[Crohn's and Colitis Foundation](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org)

August 2026 (Letter of Intent) | February 2026 (Letter of Intent, previous)

Up to $500,000 per project per year; typical duration is 12 months with potential for renewal if milestones are met.

Supports the development of innovative products to improve the lives of people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

LOIs accepted year-round but reviewed biannually; full proposals by invitation only.

--- ## Description The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation's IBD Ventures program is a dedicated funding initiative designed to accelerate the development of novel, research-based products that address unmet needs and improve the quality of life for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The program supports both companies and academic investigators focused on product-oriented research and development, offering not only financial resources but also accelerator support and expert advising to help bring impactful solutions to patients. --- ## Due Dates - Letters of Intent (LOI) may be submitted at any time, but are reviewed twice per year. - Next anticipated LOI deadlines: - August 2026 (upcoming) - February 2026 (previous cycle) - If invited, full proposals are typically due approximately one month after invitation. Applicants are encouraged to check the [program page](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/entrepreneurial-investing) for the most current deadlines. --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $500,000 per project per year (inclusive of direct and indirect costs; indirect costs capped at 10%) - Initial funding duration is typically 12 months. - Renewal for additional annual increments (up to $500,000 per year) is possible if milestones are achieved and a renewal proposal is submitted. - Funding is milestone-driven, with ~50% provided upfront and the remainder tied to progress. - The Foundation does not take equity or IP ownership, but does require a financial return if the funded technology is commercialized. --- ## Eligibility - **Who can apply:** - For-profit biotechnology/technology companies (including commercial-stage or public companies) with a primary focus on product development. - Academic or research institutions (universities, research institutes, medical centers) with demonstrated commitment and resources for commercialization. - Non-profit organizations focused on product-oriented research (not education, clinical care, or basic research as the primary mission). - International applicants are welcome. - **Key requirements:** - The proposed project must be focused on development of a specific product (therapeutic, diagnostic, device, software, etc.) with clear potential impact for IBD patients. - Core intellectual property (IP) for the proposed product must be assigned or licensed to the primary applicant. - Academic applicants must show access to commercialization resources (e.g., SBIR/STTR awards, accelerator programs, industry partnerships). - Projects must be milestone-driven and not focused solely on basic research or target identification. --- ## Application Process - **Step 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)** - Submit LOI via [proposalCENTRAL](https://proposalcentral.com/GrantOpportunities.asp?GMID=271). - LOIs are reviewed on a competitive basis; only selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal. - **Step 2: Full Proposal (by invitation)** - Full proposal submission is by invitation only, typically due about one month after invitation. - Proposals are reviewed twice per year by a multidisciplinary committee. - Required documents include a research plan, commercialization summary, milestones/timeline, budget, lay and scientific abstracts, and supporting materials. - **Additional Guidance:** - Applicants may submit multiple LOIs for different projects. - Confidentiality agreements are available upon request. - Accelerator resources and strategic advising are available to funded projects. For detailed instructions and program policies, refer to the [program guidelines PDF](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/2022-08-17%20IBD%20Ventures%20Program%20Guidelines.pdf). --- ## Additional Information - The program is milestone-driven and project-based; funding is contingent on progress. - The Foundation does not take equity but requires a financial return if the technology is commercialized. - Both early-stage and more advanced product development projects are eligible, provided there is a clear path to commercialization and patient impact. - Projects must be differentiated from existing solutions and address specific unmet needs in IBD. - Accelerator resources (e.g., access to IBD Plexus®, scientific and strategic advising, networking) are provided to funded projects. --- ## External Links - [Program Overview & Application Portal](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/entrepreneurial-investing) - [Program Guidelines (PDF)](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2022-08/2022-08-17%20IBD%20Ventures%20Program%20Guidelines.pdf) - [proposalCENTRAL Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/GrantOpportunities.asp?GMID=271) - [IBD Ventures FAQs](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/ibd-ventures-faqs) --- ## Contact Information | Name / Role | Email | Phone | Additional Info | |---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | IBD Ventures Program (General Inquiries) | [entrepreneurship@crohnscolitisfoundation.org](mailto:entrepreneurship@crohnscolitisfoundation.org) | +1 800-932-2423 | [Contact Page](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/contact) | | Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (Main Office) | [info@crohnscolitisfoundation.org](mailto:info@crohnscolitisfoundation.org) | +1 800-932-2423 | 733 Third Avenue, Suite 510, New York, NY 10017, USA | | Andrés Hurtado-Lorenzo, PhD (Program Lead) | [entrepreneurship@crohnscolitisfoundation.org](mailto:entrepreneurship@crohnscolitisfoundation.org) | | Senior Vice President – Translational Research & IBD Ventures | For program team bios and further contacts, see the [IBD Ventures Team page](https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/research/grants-fellowships/entrepreneurial-investing/ibd-ventures-team).

IBD Ventures

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