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Investigator Award

Rheumatology Research Foundation

Support for junior investigators to conduct innovative research

Purpose
Encourage junior investigators in the period between completing post-doctoral fellowship training; while being competitive for more significant funding and establishing themselves as independent investigators

Award Amount
$375,000

Award Term
3 Years

Letter of Intent
In order to help recruit the most appropriate peer reviewers and assist with study section assignments, applicants are required to submit a brief, non-binding Letter of Intent to the Foundation by July 1, 2025. Submit here

Notice of Special Interest - LRA/RRF Empowering Lupus Research Partnership
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.

Application Deadline
August 1, 2025 by 5 PM ET

AI Based Application Success Predictor

🎯 1. Strong Alignment with RRF’s Mission

The Foundation exclusively supports projects that advance:

Rheumatology-related research

Clinical care in rheumatic diseases

Workforce development (e.g., fellowships, mentoring)

✅ Predictor: Your work directly improves understanding, treatment, or delivery of care in rheumatologic disorders (e.g., lupus, RA, vasculitis, scleroderma).

🧪 2. Early-Career Track Record & Commitment to Rheumatology

Many RRF grants support:

Medical students and residents interested in rheumatology

Early-stage investigators (PhD, MD/DO, or both)

Faculty within first 5 years of appointment

Predictor: Evidence of a career-long commitment to rheumatology — shown through:

Prior related research

Mentorship in rheumatology

Long-term career goals in rheumatic disease care or research

📈 3. Mentored, Feasible Research Plan

RRF highly favors:

Projects with a strong mentoring team

Clear objectives and milestones

Approaches that are achievable within the funding timeline (usually 1–2 years)

Predictor: A well-structured, mentored proposal with a feasible scope, especially for career development awards.

👩‍🔬 4. Evidence of Research Potential

Applications that show:

Prior productivity (abstracts, posters, pilot data, or publications)

Institutional support (lab space, access to patients, etc.)

Engagement with academic rheumatology departments

Predictor: Academic promise and institutional environment conducive to research in rheumatology.

📚 5. Participation in RRF or ACR Programs

Applicants engaged in:

ACR/ARP Annual Meetings

RRF-funded summer research programs

Early investigator or mentor development workshops

...often have higher success due to networking and alignment.

Predictor: A track record of engagement in the rheumatology research community.

🧾 Popular RRF Grant Programs & Their Audiences

Grant	Audience	Amount	Focus
Scientist Development Award	Junior faculty	Up to $225,000 over 3 years	Launching an independent research career
Career Development Bridge Funding (NIH-K)	K award applicants	Up to $75,000	Interim support before NIH funding
Health Professional Research Grant	Non-MDs (e.g., DPT, PharmD, PhD)	$50,000	Early research in patient care
Rheumatology Future Physician-Scientist	Med students	$10,000	Summer research experience
Innovative Research Award	All levels	Up to $400,000	Groundbreaking or high-risk/high-reward projects

🧾 Past Funded Topics Include:

T-cell metabolism in lupus

Novel biomarkers for scleroderma lung disease

Machine learning to predict RA flares

Racial disparities in lupus nephritis care

Targeting B-cell signaling in Sjögren’s syndrome

📍 Pro Tips for Success

✅ Demonstrate a clear rheumatology research focus
✅ Include a well-defined mentorship plan
✅ Address how the project fits into your career trajectory
✅ Have preliminary data (for most research grants)
✅ Stay involved in ACR/RRF programs

Specialties

Rheumatology

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant must meet all eligibility requirements as outlined in the Awards and Grants Policies.

 Applicant must be an ACR or ARP member at the time of submission and for the duration of the award.

ACR members must meet the following criteria:

• Have earned a DO or MD degree and who have completed a Rheumatology fellowship.

• Individuals more than 8 years from the beginning of fellowship (or 9 years for pediatric rheumatologists) at the time of award start date may not apply.

• MDs and DOs who are not licensed to perform clinical care may not apply.

ARP members must meet the following criteria:

• Have earned a PhD*, DSc, or equivalent doctoral degree.

• Must be within 6 years of terminal degree at the time of award start date.

 * Non-MD/DOs submitting basic science projects must clearly demonstrate direct applicability to rheumatic diseases, relevance to the Foundation’s mission and demonstrate a clear future career path in the field of rheumatology.

 Applicant must have a faculty appointment (e.g. instructor, assistant professor) at the time of the application, and a firm institutional commitment to support the applicant’s academic career for the duration of the award.

Applicant must be able to commit a minimum of 75 percent full-time professional effort to research, academic career development, and other research related activities. Candidates may not spend more than 25 percent in clinical and/or teaching activities. It is expected that about 50 percent full-time professional effort will be spent on the Foundation Funded project.

 Former or current recipients of research grants at the K level or higher (excluding institutional K12, KL2 or equivalent) and past awardees of this or equivalent Foundation grants or NIH intramural awards are NOT eligible to apply.

 Individuals at the NIH, FDA and CDC are NOT eligible to apply.

 Applicant may not apply for the Scientist Development Award in the same funding cycle.

 Individuals may not apply for more than one Investigator Award per funding cycle.

 Applicant is not eligible to receive funding from the Foundation’s Career Development Bridge Funding Awards during the Investigator Award term.

 Investigators interested in using data from the ACR’s RISE registry as part of their proposed research project need to get their data use request approved before applying for funding. Please visit RISE for Research for more information on RISE data.

Patient and community engagement can enhance the quality of research questions being asked and the ability of investigators to get answers. Therefore, the Foundation strongly encourages scientists of all levels to collaborate whenever possible with the people who will participate in and benefit from their studies. This applies not only to patient-oriented research, but also to studies relying on clinical or observational datasets or other resources.

The Foundation is sensitive that life and professional challenges may arise. Applicants or awardees may contact the Foundation to request reasonable accommodations to eligibility criteria, award terms, award policies, application deadlines, extensions, etc. when needed. All requests are subject to review and approval by the Scientific Advisory Council.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Rheumatology Research Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 2200 Lake Boulevard NE | Atlanta, GA 30319 | (404) 365-1373

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