Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Grant Program

Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Amount: US $505,000
Last Updated: September 30, 2025

Summary

The Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Grant Program, funded by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, aims to support early-career assistant professors studying human infectious diseases. With a budget of $505,000 over five years, it encourages innovative research on the interplay between human systems and infectious agents, fostering multidisciplinary approaches to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms and health maintenance.

Overview

NOTE: Candidates who have completed a Burroughs Wellcome Fund career development award (CAMS or CASI) are encouraged to apply but must contact BWF before writing the pre-proposal. Burroughs Wellcome Fund The Burroughs Wellcome Fund serves and strengthens society by nurturing a diverse group of leaders in biomedical sciences to improve human health through education and powering discovery in frontiers of greatest need. BWF’s financial support is channeled primarily through competitive peer-reviewed award programs. BWF makes grants primarily to degree-granting institutions on behalf of individual researchers. To complement these competitive award programs, BWF also makes grants to nonprofit organizations conducting activities intended to improve the general environment for science. BWF believes that a diverse scientific workforce is essential to the process and advancement of research innovation, academic discovery, and public service. Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease (PATH) The Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease program provides opportunities for assistant professors to bring multidisciplinary approaches to the study of human infectious diseases. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for accomplished investigators still early in their careers to study what happens at the points where the systems of humans and potentially infectious agents connect. The program supports research that sheds light on the fundamentals that affect the outcomes of these encounters: how colonization, infection, commensalism, and other relationships play out at levels ranging from molecular interactions to systemic ones. PATH is a highly competitive award program that provides $505,000 over five years to study pathogenesis. The program intends to give recipients the freedom and flexibility to pursue new avenues of inquiry, stimulating higher-risk research projects that hold potential for significantly advancing our understanding of how infectious diseases work and how health is maintained.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Application Details

INVESTIGATORS IN
THE PATHOGENESIS
OF INFECTIOUS
DISEASE (PATH)
Letter of Intent deadline:
July 17, 2025
Invited full proposal deadline:
November 13, 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key Dates and Program Background 3
Eligibility Requirements 4
Important Notes 4
Selection Process 4
Terms of Grant / Use of Funds 5
Instructions on How to Prepare
and Submit a Complete Proposal 6
Application Process Workflow 6
How to Submit an Online Letter of Intent Application 7
Letter of Intent Elements and Checklist 7
How to Submit an Online Full Proposal Application 8
Full Proposal Elements and Checklist 8
Submission Process 11
2 INVESTIGATORS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE (PATH)

KEY DATES
Letter of Intent applications due July 17, 2025 by 3:00 pm Eastern Time
Invitation to submit a full proposal October 3, 2025
Full proposal due November 13, 2025 by 3:00 pm Eastern Time
Finalist interviews April 13-15, 2026
Notice of award By May 31, 2026
Award start date July 1, 2026
Award end date June 30, 2031
PROGRAM BACKGROUND
The Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease The awards are intended to give recipients the freedom
program provides opportunities for assistant professors to and flexibility to pursue new avenues of inquiry and higher-
bring multidisciplinary approaches to the study of human risk research projects that hold potential for significantly
infectious diseases. It is specifically targeted toward work advancing understanding of the pathogenesis of infectious
on the pathogenesis of infectious disease. Work not disease. Researchers who start from the human host are
focused on pathogenesis will not be funded. appropriate applicants, as are those who start from the
microbe or virus. Research on under-studied infectious
The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for
diseases, including emerging diseases as well as well-
accomplished investigators still early in their careers to study
established ones, is encouraged. Work on fungal, protozoan,
what happens at the points where the systems of humans
and metazoan diseases and emerging infections is especially
and potentially infectious agents connect. The program
of interest. In addition, work done in excellent animal models
supports research that sheds light on the fundamentals that
of human disease, including in veterinary research settings,
affect the outcomes of these encounters: how colonization,
is within the program’s scope. Interdisciplinary approaches
infection, commensalism, and other relationships play out
are encouraged. Work connecting pathogenesis itself to
at levels ranging from molecular interactions to systemic
climate change is also encouraged. Work that involves more
ones. In general, faculty in their first 2–3 years are not yet
elements in studies of pathogenesis, for example, vector
competitive for this award.
biology in the context of human and pathogen biology, is
very welcome.
This award provides $505,000 over a period of five years
to support accomplished investigators at the assistant
professor level to study pathogenesis, with a focus on the
interplay between infectious agents and their hosts, shedding
light on how both are affected by their encounters. Associate
professors may not apply. This is a career development
award for individual investigators and does not support
collaborative teams.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 3

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate is an accomplished investigator at the Important Notes
mid-to-late assistant professor level with an established
n BWF strongly encourages applications from women and
record of independent research in a tenure-track position
underrepresented minorities.
or its well-supported equivalent in non-tenure offering
departments. Very few newly appointed assistant n BWF encourages submissions from those working
professors are competitive for this award. Most should in protozoan and metazoan parasites, protists, and
consider applying later in their career. fungi. Viral, bacterial, immune, and multi-species
work is likewise encouraged. Work related to malaria,
Applications must be approved and signed by an official
tuberculosis, and AIDS is appropriate for this program.
responsible for sponsored programs (generally from the
BWF particularly encourages human health-relevant
grants office, office of research, or office of sponsored
applications from veterinary scientists.
programs) at a degree-granting institution. Candidates will
generally have a Ph.D. and/or a clinical doctorate (M.D., D.V.M., n Candidates must be based at public or private non-
etc.). profit organizations [501(c)(3) or equivalent] in the
United States and Canada, including degree-granting
n Candidates must have an established record of
academic institutions, research institutes, and teaching
independent research.
hospitals affiliated with academic degree-granting
n Citizens and non-citizen permanent and temporary institutions. A 501(c)(3) organization is an American
residents of the U.S. and Canada who are legally tax exempt, nonprofit organization. Candidates should
qualified to work in the U.S. or Canada are eligible. check with their institutional officials to confirm the
Candidates who are temporary U.S. residents must hold institution’s classification.
a valid U.S. visa (J-1, H1B, F-1 or O-1 visas). Temporary
n BWF encourages submissions focusing on climate
Canadian residents must hold a valid Canadian visa
change and its impact on the pathogenosis of infectious
(Study Permit, C-43, C44, C-10, or C-20 work permits/
disease and human health.
visas).
n Candidates who will be promoted to Associate Professor
by November 13, 2025 are not eligible to apply. SELECTION PROCESS
n Candidates who have completed a Burroughs
The PATH Advisory Committee will review LOIs and full
Wellcome Fund career development award (CAMS or
proposals, interview finalists, and make recommendations
CASI) are encouraged to apply but must contact BWF
to BWF’s Board of Directors for funding.
before writing the LOI. Having had BWF travel, career
guidance for trainees, preterm birth, regulatory science,
See Key Dates on Page 3 for important grant deadline dates.
or PDEP grants does not impact PATH support.
BWF does not provide critiques of unfunded proposals.
n Microbiome-related proposals must be infectious Indirect costs may not be charged against BWF grants.
disease-focused to compete well in this program.
4 INVESTIGATORS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE (PATH)

TERMS OF GRANT/ USE OF FUNDS
PATH is a career development award made to a non- Awards may be transferred only with written approval of BWF.
profit institution on behalf of an awardee. Institutions are Requests must be received at least three months prior to any
responsible for disbursing the funds and for maintaining move explaining why a transfer is requested. Awardees who
adequate supporting records and receipts of expenditures. change institutions may take with them any equipment or
supplies purchased under the award, as well as the balance
Award recipients are required to devote at least 75 percent
of any unused award funds. Awards, supplies and equipment
of their overall time to research-related activities. There is no
cannot be transferred to government institutions, for-profits,
explicit minimum percent effort that must be dedicated to
and some non-profits.
the PATH award.
Awardees who want to take a sabbatical year in order to
Awardees must provide BWF with an annual report detailing
acquire new research skills must submit to BWF a written
scientific progress. Institutions must provide an annual
request that includes appropriate justification.
financial report. Both reports must be submitted by August 1
of each award year. Continued funding will depend on both Scientific publications or presentations that result from
the timely submission of these reports and their favorable these awards must acknowledge the awardee’s receipt of a
review by BWF and its program advisory committee. Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in the Pathogenesis
of Infectious Disease Award. Copies of journal articles and
Award recipients may obtain funds from other sources for
other publications related to work supported by this award
research in areas similar to that conducted under these
should be sent to BWF along with the annual progress report.
grants, so long as there is no conflict with meeting the
BWF award’s specific aims. Award recipients may not hold Awardees must adhere to all federal, state or provincial,
concurrent BWF career development awards. and local regulations regarding the participation of human
subjects, use of animals, radioactive or hazardous materials,
The support allocated for research is under the control
and recombinant DNA in their research projects. BWF
of the awardee and may be used flexibly for items such
expects the appropriate federal, state, and local guidelines
as equipment, consumable supplies, travel to scientific
with regard to scientific misconduct are in place and enforced
meetings, and salaries for laboratory personnel working with
at all institutions with which BWF awardees are affiliated.
the awardee. Prior approval by BWF is required when, within
an award year, purchases of equipment exceed $20,000 or Awardees should share scientific findings in a timely manner
travel costs exceed $8,000. The PATH award may not be via the standard means of scientific communication, including
used to pay student tuition. publications and/or presentations in scientific forums.
Awardees should follow their institutions’ patent, copyright,
During the award period, unused research funds may be
and intellectual property policies regarding discoveries that
carried over to the succeeding year. Unused funds greater
result from research conducted under these awards. BWF
than $500 held by institutions when awards expire or are
will not retain any rights to published results or patents that
terminated must be returned to BWF. Awardees may receive
result from the research.
no-cost extensions per approval by the program officer. BWF
now limits grant extensions to a maximum of 10 years.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 5

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PREPARE
AND SUBMIT A COMPLETE PROPOSAL
Application Process
Applying for this award is a two-stage process:
1. Letter of Intent (LOI). Interested candidates who meet
the eligibility criteria may submit one online LOI through
Application Process Workflow
BWF’s online grant management system by July 17, 2025
3:00 pm Eastern Time. Though the LOI is short, it should
START
be well thought out and prepared with care: only a fraction
of those submitting LOIs will be invited to submit a full
proposal.
2. Full proposals. Submission of full proposals
will be by invitation only after review of LOIs. By
Review Eligibility
October 3, 2025, those who make it to the next round
Requirements
will be invited to submit a full research proposal.
Instructions on how to prepare a full research proposal
(elements listed below) will be provided by email with
the invitation to participate. Full proposals will be due
Submit
November 13, 2025 by 3:00 pm Eastern Time.
Are you Eligible? YES
Letter of Intent
All communications, including the invitation to submit a full Online
proposal and declinations, will be made through email.
BWF does not provide critiques of LOIs or of full proposals.
Receive
NO Invitation for
Full Proposal?
YES
NO
Submit Full
Proposal Online
End
6 INVESTIGATORS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE (PATH)

Letter of Intent Elements and Checklist PDF Attachments:
A complete LOI consists of data entry fields completed in the A. Candidate’s CV (5-page limit)
online application plus several PDF attachments. The detailed The publications section of your CV should, in order,
components of the complete LOI are shown below. list your educational details in chronological order;
then your research publications, with your name in
Online LOI Fields
bold type, in chronological order divided into
n Proposal Information Graduate School, Postdoctoral Fellowship, and
Faculty categories; then a list of your reviews, book
n Applicant Information
chapters, and other publications, also in chronological
n Applicant Demographics order. The CV should otherwise be typical, listing your
education details and funding history.
n Institution Information
n Five Critical Questions B. US IRS Letter of Determination
Upload your institution’s US IRS Letter of Determination
1. What is your proposed research question?
showing non-profit status.
(50 words)
2. Why is the work you propose interesting and Note:
important? How will it change our understanding
LOIs will not be accepted after 3:00 pm Eastern Time on
of how disease unfolds?
July 17, 2025. The online application system shuts down
(200 words)
automatically at the deadline and the SUBMIT button will no
3. How will you do it? What is your approach?
longer be available.
(200 words)
n Plan to submit your application well in advance of the
4. What about your outlook / background / training
grant deadline to allow adequate time to troubleshoot
gives you great insight into this problem?
any issues.
(100 words)
5. How is the work you propose here different and n Out of fairness to all applicants, late submissions will
higher risk than the mainline work you seek to fund not be accepted. No exceptions or extensions will be
through other grant programs? granted.
(100 words)
n After the deadline, applicants with incomplete proposals
n Signature of Institution’s Signing Official and those not adhering to instructions will be disqualified
without prior notice.
n Only proposals submitted through BWF online
application website will be accepted.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 7

How to Submit an Online n The letter should describe the focus and direction
Full Proposal Application of the institution’s research programs that are
relevant to the proposed work and discuss how
An email will be sent to the invited candidate with a link to the
the applicant’s research fits into the organization.
full proposal application.
The letter should also describe all program and
institutional support that will be provided for
Full Proposal Elements and Checklist the candidate, including such things as salary
support, mentoring for career development, and
A complete full proposal consists of data entry fields
protection of 75 percent of the grantee’s time for
submitted through the online application plus several required
research.
PDF attachments. The detailed components of the complete
full proposal are shown below. n The letter must contain a signature and a
signature block and be on institutional letterhead.
Online full proposal elements
n The letter should be forwarded to the applicant
n Proposal Information for inclusion in the online application.
n Applicant Information
B. CV of Applicant
n Applicant Demographics You may submit the same biosketch/short-form CV
used in your LOI.
n Institution Information
n Lay Abstract C. Importance (template provided)
Using the Importance Form provided, describe how
n Scientific Abstract
the aims presented here depart from or move beyond
n Budget and Budget Justification currently funded work or, if the first substantial
n Publication Information Federal grant has not yet been reached, beyond
current proposals.
n Signature of Institution’s Signing Official
D. Research Plan
Proposal Attachments:
(5-page limit) In no more than five pages (including
figures, tables, graphs, and images), describe the
Please upload the following required documents.
Research Plan. It should be a complete, cohesive, and
Download Forms and Templates
coherent scientific document that is easy to read. In the
order listed below, the plan should describe:
A. Institutional Letter of Support
The Institutional Letter of Support should be written n Specific aims.
on behalf of the applicant’s institution by the chair,
n Background and significance.
dean, division director, or other senior official who
n Experimental methods and procedures.
can best communicate the institution’s commitment
to the applicant and the applicant’s fit within the n Long-term objectives. If the applicant has received
institution’s plans and ambitions. This statement of or applied to other sources for extended support to
the institution’s investment in and commitment to cover research in the area of this proposal, explain in
the applicant’s scientific, academic, and personal detail how the research to be supported by BWF’s
development is a critical part of a successful award will differ from or enhance the research
application for this career development award. supported by the other sources.
Letters that lack detail, specificity, or clear enthusiasm
for the applicant and his or her career can undermine
an otherwise competitive proposal.
8 INVESTIGATORS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE (PATH)

n Use standard 11- or 12-point font for the text, and I. Confidential Letters of Recommendation
no smaller than a 9 to 10-point font for figures, Three confidential Letters of Recommendation from
legends, and tables. This requirement will be strictly individuals who are familiar with the applicant’s
enforced. Text must be single-spaced, with one- qualifications are required.
half inch or larger margins on all sides. Number
n At least one letter should come from someone
the pages of the research plan. Do not include a
involved in training the applicant.
table of contents or appendices. A bibliography
n One letter must be from a recommender not
is a separate required attachment and is not
connected to the applicant’s current institution or
considered part of the five-page limit.
its affiliates.
E. Bibliography
n Letters of Recommendation should be on
Provide a list of literature references directly relevant
letterhead and include a signature block.
to the research plan. The bibliography is not included
in the five-page limit for the research plan. n Recommendations must not be viewed by
the applicant.
F. Facilities and Resources (template provided)
n Each recommender must individually upload
Using the Facilities and Resources Form provided,
their Recommendation Letter in advance of the
describe the laboratory space, equipment, and
application deadline for the application to
other resources for research and training that will be
be submitted.
available to the investigator.
n It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure
G. Reprints that the recommenders have submitted their
Provide one to three publications or manuscripts sub-
letters on time. An application cannot be
mitted for publication that demonstrate the applicant’s
submitted without all three recommendation
capabilities and relevant research accomplishments.
letters uploaded by the recommenders by the
n Manuscripts in preparation may not be included, application deadline.
but preprints are allowed. At least one reprint is
n Letters of collaboration will not be accepted.
required and up to three are allowed.
n The letter must be converted to PDF and
H. US IRS Letter of Determination uploaded to your online application by each
Upload your institution’s US IRS letter of recommender.
determination showing non-profit status.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 9

Applicant instructions to obtain confidential Letters of Recommender instructions to submit confidential letter:
Recommendation:
n Complete your letter offline using any standard word
1. From within the application, access the Request processing software. Please include the letter on official
Recommendation Letter Section to send an email to the university letterhead, including a signature block.
recommender. Enter the email address of the individual,
n Convert the document to a PDF file. Save the letter as a
confirm the email, and click the “+” button. A pop-up
.pdf on your system.
screen will appear. Verify the information and click the
n Return to the applicant’s email request and click on the
“Send Email” button.
web link which will take you to a page where you can
2. The email to the recommender will contain a link that the
upload the recommendation letter.
individual must use to upload the letter to the proposal.
n Click the “Upload” button.
Letters are confidential and cannot be viewed by the
candidate. n Click the “Save” button.
3. Once the letter has been uploaded by the recommender, n Once your letter has been uploaded, the applicant will be
the letter will be listed in the Attached Documents able to see whether or not your letter has been
section in the list of uploaded documents. submitted, but cannot view the content of the letter.
4. Letters are confidential and should not be viewed by the n An application CANNOT BE SUBMITTED until the
applicant. You will only be able to see that the letter has applicant’s three letters of recommendation have been
or has not been uploaded to your application. uploaded and attached to the application by the grant
deadline, November 13, 2025, 3:00 pm (EST).
Note: Letters sent separately or after the application due
date will not be accepted.
10 INVESTIGATORS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE (PATH)

Submission Process Questions?
Once the application is complete, proceed with the Please review our online Frequently Asked Questions first.
following steps: Questions should be directed in advance to BWF program
staff by contacting:
n Click “Validate” on the sidebar to see if any errors are
identified. All information must be provided prior to
Victoria McGovern, Ph.D., Senior Program Officer
application submission.
vmcgovern@bwfund.org, 919-991-5112
n If there are no missing items in the application, click on
Darcy Lewandowski, Program Associate
the SUBMIT link on the sidebar. Click the blue SUBMIT
dlewandowski@bwfund.org, 919-991-5132
button. The application is NOT submitted until you
complete this step.
n Full Proposal submissions must occur prior to
November 13, 2025 at 3:00 pm (EST). The submit button
will disappear after that time. Applicants should receive
a confirmation email once your application is submitted.
If you do not receive this email, please reach out to BWF.
Note:
Full proposals will not be accepted after 3:00 pm EST on
November 13, 2025. The online application system shuts
down automatically at the deadline and the “SUBMIT” button
will no longer be available. Recommenders should upload
their letters well in advance of the deadline to allow ample
time to troubleshoot any issues. Applicants, too, should plan
to submit applications well in advance of the grant deadline
to allow adequate time to troubleshoot any issues. NO
EXCEPTIONS OR EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED.
After the deadline, applicants with incomplete proposals and
those not adhering to instructions will be disqualified.
Only full proposals submitted through BWF’s online
application system will be accepted.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 11