2025 ACNP Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Assistance Program
Open: October 9, 2025
Close: October 30, 2025
Recipients will be notified by email in November.
The American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Assistance Program is a new initiative to support ESIs in attending the ACNP Annual Meeting. This program funding is needs-based, rather than merit-based. Eligible expenses include a five-night hotel stay, dependent care (i.e., childcare or eldercare), coach airfare, and ground transportation up to $2,500. Receipts are required for all expenses, which will be reimbursed following the ACNP Annual Meeting.
APPLICATION PERIOD
The College will be accepting applications for the Early-Stage Investigator Assistance Program starting on October 9, 2025. The deadline for application submission is October 30, 2025 by 5:00pm Central Time.
ELIGIBILITY
The ACNP Early-Stage Investigator Assistance Program opportunity is only available to early-stage investigators. An early-stage investigator is defined as a Program Director (PD)/Principal Investigator (PI) who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever is later, within the past 15 years and who has not previously awarded a substantial NIH independent research award such as an R01 or R01-equivalent as a PD/PI.
ACNP members and invited guests may apply. You must have already received an in-person invitation or be registered to attend the ACNP Annual Meeting in person to apply. If you have been awarded any other type of funding from ACNP for the Annual Meeting, such as a Travel Award, a travel stipend as a non-member participant, past travel awardee funding, or funding from other ACNP initiatives such as waived annual meeting registration, you are not eligible for this program.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Eligible applicants must complete an online application.
DEADLINE
The deadline for submission is October 30, 2025 by 5:00pm Central Time.
NOTIFICATION
Recipients will be notified by email in November.
QUESTIONS
For questions regarding the Early-Stage Investigator Assistance Program, contact ACNP at acnp@acnp.org in the Executive Office.