Development Office Funding Opportunities

Eligibility:

•Applicants must have an independent faculty appointment (tenure-track or equivalent) at a non-profit academic/research institution.
•Collaboration teams must consist of one principal investigator (PI) at the host institution and one co-principal investigator (co-PI) at a different institution. We encourage teams that bring together individuals with distinct expertise (e.g. a cancer investigator and computational expert, a cancer investigator and an aging expert who has not previously worked in the cancer field, or experts who study aging in oncology and immunology).
•The PI and co-PI must both lead established laboratories currently supported by multi-year independent funding. For example, for US-based applicants, this should be at least one R01 or R01-equivalent grant. International applicants should similarly demonstrate independent support for their labs.
•Investigators who currently hold “Aging and Cancer” awards from the Mark Foundation are not permitted to apply.
•The PI and co-PI can only participate in one application, regardless of role.

About: Research supported by this program will advance our understanding of the rising incidence of cancer due to aging, with a special emphasis on the role of inflammaging and immunosenescence as common drivers of aging and cancer. Example topics include but are not limited to:

•Identifying actionable biomarkers (inflammatory molecules, immune cells, etc.) that link aging and cancer risk, including in younger individuals with early onset cancers and those with genetic predispositions, and underlying mechanisms.

•Dissecting the effects of the aging tumor microenvironment (e.g., inflammation, immune system, senescent cells) on tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment response.

•Investigating how progression of age-related clonal hematopoiesis, myeloid skewing, or emergency myelopoiesis promotes hematological malignancies (including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia) or solid tumors, and/or causes therapeutic resistance.

•Establishing the effects of tumors and cancer therapies in organismal aging, including the identification of biomarkers and therapeutic strategies to minimize or prevent cancer-induced aging.

•Providing preclinical and mechanistic validation for aging-specific, anticancer therapeutic approaches based on strategies targeting inflammation or senescence, or nominated from clinical trial data segregated by age.

•Supporting exploratory clinical trials to treat or prevent cancer in older or high-risk individuals, including correlative analyses from clinical samples derived from relevant trials. We encourage collaborations with biopharma or other funding sources to accelerate the proposed work.

Eligibility:

•Have received a Ph.D. (or D.Phil. or equivalent) degree no more than 2 years before the application deadline, or an M.D. (or M.D.-Ph.D.) degree no more than four years before the deadline
•They have been employed in their postdoctoral laboratory for no more than 1 year before the application deadline.
•The Foundation will not make more than one award per year for training with a given supervisor. Should we receive more than one application from a single laboratory, we will review only one, as chosen by the Chair of the SAC, and decline the other(s) administratively. We urge the heads of laboratories to make this choice for us.

Deadline:
•LOI due June 23, 2026
•Full proposal due July 23, 2026

Eligibility:

•The applicant who wishes to take on the Principal Investigator position must have a faculty appointment at the institution
•Proposal must be relevant to IBD, which includes  Crohn’s disease and/or ulcerative colitis
•Only one application is allowed per applicant per submission date
•Simultaneous submission of the same application for other awards is not permitted

Eligibility:

•Individuals who are already well established in the field of IBD research are not considered eligible for this award.
•Applicants should identify a senior investigator to act as a mentor to facilitate the transition to independence.
•Applicants must hold an MD and/or PhD (or equivalent degree).
oCandidates holding MD degrees must have 5 years of experience after receiving their terminal degree—two years of which must be documented research experience relevant to IBD.
oApplicants holding PhDs must have at least 2 years of documented post-doctoral research relevant to IBD.
•Generally, candidates should not be in excess of 10 years beyond the attainment of their doctoral degree.

Eligibility:

•Individuals who are already well established in the field of IBD research are not considered eligible for this award.

•Applicants should identify a senior investigator to serve as a mentor throughout the term of the award.

•Applicants must hold an MD and/or PhD (or equivalent degree).
oCandidates holding MD degrees must have 2 years of experience after receiving their terminal degree —1 year of which must be documented research experience relevant to IBD.
oApplicants holding PhDs must have at least 1 year of documented post-doctoral research relevant to IBD. MD applicants in excess of 7 years and PhD applicants in excess of 5 years of receiving their terminal degree should explain how additional support in the post-doctoral phase would benefit their development beyond their current training.

•Proposals MUST be relevant to IBD (Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative colitis) and must include a training and a mentoring plan. Only one application is allowed per applicant per submission date. Simultaneous submission of a Senior Research Award and a Research Training Award is not permitted.

•Awardees must devote a minimum of 80% of his/her professional time directly to the project

Eligibility:

•Candidates must have a MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DO degree, or equivalent.

•At the time of funding, candidates must be:

oWithin 6 years of starting their first faculty position and currently have an academic appointment at an accredited medical school or other institution in North America,
oOR hold a postdoctoral fellowship appointment at an accredited medical school or other institution in North America.

•Candidates must be a NANETS member in good standing.

Eligibility:

•Candidates must have a MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DO degree, or equivalent.

•At the time of funding, candidates must be:

oWithin 6 years of starting their first faculty position and currently have an academic appointment at an accredited medical school or other institution in North America,
oOR hold a postdoctoral fellowship appointment at an accredited medical school or other institution in North America.

•Candidates must be a NANETS member in good standing.

Eligibility:

• PIs at any career stage are eligible to apply 

About: This funding call focuses on interventions that improve youth mental health by targeting circadian rhythms (such as, but not limited to, sleep timing, sleep quality and daily light exposure) and/or physical activity (such as, but not limited to, aerobic exercise, dance classes, walkinThis Request for Proposals (RFP) from Cures Within Reach (CWR) is seeking investigator-initiated, proof of concept, Phase I or Phase IIA clinical trials to validate artificial intelligence (AI)-driven repurposing opportunities in any unsolved disease, where the therapies supported by AI models are already approved. Eligible clinical repurposing trials must include AI-generated data as part of the preclinical support for the trial. Supporting data from any type of AI model is accepted for this RFP, including models that are:
• Developed/owned/controlled by nonprofit/academic/government institutions or for profit companies
• Open to public use or only accessible via collaboration

Eligibility:

•The AAMDSIF Research Grant Program is open to New Investigators only. New Investigators are post-doctoral fellows, instructors, and those who have been assistant professors for fewer than five (5) years. Preference will be given to those investigators who have not already received an individual research award from a major funding organization

About: In 2026, AAMDSIF will accept proposals addressing these bone marrow failure disorders:

•Aplastic Anemia, Myelodysplastic Syndromes/Neoplasms (MDS), or Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) Funding is available to support two projects focusing on either Aplastic Anemia, MDS, or PNH at $80,000 over two years ($40,000 per year) judged to have the highest scientific merit by the AAMDSIF Medical Advisory Board reviewers.

•Aplastic Anemia only Funding is available to support one project focusing on Aplastic Anemia at $80,000 over two years ($40,000 per year) judged to have the highest scientific merit by the AAMDSIF Medical Advisory Board reviewers.

The Foundation is interested in funding research with promising clinical impact and will prioritize projects that are translational in nature, study basic science with broad clinical implications, explore insights into the pathophysiology of bone marrow failure, or study clinical aspects of these disorders (including epidemiology, treatment, and health services research). Some examples of this type of research include but are not limited to:

•Discovery of biomarkers predicting response or resistance to existing therapies

•Correlative science on patient samples collected from clinical trials, to inform understanding of therapeutic mechanisms

•Late-stage pre-clinical research, with a goal of establishing proof-of-concept for a novel therapy

•Early stage clinical trials

•Basic research that reveals new mechanisms of disease likely to benefit patients

•Genetics of bone marrow failure conditions including both inherited and acquired mutations

•Analyses of large data sets to identify new risk factors for bone marrow failure or for their progression to higher risk disease

Investigators should be prepared to provide a rationale for the research as related to a gap in evidence for the proposed project. Applicants should clearly explain why the proposed research will address an important question that has not been answered by previous research.

Eligibility:

•Applications are invited from academic research teams with complementary expertise in immunology and IBD. Each application must include:
•One senior Principal Investigator (Professor, Head of Research, Associate Professor, or equivalent)
•At least one junior Co-Principal Investigator (Instructor or Assistant Professor)
•A multidisciplinary approach is encouraged, including integration of patient-derived data to inform and strengthen the proposed immune-based therapeutic strategy. U.S. and international investigators are eligible to apply.

About: The goal of this RFP is to develop therapeutic approaches for immune reprogramming, defined as reshaping immune memory, restoring tolerance, or selectively modulating antigen-specific responses—rather than broad immune suppression.
Proposed studies should be primarily preclinical and mechanistic in nature. In vivo models relevant to postoperative recurrence (e.g., IL-10 knockout, HLA-B27 transgenic rodent models, or other validated immune-driven recurrence models) are strongly encouraged.
Proposals can use organoid-based models by integrating patient-derived organoids with immune, stromal, microbial, and injury elements or through in vivo xenotransplantation in humanized (HIS) mouse models. Clinical studies will only be considered if postoperative patients are already enrolled and consented, and an IND is in place where required.
Proposals must focus on immunology-based approaches relevant to prevention of IBD recurrence following surgical resection, with an emphasis on shaping durable immune states rather than broadly suppressing immune activity. Proposals must clearly articulate how the work advances immune-based prevention of recurrence and connects to human IBD biology and is supported by strong preliminary data.

Eligibility:

•US community and academic institutions (including NCCN and non-NCCN Member Institutions).

•Health care professional organizations and other organizations related to health care improvement.

•Health care delivery organizations must serve as the lead applicant, if partnered with health technology companies and advocacy groups.

•Collaboration among institutions is strongly encouraged to foster interactive sharing of knowledge and expertise, and to utilize the combined strengths of the involved institutions.

•Junior faculty (i.e., Assistant Professors and below) are encouraged to apply.

•Trainees may participate as a sub-investigator under appropriate mentorship from a PI.

About: The overall aim of this RFP is to develop innovative, impactful, scalable, and sustainable quality improvement projects to advance the delivery of quality care to patients with mPCa. Funded projects should aim to address knowledge gaps, inefficiencies, and disparities in care delivery by focusing on one or more of the following areas:

•Optimizing provider adherence to standard of care testing and treatment strategies, ensuring access to up-to-date, evidence-based care.

•Enhancing patient–provider communication and health literacy, thereby improving patient understanding of disease, treatment options, and care pathways to optimize clinical outcomes.

•Improving strategies for toxicity mitigation, with the goal of increasing treatment tolerability and enabling patients to receive and remain on life-prolonging therapies.

•Increasing appropriate utilization of biomarker and genetic testing, to support access to targeted therapies for eligible patients.

Eligibility:

•The project must involve at least one person living with SCI/D, MS or ALS.
•All grant applicants must have a professional degree: Ph.D. or M.D. preferred.
•Post-doctoral scientists are eligible to apply for fellowship support within four years of receiving a Ph.D. or completing M.D. residency.

About: Supports clinical and functional studies of the medical, psychosocial, and economic effects of spinal cord injury or disease, and / or interventions proposed to alleviate these effects.

Eligibility:

•The project must involve at least one person living with SCI/D, MS or ALS.
•All grant applicants must have a professional degree: Ph.D. or M.D. preferred.
•Post-doctoral scientists are eligible to apply for fellowship support within four years of receiving a Ph.D. or completing M.D. residency.

About: Supports laboratory research in the basic sciences related to spinal cord injury or disease.

Eligibility:

•The project must involve at least one person living with SCI/D, MS or ALS.
•All grant applicants must have a professional degree: Ph.D. or M.D. preferred.
•Post-doctoral scientists are eligible to apply for fellowship support within four years of receiving a Ph.D. or completing M.D. residency.

Eligibility:

•The project must involve at least one person living with SCI/D, MS or ALS.
•Fellowship applicants must apply within 4 years after receiving a PhD, or within 4 years of completing a formal medical residency program.
•Fellowship applicants must have a designated and identified mentor/sponsor
•All grant applicants must have a professional degree: Ph.D. or M.D. preferred.
•Senior fellows are encouraged to apply as principal investigators.

Eligibility:

Applicant must be an ACR or ARP member at the time of submission and for the duration of the award
•ACR Members:
oHave earned a DO or MD degree and who have completed a Rheumatology fellowship.
oIndividuals more than 7 years from the beginning of fellowship (or 8 years for pediatric rheumatologists) at the time of award start date may not apply
•ARP Members:
oHave earned a PhD*, DSc, or equivalent doctoral degree.
oMust be within 5 years of terminal degree at the time of award start date.

About: 
This award is intended to support early career investigators for the period between the completion of post-doctorate fellowship training and establishment as an independent investigator

This cycle, in partnership with the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the Rheumatology Research Foundation (RRF) is pleased to issue a notice of special interest (NOSI) to highlight the availability of funds aimed towards driving the discovery and development of next generation lupus diagnostics and curative treatments. Please note that this NOSI complements but does not replace the RRF’s annual programs. Funded projects via this partnership will be in addition to those funded via the standard Scientist Development Award and Investigator Award.

Applications submitted through the LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Partnership should aim to accomplish one or more of the following goals:

• Stimulate the investigation of underexplored pathways and novel concepts in lupus biology,
• Initiate transformative discoveries in autoimmune disease, driving the development of safer and more effective treatments for people living with lupus, and/or
• Aim to bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside in lupus and autoimmunity research.

Projects should be relevant to the mission of both the RRF and LRA and be applicable to the LRA’s strategic priorities:

• Defining human lupus heterogeneity by molecular pathology to stratify patients by active disease mechanisms, and
• Integrating the research continuum to bring advances to patients,
• Enabling global research/technology collaborations.

Eligibility:

Applicant must be an ACR or ARP member at the time of submission and for the duration of the award
•ACR Members:
oHave earned a DO or MD degree and who have completed a Rheumatology fellowship.
oIndividuals more than 7 years from the beginning of fellowship (or 8 years for pediatric rheumatologists) at the time of award start date may not apply
•ARP Members:
oHave earned a PhD*, DSc, or equivalent doctoral degree.
oMust be within 5 years of terminal degree at the time of award start date.

About:
This award is intended to support early career investigators for the period between the completion of post-doctorate fellowship training and establishment as an independent investigator

This cycle, in partnership with the Lupus Research Alliance (LRA), the Rheumatology Research Foundation (RRF) is pleased to issue a notice of special interest (NOSI) to highlight the availability of funds aimed towards driving the discovery and development of next generation lupus diagnostics and curative treatments. Please note that this NOSI complements but does not replace the RRF’s annual programs. Funded projects via this partnership will be in addition to those funded via the standard Scientist Development Award and Investigator Award.

Applications submitted through the LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Partnership should aim to accomplish one or more of the following goals:
• Stimulate the investigation of underexplored pathways and novel concepts in lupus biology,
• Initiate transformative discoveries in autoimmune disease, driving the development of safer and more effective treatments for people living with lupus, and/or
• Aim to bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside in lupus and autoimmunity research.

Projects should be relevant to the mission of both the RRF and LRA and be applicable to the LRA’s strategic priorities:
• Defining human lupus heterogeneity by molecular pathology to stratify patients by active disease mechanisms, and
• Integrating the research continuum to bring advances to patients,
• Enabling global research/technology collaborations.

Eligibility:

Applicant must be an ACR or ARP member at the time of submission and for the duration of the award
•ACR Members:
oHave earned a DO or MD degree and by the start of the award term have completed at least 1 year of training in an ACGME accredited rheumatology training program.
oIndividuals more than 4 years from the beginning of fellowship (or 5 years for pediatric rheumatologists) at the time of award start date may not apply
•ARP Members:
oHave earned a PhD*, DSc, or equivalent doctoral degree by the time of award start.
oMust be within 3 years of terminal degree at the time of award start date.

About:
This mentored career development award is designed for individuals in the early stages of their career or those without significant prior research experience. Projects should help awardees generate scientific data and develop innovative research ideas necessary to transition to an independent research role in areas aligned with the stated goals of the LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Partnership.

Applications submitted through the LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Partnership should aim to accomplish one or more of the following goals:
• Stimulate the investigation of underexplored pathways and novel concepts in lupus biology,
• Initiate transformative discoveries in autoimmune disease, driving the development of safer and more effective treatments for people living with lupus, and/or
• Aim to bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside in lupus and autoimmunity research.

Projects should be relevant to the mission of both the RRF and LRA and be applicable to the LRA’s strategic priorities:
• Defining human lupus heterogeneity by molecular pathology to stratify patients by active disease mechanisms, and
• Integrating the research continuum to bring advances to patients,
• Enabling global research/technology collaborations.