Mathers Foundation Grant Program

• Research involving human subjects is not allowed.
• The Foundation primarily supports basic science, ideally with potential translational applications.
• Examples of current research areas supported include immunology, microbiome, structural biology, cellular physiology, cancer biology, genetics, genomics, microbiology and infectious diseases, stem cell biology, and neuroscience.
• Research areas that will not be considered for support include Covid-19 related research projects (aims or sub-aims), Plant Biology Research, Oceanography, Space Exploration. and Global Warming related research. In addition, medical imaging technology related projects and/or electrical engineering technology development projects will not be considered for support.
• The Foundation does not support research conducted in human subjects and will not fund requests for clinical trials or drug discovery. The Foundation will not support research projects that they consider pre-clinical drug development.
• Renewal applications for the same or related research will not be accorded priority consideration. It is strongly advised that any re-application for grant renewal consider a new direction based on prior research or emphasize some new potential translational aspects and not merely an extension of previously funded research.
• Requests for funding previously federally supported research and/or applications pending federal approval will not be accorded priority consideration.

Currently, the Foundation does not offer advice about proposed project ideas or screen LOIs before they are submitted.  The Mathers Board believes that the information on the website provides sufficient guidance for a wide variety of research projects that could be considered for support.

Application Instructions

Please submit the following as a combined pdf labeled with PI’s Lastname, Firstname:

1. A one‐page letter of intent stating the research area to be addressed, the significance of the research with a description of proposed aims and approach, and how the proposal addresses the funder’s stipulation for basic research with potential translational applications. In addition, confirm that the research does not involve human subjects or involve preclinical drug development. Finally, indicate whether this is a renewal application for the same or related research.
2. If the final application requires a statement of broader impacts, please summarize your plans to address the specific requirements on an additional page.
3. CV of the PI (not biosketch) that covers current, pending and past funding and whether there is or has been any overlap with the present proposal. (Note: Requests for funding previously federally supported research and/or applications pending federal approval will not be accorded priority consideration.)

to limitedsubs@uw.edu by 5:00 PM Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. If given the go‐ahead by the Limited Submissions review committee, nominations and funder portal registration is required by 1/30/2026 and a required LOI is due to the sponsor 7/31/2026 with the OSP deadline of 7/22/2026. If invited by the sponsor to send a full application, that deadline is 9/18/2026.