Innovation Catalyst Fund

The leaves of trees lining our beautiful campus are blazing with autumnal color. Even these ancient arbors offer us a powerful example. Standing firmly rooted, they embrace change. Like all in our Vanderbilt community, they dare to grow. Spread the word about great things happening at Vanderbilt. Stay connected to our work and to one another’s, and share with us your own big ideas. Read More

Vanderbilt University announced nine recipients of the Innovation Catalyst Fund awards for the June 2025 cycle, continuing its mission of accelerating translational research and driving innovative solutions to real-world challenges by providing faculty with crucial pre-seed funding across diverse disciplines.  The newly selected projects span cutting-edge work in health care, engineering and technology solutions. Read More

When an “unsolvable” problem needs solving, put John Wikswo on the team. As director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Integrative Biosystems Research and Education and University Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, and Physics, Wikswo is tackling questions crucial to the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, now with support from Vanderbilt's Innovation Catalyst Fund. Read More

The Vanderbilt Innovation Catalyst Fund, launched in 2023, bridges the gap between academic research and real-world applications by supporting projects with commercial and societal potential. To date, the fund has completed six award cycles, distributing 39 grants to VU and VUMC awardees across diverse disciplines. Read More

Vanderbilt has announced eleven awardees in the latest round of its Innovation Catalyst Fund, an initiative that supports translational research that has promising commercial potential. Read More

Vanderbilt’s Innovation Catalyst Fund has awarded seven new faculty-led projects, advancing translational research and innovation in health care, engineering and AI-driven solutions. Read More

Vanderbilt University has awarded a new cycle of Innovation Catalyst Fund grants to pioneering faculty projects that advance health care technology, AI tools for research impact and wearable devices. These grants support translational research and drive real-world solutions across disciplines, underscoring Vanderbilt's commitment to fostering innovation and societal impact. Read More

Vanderbilt has announced the February 2024 Innovation Catalyst Fund awardees, propelling groundbreaking research into practical applications. Read More

The Vanderbilt Innovation Catalyst Fund honors eight projects in its inaugural pre-seed funding round, showcasing the university’s commitment to transforming research into real-world solutions. Read More

Vanderbilt University's Innovation Catalyst Fund, dedicated to advancing translational research, begins accepting applications Sunday, Oct. 1. This transformative initiative, bridging research, innovation and real-world solutions, invites faculty across all disciplines to submit groundbreaking research proposals by Oct. 31. Read More