HSA Research Grant

Applications for the next granting cycle will be accepted January 1, 2027 - January 31, 2027

Grant Description and Eligibility

The purpose of the Research Grant Program is to further the knowledge and use of herbs. This grant supports the research of the horticultural, scientific, and/or medicinal use of herbs throughout history. Research must define an herb as useful for flavoring, medicine, economic, industrial, or cosmetic purposes and have the potential to significantly increase the knowledge of the field.

A 2026 Research Grant was awarded to Drs. Danielle Orozco-Nunnelly and Jeff Pruet at Valparaiso University. This duo’s ongoing research “Identifying Novel Medicinal Plant Compounds to Combat Infection: an Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Project,“ involves over 150 undergraduates. Students grow herbs in their medicinal plant garden, extract and evaluate their constituents in chemistry labs and test their antibiotic and cytotoxic effects in microbiology labs. This is basic research identifying potential herbal constituents for future study while introducing a new generation of students to the joys of growing and investigating herbs.

The total amount for this grant is up to $10,000 annually. This grant is intended to support small, self-contained research projects over a short period of time. Grant applications open January 1 and close January 31. Direct any questions AND application submissions to research.grants@herbsociety.org .

The Herb Society of America Research Grant is awarded annually and is a key part of the HSA mission. By supporting herbal research, HSA is taking a direct role in ensuring that the global body of herbal knowledge will continue to grow. Donors can take a direct role in the future of herbal knowledge by making a gift to the HSA Research Grant Fund. Simply send a check to:

The Herb Society of America
9019 Kirtland-Chardon Road 
Kirtland OH 44094  and note Research Grant Fund in the check memo, or attach a note to the gift.

Or make a gift on our secure website and tell us you wish to support the Research Grant in the "comments" box.