Pilot Research Awards
This grant supports junior faculty conducting innovative, early-stage research in liver transplantation, regeneration, stem cells, advanced liver models, and gene or cell therapies.
Funder: American Liver Foundation
Due Dates: April 10, 2026 (Mandatory Letter of Intent) | May 15, 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: $50,000 total for 1 year; paid in quarterly installments
Summary: Supports junior faculty with innovative pilot projects in liver transplantation, regeneration, stem cells, advanced models, and gene/cell therapies.
Key Information: Mandatory LOI required; PI salary and indirect costs are not allowed.
Description
The American Liver Foundation's Pilot Research Awards provide one-year, $50,000 grants to support early career investigators (junior faculty) pursuing highly innovative, "high-risk, high-reward" research in liver transplantation, stem cell biology, liver regeneration, advanced in vitro human liver models, and gene- or cell-based therapies. The program is designed to fund pilot projects that can generate preliminary data, positioning recipients to compete for larger national grants. Projects may be basic, translational, or clinical in nature, and should address novel and significant questions in the field of advanced liver therapeutics.
