National Pancreas Foundation (NFP) Research Grants

Overview

_NOTE: The 2025 Research Grants Program has been paused and anticipates resuming  in 2026._

On an annual basis the National Pancreas Foundation provides multiple research grants in the amount of $50,000. NPF has given over $5 million to fund over 130 ground-breaking research projects.

The proposed research must have direct relevance to the diagnosis and/or treatment of pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer or pediatric pancreatitis. Grants are awarded for a period of one year. Researchers are employed by a medical institution engaged in health-related research. The researcher is a physician or holds an advanced degree (MD, DO, PhD or international equivalent) working in any country. Applicants must be early-stage faculty within 5 years of their first faculty or staff appointment. Postdoctoral fellows may apply if they will hold a faculty position at the time the grant starts.

Grant research will directly address questions in basic, experimental or translational pancreas disease research, including, but not limited to acute, chronic, & pediatric pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, pancreatic insufficiency, pediatric pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, including early detection and treatment of these disorders. The research, in most cases, should be for a pilot project, where the results can lead to valuable preliminary data that could lead to a larger grant that could be transformative.

International applicants are encouraged to apply but need to be affiliated with an institution engaged in healthcare-related research.

Terms:

Grants will be made for one year only. The maximum award will be $50,000. Funding is to cover direct costs only, and costs should be reflected in the budget.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

* Applicants must be employed by an institution engaged in health-related research.
* Applicants must hold an advanced degree (MD, DO, PhD, or international equivalent).
* Applicants must be early-stage faculty within 5 years of their first faculty or staff appointment. Postdoctoral fellows may apply if they will hold a faculty position at the time the grant starts. The position must be confirmed at the time of the application.
* An exception to the 5-year window may be granted for interruptions of work experience due to extenuating circumstances and clinical training. Applicants whose time on faculty exceeds the 5-year window and who believe they may be eligible should contact the NPF to confirm eligibility before submitting the application.
* Applicants are required to include a mentor or senior scientist collaborator on the project. The mentor/collaborator’s Biosketch and Other Support should be provided. For international applicants, the mentor needs to be a member of a US professional society or association (APA, AGA, AAS/SUS, etc). Each applicant should provide an attestation from the mentor that they will be responsible for the conduct of the research.
* Research Criteria:
* The research must be in the broad field of pancreatic diseases, including pancreas physiology and function, in children or adults. Studies intended to advance knowledge in the areas of pancreatic malignancy, and all forms of pancreatitis, would be the closest to the areas of interest of the NPF. Applications from other fields are welcome, but the proposal will require clear intersection with diseases of the exocrine pancreas.
* Grant research proposals should directly address questions in basic, experimental, translational or clinical pancreas disease research, including, but not limited to acute, chronic pancreatitis, pediatric pancreatitis, pancreatic cysts, pancreatic insufficiency, and pancreatic cancer, including early detection and treatment of these disorders.
* If the applicant changes institutions while applying for, or utilizing funds from the NPF, the applicant or grantee must notify the NPF, and will be subject to review based upon the change in circumstances.
* The funding should be for a pilot project, where the results lead to valuable preliminary data that could lead to a larger grant that could be transformative. It should be clearly specified how the funds/research will be used to leverage additional funding.
* The scope of work must be commensurate with the funding amount (PI’s should not be sending in RO1-type applications).
* Overlap with existing sources of funding should be clearly identified in the Other Support document.