Projects must be a collaboration between at least one researcher studying humans and one researcher studying non-human animals. The primary investigator must be a tenure-system faculty member at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Co-investigators can be tenure-system faculty members, research professionals, or specialized faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois Springfield, or the University of Illinois Chicago.

Proposals are evaluated on the significance of their contribution to advancing knowledge about the role of biological and environmental influences in the etiology of mental health, or related social, affective, and behavioral functioning. The rigor of the methods and analyses and their suitability to addressing the questions guiding the research is also considered. In addition, a clear path to writing and submitting one or more funding proposals to external funding agencies is necessary.

Award requests can be made up to a total of $50,000. Eligible expenditures are the same as those for the CSBS Small Grant Program—eligible and ineligible expenditures may be found here; please review these prior to starting the application.

Kellner Center Small Grant submission is a two-stage process—a pre-proposal is submitted and based on the pre-proposal a full proposal may be invited:

Pre-proposals will be reviewed by the CSBS and Kellner Center teams to determine if the project meets the criteria for the Kellner Center Small Grants.

• Pre-proposals will be accepted July 15 – August 15, 2025
• Decisions on pre-proposals will be communicated by September 1, 2025

Invited full proposals will be reviewed by three researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois Springfield, or the University of Illinois Chicago. These reviews guide the decisions of the Kellner Center Governing Board. The full proposal deadline is October 15, 2025 with the submission portal opening on September 15, 2025.

Pre-Proposal

Applicants are required to submit the following documents through the online submission form.

• A 1-page pre-proposal using the template below
• Current CVs of PI and Co-I’s 

The 1-page pre-proposal must include the following sections:

• Background & Significance: Describe the importance of the project, the motivation for the research, and how the project will impact society (see Pillar 3 of the Kellner Center mission). 
• Goals & Objectives: Outline the specific aims and what you seek to accomplish with your project. 
• Methods: Detail your methodological and analytical plan and justify the plan’s feasibility. 
• Results & Interpretation: Describe the predicted results in relation to the goals and objectives of the study; describe alternative outcomes and their interpretation.
• Requested Funds: Indicate the total amount requested (up to $50,000) and how the funds will be allocated. 
• Research Team: Explain the contributions of each member of the assembled team in conducting the proposed research; be clear on the unique expertise each brings to the project and how you will work together. 
• External Funding Path: Describe the connection to a specific external funding opportunity and include a link to the funding announcement. 

Please include references and any additional information as a separate document and upload it under the appendices section.  

Full Proposal

The following documents are required to submit a full proposal: 

• A 6-page full proposal: Please use the template provided to you by CSBS based on the external funding mechanism you specified in your pre-proposal.

• Broader impacts plan: Describe the potential for the research to contribute to society via interventions, policymaking, or other real world applications including education, outreach, or other types of engagement (see Pillar 3 of the Kellner Center mission) (250 words)
• A project summary (250 words)
• A budget and budget justification (1 page) 
• A plan for applying for external funding (250 words)
• A project timeline (file upload)
• CVs of PI and Co-I’s (file upload)

The Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society Small Grants supports interdisciplinary research projects that integrate human and non-human models to understand the etiology of mental health, or related social, affective, and behavioral functioning. In line with the Kellner Center mission, projects should lay the groundwork for creating new syntheses to advance our knowledge of the complex processes by which biology, behavior, and the environment shape individuals. Projects are expected to generate preliminary data or findings that will lead to future grant proposals to external funding agencies.

Full proposals are reviewed by three researchers across the University of Illinois system, including human and non-human animal researchers in social and behavioral sciences and the biological sciences.

Importance and significance

• Does the proposal address an important issue related to the diagnosis and/or treatment of human mental health and/or social, affective, and behavioral functioning?
• Will the research advance scientific understanding of the issue?
• Is a new and promising solution to a problem proposed?

Methodological and analytical strength

• Will the proposed methods and analyses answer the research questions and/or hypotheses?
• Is there an appropriate and strong methodological and analytic plan?
• Is the plan viable given logistical factors (e.g., funding)?

Clear path to external funding

• Is there a clear connection to a viable external funding opportunity?

Interdisciplinary collaboration

• Does the proposed project bring together researchers using humans and non-human animal models?
• Is this research conceptually informed by and/or use methods and/or analyses from biological and social and behavioral sciences?

Broader Impacts

• Does the BI plan address a socially relevant need and make a meaningful contribution to society?
• How well is the BI plan integrated with the research goals/expertise of the research team?
• Does the BI plan show originality in its approach to societal impact (e.g., education, outreach, engagement)?
• Does the BI plan involve meaningful partnerships or engage audiences effectively?

CSBS and the Kellner Center are committed to supporting the success of the projects we fund. All recipients will be matched with a dedicated CSBS Research Development (RD) staff member to provide individualized support for the duration of the project. Support includes:

• A kickoff meeting with the RD staff member and CSBS and/or Kellner Director
• Progress check-ins at 6, 12, and 18 months
• Additional meetings by request

These check-ins offer an opportunity to discuss developments (e.g., recruitment, data acquisition, etc.), address any complications, and to plan for next steps beyond the current project.

Final Reporting

At the end of each year of the grant period, recipients must submit a report outlining project progress, results, and impact as well as future plans for leveraging the work to pursue external funding.

Project Changes & Issues

If challenges arise during the project, CSBS and the Kellner Center will work with you to resolve them. However, CSBS and the Kellner Center reserve the right to recover funds from projects that cannot be completed as proposed.

To request changes to your project (e.g., team, scope, design, or budget), please email CSBScience@illinois.edu. All changes must be approved in advance and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.