Polybio Research Foundation Inc
We are a 501(c)3 transforming how complex chronic conditions like longcovid, me/cfs & post treatment lyme disease are studied, diagnosed, and treated. Polybio was founded by three scientists with complementary expertise (neuroscience, microbiology & genetics). We conceptualize research projects that identify root cause drivers of these conditions and build collaborative teams to make the projects a reality.
Polybio Research Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Polybio Research Foundation Inc gave $11.9M across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $851K), top state New York. 93% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,910,094
- -11.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- +75.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $850,721
- -49.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $270,013
- Total assets
- $9,811,535
- -36.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 93% first-time grantees (13 of 14, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (38% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Polybio Research Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($3.5M). Together the top 10 received $11.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $1–5M range: 8 grants of 27 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Polybio Research Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
93%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 13 of 14 grantees (93%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $894K; repeat grants $290K. How we count
Medians: $250K first-time, $290K repeat.
- 7% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2022–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.6M (2022) to $13.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $11.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York, NY | Research Grant | $3,503,518 |
| Regents of the University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA | Research Grant | $3,203,968 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Philadelphia, PA | Research Grant | $2,091,756 |
| NYU Grossman School of Medicine New York, NY | Research Grant | $999,812 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Research Grant | $575,000 |
| Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University Tempe, AZ | Research Grant | $345,000 |
| J Craig Venter Institute La Jolla, CA | Research Grant | $290,025 |
| Umass Chan Medical School Worcester, MA | Research Grant | $250,000 |
| Stratevi LLC Boston, MA | Research Grant | $201,000 |
| Amici Lovanienses San Jose, CA | Research Grant | $159,128 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,811,535 | $4,324,689 | $14,142,012 | $11,910,094 | 14 | $229,236 |
| 2023 | $15,536,208 | $17,350,488 | $18,634,620 | $13,504,046 | 8 | — |
| 2022 | $14,198,872 | $17,879,554 | $4,294,270 | $3,552,618 | 5 | — |
| 2021 | $614,801 | $622,734 | $34,354 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $23,751 | $24,211 | $460 | — | — | — |
About Polybio Research Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Polybio Research Foundation Inc is a public charity, based in Medford, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $9.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 14 grants totaling $11.9M. Net investment income was $229K.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Polybio Research Foundation Inc is led by Amy Proal, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Amy Proal
Executive Director
President → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $185K (2024)
Francis Brenner
Chair
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Vanelzakker
Director
Vice President → Director, 2022
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maggie Steffens
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Bach
Director
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charlotte Mao
Clerk
Secretary → Clerk, 2022
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark Longstreth
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kris Fobes (2020–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $185K, to Amy Proal (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Polybio Research Foundation Inc
How much does Polybio Research Foundation Inc give each year?
Polybio Research Foundation Inc gave $11.9M across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $13.5M across 8 grants.
What is Polybio Research Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Polybio Research Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $270,013, and its average grant was $850,721, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Polybio Research Foundation Inc that year got $894K on average.
Where does Polybio Research Foundation Inc give grants?
Polybio Research Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 38% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (31%) and Pennsylvania (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (2 grants) and Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Polybio Research Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Polybio Research Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Grant" (14 grants).
Who are Polybio Research Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Polybio Research Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ($3,503,518), Regents of the University of California San Francisco ($3,203,968) and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ($2,091,756), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Polybio Research Foundation Inc?
Polybio Research Foundation Inc reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.3M.
What is Polybio Research Foundation Inc's EIN?
Polybio Research Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-5157239. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 26, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Massachusetts
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Polybio Research Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?