made for up to $150,000 USD for 18 months.
Information Session
Baszucki Group hosted an information session on February 11th, 2024. The session provided an overview of the award, opportunities, priority areas, and application process.
Priority Areas
Baszucki Group’s research priorities focus on the potential to transform and save lives. Proposed work should be translational or clinical in nature, addressing one or more of the topics listed below.
- Quantitative or qualitative approaches to understanding the use of metabolic therapies (such as therapeutic nutritional ketosis) in serious mental illness
- Mechanisms of action for ketogenic and other metabolic therapies in serious mental illness
- Clinical research examining the link between metabolic health and mental health
- Building therapeutic nutritional ketosis and other metabolic approaches into clinical practice, with an emphasis on embedding research in care
Eligibility criteria
- All applicants must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or equivalent independent investigator status at a college, university, medical school or other research institution holding 501(c)3 status or international equivalent.
- Applicants should be in their first independent position between two and six years as of the due date for the Letter of Intent.
- Applicants are encouraged from other disciplines with a desire and commitment to working at the intersection of metabolism and mental health.
- Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to pursuing a career in metabolic psychiatry, showcasing potential for significant contributions to the field.
- Applicants cannot be currently funded by Baszucki Group.
- International applicants are welcome. All materials must be submitted in English.
Applicant FAQS
Answers to some frequently asked questions may be found below. If, after reviewing, additional clarification is needed, please reach out to the Science Team at [email protected].
Are international applicants eligible to apply?
Yes, international applicants are eligible to apply. All application materials must be submitted in English.
Are multiple applicants from the same institution allowed to apply for the same award?
Yes. There is no limit to the number of applicants from the same institution who may apply for this award.
Does Baszucki Group only fund academic laboratories?
Baszucki Group funds research and clinical work from academic and nonacademic laboratories. We fund researchers and clinicians at universities, small companies, hospitals, clinics, and non-profit research institutions.
If I am submitting with another researcher, do we both need to apply?
Baszucki Group welcomes collaborative proposals with more than one principal investigator. However, one application must be submitted on behalf of the collaboration, under one PI’s account.
May multidisciplinary funding be split between two institutions?
Yes, funding may be divided between institutions. However, Baszucki Group will only contract with the primary institution, which will be responsible for negotiating subcontracts with the institutions of any co-PIs involved with the project. Baszucki Group requires detailed budgets outlining the allocation of funds to each institution.
Who may receive salary from the grant?
Funds may be allocated to cover the salaries of investigators, postdocs, and graduate students in relation to the percentage effort spent on the project, as well as research supplies and some travel expenses. Indirect costs are covered up to 15% of total direct costs.
May grant funds be used for travel expenses?
Yes. There is a travel cap of $1,500 USD for international applicants and $1,000 USD for US and Canadian applicants per year, which may be budgeted for a maximum of two investigators (PI and co-PI).
If I cannot submit by the deadline, may I request an extension?
No. Baszucki Group does not provide deadline extensions.
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