The US Deprescribing Research Network (USDeN) seeks applicants for its Grant Catalyst Scholars Program (GCSP) in Deprescribing Research. The purpose of the Grant Catalyst Scholars Program is to accelerate research and career development for early-career investigators with a special focus on advancing their grant funding related to deprescribing science.
"The USDeN Grant Catalyst Scholars Program has been transformative for me as a clinician-researcher in providing a community of individuals have been similarly frustrated about how to address concerns for harms related to polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate prescribing in our clinical practice, but are championing the use of sophisticated scientific research methods to understand how these harms occur and trial interventions to mitigate them. Being able to learn from both seasoned mentors as well as peers from different clinical and research methods from various institutions has provided me an incredible brain trust to bounce ideas off of and continually improve how to approach these complex questions. For junior faculty seeking to develop a research career in deprescribing, this program is excellent!”
Reshma Ramachandran, MD, MPP, MHS
Yale School of Medicine
Key Dates
Applications Due: Monday, December 8th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Selected Investigators Notified: Mid-December 2025
What is the USDeN Grant Catalyst Scholars Program (GCSP)?
The purpose of the Grant Catalyst Scholars Program is to accelerate research and career development for early-career investigators with a special focus on advancing their grant funding related to deprescribing science.
The GCSP has 3 main components:
- Grants-in-progress seminars are the centerpiece of the program. Starting in January, 2026, our cohort of scholars will meet together monthly by zoom with GCSP Directors (and occasionally other USDeN faculty) providing constructive feedback to investigators on critical areas of their grant applications, while giving all participants the opportunity to participate and learn from the discussion and in doing so improve their own research and grant applications. We will work together to review sections of grants, focusing especially on specific aims pages. Each seminar will last 1 hour.
- Core curriculum seminars (~monthly/every 2 months via zoom) will expose GCSP scholars to essential principles and competencies that they can apply to their grant applications. These seminars will focus on research methods that are commonly employed in deprescribing aging research and will be tailored to the needs of each group. Sessions will primarily be discussion-based with specific examples from senior deprescribing scientists.
- In-person workshop at the USDeN Annual Meeting focusing on career development, networking, and collaborative research opportunities.
Benefits of participation in the USDeN Grant Catalyst Scholars Program:
- Specific feedback on your grant proposal.
- Hands-on experience gaining grant-writing skills most relevant to deprescribing aging research.
- Networking with both senior and junior colleagues interested in deprescribing for older adults.
- Opportunity to participate in collaborative research projects.
Who should apply to the USDeN Grant Catalyst Scholars Program?
- MD, PhD, PharmD or equivalent degree (e.g., DO, DPT)
- People who plan to submit a deprescribing-related grant proposal before the end of 2026. The “sweet spot” is people applying for NIH or intramural K, GEMSSTAR, or equivalent VA or foundation awards. Investigators planning to submit other kinds of awards will also be considered, although note that the program is not designed for people planning on submitting small (e.g. <$10,000 total) award proposals. The program has been generally designed for people in the early stages of preparing a grant being submitted in fall 2026 but this is flexible and can accommodate people applying earlier. Note: this is not a program for people whose primary goal is to submit an USDeN pilot proposal.
- People who have the time and interest to commit to the above-described activities.
- People who have already or will identify a mentor and/or project team at your own institution. (This program is meant to supplement your grant writing in an advisory capacity, not replace local mentorship.)
- Preference will be given to applicants who are in earlier stages of a research-focused career (e.g., up to 5 years in a research-oriented faculty position, not yet received an R01 or tenure).
- People outside the U.S. are welcome to apply but priority may be given to people applying for U.S. grants.
- Prior participants in the USDeN Junior Investigator Intensive program are welcome to apply (as part of the application section (f), listed below, please articulate what you hope to get out of the GCSP that will build on your experience in the Junior Investigator Intensive program).
How do I apply for the USDeN Grant Catalyst Scholars Program?
Applications should be submitted online via the web form by clicking the button above.
You will need the following items to apply:
- Planned grant application type and due date.
- Paragraph about your research proposal idea(s) – can be an aims page but does not need to be.
- Rough plan for who besides you is on project team, including mentors, (or plans for this) and associated roles. (Reminder: this program is meant to supplement your grant writing in an advisory capacity, not replace local mentorship.)
- 1 paragraph description of previous grant-writing experience.
- 1 paragraph/a few sentences describing what you hope to get out of the program.
- Updated NIH-Style Biosketch (Required): We recognize that applicants are still early in their careers and often will not yet have made extensive contributions to the scientific literature or received external funding for research. Please use the NIH Format to submit your biosketch.
What should I do if I have additional questions?
Inquiries can be made to [email protected]
