One New Limited Submission Opportunity for the Week of January 19, 2026

Research Development Office

Funding Landscape and New Limited Submission Opportunities for the Week of January 19, 2026

Click here to share this information with department heads and eligible faculty.

Funding Landscape

The Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) is advancing massage therapy through evidence-based research.

MTF research grants and awards support high-quality, independent studies that strengthen the foundational science of massage therapy and its practical applications. This includes applied research examining massage therapy as a treatment or preventive approach for physical and mental health. Two funding options are available: up to $30,000 for a Research Support Grant and up to $300,000 for a Research Grant. Letters of intent due: February 28, 2026.

The Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) program is now open.

The LB21 program supports projects that strengthen the library and archival workforce nationwide. LB21 invests in initiatives that:

  • Train and develop library and archives professionals
  • Prepare future faculty and information leaders
  • Recruit, educate, and retain the next generation of library and archives experts

Projects may focus on pre-professionals, students, faculty, or current staff—building skills, expanding capacity, and meeting the evolving information needs of communities. Deadline: March 13, 2026

New Limited Submission Opportunities

Regeneron: Prize for Creative Innovation

Description: To recognize and honor creativity and innovation by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the Biomedical Sciences.

Eligibility: Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

Limitation: four applications per institution 
Internal Submission Deadline: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Sponsor Application Deadline: Monday, March 2, 2026

Reminder Limited Submission Opportunities

NSF: EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Fellows (ERF)

Description: The EPSCoR Research Fellows directly aligns with the NSF EPSCoR strategic goal of establishing sustainable Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professional development pathways that advance workforce development and effects engagement in STEM at national and global levels. EPSCoR Research Fellows provides awards to build research capacity in institutions and transform the career trajectories of investigators and further develop their individual research potential through collaborations with investigators from the nation's premier private, governmental, or academic research institutions and/or centers. The fellowship provides opportunities to establish strong collaborations through extended or periodic collaborative visits to a selected host site.

Eligibility: Early or Mid-Career Faculty

Limitation: four applications per institution

Internal Submission Deadline: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Sponsor Application Deadline: Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Note: UI is eligible to submit to the NSF sub-track only
The University of Iowa

About Limited Submissions

Funding Focus is a weekly email alerting faculty and staff researchers and scholars about limited submission funding opportunities available to the University of Iowa.

Please be aware that we make every effort to identify and post limited competitions. If you know about a funding opportunity with a limited submission requirement that is not listed, or if you are interested in applying for a limited submission grant but the internal deadline has passed, please email vpr-limsubs@uiowa.edu.