ARISEN Early-Stage Investigator Pilot Research Grant 2026

Request for Applications (RFA)

ARISEN Rare Disease Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) Early-Stage Investigator Pilot Grants
RFA No.: RDCRN-ARISEN-ESIPG-2026
Release Date: February 2, 2026
Letter of Intent Due: March 6, 2026
Invitation to Submit Full Application: March 13, 2026
Application Due: April 23, 2026
Anticipated Award Notification: June 16, 2026
Anticipated Project Period Start Date: August 1, 2026
 
1. Purpose
To reduce the barrier to entry and facilitate their conduct of rare disease research, the ARISEN Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Pilot Research Award invites applications from ESIs for pilot research projects that accelerate clinical research in rare diseases aligned with the consortium’s mission, including autoimmune encephalitis, Rasmussen syndrome, and new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), including its subtype with prior fever, Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES). Applicant eligibility is limited to ESIs according to the NIH ESI definition.* Applicants already pursuing research topics within the ARISEN portfolio and newcomers to rare disease research with relevant expertise are eligible to apply, provided they have ESI status at the time of the application deadline.
 
*NIH DEFINITION of Early Stage Investigator (ESI): ESI is a Program Director/Principal Investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training, whichever is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. 
 
The program aims to:
  • Generate preliminary data to support future extramural funding (e.g., NIH R21/R01/K23 or other career development awards) related to the above disorders in any manner, including etiology, pathophysiology, overlap and distinctions, best management, and prognostication.
  • Develop or validate tools such as biomarkers, endpoints, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).
  • Foster multidisciplinary, multi-center collaborations across RDCRN sites and patient advocacy groups (PAGs).
This ARISEN ESI Research Fund Award complements the ARISEN Pilot Award, which is open to all career stages. Both ARISEN pilot opportunities follow the same application submission and annual award cycle. Applicants may only apply to one funding mechanism per cycle.
 
2. Available Funding
  • Number of Awards: One
  • Budget: Up to $45,000 total costs
  • Project Period: 12 months
  • Funding Source: ARISEN U54HD122209
 
3. Eligibility
This career development pilot targets investigators at ARISEN and non-ARISEN institutions, who are early-stage investigators according to the NIH definition at the time of this application’s due date.
 
Applicants are required to have a scientific mentor, and research aims must be aligned with studying diseases within the ARISEN portfolio. 
 
The PI must hold an MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DO, RN or more advanced, PharmD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent, be a faculty member at U.S.-based academic institution, and be eligible to serve as PI on an extramural grant.
 
 
4. Research Scope and Priorities
Priority will be given to patient-oriented projects focused on the diseases in ARISEN and those that address clinical research knowledge gaps, leverage RDCRN infrastructure, demonstrate patient engagement, and show potential for measurable impact and sustainability. Research must fulfill the definition of clinical and/or translational research. Animal studies are not permitted. Projects not addressing the ARISEN diseases will not be considered for funding. Candidates who do not meet the NIH definition of an Early-Stage Investigator are not eligible to apply to this mechanism and instead should submit their application to the ARISEN Pilot Award opportunity.
 

5. Application Components
Letter of Intent: A two-page LOI must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on March 6, 2026
See LOI template here: https://tinyurl.com/ARISEN-ESIPG-LOI
 
Applicants will be notified by March 13, 2026, via email, that either: 1.)They are invited to submit a full proposal; or 2.) Their project has not been selected to move forward in the grant process. 
 
Full Application: If invited to submit a full application, the application must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on April 23, 2026.
 
Applications must be submitted as a single PDF and include:
  • Title Page: to include PI and co-investigators with affiliations, and amount requested (1 page)
  • Abstract (≤300 words)
  • Specific Aims (1 page)
  • Research Strategy: Background, Innovation, Approach, Timeline & Milestones including the Future Funding Plan specifying the grant mechanism and timing for application submission (4 pages)
  • Mentorship Team, Environment, and Career Development Plan (2 pages)
  • Biosketches of applicant, their mentor, and other key personnel (SciENcv format required; see link here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm)
  • Signed Mentor Letter of Support attesting to the protection of the applicant’s research time as well as a description of their commitment to the candidate, outlining any additional resources they will offer towards the candidate’s success 
  • Additional Letters of Support - optional
  • Budget (1 page)
  • Budget Justification (1 page)
  • References (no limit)
 
All application documents must adhere to the following formatting requirements:
  • Page Size: Standard U.S. letter (8.5” × 11”).
  • Margins: Minimum of ½” on all sides (top, bottom, left, right).
  • Font: Arial, 11-point size.
  • Page Limits: Page limits include all content, including text, figures, and tables.
  • Figures & Images: All figures, tables, and images must be clearly legible when printed at 100% scale on 8.5” × 11” paper.
 
6. Submission Instructions
Format: Single PDF labeled “RDCRN-ARISEN-ESIPG-[PI LastName]-[Year].pdf.”
Submission Portal: https://grants.rarediseasesnetwork.org/grants/ARISEN-ESI-2026
Application Questions: Julie Hawk, PhD, julie.lollar.hawk@emory.edu
 
It is strongly recommended that all invited applicants schedule and attend a grant writing consultation with ARISEN grant consultant, Dr. Julie Hawk, at least two weeks prior to the submission deadline. Please use the booking tool found here: Book time with Hawk, Julie Lollar: ARISEN Pilot Consultation • This link will expire on: April 29, 2026 (https://tinyurl.com/Book-JHawk)
 
 
7. Review Process
Applications will undergo NIH-style peer review by RDCRN investigators, PAG representatives, and designated experts. Review criteria include Significance, Innovation, Approach, Investigators, Environment, and Impact/Sustainability.
 

8. Grant Number & Acknowledgment Requirement
All applications must include the appropriate NIH grant number supporting the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) consortium and must use the following acknowledgment in all publications, presentations, press releases, and research products resulting from this pilot award:
 
“This project is supported by the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN), an initiative of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development, funded through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant Number: U54HD122209. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.”
 

9. Data Standards & Sharing
Projects must use RDCRN common data elements as applicable and deposit de-identified datasets as required.
 

10. Budget Guidance
Allowable costs include personnel effort, participant compensation, assays, supplies, imaging, publishing, and core fees. Travel is allowed and limited to $2,000. Equipment >$5,000 generally not allowed without pre-approval.
 

11. Ethical & Regulatory Requirements
Projects must comply with IRB, HIPAA, FDA regulations, ClinicalTrials.gov registration for interventional studies, ARISEN, and the RDCRN monitoring policies.
 

12. Future Grants
All awardees must submit an external grant application within 12 months of the end of the budget award for this grant. Failure to do so will result in ineligibility for future ARISEN Pilot or Career Enhancement Awards.
 

13. Obligations of Applicants and Awardees
Applicant Obligations:
 
Awardee Obligations:
  • Attend and participate in monthly ARISEN Research Rising events.
  • Present scientific and career development progress once annually (~6 months after the award) to ARISEN Executive Leadership Team.
  • Present scientific and career development work-in-progress once annually at the annual ARISEN symposium.
  • Accept assignment of and meet regularly with the assigned ARISEN mentor representative.
  • Complete an Individualized Development Plan.
  • Submit a final scientific report within 60 days of project completion.