TOS Grants Programs

The Obesity Society’s (TOS) grants program reflects our commitment to promoting, rewarding, and advancing research in obesity.

Why Apply for a Grant from The Obesity Society (TOS)?

Applying for a TOS grant offers researchers, clinicians, and organizations the opportunity to advance impactful work in obesity science and care. TOS grants provide non‑repayable funding, making them an accessible way to support projects that can meaningfully improve patient outcomes and expand scientific understanding.

Key Reasons to Apply:

  • Non‑Repayable Support: Grant funding does not need to be paid back, allowing applicants to pursue high‑value research or community health initiatives without financial burden.
  • Advance High‑Impact Research: TOS prioritizes innovative, evidence‑based obesity research. Funding helps investigators explore new interventions, technologies, and treatments that may otherwise be financially out of reach.
  • Improve Patient Care: Grants can enable projects focused on clinical management, patient support programs, and strategies to improve health outcomes in underserved or high‑risk populations.
  • Build Infrastructure & Capacity: Funding may support equipment, data collection tools, training, or program expansion—strengthening the capacity of researchers and institutions working in obesity care.
  • Career Development Opportunities: Early‑career investigators benefit from grant funding that enhances their scientific credentials, supports training, and provides a foundation for future research success.
  • Increased Credibility & Future Funding Potential: Receiving a competitive grant from TOS strengthens professional reputation and can make it easier to secure future grants from federal agencies or private foundations.

Letter of Intent (LOI)

We will begin accepting new grant applications May 1 – June 1, 2026.

  • Applicants may apply for multiple grants.
  • Descriptions and application instructions for each grant are provided below.
  • If you have any questions, please contact: [email protected]

Common Areas Supported by TOS Grants:

  • Obesity prevention and treatment research
  • Clinical care improvement projects
  • Community health and outreach initiatives
  • Education, training, and professional development
  • Operational or program support related to obesity science

Early Career Research Grant

The grants are offered by The Obesity Society as a member service to foster and stimulate new research ideas in any area of obesity research. Two grants are given each year, one for Basic Science and the other for Clinical Research. The grants target early-career investigators and postdoctoral fellows by funding proposals that demonstrate a high likelihood of yielding new and innovative approaches to obesity research. Early-career investigators are defined as individuals who have received a PhD/DSc, DVM, MD, or DO at the time of application. Investigators must also currently have a full-time, entry-level position (e.g., post-doctoral fellow, instructor, and up to Assistant Professor) at an established academic/research institution. Applicants may request up to $25,000. No indirect cost will be paid from this grant. Applicants invited to submit a full proposal will be notified approximately one month later. All applicants must be TOS members in good standing. This is a one-year grant, and funding will begin the next calendar year.

Eligibility Criteria:

The Principal Investigator must:

  • Be a member of The Obesity Society (domestic or international)
  • Be an early‑career investigator or post‑doctoral research fellow:
    • Early Career = within 5 years of receiving a PhD, DSc, DVM, or within 8 years of a MD/DO
    • Hold a PhD/DSc, DVM, MD, or DO at the time of application
    • Hold a full‑time, entry‑level position (e.g., post‑doctoral fellow, instructor, up to Assistant Professor)
    • Not yet have received an NIH K‑award, equivalent career‑development award, or R‑level research project grant
  • Have a mentor (required for post‑doctoral fellows and instructors; not required for Assistant Professors)
  • Demonstrate the potential to secure future research funding

Additional requirements:
The degree must be obtained by the application date.

How to Apply

To apply for TOS’s Early Career Research Grant create a login on the application platform to access instructions, eligibility, and submission details:

  • Phase 1: Submit a one-page Letter of Intent and NIH-style biosketch
  • Phase 2 (by invitation): Submit full proposal, budget, and supporting materials

Criteria for Evaluating Applications

  • Significance – impact, innovation
  • Investigator – potential in academic research, diversity/inclusion
  • Research Plan – study design, methods, feasibility, alternatives/limitations
  • Future Plans – How will the findings of this project be leveraged for future work? What are the next steps, next grants?

Want to view past grantees? Click here.

Read more about the TOS Terms and Conditions.