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Rare Epilepsy Partnership Award

Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy

Foundation Annual Grants for Science Research

Funding Amount

$100,000

Deadline

September 1, 2026

134 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Rare Epilepsy Partnership Award

Purpose: Supports development of necessary research tools, techniques, model systems, and data collection platforms to stimulate and accelerate research on rare epilepsies.

Award Duration: 1 year

Funding Structure: Co-funded by CURE Epilepsy and one or more rare epilepsy advocacy groups (partners) identified in Request for Proposals.

Geographic Scope: Available to researchers at academic and non-academic institutions (universities, companies, non-profit research institutions).

Focus Areas:

  • One or more specific rare epilepsies represented by partner advocacy groups

  • Must address CURE Epilepsy's mission to cure epilepsy
  • Eligibility - For Researchers

    • Available to both established and early-career investigators
    • Early-career investigators must have a mentor committed to advising the applicant
    • Clearly articulated mentorship statement from mentor required with application

    Eligibility - For Partner Groups

    CURE Epilepsy will prioritize potential partners that:

  • Do not already have grant funding and management capabilities

  • Have a scientific advisor(s) to consult on research priorities

  • Can provide three specific research priorities

  • Can nominate at least one person to participate in grant development and review process

  • Have available or can demonstrate potential to raise $55,000
  • Note: CURE Epilepsy encourages all interested partners to apply but prioritizes those not partnered with in previous years.

    How to Apply

    Application Process - For Researchers

    Timeline:

  • Request for Proposals Opens: Tuesday, May 12, 2026

  • Letter of Intent Deadline: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

  • Full Application Invitations: Monday, July 27, 2026

  • Full Application Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

  • Anticipated Awardee Notification: December 2026

  • Anticipated Project Start Date: Spring 2027
  • Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

  • Short letter describing proposed research project

  • Reviewed and scored by Research Team and scientific peers
  • Step 2: Full Application

  • Invited applicants submit detailed scientific and budget information

  • Reviewed by three external scientific reviewers and one person with lived experience of epilepsy
  • Step 3: Research Committee Review

  • Applications discussed to ensure alignment with CURE Epilepsy's mission

  • Funding recommendations developed
  • Step 4: Board Approval

  • CURE Epilepsy Board of Directors provides final approval
  • Application Process - For Partner Groups

    Timeline:

  • Registration Form Released: Tuesday, January 16, 2026

  • Partnership Registration Form Due: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

  • Selection Notification: Friday, February 27, 2026
  • Budget Guidelines - For Researchers

    Maximum Funding: $100,000 paid over 1 year

    Budget Requirements: Itemized and based on specific, milestone-defined scientific aims

    Eligible Budget Items:

  • Salary support for Principal Investigator (PI), technical staff, and/or co-PIs

  • Supplies

  • Animal costs

  • Vendor costs

  • Limited equipment cost

  • Travel to epilepsy-related conference (only if PI is presenting CURE Epilepsy-funded research)
  • Ineligible Items:

  • Indirect costs
  • Funding Flexibility: CURE Epilepsy reserves right to fund only select specific aims or stage funding based on achievement of milestones.

    Budget Guidelines - For Partner Groups

    Partner Contribution: $55,000 per funded grant specific to their rare epilepsy

  • $50,000 in grant funding

  • $5,000 in administrative costs
    • Required Materials

    • Award Guidelines (for researchers)
    • Gift Agreement for Rare Epilepsy Partners (for partner groups)
    • RFP details for mentor mentorship statement requirements

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    science-research

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