Driving research through seed grant initiatives.

The McDonnell International Scholars Academy is a catalyst for collaborative research across countries and disciplines. Through its seed grant initiatives, in the last three years the McDonnell Academy launched more than 60 new research projects in 30 countries.

Under the university’s Here & Next Strategic Plan, several new seed funding programs are available to support interdisciplinary research activities at Washington University from concept and team development to securing external funding.

dec 2023

Following the completion of the McDonnell Academy Global Symposium, the McDonnell Academy in collaboration with the Office of the Provost, granted funding to 8 phase II research initiatives and 2 international conferences. This year’s enrichment aligns with the “Here & Next” Strategic Plan priorities.


jan 2023

The McDonnell Academy, in partnership with the Global Health Center, awarded 5 new seed grants to support collaborations in global health.


oct 2022

The McDonnell Academy, in partnership with the Office of the Provost, awarded approximately $500,000 in Global Incubator Seed Grants funding to support 20 new international collaborations.


jul 2021

The McDonnell Academy launched the Global Incubator Seed Grants Initiative, intended to stimulate high-impact research linking WashU faculty and international collaborators. The grants helped kick-start fifteen new projects on five continents.


Jul 2020

Ten research teams received a total of $250,000 in seed funding to initiate projects with international partners tackling far-reaching issues related to COVID-19.


JAN 2020

Since 2020, in partnership with the Africa Initiative, Institute for Public Health and the Social Policy Institute, the McDonnell Academy has funded 17 additional projects on the African continent, in the areas of global health and international social policy.