Women’s Health Research at Yale Pilot Project Program Award Cycle Now Open

Since 1998, Women’s Health Research at Yale’s signature Pilot Project Program has provided critical seed funding for Yale faculty examining sex differences across health in conditions that affect women differently, disproportionately, and uniquely. Our program serves as an incubator for catalyzing new approaches to understanding the health of women, and/or the influence of sex differences on health, consistent with the NIH definition. The 2025-26 application process is now open.

Under the leadership of Women’s Health Research at Yale Director Basmah Safdar, MD, the Women’s Health Research at Yale Pilot Project Program is growing with more awards, increased funding amounts, and more collaborations encouraged across Yale School of Medicine and Yale University. The funding priorities for this year have been determined based on iterative stakeholder input from the Yale community.

General Annual Pilot Project Awards ($50,000 max)

For research designed to meet a clear need in advancing the health of women.

The Wendy U. & Thomas C. Naratil Pioneer Awards ($70,000 max)

For highly innovative proof-of-concept research aimed at advancing our understanding of sex-specific or female-specific factors to catalyze discovery or utilization of precision-based diagnostics or therapeutics targeting symptoms or other health outcomes. Proposal may include studies on biomarkers, biologicals, biomes, drugs, devices, digital, behavioral, or community-based interventions.

New! Women's Health and Cancer Research Award ($70,000 max)

Co-funded by Yale Cancer Center, this award is for research assessing sex differences in cancer or female-specific cancers involving variations in incidence, mortality, and treatment outcomes, influenced by a combination of biological factors (like sex chromosomes, hormones, immune response, and obesity) and/or lifestyle/environmental factors (like smoking and nutrition).

Women’s Health Research at Yale’s Pilot Project Program application process begins with a Letter of Intent. After reviewing all Letters of Intent, a full application – by invitation only – will be requested from Investigators whose projects are consistent with Women’s Health Research at Yale’s funding priorities.

This funding opportunity is open to all Yale ladder faculty. Investigators outside of the Yale community are invited to collaborate with Yale or Yale-affiliated principal investigators. To be eligible for funding, you must be a member of the newly formed Women’s Health Research at Yale Collaborative. Apply at this link.

Letters of Intent are due Monday, December 22 by 5 p.m. EST. Visit Women’s Health Research at Yale’s Pilot Project Funding page for complete details, including guidance to develop your Letter of Intent and submission link.