Pediatric Research
The Gerber Foundation strives to create lasting improvements in the health and well-being of infants and children through scientific discovery, clinical innovation, mentorship, and implementation of evidence-based care.
Our Research Mission
The Gerber Foundation is committed to enhancing the quality of life of infants and children through strategic investments in pediatric research. Because the earliest years of life have a profound influence on lifelong health and development, the Foundation prioritizes research that improves the care, nutrition, and developmental outcomes of children from pre-birth through age three.
Our Research Strategy
The Foundation supports innovative pediatric research that addresses important clinical questions and has the potential to improve the health and well-being of infants and young children. We seek projects that generate new knowledge, develop practical solutions to everyday challenges, and advance evidence-based care. While scientific excellence remains central to every funding decision, we also recognize the importance of developing the next generation of child health researchers and fostering research environments that encourage mentorship, collaboration, and innovation.
Our Vision For Impact
The Foundation is particularly interested in research with the potential to move beyond publication and into practice. We prioritize projects that can lead to new treatments, diagnostic tools, clinical approaches, or models of care that improve outcomes for infants and young children. We are especially interested in research that has the potential for broad implementation, measurable impact, and meaningful improvements in clinical care.
As part of this commitment, the Foundation generally does not fund projects focused primarily on parent or provider education or dissemination of existing information. Instead, we seek research that generates new evidence capable of advancing pediatric care and informing future practice.
Applying for a Research Grant
For information on our grant cycle, eligibility and processes, please see the Research Grants page.
Major Focus Areas
Pediatric Health
Promoting health and preventing or treating disease is the primary focus of this target area. Of particular interest are applied research projects focused on reducing the incidence of serious neonatal and early childhood illnesses, or improving cognitive, social and emotional aspects of development.
Project Focus Areas:
- Diagnostics and screening – faster, more accurate, or less invasive approaches
- Treatment and therapeutics – more effective, targeted, optimally dosed, or less burdensome interventions
- Prevention and early intervention – reducing the risk, severity, or progression of illness
- Symptom management and supportive care – improving comfort, outcomes, and quality of care
- Risk identification and prediction – identifying children at increased risk for adverse outcomes
- Clinical care and decision making – informing monitoring, treatment decisions, care practices, or guidelines
Pediatric Nutrition
These projects reflect the Foundation’s longstanding interest in supporting optimal nutrition, feeding, and growth for infants and young children from pre-birth through age 3. Projects may include applied research examining human milk, feeding, supplementation, and the relationships among nutrition, feeding, growth, development, and health outcomes.
Project Focus Areas:
- Human milk and lactation, including composition, nutritional properties, fortification, feeding practices, and associated infant outcomes
- Infant and young child feeding, including feeding approaches, tolerance, intake, and nutritional adequacy
- Nutrient requirements and supplementation, including benefits, adverse effects, deficiencies, excesses, timing, and dosing
- Nutrition-related growth and development, including factors affecting growth, nutritional status, and developmental outcomes
- Feeding and nutrition in vulnerable or medically complex infants and children
Environmental Hazards (Nutrient Competitors)
The Foundation is interested in projects that evaluate the effects of environmental hazards on young children. Applied research projects that document the impact of, or ameliorate effects of environmental hazards on the growth and development of infants and toddlers are the focus of this area of interest. Exposures may be caused by hazards within the NICU environment (noise, light, medical equipment, etc.), the home environment (carpeting, plastics, etc.), or exposures from breastmilk.
Project Focus Areas:
- Exposures and their effects on infants and toddlers
- Methods to lessen the effects of exposures
Projects awarded in 2026 will be announced soon!
Projects awarded in 2025:
Projects awarded in 2024:
