We’re introducing a required Letter of Intent process to streamline incoming proposals. Applicants must receive LOI approval before submitting a full application. Submit by October 8, 2026.
HEALS — 19th call for submissions
HEALS Pilot Project Program 19th Call for Submissions
The Center on Health and Environment Across the LifeSpan (HEALS) announces two calls for pilot project submissions — with a dedicated track for early-stage investigators and community-engaged projects.
HEALS Pilot Project Program. Two calls, three tracks. Supporting innovative environmental health research across the lifespan — including a special joint call with the Pepper Center focused on aging, serious illness, and environmental health.
123+Pilot studies funded
$3.5MDirect funding awarded
~$50MIn subsequent grants generated
$50KMax per award
📣
HEALS 19th Pilot Call now open — 2 calls, 3 tracks — portal launched September 16, 2026
Regular deadline: December 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM · Early Investigator / Community Engagement final deadline: December 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM
“Supporting innovative environmental health research — from discovery to community impact.”
HEALS P30 ES023515 — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
The Mount Sinai Center on Health and Environment Across the Lifespan (HEALS) is pleased to announce its 19th call for pilot grant proposals. This program supports innovative research and multidisciplinary collaborations in environmental health sciences. We invite proposals that explore critical environmental health challenges and advance our understanding of environmental exposures and their impacts on human health.
Aligned with NIEHS strategic priorities
NIEHS FY2025–2029 Research Areas of Emphasis
HEALS pilot projects are encouraged to align with the NIEHS FY2025–2029 Strategic Plan — Health at the Intersection of People and Their Environments.
Area 1
Exposomics
The exposome is the integrated compilation of environmental influences across an individual’s lifetime.
Focused on understanding the basis of interindividual differences in disease susceptibility, progression, and severity, accounting for environmental exposures throughout life.
Understanding the mechanisms through which environmental exposures affect biological processes leading to disease is critical to understanding susceptibility and preventing adverse health outcomes.
Understanding the underlying causes of environmental health disparities and reducing environmental impacts on the health of the communities most affected.
Protecting Health From the Impacts of Extreme Weather and Disasters
Extreme weather events including record-breaking heat, storms, and droughts create increased risk of floods, wildfires, and vector-borne diseases that compromise human health.
Applicants are invited to submit projects addressing the intersection of aging or serious illness and environmental health.
01
Environmental exposures and pain, symptom burden, or functional decline in older adults
02
Environmental contributors to disability, cognitive impairment, or dementia
03
Quality of life, caregiver burden, and family needs in serious illness
04
Interventions addressing environmental risk factors in older adults
05
Innovative exposure assessment in aging or palliative care populations
06
Community-engaged environmental health disparities research
07
Biological mechanisms linking exposures to aging and serious illness
Especially encouraged: Applications addressing cognitive impairment or dementia are particularly welcome. Early-stage investigators and community-engaged projects may be eligible for pre-review feedback before the final submission deadline.
2 calls · 3 tracks
Choose the right track for your work
HEALS offers two calls this cycle. The Early Investigator / Community Engagement track is a special submission pathway available across both calls, with a pre-review opportunity and extended deadline. All awards are up to $50,000 in direct costs.
HEALS general track
General Environmental Health Call
Open to any innovative environmental health pilot project across the lifespan. No aging or serious illness focus required.
Who should apply
Any investigator at any career level with an environmental health focus.
Deadline: Dec 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
HEALS special call
★ Joint with Pepper Center
HEALS × Pepper Center Special Call
A featured joint initiative with the Mount Sinai Pepper Older Americans Independence Center. Focused on the intersection of aging, serious illness, and environmental health. Multidisciplinary and translational proposals strongly encouraged.
Who should apply
Investigators whose work bridges environmental exposures and aging or serious illness outcomes.
Deadline: Dec 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Special track
Available across both calls
Early Investigator / Community Engagement Call
For early-stage investigators or community-engaged projects. Includes a mandatory pre-review step — submit a draft by October 21 to access this track. Feedback is returned by November 4, giving you extra time to strengthen your final submission.
Who should apply
Postdocs, instructors, assistant professors, or any investigator with a proposal that incorporates community engagement or principles of community-engaged research.
📋 Pre-review draft — October 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Submit only:
✓ Title page ✓ Abstract ✓ Research plan
📦 Final complete submission — December 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Full application package required — all documents
Available resources
HEALS core resources
HEALS cores are available to all applicants. The HEALS × Pepper Call also has access to Pepper Center cores.
Translational Research Support Core (TRSC) · Contact Manish Arora
Biostatistics & Data Science Facility Core (BDSFC) · Contact Chris Gennings
Community Engagement Core (CEC) · Contact Maida GalvezClick to learn about CEC services ↓
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The CEC serves as the translational hub of the Institute, bringing exposomic research findings to the clinic, communities, and decision-makers, transforming practices and policies that protect public health.
Connects researchers with community partners to address environmental health needs
Provides health literacy and communications consultation services
Supports pilot project teams to center community needs throughout the research process
Provides training and resources to support culturally responsive community-engaged research
All career levelsInvestigators at every stage are eligible. Early career investigators receive priority. PIs must hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent) and be affiliated with a U.S.-based academic institution or non-profit research organization.
MembershipPrincipal Investigators must hold a Mount Sinai Core Center membership. Past pilot awardees are considered active members.Interested in becoming a center member?
Postdoctoral fellowsMust apply through a multi-PI arrangement. PIs must have a demonstrated record of conducting independent research in the field of environmental health sciences.
External researchersMay participate as co-investigators. Collaborative proposals involving multiple institutions or interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. Projects aligned with the HEALS Community Engagement Core are welcomed.
IneligibilityAssociate and full Professors who recently received pilot funding are ineligible for one year following their award. Postdoctoral Fellows, Instructors and Assistant Professors are exempt.
Foreign projectsProjects involving new data collection outside the U.S. are not eligible.
Cross-center collaboration is encouraged and considered in the review process. A list of NIEHS P30 centers can be found here.
How proposals are evaluated
Review criteria
★
Scientific merit and innovation Originality, significance, and rigor of the proposed approach.
★
Future funding potential Capacity to support a larger future funded project (R21 or R01 scale).
★
Mission relevance Integration of aging and environmental health perspectives aligned with program priorities.
★
Feasibility and rigor Soundness of methods, data analysis plan, and timeline with benchmarks.
★
Core resource utilization Potential use of shared Pepper Center and HEALS core facilities.
★
Community impact Strength of community involvement and potential impact on affected populations. Alignment with the Community Engagement Core is encouraged.
What to submit
Application requirements
Research plan: 3–5 pages maximum. Biosketches, budget, and references are not counted in the page limit. Documents marked * are required only where noted.
1
First step
Submit a Letter of Intent
All applicants must submit a Letter of Intent and receive approval before submitting a full application. The LOI will be used to streamline incoming proposals and ensure alignment with program priorities. Include a 2–3 sentence summary and your Specific Aims.
📅 Due: October 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Required · Approval needed before full submission
⏱ Response times: Early Investigator / Community Engagement — 2 business days · All other applicants — 1 week
✉️ Based on the LOIs received, a subset of applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. Applicants will be notified of their invitation status by October 15, 2026.
2Core documents — Needed for all applications
1Title page
2Abstract
3Research plan Specific Aims, Background, Significance, Design, Analysis, Timeline
4NIH Biographical Sketch Common Form — via SciENcvThe main biosketch: personal statement, positions and honors, contributions to science, and research support. Required for PIs and Co-Is.
5Budget Form 2026 & budget justification narrative 1 page
6Literature cited
Additional requirements
Community-engaged proposals
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If your proposal involves community engagement, include the following:
Letter of support from the chosen community partner(s) Separate document
Brief description of how your project addresses a community concern and why you chose to conduct the study in this community Significance
Brief description of how your project will benefit the community Significance
Compensation plan for community partners and participants for their time and expertise Research strategy
Reporting plan for sharing findings in lay terms with partners and participants — emphasizing actions communities can take to reduce harmful exposures or improve health Research strategy
If this is a community-based participatory research project
Describe how the community has identified this as a need or concern Significance
Page limits — all calls
Research plan: 3–5 pages maximum Biosketches, budget, and references: not counted Font size: at least 11 pt (smaller permitted in figures, graphs, diagrams, and charts if legible at 100% zoom) Recommended fonts: Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, or Palatino Linotype
The pilot project program checklist was designed to help applicants provide a structured and comprehensive set of tasks, considerations, and milestones that guide the planning and execution of a pilot project. Ensuring that all necessary elements are addressed increases the likelihood of a successful pilot and its eventual transition to full-scale implementation.
Additional forms may be required:
Human subjects or animal use approval forms (if applicable)
If the research involves human subjects or animals, appropriate ethical approval forms and certifications may be required to ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Foreign components (if applicable)
For any substantial scientific aspect or component of a project conducted outside of the U.S., whether by the grant recipient or a researcher affiliated with a foreign organization, regardless of whether grant funds are utilized, an approval form must be obtained.
Subcontractor / consortium agreement forms (if applicable)
If the project involves collaboration with external institutions or partners, subcontractor or consortium agreement forms may be necessary to outline the roles, responsibilities, and financial arrangements between the collaborators.
Investigators at all career levels are eligible. Principal Investigators must hold Mount Sinai Core Center membership. Postdoctoral fellows must apply through a multi-PI arrangement. External researchers may participate as co-investigators but may not serve as PI. Associate and full Professors who recently received pilot funding from either center are ineligible for one year following their award — Instructors and Assistant Professors are exempt from this restriction. Projects involving new data collection outside the U.S. are not eligible.
Which call should I apply to?
There are two calls open simultaneously, with a special third track available across both. The General Environmental Health Call is open to any innovative environmental health pilot project across the lifespan. The HEALS × Pepper Call focuses specifically on the intersection of aging, serious illness, and environmental health. The Early Investigator / Community Engagement Call is for postdoctoral fellows, instructors, or assistant professors, or for any proposal with a strong community-engaged component — this track includes a pre-review opportunity for feedback before the final deadline.
What is the pre-review opportunity and who qualifies?
The pre-review option is available to early-stage investigators (postdocs, instructors, assistant professors) and to community-engaged proposals. Applicants must submit a draft by October 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM to be eligible for this track — missing this date means you cannot use the Early Investigator / Community Engagement Call.
Pre-review draft (Oct 21): Submit only the Title page, Abstract, and Research plan. This is enough for reviewers to provide meaningful feedback.
Final submission (Dec 17 at 11:59 PM): A complete application package is required — all documents including biosketches, budget form, budget justification, literature cited, and any applicable letters. Feedback is returned by November 4, giving you time to strengthen your final submission.
Can I apply to more than one call?
Please contact us to discuss your specific situation before submitting multiple applications. In general, a single well-targeted proposal is stronger than two overlapping ones.
Can faculty request salary support?
No. Faculty salary support is not permitted under any of the three calls. Non-faculty personnel (postdoctoral associates, project coordinators, research assistants) may request salary support. The Research Education Core may support junior investigator salary for up to 12 months.
What is the maximum award and what costs are covered?
Awards are up to $50,000 in direct costs for the budget period. Indirect (F&A) costs are not permitted. Allowable direct costs include personnel (non-faculty), consultant fees, equipment, supplies, travel (up to $2,500), participant costs, and other direct costs such as software and publication fees. All costs must be itemized and justified in the budget narrative.
Can awards be renewed?
Yes. Awards may be considered for renewal for an additional year based on scientific progress, responsible stewardship of funds, and submission of required reports. Renewal is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the steering committee.
Do I need IRB approval before submitting?
IRB approval is not required at the time of application. However, funded projects must obtain all necessary GCO, IRB, and/or IACUC approvals before work begins. Applicants should describe their human subjects plan in the research plan section.
Do I need to use a center core?
Use of at least one HEALS core is expected. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant core director(s) in advance to confirm availability and discuss how the core can support your project. Pepper Center cores are optional but encouraged for proposals in the HEALS × Pepper Call.
What biosketches are required?
As of May 2026, NIH requires the Biographical Sketch Common Form generated through SciENcv. The old Word-based PHS 398 biosketch format is no longer accepted. Biosketches are required for all PIs and Co-Investigators and are not counted in the page limit.
How will I know if my application was received?
You will receive a confirmation from the Smartsheet submission portal upon submission. If you do not receive a confirmation within 24 hours, contact Rozalyn.paupaw@mssm.edu. Administrative review of all submissions takes place the week of January 5, 2027, and applicants will be notified if their submission is incomplete.
Will I receive reviewer feedback regardless of funding outcome?
Yes. Review forms are sent to all applicants — funded and unfunded — following the steering committee meeting and funding decisions on February 20, 2027. This feedback is intended to support future grant applications.
What are my obligations if funded?
Funded investigators must: (1) obtain all required GCO/IRB/IACUC approvals before beginning work; (2) cite the center grant number (NIH P30 ES023515) in all publications arising from the award; (3) provide regular updates on publications, grants, presentations, and other outcomes; and (4) present findings at a HEALS retreat, seminar, or External Advisory Board meeting by the end of the funding period.
Is there a limit on the number of Co-Investigators?
No. There is no limit on the number of Co-Investigators. All Co-Investigators must submit an NIH Biographical Sketch Common Form via SciENcv.
What is the page limit for the research plan?
The research plan must be a minimum of 3 pages and a maximum of 5 pages. This applies to all calls. Biosketches, budget forms, and literature cited are not counted toward the page limit.
