Washington University School of Medicine and our partner hospitals are proud to support medical education research through several grant and fellowship programs.

In their April 2016 Academic Medicine article, Larry D. Gruppen, PhD (University of Michigan Medical School), and Steven J. Durning, MD, PhD (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences), provide a practical guide for investigators seeking funding for medical education research.
Read the article: Needles and Haystacks: Finding Funding for Medical Education Research.

The programs and organizations below offer funding opportunities for research and scholarship in health professions education:

From left, Paul Bridgman, PhD, and Krikor Dikranian, MD, PhD, professors in the Department of Neuroscience, demonstrate the “Guide to Medical Histology” iBook they created for medical learners. A similar “Neuroscience” iBook, also created by Dikranian, was supported by a Loeb teaching fellowship.

Internal funding sources

Loeb teaching fellowships

The Carol B. and Jerome T. Loeb Teaching Fellows program at Washington University School of Medicine provides fellows the opportunity to implement ideas that augment the education of medical students and residents. The voluntary clinical faculty of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the clinical and/or investigator-track faculty at Washington University School of Medicine are eligible to apply.

Go to Loeb Fellowship »


Diversity and Inclusion Grant program

The Diversity and Inclusion Grant program supports Washington University faculty and staff in initiatives that strengthen and promote diversity on campus. Diversity includes focus on gender, race, ethnicity, disability, geography, socioeconomic status, age, politics, religion, philosophy, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Go to Diversity & Inclusion Grants »


Barnes-Jewish Hospital Grants

Barnes-Jewish Hospital Grants Administration serves the staff of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the faculty and staff of Washington University School of Medicine.

Go to The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital Grants Administration » 


Children’s Discovery Institute

The Children’s Discovery Institute is a world-class center for pediatric research and innovation created to encourage researchers to ask bold questions and take bold risks to uncover answers.  This partnership established in 2006 between two prominent organizations—St.Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University—is uniquely positioned to leverage the abilities of clinicians, investigators, trainees, and professional staff throughout the University’s academic and medical community.

Go to Children’s Discovery Institute » 


Academy of Educators Small Grants Program

The Academy of Educators, in collaboration with the Medical Education Research Unit (MERU), is pleased to announce the launch of the Small Grants Program. Grants will be awarded in the $3-5k range to support faculty who wish to create, implements and/or evaluate innovative medical education programs. Faculty from all programs and departments at the School of Medicine are encourage to apply.

Go to Academy of Educators Small Grants Program»


External funding sources

Group for Educational Affairs Grants

For more information see the CGEA Mini-Grant Proposals section on the CGEA web site.

The purpose of the AAMC’s Group on Educational Affairs (GEA) is to advance medical education and medical educators through faculty development, curriculum development, educational research, and assessment. One of GEA’s four sections, the Section for Medical Education Scholarship Research and Evaluation (MESRE) is focused on enhancing the quality of research in medical education and promoting its application in practice.

The GEA provides funding opportunities for research proposals that foster collaborations among the GEA sections and/or regions, as well as schools, professions, and/or departments within an institution.

  • Research proposals on the following topics are encouraged but not required to receive funding:
  • Inter-professional education.
  • Innovations in faculty development
  • Professional identify formation
  • Student / resident well-being, mistreatment; issues relating to the learning environment
  • Self-directed learning
  • Curricular innovations, such as competency-based education, “entrustable professional activities,” milestones, and creative approaches to delivery of education

Go to GEA Grants »


AMA grants

The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation takes great pride in recognizing the extraordinary efforts of medical students, residents and fellows, and physicians who go “beyond the call of duty” to provide patient care, train future physicians, and advance the field of medicine. The foundation provides financial assistance through scholarships, grants and awards.

Go to AMA awards »


AMEE Research Grants program

An International Association for Medical Education (AMEE) is an international organization that promotes scholarship in healthcare professions education. Their goals are to advance knowledge and best practices in education and to build a community of scholars working in the field.

AMEE is introducing a program to provide financial support up to £10,000 for educational research projects. The award is open only to current paid AMEE Individual and Student Members.

Go to AMEE awards and grants »


ASE grants program

The Association for Surgical Education (ASE) Foundation was established to advance surgical education by raising and disseminating funds to support innovative research and education projects and programs. The Foundation’s assets and fund raising capabilities allowed for the development of the Center for Excellence in Surgical Education, Research and Training (CESERT) offers funding opportunities for deserving investigators. Priorities are given to research projects that support these categories:

  • Innovations in surgical education that improve patient care
  • Innovations in performance evaluation and assessment
  • Innovations in student programs
  • Innovations in resident and faculty development
  • Innovations in educational administration

Go to ASE CESERT Pyramid Grant Application »


IAMSE Educational Scholarship Grant

The International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) is a professional development society that promotes excellence and innovation in teaching, student assessment, program evaluation, instructional technology, human simulation, and learner-centered education. Through its research grant program, the IAMSE wishes to encourage and support scholarship in medical science education.The two-year award provides a research grant each year for up to $3,000, with preference given to new projects.

Go to IAMSE grants »


Ilene B. Harris Legacy Fund

The UIC Department of Medical Education is pleased to announce a call for letters of intent for the first round of the Ilene B. Harris Legacy Research Fund. The goal of the fund is to further the mission of the Department by supporting health professions education research projects that address important problems or questions in health professions in ways that advance innovation and/or methodological approaches. Proposals from medical education scholars employed at any non-profit institution of higher education are welcome. Projects are limited to 1 year and $40,000.

Go to Ilene B. Harris Legacy Fund »


Macy Foundation

Through its funding programs, the Josiah Jr. Macy Foundation strives to improve the health of the public by advancing the education and training of health professionals. The foundation’s priorities include:

  • Interprofessional education and teamwork
  • New curriculum content
  • New models for clinical education
  • Education for the care of underserved populations
  • Career development in health professions education

Go to Macy Foundation »


NBME Stemmler Fund

National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Edward J. Stemmler Medical Education Research Fund supports research or development of innovative assessment approaches in medical education. Expected outcomes include advances in the theory, knowledge, or practice of assessment at any point along the continuum of medical education. Pilot and more comprehensive projects are both of interest. Collaborative investigations within or among institutions are eligible, particularly as they strengthen the likelihood of the project’s contribution and success.

Go to Stemmler Fund »


National Institutes of Health

Did you know that NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world, investing more than $32 billion a year to enhance life, and reduce illness and disability? NIH funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments, helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.

Go to National Institutes of Health »