Stanford Center for Digital Health

Stanford Center for Digital Health 2026 Research Grants - Call for Proposals

We are living in transformational times. Several forces have aligned to make digital health transformation inevitable: AI systems have matured to meaningfully support diagnosis and clinical decision-making; electronic health records and telemedicine are now widely adopted; pharmaceutical innovation is accelerating; and the rise of wearables and home-based sensors is giving patients continuous insight into their own health. Together, these forces are reshaping modern medicine. In the next five years, we will see drastic changes in how health is delivered, and digital health is at the core of this evolution. 

Applications for the Stanford Center for Digital Health 2026 Research Grants are now closed. The program awards one-year grants of $100,000 each. We encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn and X to be notified when the next call for proposals goes live.

Our center seeks exceptionally creative scientists pursuing highly innovative research with the potential to transform health. Collaborative projects that bring together investigators from across different disciplines are highly encouraged. We encourage applicants to utilize a multi-PI approach where at least two of the lead investigators are from different departments or schools at Stanford. 

Priority Areas

We encourage submissions related to the following research domains:

1) AI to improve health for all 
Lack of access to high quality medical advice and specialist care is a problem that affects people across all settings: from rural America, to low- and middle- income countries globally. AI has the potential to dramatically improve diagnosis, prediction, and care, especially in settings without easy access to doctors. We seek innovative approaches that harness AI to expand access to excellent health for all.

2) Cardiometabolic health 
Diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases drive enormous medical and social burden worldwide. We are looking for bold new technologies that can detect risk earlier, personalize interventions, and empower individuals to take control of their long-term health.

3) Technology for health at home 
As the global population ages and caregiver shortages grow, millions of older adults face the risks of declining health. We seek transformative ideas (including sensors, home monitoring, robotics, or digital platforms) that improve health at home, especially for older adults.

4) AI and mental health 
As AI becomes embedded in people's lives, understanding the relationship between AI and mental health is critical. We are seeking research proposals that improve access to mental health services or help quantify potential risks associated with the use of AI.

5) New Ideas
Some of the most transformative breakthroughs come from unexpected places. In addition to the priority areas listed above, we will fund exceptionally innovative, investigator-initiated projects that advance AI, technology, and health - broadly defined.

This award is intended to serve as a first step in launching impactful projects. The center will provide additional tailored opportunities to engage with our community and advisors throughout the year. Projects that demonstrate strong progress and alignment with our priority areas may be eligible for additional follow-on funding beyond this initial grant.

Submission Guidelines

Proposals are due by February 1, 2026, at 11:59pm PDT. Award recipients will be notified in early April. Please submit your application here. 

1) The proposal (2 pages, excluding references, PDF, single-spaced, Arial 11 point, 0.5 inch margins) should include the following components:

  • Impact Statement: How will this work will transform human health
  • Problem you are trying to solve
  • Specific aims
  • Preliminary data (optional)
  • Scientific Approach
  • Key project milestones and expected completion dates within 1 year
  • Team: including faculty, postdocs, staff, and/or students as appropriate. Please highlight any meaningful collaborations underpinning this research.

  • References (no max or min limits, at the end of the PDF file, not included in page limit)


    2) Proposed Budget (1-page, direct costs $100,000) 
    3) PI Biosketch and Other Support

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed based on innovation, feasibility and alignment with the CDH mission, and the likelihood the project will have a near term positive impact on health. We encourage applicants to utilize a multi-PI approach where at least two of the lead investigators are from different departments or schools at Stanford. Finalists will be invited to interview.

Key Dates

  • Application deadline: February 1, 2026
  • Finalist Interviews March 2026
  • Awardees will be notified in early April
  • Award start date: May 1, 2026

Eligibility

  • Stanford faculty with UTL, MCL, NTLR and CE faculty* appointments
  • Instructors and Clinical Instructors are eligible
  • Postdoctoral scholars (clinical and non-clinical) are required to include a PI eligible faculty member as co-PI on the application.

    *CE faculty PI waivers are not needed for internal funding opportunities.

Award Commitments

Awardees will be asked to present at the Stanford Center for Digital Health Annual Symposium and are expected to attend at least four CDH events per year. These include opportunities such as grant-writing retreats, researcher meetings, and gatherings that facilitate collaboration with our affiliated faculty and industry partners. Recipients will also be asked to provide a mid-year and final report summarizing research progress, use of funds, publications, new grant applications, and conference presentations.

Maximum funding amount

$100,000

How can the funds be used? 

Proposals may request up to $100,000 over 1 year. Funds may be used for salary of faculty, including over-the-cap salary, graduate students, and other research staff, operating supplies, equipment, and travel directly associated with the research activity. 

Contact:

Christy Baldwin
digitalhealth@stanford.edu 

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.

Photo credit: Dr. Mingming Tong, Stanford Scientist