Postdoctoral Fellowship Award – UMDF 2026 Research Grant Program
The UMDF 2026 Postdoctoral Fellowship Award supports innovative research by postdocs to advance understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of primary mitochondrial disease.
Funder: United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Full application submission deadline for Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, projected)
Funding Amounts: Up to $50,000 total over two years (salary/fringe only, no indirect costs)
Summary: Supports postdoctoral fellows conducting research to advance the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of primary mitochondrial disease.
Key Information: Indirect costs are not allowed; only salary and fringe for the fellow are permitted.
Description
The Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, part of the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF) Research Grant Program (in partnership with the Mito Foundation), is designed to support postdoctoral fellows (PhD or MD/PhD) working on innovative research relevant to primary mitochondrial disease (PMD). The award aims to foster the next generation of mitochondrial disease researchers and to advance projects that improve understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of PMD. Proposals addressing any form of PMD are welcome, but special consideration will be given to projects focusing on:
- Disorders of mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (e.g., MEPAN syndrome)
- Single large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletions (e.g., Kearns–Sayre syndrome)
- Leigh syndrome and related disorders (e.g., NARP)
Strategic priorities for this grant cycle include precision medicine approaches and clinical trial readiness, but these are not strict eligibility requirements. The program emphasizes translational relevance and potential patient impact.
