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Charles H. Hood Foundation Child Health Research Awards Program - Application Process

Overview

The Child Health Research Awards Program supports early-career investigators whose research has the potential to advance the health and well-being of children. Through this program, the Charles H. Hood Foundation provides two-year grants totaling $200,000 ($100,000 per year, inclusive of 10% indirect costs) to newly independent faculty at nonprofit academic, medical, and research institutions located in the New England area.

The Charles Hood Foundation was incorporated in 1942 with the mission to improve the health and quality of life for children. Since its inception, the Child Health Research Awards program has supported 688 early-career investigators across disciplines relevant to child health, including basic science, clinical investigation, public health, health services research, and epidemiology. This award provides resources to pursue creative ideas, establish independent research programs, and build the foundation for future funding.

Updated Application Process

Beginning with the September 2026 funding cycle, the application process includes a two-step review process.

  1. Concept Paper Submission – Applicants first submit a brief Concept Paper outlining the project’s scientific aims, research approach, and relevance to child health.
  2. Full Proposal (By Invitation Only) – Following review by the Scientific Review Committee, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

Applicants are encouraged to review the full Application Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions before beginning the submission process.

Grant Details

Key Dates

The review process is currently underway for our September 2026 Awards cycle. Applicants to be invited to submit Full Proposals will be notified by email at the end of May. Please check back in September for information about our next funding opportunity.

Application Materials

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Application Portal

What it Means to Receive a Hood Grant

"It boosted my confidence that the area of my research was important to child health and that its implications would be beneficial to children and other individuals affected by the diseases under study."
"This Award helped most in that it allowed me to hire an additional postdoctoral fellow as I was starting my laboratory. It boosted the productivity of the lab at a time when generally a laboratory is ramping up and less productive. In this way, I feel that I got a head start and was able to demonstrate considerable productivity as I applied for governmental funding."
"The Hood Foundation grant provided me a wonderful opportunity to expand research in the area of rehabilitation robotics to children with cerebral palsy – and allowed me to publish the first peer reviewed journal article in this area of study (American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation). It also provided me with the opportunity to independently manage my own grant, and allowed me to learn important administrative skills in the process."
"The funding allowed me to hire a research assistant which was invaluable to my research progress and my success in securing a K08 grant which has since led to an R01. Thanks very much!"
"Provided protected time for me at a critically important time in my research career. It helped me to launch an independent research program, providing time to write an R01 application (that was ultimately funded)."
"Allowed me the resources – materials and a postdoc – to take risks and get enough preliminary data to get my first R01. Now have five federally funded grants, might not have been possible without the Hood grant in the critical beginning time period."
"It provided the early funding that a new faculty person needs – particularly for hiring post-docs and technicians to help ease the burden of labor-intensive projects. Not only did it help me to obtain data for federal grants but, with being able to hire other people in the lab to do the labor, it gave me time to actually write the grants and analyze the data."
"It allowed me to collect preliminary data needed for NIH grant applications. Given the current situation of NIH funding, large amounts of data are necessary in order to be competitive in R01 grant applications. So the Hood Foundation Award is tremendously helpful for providing initial funding for junior faculty."

Learn More

To learn more about Hood Foundation’s Child Health Research Awards, stay informed about our latest initiatives, and opportunities to collaborate, visit our news section regularly and follow us on LinkedIn.