Seed Grants

Fiscal Year 26 Seed Grant Applications Are Closed

Seed grants at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) provide early-stage funding to support innovative research led by faculty, as well as graduate students, trainees and fellows. These awards help advance promising ideas and strengthen MIDB’s diverse research portfolio in focal areas such as MRI methodologies, developmental disabilities, DOHaD, and adolescent development. Learn more about seed grants

2026 Faculty Awardees

Benjamin al-Haddad, PhD

Assistant Professor, Division of Neonatology

“SKoIRM: Screening kinesiology of infants at risk of movement disorders”

This research aims to lay the groundwork to eventually develop a smartphone-based tool that can identify babies at risk for cerebral palsy and developmental delays by analyzing how they move in their first months of life. By studying infants in both Minnesota and Uganda, we're working to create an affordable, accessible way to catch developmental problems early—when interventions can make the biggest difference in a child's lifelong abilities. Currently, many at-risk babies aren't identified until they're toddlers, missing crucial windows for therapy that could improve their motor skills, independence, and quality of life. This work matters to Minnesotans because early identification means more children reaching their full potential, fewer families facing unexpected challenges, and reduced long-term healthcare and special education costs in our communities. Ultimately, a simple video tool could help families in both urban hospitals and rural clinics ensure their babies get the support they need as early as possible.

Kristin Elgersma, PhD, DM, MN, RN

Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

"Investigating the utility of brain-derived exosomes and clinical magnetic resonance imaging to assess nutrition, neuroinflammation, and brain iron status for infants with critical congenital heart disease"

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, affecting about 1 in 100 infants. Up to half of children with CHD face developmental challenges, but the underlying causes remain unclear. This project will explore whether brain inflammation and low brain iron could contribute to neurodevelopmental risk in CHD. Using cutting-edge technology from the MIDB Translational Hub, we will study brain-derived extracellular vesicles (BDEVs) – small particles in the blood that carry signals from brain cells – and measure markers of brain inflammation and brain iron found within these BDEVs. We will also analyze brain MRI scans already collected during routine CHD care to see if these same markers can be detected through imaging. Our findings could pave the way for new interventions that help children with CHD grow up with healthier brains.

Charles Lewis, MD

Assistant professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

"Functional network topography and cortical inhibition mechanisms of negative urgency in youth with suicidal thoughts and behaviors”

Impulsive behavior experienced during negative emotions is associated with risk for suicide, the second-leading cause of death in young people.  However, little is understood about how brain changes during adolescence underlie impulsivity and suicidal thoughts and behaviors, which become significantly more common during the teenage years.  Our project will use state-of-the-art tools – resting-state functional MRI scans and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) – to measure brain physiology related to impulse control in adolescents aged 13-21 who have depression and prior suicidal thoughts or behaviors.  This research will help us to understand how individual differences in adolescents’ brain networks correspond to differences in behaviors like impulsivity that contribute to suicide risk.  By gaining a greater knowledge of how brain development affects behavior in youth with suicidal thoughts and behaviors, we will be able to design and test future treatments customized to individual adolescents’ brains, with the aim of reducing risk for suicide and promoting healthy development.

Gianna Rea-Sandin, PhD

Assistant Professor, Division of General Pediatrics & Adolescent Health

“Uncovering the genetic and environmental mechanisms of the intergenerational transmission of self-regulation from parent to adolescent youth”

This study will assess Minnesota twins and their families to better understand how genes and the environment shape children’s ability to manage emotions, stay focused, and make healthy choices. These skills, called self-regulation, help children navigate their everyday lives, such as learning in school and building strong family and peer relationships. By considering both genetics and the family environment, we can better identify which aspects of children’s lives foster healthy development. Our ultimate goal is to generate knowledge that can promote the well-being of children and families across Minnesota.