The Ruth K. Broad Foundation, a support corporation of Duke University, has several grant programs for basic research in the neurosciences at Duke. Additional information on award eligibility is available on specific programs’ webpages.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS due February 1, 2026

Broad Research Award for Graduate Students is a prestigious opportunity for a year-long named graduate student award supporting a student conducting high priority, high potential, basic or translational research in neuroscience. The award is exclusively for PhD or MD/PhD candidates and contributes to the normal graduate student stipend, plus tuition and fees.

Fellowship Award for Postdoctoral Fellows is a prestigious opportunity for a year-long named postdoctoral fellowship. The award supports a postdoc conducting high priority, high potential, basic or translational research in neuroscience and covers the standard postdoctoral stipend and fringe as established by Duke University policies applying for postdoctoral appointments.

Human Brain Models Research Award provides seed funding for research that utilizes human brain models, including but not limited to organoids, assembloids, and human brain material, to expand basic knowledge of human neurons and glia, especially as related to neurodegeneration. The Foundation will provide a one-year award of $100,000 to support an innovative, pre-NIH project.

Rolling awards; applications reviewed six times per year:

Ellen Luken Student Awards enable selected Duke University School of Medicine PhD or MD/PhD students in their third year of study or beyond to pursue prestigious and competitive extracurricular educational, career-building, and networking opportunities.