URL: https://mathersfoundation.org/?page_id=485
Objectives
To support innovative, high-risk high-reward basic science ideally with translational applications. Some examples of currently funded research areas are immunology, microbiome, structural biology, cellular physiology, cancer biology, genetics, genomics, microbiology and infectious diseases, stem cell biology, and neuroscience. In general, the Mathers Foundation reviewers look for innovative, novel proposals, which have scientific merit with an established published proof of concept, and which may not be fundable at the federal level.
The foundation will not fund work related to COVID-19, Plant Biology Research, Oceanography, Space Exploration, Global Warming related research, medical imaging technology related projects and/or electrical engineering technology development. The foundation will also not fund work conducted with human subjects or requests for clinical trials, drug discovery, or research projects it considers pre-clinical drug development. Preference will be given to research that has not been federally supported. This grant program is highly competitive.
Funding Information
Up to $700,000 for three years (including 10% maximum IDC) may be requested. Mathers funding is intended to support only the actual investigation and may not be used to purchase capital equipment. The maximum allowed for student tuition or equipment is $5,000.
Eligibility
Applicants must be independent investigators with their own fully functional and equipped labs and must be nominated by an institutional representative.
Collaborative research projects with other US based organizations are acceptable. However, research collaborations between US based organizations and organizations based outside the US are not encouraged and will be given lower priority.
Internal Selection Process
The internal selection process depends on whether your grants are managed by BU or Boston Medical Center. If you are unsure whether your grants are managed by BU or BMC, please consult the BUMC Home Institution Finder. Use that information to guide which of the following processes you follow.
BU Process
BU can nominate up to 3 applicants.
Interested investigators should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by: 11/23/2025
- Project Aims Statement describing experimental aims and sub-aims (2,000 characters maximum, including spaces)
- Proof of Concept Statement providing evidence/validation for the proposed project; it should indicate whether the evidence for the project is “preliminary” and whether proof of concept has been published in any journals (2,000 characters maximum, including spaces)
- Project Summary intended for a highly educated lay audience and a scientific review board describing the project’s nature and scope. If your project includes collaborators, include their names, affiliation, and contributions within the text (7,000 characters maximum, including spaces)
- Up-to-date CV or Biosketch for the PI
A faculty committee drawn from both campuses will review internal proposals and select nominees. Foundation Relations will work with the selected applicants to complete their institutional nominations and portal registration by 1/30/2026.
BMC Process
BMC can nominate up to 3 applicants. If you are a BUMC faculty member who works in BMC space or you are a fellow whose faculty advisor is a BMC investigator, please contact the Program Manager of Strategic Research Growth, Carolina Giudice (carolina.giudice@bmc.org) by 11/14/2025 for instructions on next steps.
Deadlines
BMC Internal Deadline: Friday, November 14, 2025
BU Internal Deadline: Sunday, November 23, 2025 by 11:59 pm ET
Anticipated Notification Date: Friday, January 9, 2026
Portal Registration Due: Friday, January 30, 2026 by 8 pm ET
LOI Due: Friday, February 13, 2026 by 8 pm ET
Invited Formal Proposals Due: Friday, April 24, 2026 by 8 pm ET