The Kenneth Rainin Foundation invites Letters of Inquiry for our Innovator Awards Program from August 1 through September 30, 2023. One-year grants of up to $150,000 will support individual research projects and grants of up to $300,000 will support collaborative projects involving multiple investigators. Funding supports basic and translational research as well as clinical science to advance the understanding of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and improve patients’ quality of life. Researchers who demonstrate significant progress in their first year of funding are eligible for up to two years of additional support.
Research Priorities And Eligibility
The Innovator Awards provide early support for novel, untested ideas that have the potential to improve the prevention, prediction, diagnosis and treatment of IBD. Previous grants have supported research projects in areas such as:
- Bioengineering
- Diet and nutrition
- Molecular biology
- Immunity and inflammation
- Microbiome
- Therapeutic development and delivery
- Gut-brain axis
We support diverse perspectives from researchers worldwide to test new ideas, gather and share data and collaborate to advance IBD research. We encourage early career investigators as well as those who are underrepresented in science to apply for funding.
Current and former Rainin Foundation grantees are eligible to apply for funding for a new research project. Researchers may submit multiple proposals as long as there are distinct aims and objectives for each proposal.
Visit our IBD microsite to explore the research areas and researchers we have supported, as well as our vision and strategy for solving IBD.
Application Process
Applying for an Innovator Award is a two-step process. In the first phase, Letters of Inquiry, which include a project description, budget and biosketch, are accepted by September 30 through the Foundation’s online application system. Applicants selected by the Scientific Advisory Board to move on to the second stage will be invited to submit a full proposal by January 26, 2024. Awards will be announced April 2024 for the June 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025, grant period.
Explore complete information about the Innovator Awards’ funding criteria, eligibility requirements, guidelines and frequently asked questions.
