The Kellner Center, in collaboration with the Social & Behavioral Science Institute (SBSI), is happy to announce a second round of its Small Grants Program. This year, these grants will fund interdisciplinary research projects in the area of biological embedding and epigenetics to understand the etiology of mental health or related social, emotional, or behavioral functioning. In line with the Kellner Center mission, projects should lay the groundwork for developing integrative approaches to understand how biology, behavior, and the environment interact over time to affect mental health. The projects are expected to generate preliminary data or findings that will lead to future grant proposals to external funding agencies.
Why this topic?
Biological embedding refers to the process by which experiences and environmental exposures—such as stress, nutrition, trauma, adversity, relationships, or socioeconomic conditions—become incorporated into the body and influence biological systems over time, shaping development across the lifespan in terms of physical and mental health as well as social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. One important mechanism through which biological embedding occurs is epigenetics, which refers to changes in gene activity that do not alter the DNA sequence itself but can affect how genes are turned on or off. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, can be influenced by environmental factors and may help explain how early-life experiences have lasting effects on physical and mental health. These topics are of priority to the Kellner Center because they bridge biology and social experience, demonstrating how the environment can “get under the skin” to influence long-term functioning. They also provide insight into why individuals exposed to different life circumstances may experience different trajectories.
Studies of the epigenetic and molecular mechanisms by which the environment – including the current social environment as well as that experienced by previous generations – become embodied to cause lasting effects on phenotypes relevant to physical and mental health will be given priority. We will consider applications studying either humans or nonhuman animals and which consider environmentally-induced changes to a wide variety of biological mechanisms including molecular, epigenomic, physiological, neural, immune, microbiome and/or hormonal processes. Projects that take an innovative approach to understanding the interface between biology and the environment, that bring together researchers in the biological and social sciences, that are collaborations across the University of Illinois System campuses, and which have implications for societal impact will be given priority. Projects should show promise for external funding. Award requests can be made up to $50,000 with a project performance period of two years.
Proposed projects can take a variety of forms; key is that they are in the general area of biological embedding and epigenetics, with either direct or indirect implications for mental health. Potential project topics include the following:
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An fMRI study on humans which measures biomarkers in blood, plasma or tissue that is relevant to mental health.
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A study which tracks the effects of the environment on pre- or postnatal development and measures relevant to mental health or manipulates biological mechanisms.
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A detailed study of a specific epigenetic mechanism that makes a case for the link to mental health and/or a related phenomenon, such as a brain function.
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A study on reciprocal interactions and feedback between individuals and their environments via, for example, niche construction, habitat selection, cultural inheritance.
Criteria and Eligibility
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. Projects that bring together faculty across the University of Illinois System campuses will be prioritized.
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 behavior. The rigor of the methods and analyses and their suitability to addressing the questions guiding the research is also considered. A clear path to writing and submitting one or more funding proposals to external funding agencies is also necessary.
Funding
Award requests can be made up to $50,000 with a project performance period of two years. Eligible expenditures are the same as those for the SBSI Interdisciplinary Small Grant Program—eligible and ineligible expenditures may be found here; please review these prior to starting the application. Funds will be provided in phases depending on progress.
Submission & Review Process
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 SBSI and Kellner Center teams to determine if the project meets the criteria for the Kellner Center Small Grants.
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Pre-proposals will be accepted from December 15-January 15, 2027
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Decisions on pre-proposals will be communicated by the first week of February 2027
Invited full proposals will be reviewed by three researchers in the University of Illinois System. These reviews guide the decisions of the Kellner Center Governing Board. The full proposal deadline is March 15, 2027 with the submission portal opening on February 15, 2027.
Pre-Proposal
Applicants are required to submit the following documents through the online submission form.
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A 1-page pre-proposal using the template below
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Current CVs of PI and Co-I’s, 5 pages max.
The 1-page pre-proposal must include the following sections:
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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).
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Goals & Objectives: Outline the specific aims and what you seek to accomplish with your project.
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Methods: Detail your methodological and analytical plan and justify the plan’s feasibility.
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Results & Interpretation: Describe the predicted results in relation to the goals and objectives of the study; describe alternative outcomes and their interpretation.
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Requested Funds: Indicate the total amount requested (up to $50,000) and how the funds will be allocated.
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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.
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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:
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A 6-page full proposal: Please use the template provided to you by SBSI based on the external funding mechanism you specified in your pre-proposal.
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Broader impacts plan: Describe how your research could generate real-world benefits, such as informing policy, shaping interventions, or supporting education and public engagement. We encourage concrete partnerships, planned dissemination activities, and attention to inclusion and equity in impact. (see Pillar 3 of the Kellner Center mission) (250 words)
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A project summary (250 words)
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A budget and budget justification (1 page)
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A plan for applying for external funding (250 words)
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A project timeline (file upload)
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CVs of PI and Co-I’s (file upload, 5 pages max per CV)
Review Criteria
The Kellner Center for Neurogenomics, Behavior, and Society Small Grants program supports interdisciplinary research projects in the area of epigenetics and biological embedding to understand the etiology of mental health, or related social behavior. 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 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 (30%)
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Does the proposal address an important issue related to biological embedding and/or epigenetics?
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Will the research advance scientific understanding, diagnosis, and/or treatment of human mental health and/or related functioning?
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Is a new and promising solution to a problem proposed?
Methodological and analytical strength (30%)
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Will the proposed methods and analyses answer the research questions and/or hypotheses?
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Is there an appropriate and strong methodological and analytic plan?
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Is the plan viable given logistical factors (e.g., funding)?
Clear path to external funding (20%)
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Is there a clear connection to a viable external funding opportunity?
Interdisciplinary collaboration (5%)
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Is this research conceptually informed by and/or uses methods and/or analyses from more than one discipline with the PI and Co-I(s) from more than one discipline?_
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1 Not Interdisciplinary: The research is entirely in one discipline. PI and Co-I(s) are all from the same field.
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2 Minimally Interdisciplinary: The research is mostly from a single discipline, with minimal interdisciplinary input. PI and Co-I(s) are largely from the same field.
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3 Somewhat Interdisciplinary: There is some interdisciplinary influence, with limited methods and analyses from other disciplines. PI and Co-I(s) may be from different fields, but it is not central.
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4 Moderately Interdisciplinary: The research involves multiple disciplines, with diverse methods and analyses. The PI and at least one Co-I are from different fields.
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5 Highly Interdisciplinary: The research is deeply interdisciplinary, with methods and analyses from multiple disciplines. The PI and Co-I(s) come from different fields.
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Broader Impacts (15%)
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Does the BI plan address a socially relevant need and make a meaningful contribution to society?
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How well is the BI plan integrated with the research goals/expertise of the research team?
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Does the BI plan show originality in its approach to societal impact (e.g., education, outreach, engagement)?
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Does the BI plan involve meaningful partnerships or engage audiences effectively?
Timeline
Dec 15, 2026 - Jan 15, 2027: Submit 1-page pre-proposal - CVs of PI & Co-PIs to the SBSI & Kellner Center teams. Key outcome: invitation to submit full proposal by the first week of February 2027.
Feb 15 - Mar 15: Submit the following:
- 6-page full proposal (funder-specific template provided
- Summary (250 words)
- Broader Impacts (250 words)
- Budget & justification (1 page)
- Plan for external funding (250 words)
- Timeline
- CVs
This will be reviewed by 3 reviewers across UIUC, UIS, and UIC; and the Kellner Governing Board. Key outcome: final award decisions by May 2027.
Award Period: 2 years. Key outcomes: up to $50,000 in funding; SBSI RD support.
Progress Check-ins: At 6, 12, and 18 months. These will be reviewed by SBSI RD staff. Key outcomes: troubleshooting issues, planning next steps
Final Reporting: End of each grant year (12 months and 24 months). Submit progress report (results, impact, future plans) to the SBSI and Kellner Center.
Post-Award Support
SBSI and the Kellner Center are committed to supporting the success of the projects we fund. All recipients will be matched with a dedicated SBSI Research Development (RD) staff member to provide individualized support for the duration of the project. Support includes (a) a kickoff meeting with the RD staff member and SBSI and/or Kellner Director, (b) progress check-ins at 6, 12, and 18 months, and (c) 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, SBSI and the Kellner Center will work with you to resolve them. However, SBIS 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 SBScience@Illinois.edu. All changes must be approved in advance and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.