Innovation Grants
The Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions Innovation Grants aim to provide funding for new ideas that have the potential to improve brain health through research, education, patient care and/or advocacy. We prioritize ideas that have the potential for substantial impact at a population level and can be sustained beyond the grant funding period. Examples of funded projects can be found on our funded projects page.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Letters of Intent (LOI)
LOIs should highlight the innovative nature, potential impact and timeliness of the project as well as the potential to generate additional funding/resources. The applicant may then be asked to provide additional information or address particular areas of concern in a full proposal. See the Innovation Grant Guidelines and GIBHS Innovation Grant Letter of Intent for more details.
Request for Proposals (RFP)
We will accept full proposals by request only. Proposals are not submitted through the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), and an eGC1 form is not required. Animal Care Committee and Human Subjects Committee approval is not required prior to submission but will be required if appropriate prior to award of funds.
Proposals will be reviewed by UW faculty knowledgeable in the general area of the proposal. External ad hoc reviewers may also be solicited. See the GIBHS Innovation Grant Request for Proposal for details, including review criteria.
Please email gibhs@uw.edu if you have any questions.
Letter of Intent deadline: July 15, 2026 at 11:59pm
AREAS OF FOCUS
For the current round of funding, we are looking for projects that address one of the following areas of focus:
- Artificial intelligence for behavioral health workforce development
The demand for evidence-based mental healthcare far exceeds the supply of clinicians trained to deliver it. Nearly half of all individuals with mental illness in the United States will never receive any form of care, and the quality of the care for those fortunate enough to receive services is highly variable. New artificial intelligence tools have tremendous potential for expanding the reach and impact of the limited behavioral health workforce. Such tools must be used responsibly, ethically, and balance the potential benefits with potential risks. The Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions seeks to fund projects that offer innovative and responsible applications of AI for behavioral health workforce development.
- Community living and care for serious mental illness
People thrive when they feel safe, healthy, supported and needed. But for many people living with serious mental illnesses (SMI) such as schizophrenia, one or more of these fundamental elements are missing from their community. Rarely are housing, treatment, support services, and a sense of purpose offered in one place, causing individuals with SMI to feel stuck, alone, and hopeless. We seek to fund projects that offer innovative ideas to improve this experience for patients, their loved ones, and/or the behavioral health workforce.
- Mental health and the law
People living with a serious mental illness are at high risk of being arrested in their lifetime. We seek to fund projects that can improve both health and justice outcomes for those experiencing behavioral health challenges.
- Behavioral healthcare in the perinatal period
Effective care for perinatal depression, substance use, and other behavioral health challenges is one of the best strategies we have to support families with new children and to prevent future mental health and substance use problems. We seek to fund projects that can offer innovative solutions at what is often a pivotal moment in families’ lives.
- Neuromodulation
Neuromodulation therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroconvulsive therapy can offer relief to the complex needs of those living with depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, catatonia, schizophrenia and other conditions. We seek to fund projects that expand the impact and reach of these therapies.
GIBHS Innovation Grants are intended to generate initial results that can help generate additional funding and/or resources.
Tier 1 – up to $25,000
Projects that focus on establishing foundational evidence (e.g., needs assessments, building stakeholder or community capacity).
Tier 2 – up to $100,000
Projects that will collect preliminary data, implement a “proof of concept”, pilot an intervention or seek to scale an idea.
All applications must propose a new project or research direction. Applications may not simply extend previously established research or provide bridge funding for existing work.
UW Faculty and Fellows (if permitted by their school and department and supported by a faculty member) are eligible to apply as Project Lead. Fellows with an acting instructor title and Junior Faculty should identify and apply with a Supporting Faculty Mentor. We strongly encourage applicants and collaborations from investigators in different units across UW. Individuals affiliated with organizations outside of the University of Washington may apply with a University of Washington affiliated researcher as a Project Lead.
Proposals are reviewed on the following criteria:
- Likelihood the project will help advance the Institute’s goals to improve brain health at a population level (i.e. significance and impact)
- Approach, innovation and feasibility of the idea
- Qualifications of the project team, strength of collaborations and innovation of partnership
- Appropriateness of the budget
- Potential to generate additional funding / resources
- Likelihood of sustainability beyond grant funding
- Alignment with existing GIBHS initiatives
Please review the full Innovation Grant Guidelines before submitting a Letter of Intent.
Please review the full Innovation Grant Guidelines before submitting a Letter of Intent.
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Request for Proposal (RFP)