Funding Opportunities

RNA Pilot Grant Program  Fall 2026

The Penn Institute for RNA Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, and Wistar seeks to support RNA-related basic, translational and clinical research. Towards that goal, the Institute is requesting applications for its Pilot Grants Program for Fall 2026. Pilot funding will provide initial support to establish proof of concept or extend findings to enable extramural funding and publications in the future. Given changes in funding priorities at NIH this Pilot award will also be available for existing RNA-related projects that are being modified to bridge to new scientific areas that align with priority areas of the RNA Institute.  These priority areas are indicated below along with, deadlines, and application guidelines.

The Fall 2026 Pilot Grant Program research priority areas will be to support: 

• Cross-disciplinary research that will lead to extramurally funded research in either basic or translational science in the arena of RNA biology. Applications related to vaccine research involving RNA are welcome.
• Supplements to existing projects involving RNA basic or translational science in which a change in direction is planned for the project to align with emerging NIH priorities 
• Early- and mid-stage investigators undertaking new projects involving basic or translational RNA technology and for whom alternative resources for funding are not available.

Prior recipients of pilot awards from the RNA Institute are eligible to apply for new awards in different areas. Prior awardees may also apply for funds to extend research from a previous pilot award and will be judged based on progress made during the first funding period.

Applicants are encouraged to utilize shared resource core facilities and services provided by the RNA Institute and Penn’s Artificial Intelligence-driven RNA BioFoundry (AIRFoundry) including the mRNA Core, Targeting Core and affiliated Cores (High-throughput Screening Core, Beckman Cryo-EM Center, and Structural Biology Core).

We encourage applicants to consult with our Core Directors or any members of the Institute’s Leadership Group early in the preparation of their application.  Allocation of Core effort to assist in grant preparation will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

Scientific areas for applications to address: 

RNA Basic Science:  RNA processing, RNA binding proteins, noncoding RNAs, and nucleoside-modifications are encouraged along with the development of tools to further the use of RNA technology in the treatment of disease.

Translational Science:  RNA-based science relevant to prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics for human diseases.  Projects and teams that bridge laboratory-based research to pre-clinical studies or models and/or that extend clinical observations to the laboratory (addressing mechanisms, identifying therapeutic targets, and developing novel interventions) are strongly encouraged to apply.

We hope you will consider this opportunity to creatively apply RNA-based approaches to new and exciting questions in your research. 

Program Timeline

Eligibility

Principal Investigators (PIs) for awards must have a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, or the Wistar Institute and hold the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor, Research Professor, or Instructor. Postdoctoral trainees are also encouraged to apply, provided that a faculty sponsor includes a Letter of Support for the trainee in the application. 

Proposals may not describe the same specific research that is funded by other sources during the grant period.

Budget and Duration

Individual applicants may request budgets up to $50,000 in direct costs and may propose projects lasting up to 12 months. The total equipment budget must not exceed $10,000.

RNA Pilot Budget Template

Application Requirements and Procedures

Full applications must be uploaded no later than October 27, 2026, by 11:59pm as a single PDF file. Please label the file as PIFullName_PilotFall2026.pdf and include the following materials:

a.      Cover Letter: A brief cover letter from the PI containing the title of the proposal and describing the value of the project and a statement that all collaborators listed on the application agree with the proposal.

b.      Abstract: A brief abstract of no more than 250 words.

c.      NIH Biosketch: An NIH format biosketch must be submitted for the PI and Co-Is.

d.      Proposal: The research proposal should be two single-spaced pages with one-inch margins and should include the essential background information related to the project. Inclusion of preliminary data is welcomed but not required. Please use Arial size 11 font. References should be attached to your research proposal and will not count toward your page limit. Please provide a timeline of implementation to ensure meeting all milestones by the end of the funding period.

e.      Budget: Please use the template budget page and provide detailed expenses. Salary support for faculty is discouraged.

f.       Budget Justification: Please provide a short justification for all personnel, supplies, and equipment that will be expensed to this project. Please indicate the importance of this funding to the feasibility of your research proposal. Please indicate if any other funds are available to you for the proposed research.

Submit your application. After your submission is complete, you will receive a confirmation receipt by email.

Eligibility and appropriate project support will be determined by the Institute for RNA Innovation. The application must have RNA-related research as its focus and currently not be funded by other sources.

Review Criteria

A peer review panel composed of faculty with a range of expertise will be responsible for award decisions, evaluating eligible applications competitively. The primary factors in award decisions will be the scientific merit of the proposed research and the long-term promise of the proposed research. Upon request, applicants may receive partial critiques of their proposals. All applicants will receive a review outcome indicating one of the following: “Funded,” “Not Funded,” or “Not Eligible.”

Grant Recipient Requirements 

Copies of IACUC and IRB approvals will be required if an award is funded.

Those receiving a grant will be expected to become active members of the Institute for RNA Innovation research community. Both the PIs and those working on funded projects are expected to:

•             Acknowledge Institute for RNA Innovation Support in publications. Any publications that are a direct result of
• this funding must reference: “Supported in part by the Institute for RNA Innovation of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.”
•             Self-identify as a member of the Institute for RNA Innovation on all publications emanating from the work supported by this grant.
•             Use awarded funds solely to support the RNA research described in their proposal.
•            Provide a progress report 30 days after the end of funding.
•            Contribute a presentation on research accomplishments at a future talk/symposium hosted by the Institute for RNA Innovation.
•            Provide follow-up information regarding the long-term impact of the award(s) on your overall research program and funding.

Questions?

Contact: Jill Agolino

RNA Travel Grant Program

The Institute for RNA Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, and Wistar seeks to support RNA biology research to enhance basic science, translational, and clinical studies.

Travel Grants support graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who wish to attend and/or present their research at scholarly meetings off campus and may be used to defray the cost of travel and fees.

Eligibility

• Applying graduate student or postdoctoral researcher must be mentored by a member of the Institute for RNA Innovation.
• Must be attending a major regional, national, or international conference.
• Must have travel authorization from their department prior to travel.
• Cannot have received a prior travel grant during the academic year.
• Cannot have received more than 2 prior travel grants during their tenure at Penn.

Budget 

Grants may be awarded to graduate students or postdoctoral researchers who are attending and/or presenting a research paper or a poster, mentored by a faculty member, at a scholarly meeting in the field of RNA research. The Institute for RNA Innovation will provide grants of up to $1,000. Travel Grant awards may also be used for trainings, workshops, or courses in the field of RNA research. Funds may be used for registration fees, transportation, and lodging. Funding will not cover related books, materials, or meals.

Application Requirements and Procedures

Applications will be accepted year-round on a rolling basis. Applications must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the start of travel as a single PDF file.

Please label the file as ApplicantFullName_Travel_SubmissionDate.pdf and include the following materials:

• Complete a brief proposal (no more than 500 words) outlining the nature of the travel request, the level of participation, and need for funds. Applicant should also include up to 3 sentences describing professional goals.
• Letter of support from mentor.

After your submission is complete, you will receive a confirmation receipt by email.

Eligibility and appropriate travel support will be determined by the Institute for RNA Innovation. A committee will review the applications and inform selected applicants within two weeks of submission.

No more than 3 awards will be issued per mentor lab in each fiscal year.

Grant Recipient Reimbursement and Requirements 

• Travel claims with receipts must be submitted within 15 days of a student or postdoctoral researcher’s return.
• Airfare must be booked in World Travel/Concur.
• Book AMTRAK directly on www.amtrak.com
• Your award letter will include details about reimbursement.
• Within 15 days of return, provide follow-up information regarding the impact of attendance on research, scholarship, or other professional developmental goals. This includes a short blurb about experience for the news section of the Institute for RNA Innovation website with picture (if available).

Questions?

Contact: Jill Agolino

Apply on-line here. 

The AI-driven RNA BioFoundry (AIRFoundry) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for seed grants aimed at advancing innovative research, education, and applications of RNA technologies. These grants are designed to support projects that leverage RNA and/or lipid nanoparticle technology for transformative outcomes across diverse fields of research, including fundamental and basic science, biotechnology, agriculture, sustainability, food science, and animal health. AIRFoundry’s mission is to revolutionize the design, synthesis, and delivery of RNA, democratizing access to these tools for researchers worldwide.

Learn more here.

Application deadline has expired

RNA Pilot Grant Program

Fall 2025

The Penn Institute for RNA Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, and Wistar seeks to support RNA-related basic, translational and clinical research. Towards that goal, the Institute is requesting applications for its Pilot Grants Program for Fall 2025. Pilot funding will provide initial support to establish proof of concept or extend findings to enable extramural funding and publications in the future. Given changes in funding priorities at NIH this Pilot award will also be available for existing RNA-related projects that are being modified to bridge to new scientific areas that align with priority areas of the RNA Institute.  These priority areas are indicated below along with, deadlines, and application guidelines.

The Fall 2025 Pilot Grant Program research priority areas will be to support:

1. Cross-disciplinary research that will lead to extramurally funded research in either basic or translational science in the arena of RNA biology. Of note, applications related to vaccine research involving RNA continue to be welcomed.

2. Supplements to existing projects involving RNA basic or translational science in which a change in direction is planned to align with emerging NIH priorities.

3. Early-stage investigators undertaking new projects involving basic or translational RNA technology will be a priority for this RFA.

Prior recipients of pilot awards from the RNA Institute are eligible to apply for new awards in different areas. Prior awardees may also apply for funds to extend research from a previous pilot award and will be judged based on progress made during the first funding period.

Use of the Institute’s shared resource Cores is encouraged and includes the mRNA Core, LNP Core, Targeting Core, and High-throughput Screening Core.

We encourage applicants to consult with our Core Directors or any members of the Institute’s Leadership Group early in the preparation of their application.  Allocation of Core effort to assist in grant preparation will be available on a first-come first-served basis.

Scientific areas for applications to address:

RNA Basic Science:  RNA processing, RNA binding proteins, noncoding RNAs, and nucleoside-modifications are encouraged along with the development of tools to further the use of RNA technology in the treatment of disease.

Translational Science:  RNA-based science relevant to prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics for human diseases.  Projects and teams that bridge laboratory-based research to pre-clinical studies or models and/or that extend clinical observations to the laboratory (addressing mechanisms, identifying therapeutic targets, and developing novel interventions) are strongly encouraged to apply.

We hope you will consider this opportunity to creatively apply RNA-based approaches to new and exciting questions in your research.

Program Timeline

Application Due:                                                                                     October 27, 2025

Decisions/Results Communicated to Applicant:                                  December 2025

Funding of Successful Applicants Begins:                                     January 1, 2026

Eligibility

Principal Investigators (PIs) for awards must have a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, or the Wistar Institute and hold the rank of Assistant, Associate or Full Professor, Research Professor, or Instructor. Postdoctoral trainees are also encouraged to apply, provided that a faculty sponsor includes a Letter of Support for the trainee in the application.

Proposals may not describe the same specific research that is funded by other sources during the grant period.

PENN INSTITUTE FOR RNA INNOVATION FALL 2025 PILOT – DETAILED BUDGET

Budget and Duration

Individual applicants may request budgets up to $50,000 in direct costs and may propose projects lasting up to 12 months. The total equipment budget must not exceed $10,000.

Application Requirements and Procedures

Full applications must be uploaded no later than October 27, 2025 as a single PDF file. Please label the file as PIFullName_PilotFall2025.pdf and include the following materials:

1. Cover Letter: A brief cover letter from the PI containing the title of the proposal and describing the value of the project and a statement that all collaborators listed on the application agree with the proposal.
2. Abstract: A brief abstract of no more than 250 words.
3. NIH Biosketch: An NIH format biosketch must be submitted for the PI and Co-Is.
4. Proposal: The research proposal should be two single-spaced pages with one-inch margins and should include the essential background information related to the project. Inclusion of preliminary data is welcomed but not required. Please use Arial size 11 font. References should be attached to your research proposal and will not count toward your page limit. Please provide a timeline of implementation to ensure meeting all milestones by the end of the funding period.
5. Budget: Please use the template budget page and provide detailed expenses. Salary support for faculty is discouraged.
6. Budget Justification: Please provide a short justification for all personnel, supplies, and equipment that will be expensed to this project. Please indicate the importance of this funding to the feasibility of your research proposal. Please indicate if any other funds are available to you for the proposed research.

Applications should be uploaded here. After your submission is complete, you will receive a confirmation receipt by email.

Eligibility and appropriate project support will be determined by the Institute for RNA Innovation. The application must have RNA-related research as its focus and currently not be funded by other sources.

Review Criteria

A peer review panel composed of faculty with a range of expertise will be responsible for award decisions, evaluating eligible applications competitively. The primary factors in award decisions will be the scientific merit of the proposed research and the long-term promise of the proposed research. No critiques will be provided to applicants; applicants will be informed with a review response of “Funded,” “Not funded” or “Not eligible.” 

Grant Recipient Requirements 

Copies of IACUC and IRB approvals will be required if an award is funded.

Those receiving a grant will be expected to become active members of the Institute for RNA Innovation research community. Both the PIs and those working on funded projects are expected to:

• Acknowledge Institute for RNA Innovation Support in publications. Any publications that are a direct result of this funding must reference: “Supported in part by the Institute for RNA Innovation of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.”

• Self-identify as a member of the Institute for RNA Innovation on all publications emanating from the work supported by this grant.

• Use awarded funds solely to support the RNA research described in their proposal.

• Provide a progress report 30 days after the end of funding.

• Contribute a presentation on research accomplishments at a future talk/symposium hosted by the Institute for RNA Innovation.

• Provide follow-up information regarding the long-term impact of the award(s) on your overall research program and funding.

Questions?

Contact: Jill Agolino