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The Gerber Foundation Emerging Investigator Award

The Gerber Foundation

Launching the Next Generation of Child Health Researchers

The Gerber Emerging Investigator Award supports promising investigators in the early stages of their research careers. The award provides funding and mentorship opportunities to help emerging researchers conduct a first mentored pediatric research project, generate preliminary data, and build the skills and experience needed for a sustained career in child health research.

The Foundation recognizes that research careers take many forms. Success may include future research funding, scientific publications, clinical leadership, implementation of evidence-based practices, or other contributions that improve the lives of infants and children.

Award Highlights

Award amount: $50,000
Supports mentored pediatric research projects
Open to trainees and early-stage investigators
Requires mentor and institutional support
Emphasizes career development and research independence

Program Goals

Goal 1: Develop Future Child Health Researchers

Support investigators in building the skills, experience, and confidence needed to pursue independent research careers.

Goal 2: Advance Early-Stage Research

Enable investigators to generate preliminary data, establish collaborations, and develop competitive future research proposals.

Goal 3: Strengthen the Pediatric Research Workforce

Foster a pipeline of clinician-scientists, researchers, and research leaders dedicated to improving the health and well-being of infants and children.

Budget Considerations

A maximum of $50,000 (inclusive of indirects) per project will be awarded under the Emerging Investigator Award program.
Indirect costs are limited to no more than 10% of the total direct costs.
No more than half of the total budget may be applied to salary for the developing researcher (including fringe benefits).
The remainder of the funds are to be used for research-related expenses, including supplies.
Conference and Travel: Up to $4,000 may be requested for reasonable conference registration, transportation, lodging, and related travel expenses that support the funded research. Priority should be given to opportunities to present findings from the Gerber Foundation-supported project, and all expenses must be consistent with the applicant’s institution’s travel policies.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

These rankings synthesize the Foundation's published priorities, eligibility rules and review process. They are not an official numerical scoring rubric.

1

★★★★★

Direct relevance to infant and toddler health — Critical

Focus on a meaningful health, nutrition, developmental or environmental problem affecting children from pre-birth through age three. A strong proposal explains why this age group is especially affected and why the research fits the Foundation's mission.

The Gerber Foundation

2

★★★★★

Practical clinical impact and potential to change practice — Critical

Show how findings could improve diagnosis, treatment, nutritional management, prevention or care delivery. The Foundation particularly values practical solutions that can be implemented broadly and within a predictable timeframe.

The Gerber Foundation

3

★★★★★

Originality and new knowledge — Critical

Address an unresolved clinical problem with a novel hypothesis, intervention, diagnostic tool or assessment method. The proposed work should generate new evidence rather than simply repeat established findings or disseminate existing information.

4

★★★★★

Scientific rigor and methodological quality — Critical

Define clear aims, appropriate study design, meaningful endpoints, suitable comparison groups and a credible analysis plan. The full proposal must demonstrate scientific merit to both expert reviewers and a board that includes non-specialists.

The Gerber Foundation

5

★★★★☆

Feasibility and a clear path to implementation — Very high

Demonstrate that the work can be completed within the proposed timeframe and budget. Explain how results could be translated into clinical care, including the next steps, implementation barriers and likely timeframe for use.

6

★★★★☆

Potential for broad and measurable benefit — Very high

Prioritize solutions that could benefit many infants and young children, improve care-provider decisions, reduce adverse outcomes or address common pediatric problems. Identify the intended beneficiaries and measurable improvements.

The Gerber Foundation

7

★★★★☆

Investigator expertise and institutional support — Very high

Show that the principal investigator and institution have the necessary experience, facilities, collaborators and access to the relevant population. The Emerging Investigator Award also requires a qualified mentor and substantive leadership by the early-career applicant.

The Gerber Foundation

8

★★★★☆

Career development and mentorship — High

Explain how the project will build research skills, generate preliminary data, strengthen collaborations and support future research funding. This is particularly important for the Emerging Investigator Award.

The Gerber Foundation

9

★★★☆☆

Appropriate budget and research timeline — High

Match the requested funds to the work, use milestones that demonstrate progress and justify personnel, supplies and other costs. Observe the Foundation's limits on indirect costs, salary support and project duration.

10

★★★★☆

Eligibility, concept-paper fit and clear communication — Essential gate

Apply through an eligible U.S.-based organization, submit a concept paper in accessible language and proceed to a full proposal only if invited. Make the research problem and practical benefit understandable to both scientific and lay reviewers.

The Gerber Foundation

Ranked summary table

Rank	Predictor	Importance
1	Infant and toddler health relevance	Critical
2	Practical clinical impact	Critical
3	Originality and new knowledge	Critical
4	Scientific rigor	Critical
5	Feasibility and implementation pathway	Very high
6	Broad, measurable benefit	Very high
7	Investigator and institutional capability	Very high
8	Career development and mentorship	High; especially Emerging Investigator
9	Budget and timeline	High
10	Eligibility and concept-paper compliance	Essential gate

Specialties

Pediatrics

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Research focus: Proposed research must focus on infants and young children from pre-birth through age three and align with the Foundation’s pediatric research priorities.
US.-based: The applying organization and proposed research must be based in the United States.
Eligible organization: The applying organization must be recognized as tax-exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3) and classified as other than a private foundation under IRC Section 509. Eligible public governmental institutions, including universities, may also apply.
Institutional applicant: Grants are made to eligible organizations, not to individuals.
Emerging investigator status: The Principal Investigator must be in the early stages of developing an independent research career.
Prior funding: The Principal Investigator may not have previously received an NIH K- or R-series award (with the exception of a K12 award through an institution)
Mentorship: The Principal Investigator must have an identified, qualified research mentor who will provide active mentorship throughout the project.
Project leadership: The Emerging Investigator must serve as the Principal Investigator and have a substantive intellectual and leadership role in the proposed research.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: The Gerber Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 4747 West 48th Street, Suite 153 Fremont, MI 49412-8119

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