Funder: Rita Allen Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (LOI) | October 2027 (Application)
Funding Amounts: Scholars: up to $110,000 annually for five years; Award in Pain: $50,000 annually for three years
Summary: Supports early-career biomedical scientists pursuing bold, high-risk basic research in cancer, immunology, neuroscience, and pain.
Key Information: Except for the separate Award in Pain, applicants must be nominated by an invited institution, limited to one nominee annually.
Description
The Rita Allen Foundation Scholars Program supports early-career biomedical scientists establishing laboratories and pursuing research with above-average risk and groundbreaking possibilities. Its core fields are cancer, immunology, and neuroscience; pain research is supported through the separate Rita Allen Foundation Award in Pain. The program prioritizes bold approaches to basic scientific questions addressing problems of global concern.
Established in 1976, the program has supported more than 225 scientists. Scholars are recognized for both their research promise and their potential for learning, leadership, and collaboration. The Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Committee recommends eligible institutions, reviews nominees, and selects recipients. Awards support research at U.S. nonprofit institutions rather than providing grants directly to individuals.
