Chemistry for biology and medicine

Ideas where chemistry meets biology and medicine, such as chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, imaging probes, diagnostics and biomedical research tools.

Who funds this idea

13 calls from 5 funders currently fund work on this idea. Most calls: NIH (7), European Commission (Horizon Europe) (2), NSF (2), UKRI research councils (1), HHS ASPR – Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) (1).

3 calls for this idea welcome industry or international partners

Open now (12)

Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Deadline: 28 Oct 2026 (6 days)

Award: EUR 500,000–4,000,000 per project

Checked 22 Oct 2026

materialsenergy & batteriesestablished / PI

Limited Competition: Instrumentation Grant Program for Resource-Limited Institutions (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed, PAR-27-067)

National Institutes of Health (NIGMS and partner institutes, ORIP) · United States

Deadline: 26 Jan 2027 (96 days)

Award: $25,000 to $250,000 (instrument base cost at least $25,000)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialspharma processestablished / PIearly-careerinstrument / beamtime

Small molecule high throughput screen using AstraZeneca facilities

UKRI – Medical Research Council (MRC) · United Kingdom

Deadline: 28 Jan 2027 (98 days)

Award: £270,000

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrypharma processestablished / PI

Discovery of in vivo Chemical Probes for the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health · United States (non-US organisations also eligible)

Deadline: 05 Mar 2027 (134 days)

Award: Varies, see funder (budgets not limited; up to 5 years)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrypharma processestablished / PI

NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 05 Apr 2027 (165 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistryestablished / PIindustry / SMEsmall business (SBIR/STTR, EIC Accelerator)

Seed Instrumentation Support (SIS) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed, PAR-27-021)

National Institutes of Health (ORIP, NIA, NIAID) · United States

Deadline: 01 Jul 2027 (252 days)

Award: $50,000 to $400,000 for one instrument (no limit on the instrument's total cost)

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialspharma processestablished / PIearly-careerinstrument / beamtime

Alzheimer's Drug-Development Program (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 05 Nov 2027 (379 days)

Award: Up to $1,500,000 direct costs per year

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrypharma processestablished / PI

Limited Competition: CCRP Initiative: Promoting a Basic Understanding of Chemical Threats to Skin (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 07 Jan 2028 (442 days)

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrypharma processestablished / PI

HEAL Initiative: Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] to Treat Pain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)

National Institutes of Health · United States

Deadline: 20 Feb 2029 (852 days)

Total budget (all awards): Total program funding $11,000,000; award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrypharma processestablished / PI

BARDA Broad Agency Announcement (medical countermeasures, incl. manufacturing platforms)

HHS ASPR – Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) · United States

Deadline: Areas of interest listed; no closing date on the page – check the funder page

Award size: not stated in the listing; see call

Checked 16 Oct 2026

pharma processindustry / SME

Chemical Process Systems (CPS)

U.S. National Science Foundation · United States

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Award: Varies, see funder

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Engineering (ENG): Chemical, Bioengineering, Energy, and Transport Systems (CBET)

U.S. National Science Foundation · United States

Deadline: Rolling / no fixed deadline

Total budget (all awards): Total program funding $100,000,000; award size: see call

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrymaterialsestablished / PI

Opening soon (1)

Development of novel small molecule antiviral therapeutics for pathogens with epidemic potential

European Commission – Horizon Europe · EU Member States & Horizon Europe associated countries

Opening soon: not yet open

Deadline: 17 Feb 2027 (118 days)

Award: EUR 9,000,000–11,000,000 per project

Checked 22 Oct 2026

chemistrypharma processestablished / PI

Recently funded work on this idea

61 awards from NSF and NIH in our sample of the last 24 months match this idea. Latest examples:

Award (official page)	Institution	Amount	Start date
Developing GFRA2 as an optimal immunotherapeutic target for neuroblastoma and Ewing sarcoma U.S. National Institutes of Health · NCI	Children'S Hosp Of Philadelphia	$109,364 (FY 2026 award amount)	23 Sep 2026
CAREER: 3D One-step Heterogeneous Manufacturing for Integrated Circuits (3D OHMIC) U.S. National Science Foundation · AM-Advanced Manufacturing	University of Connecticut	$549,994 (estimated total award)	01 Sep 2026
MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a CPAD X-ray Diffractometer for Chemical and Biochemical Research and Education U.S. National Science Foundation · Major Research Instrumentation	Vassar College	$449,931 (estimated total award)	01 Sep 2026
Anion Binding in Chiral Cyclotribenzoin Esters U.S. National Science Foundation · Macromolec/Supramolec/Nano	University of Houston	$525,620 (estimated total award)	01 Sep 2026