← Back to US Funders Directory

New York Stem Cell Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$9.5M
Grant Range
$180K - $1.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,526,077 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by program
  • Grant Range: $57,500 - $1,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: International (with some geographic restrictions for fellowship program)

Contact Details

Address: 619 West 54th Street, Floor 3, New York, NY 10019

Phone: 212-365-7428

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://nyscf.org

Program-Specific Contacts:

Overview

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) was founded in 2005 by Susan L. Solomon and Mary Elizabeth Bunzel to accelerate stem cell-based approaches to researching and treating major diseases, particularly in response to limited federal investment in stem cell research. Since its inception, NYSCF has raised and invested more than $400 million for stem cell research. The organization operates both a privately funded research institute in New York City and extramural grant programs supporting early career researchers worldwide. In October 2025, The Jackson Laboratory acquired NYSCF to integrate their technologies and expertise. NYSCF distributed $9,526,077 in grants across 24 awards in 2023. The organization is committed to advancing precision medicine through stem cell research, with a focus on diseases including Alzheimer's, diabetes, macular degeneration, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and women's reproductive cancers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Investigator Awards: $1,500,000 over 5 years ($300,000 annually) Provides critical seed funding to outstanding early career scientists engaged in cutting-edge translational stem cell research with potential to accelerate the path from bench to bedside. Application via online grant management system.

NYSCF – Robertson Neuroscience Investigator Awards: $1,500,000 over 5 years ($300,000 annually) Supports truly innovative neuroscientists whose research has the potential to transform fundamental understanding of the brain. Notably, applicants need not be working in areas related to stem cells. Application via online grant management system.

NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellowship Awards: $180,000 over 3 years ($60,000 annually: $57,500 stipend + $2,500 for computer/travel expenses) Supports outstanding postdoctoral scientists at critical junctures in their careers pursuing innovative and groundbreaking stem cell research. Geographic restriction: NY, NJ, or CT institutions only. Note: RFA did not open in 2025.

Priority Areas

  • Translational stem cell research with clinical applications
  • Basic, pre-clinical, and translational studies using human embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, and differentiated cells derived from them
  • Neuroscience research transforming understanding of the brain
  • Technical development, disease modeling, drug discovery and therapeutics
  • Research supporting precision medicine approaches
  • High-risk, high-reward projects developing innovative solutions

What They Don't Fund

  • Established investigators beyond 6 years of independent faculty position (for Investigator Awards)
  • Postdoctoral fellows outside the tri-state area of NY, NJ, CT (for Fellowship Awards)
  • Projects outside stem cell research focus (for Fellowship Awards)
  • Organizations without documented institutional commitment to gender equality

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Jennifer J. Raab (appointed January 2024) Previously served as President of Hunter College for 22 years. Raab stated that "NYSCF and The Jackson Laboratory have long shared a deep commitment to innovative science that changes lives, and by joining forces to integrate their technologies and expertise, they are creating an extraordinary environment to accelerate cures and improve health worldwide." She champions diversity in stem cell research, emphasizing how "expanding biobanks to reflect the diversity of the world's population is crucial for advancing personalized medicine."

Board of Directors:

  • Roy Geronemus (Chairman)
  • Derrick Rossi, PhD (Former Interim CEO, Co-founder of Moderna, Member since 2020)
  • Stephen M. Ross
  • Stephen Scherr
  • Kay Unger
  • Paul Goldberger
  • Siddhartha Mukherjee

Notable History: Susan L. Solomon, founding CEO, led the organization from 2005 until her passing in September 2022, raising over $400 million for stem cell research during her tenure.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All applications MUST be submitted through the online grant management system at https://nyscf.org. Applications must follow strict formatting guidelines:

  • 7-page proposal limit (including figures, excluding references)
  • Margins: No less than ½ inch
  • Font: No less than 11pt (Arial or Times New Roman for Fellowship)
  • No budget required for Investigator Awards
  • Reference letters must be submitted through the online system by closing date
  • Required: Institutional Report Card for Gender Equality (applications without this are considered incomplete)

For Investigator Programs:

  • Applicants input names and contact information for references through online system
  • Reference letters submitted via auto-generated email link
  • Must provide documentation of independent status and institutional commitment

For Fellowship Program:

  • Required documents: proposal, letter of reference, faculty sponsor mentor plan, IWISE Report Card
  • No institutional overhead provided
  • Must demonstrate focus on translationally oriented research projects

Decision Timeline

Investigator Programs: Awards begin January 1 of award year. Faculty appointments must begin by January 1 of award year.

Fellowship Program: Fellows must start postdoctoral position by June 1 of award year. Specific decision timelines vary by RFA cycle.

RFAs (Requests for Applications) are released annually for most programs, though timing varies. Applicants should monitor the NYSCF website for current deadlines.

Success Rates

NYSCF does not publicly disclose specific success rates or application-to-award ratios. In 2023, the organization made 24 awards totaling $9,526,077. To date, the NYSCF Innovator Community includes 80 NYSCF – Robertson Investigators and Alumni at 48 institutions throughout the world.

Reapplication Policy

Yes, reapplication is explicitly encouraged. Many candidates have been successful after reapplying if unsuccessful in previous years. For Investigator Programs, candidates can apply to both Stem Cell and Neuroscience tracks, but only one can be funded. Reapplication is permitted in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

NYSCF is "looking to cultivate research that will explore the basic biology and therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from humans and model organisms." The foundation emphasizes supporting research that pursues high-risk, high-reward projects and developing innovative solutions to accelerate new treatments and cures.

Key Success Factors:

  1. Early Career Status with Independence: Must be within 6 years of starting independent faculty position. Career breaks (maternity/paternity leave) are recognized and excluded from independence timeline. Documentation of independent status and institutional commitment is critical.

  2. Translational Potential: For Robertson Stem Cell Investigator Awards, proposals must demonstrate "cutting edge translational stem cell research with the potential to accelerate the path from bench to bedside."

  3. Innovation and Transformation: For Neuroscience Awards, research must have "the potential to transform our fundamental understanding of the brain."

  4. Strong Reference Letters: Reference letters are described as "critical" to the application. References must be submitted through the online system by the deadline.

  5. Institutional Commitment to Gender Equality: Every applicant must submit an Institutional Report Card for Gender Equality. NYSCF pioneered this requirement and collected 1200+ report cards from 500+ institutions in 38 countries. While the data doesn't affect grant decisions, completing the report card is mandatory for application completeness.

  6. Alignment with NIH Standards: Grants are formatted along NIH guidelines and consistent with NYSCF's mission, suggesting familiarity with NIH-style proposals is valuable.

Recent Award Recipients as Models:

  • 2023 Recipients: Dr. Judith Agudo (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School), Dr. Fei Chen (Harvard/Broad Institute), and Dr. Mijo Simunovic (Columbia University) represent the caliber of researchers NYSCF supports.
  • 2024 ISSCR Award Winners: NYSCF Investigator Jun Wu, PhD (UT Southwestern) received the Outstanding Young Investigator Award for pioneering stem cell models of human development and strategies for growing human organs for transplantation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Career timing is critical: Apply within the 6-year window of independent faculty appointment for Investigator Awards; exceptions for qualifying career breaks are considered
  • Complete all required components: Applications are incomplete without the Institutional Report Card for Gender Equality—ensure your institution's department chair completes this
  • Reference letters matter significantly: NYSCF explicitly states these are "critical" to applications—choose references strategically and ensure they submit through the online system by deadline
  • Emphasize translational impact: Whether in stem cells or neuroscience, demonstrate how your research will transform understanding or accelerate treatments
  • Reapply if unsuccessful: NYSCF explicitly encourages reapplication, and many successful candidates were initially unsuccessful
  • Format meticulously: Strict 7-page limits, margin requirements, and font specifications are enforced—follow guidelines precisely
  • Geographic restrictions apply selectively: Investigator Awards are open internationally; Fellowship Awards are restricted to NY, NJ, CT institutions

References

← Back to US Funders Directory