CJD Foundation research grants and fellowships program

The CJD Foundation (United States) runs an annual, worldwide competitive call for research grants on human prion disease plus a single early-career fellowship. Research grants are capped at USD 50,000 for one year or USD 100,000 for two years, and the fellowship at USD 100,000 for one year. The program reports more than 85 grants and more than USD 6 million awarded in total. The most recent announced round (January 2026) funded ten projects at institutions in the US, UK, Switzerland and Spain.

Key facts

  • Research grants cover human prion disease topics including pathophysiology, molecular mechanisms, cell and animal models, diagnostics, clinical and translational work, treatment targets or biomarkers, genetics and bioinformatics.
  • Two grant sizes are offered: one-year up to USD 50,000 and two-year up to USD 100,000. The same sizes appear in the 2024-25 call, suggesting stable terms.
  • The 2026-27 fellowship offers up to one award of up to USD 100,000 for one year of clinical and research training, for early-career postdoctoral researchers or healthcare professionals working under a senior mentor, starting 1 July 2027.
  • Applications are two-stage for grants: a letter of intent, then an invited full application. Fellowship applications are single-stage.
  • Progress reports are required: 12 and 18 months for one-year grants, 18 and 24 months for two-year grants, and 6 months and 1 year for the fellowship.
  • Applicants of any career stage from over 220 countries and territories are listed as eligible in a third-party listing.
  • Applications are rated and ranked by the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Committee.
  • Funding comes from donations, Strides for CJD fundraising and family memorial grants.
  • The 28 January 2026 round named ten awards, eight grants and two fellowships, at the University of Zurich, CIC bioGUNE, Boston University, the Broad Institute, the University of Edinburgh (Roslin Institute), UCL (MRC Prion Unit), UC San Diego, UT Health Houston, Imperial College London and the University of Chicago. Topics include PrP lowering, gene therapy, CWD strain host range, GWAS and splicing modulators.
  • Earlier history: a 2018 release reported grants to 35 recipients since 2006 (search excerpt only).

Timeline

  1. 2006First CJD Foundation human research grant recorded (search excerpt).
  2. 2018Six grants announced; 35 recipients since 2006 (search excerpt).
  3. 2026Ten grants and fellowships announced for the 2025-26 cycle.
  4. 20262026-27 call published on a third-party listing.
  5. 2026Letters of intent due for 2026-27.
  6. 2026Deadline for invitations to submit full applications.
  7. 2026Full grant and fellowship applications due.
  8. 2027Awards to be communicated; public announcement by 2027-01-27.
  9. 2027Fellowship training period begins.

Last checked 1 November 2026

Sources for this page