Apply for a Research Grant
The mission of the Cystinosis Research Foundation is to support bench, clinical and translational cystinosis research to find better treatments and a cure for cystinosis. Global calls for grant applications are made in the spring and autumn of each year.
The Cystinosis Research Foundation works closely with the CRF Scientific Review Board (SRB) comprised of leading experts in the field of cystinosis who determine the scientific validity and merit of the grant proposals based on the NIH scale of standards. The SRB advises the Cystinosis Research Foundation on the scientific merit of each proposal.
NEW PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR CRF GRANTS
Fall 2026 Call for Research Proposals and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
The Cystinosis Research Foundation is pleased to announce its Fall 2026 Call for Research Proposals and Fellowships.
The objective of the Cystinosis Research Foundation is to find better treatments and a cure for cystinosis. Research and fellowship applications must be consistent with the mission and goals of the foundation to be considered. Global calls for grant applications will be made twice each year. Research and fellowship grants are awarded for 1-2 years.
Please note that CRF has implemented a new two-step application process. Submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) is mandatory for all applicants. Full grant or fellowship applications will only be accepted from investigators who are invited to apply following the Scientific Review Board (SRB) review of their LOI.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Step 1 – Letter of Intent (Required):
All applicants must first submit an LOI in accordance with the guidelines below. The LOI will be reviewed by the CRF Scientific Review Board.
Step 2 – Invitation to Submit a Full Application:
Applicants whose LOIs are determined by the SRB to be responsive to CRF’s mission and funding priorities will be invited to submit a full application. Applications submitted without a prior LOI and formal invitation from CRF will not be accepted or reviewed.
CRF FUNDING PRIORITIES:
- CRF is prioritizing research that has a clear and feasible path to clinical application, with the goal of advancing new treatments and dramatically improving quality of life.
- Early-stage basic research applications lacking translational development, e.g., proposing broad-based screening, or focusing primarily on methods development, will not be prioritized.
- CRF is interested in supporting new investigators and encourage applications from research fellows and early-career scientists, either independently or as co-principal investigators.
- Innovative studies into fundamental mechanisms of cystinosis with potential for game changing therapies.
Step 1 – Letter of Intent (LOI) Guidelines
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) is mandatory. CRF will only accept full grant or fellowship applications from investigators who have been invited to apply following Scientific Review Board review of their LOI. Unsolicited full applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
Purpose
The Cystinosis Research Foundation (CRF) is introducing a Letter of Intent (LOI) process as the first step in the application process for research funding. The introduction of the LOI process is intended to streamline the review process, reduce the burden on applicants, and allow investigators to receive an early indication of whether their proposed project aligns with CRF’s current funding priorities. Applicants will be notified following review of an LOI as to whether CRF will entertain a full application.
The purpose of the LOI is to provide a concise overview of the proposed project, allowing CRF to identify proposals that best align with the Foundation’s research priorities before inviting full applications.
While CRF remains committed to supporting innovative research across the spectrum of cystinosis, our highest priority is funding translational research and preclinical/clinical studies that have the potential to improve patient outcomes and accelerate the development of new therapies. CRF will also consider basic science projects that have the potential to provide significant insights into cystinosis biology or establish a strong foundation for future therapeutic advances.
LOI Requirements
The Letter of Intent should be no more than two pages (excluding references and information about existing and prior funding), and should contain:
- Project Title
- Principal Investigator(s) and institution
- Brief description of the proposed research, including:
o Scientific rationale and significance
o Specific objectives
o Overall study design and approach
o Expected impact on the understanding or treatment of cystinosis.
o Relevance to CRF’s research priorities - Estimated project duration.
- Proposed total budget, including the amount requested from CRF.
- Additional pages should include relevant references, plus present and past funding from CRF, as well as total current funding from other entities.
Additional LOI Information Required for Investigators with Current or Previous CRF Funding
Applicants who have current or previous funding are required to submit one additional page (maximum total submission: three pages). This page should briefly summarize the outcomes of prior CRF support, including:
- Current status of previously funded research (completed or ongoing)
- List of prior CRF grants (years and funding amounts)
- Publications resulting from CRF-funded research
- Major scientific advances or milestones achieved through CRF support
- Subsequent external (non-CRF) cystinosis research funding obtained since the initial CRF award
- Total current funding for all ongoing research
Review Process and Funding Priorities
LOIs will be reviewed by the CRF Scientific Review Board for scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and alignment with the Foundation’s mission and funding priorities.
Investigators whose projects are selected will be invited to submit a full grant application. An invitation to submit a full proposal does not guarantee funding.
CRF encourages proposals that:
- Advance translational or preclinical research toward clinical application.
- Support clinical research that may improve the diagnosis, treatment, or quality of life of individuals with cystinosis.
- Address under-studied complications of cystinosis, including neurological complications, endocrine complications, myopathy, hypogonadism, and bone disease.
- Explore novel therapeutic strategies or biomarkers with meaningful clinical potential.
LOI Submission
Letters of Intent should be submitted electronically as a single PDF to Nancy Stack, nstack@cystinosisresearch.org by Friday, August 14, 2026. CRF will respond to each potential applicant by Thursday, September 10, 2026.
If you are invited to submit a full application, the application will be due by Monday, October 12, 2026, 5:00 p.m. PT.
CRF looks forward to receiving innovative proposals that have the potential to advance the development of better treatments and ultimately, a cure for cystinosis.
Step 2 – Guidelines for Research Applications
IMPORTANT REMINDER:
The following Guidelines for Research Applications apply ONLY to investigators who have been formally invited by CRF to submit a full application following Scientific Review Board review of their Letter of Intent (LOI). Full applications submitted without an invitation will not be accepted or reviewed.
Currently, the Cystinosis Research Foundation has $2 Million available for research and fellowship grants. The number of awards and the awarded amount will depend on the number of outstanding proposals and the funds available at the time.
Please note that the earliest start date for research projects submitted for this cycle is February 1, 2027.
Research Proposals
The Cystinosis Research Foundation is prepared to fund proposals to improve the immediate care of children and adults with cystinosis and to develop a new understanding and treatment of cystinosis to help these patients in the future.
CRF supports laboratory, clinical, and translational research that may directly impact patient care and advances the understanding of cystinosis pathogenesis, particularly in areas that remain under-studied, including neurological and endocrine complications, myopathy, hypogonadism, and bone disease. All proposed studies must demonstrate a strong rationale for how the findings could be translated into clinical benefit.
Postdoctoral Fellowships
The Cystinosis Research Foundation created a postdoctoral research fellowship program to attract qualified, promising investigators to establish careers in cystinosis research. The fellow’s stipend should be the usual amount for such a trainee at the given applicant’s institution. The total award cannot exceed $75,000 per year including overhead. Awards will generally be for a period of 1-2 years.
Priority will be given to “named” postdoctoral trainees. However, investigators who are already studying cystinosis can apply for a fellowship position with the expectation of attracting a suitable postdoctoral fellow within a year. Pre-doctoral students, who are already studying cystinosis, will be considered if funding is available.
Review Process
Proposals are evaluated by the Cystinosis Research Foundation Scientific Review Board (SRB), which is comprised of leading experts on cystinosis who determine the scientific validity and merit of the proposed research based on the NIH scale of standards. The SRB then advises the Cystinosis Research Foundation on the scientific merit of each proposal. The Foundation will balance the eventual funding to support bench, translational and clinical research, and fellowships. Applicants will be notified in writing via email regarding the final status of their application.
Research Proposal Guidelines and Fellowship Guidelines:
- Research Grant Proposals: Maximum length for a new application is nine one-sided pages, single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font with 1-inch margins (2.54 cm) on all sides including figures, diagrams, and drawings. Cover sheet, documentation, budget and budget justification and curriculum vitae (CV limit is 5 pages maximum or a bio sketch) are not included in the 9-page limit. Longer applications will not be evaluated.
- Fellowship Grant Applications: Maximum length for a new application is six one-sided pages, single-spaced, using a standard 12-point font with 1-inch margins (2.54 cm) on all sides including figures, diagrams, and drawings. Cover sheet, documentation, budget and budget justification and curriculum vitae (CV limit is 5 pages maximum or a bio sketch) are not included in the 6-page limit. Longer applications will not be evaluated.
- Cover Sheet Information: Names and Affiliations of Principal and Co-Principal Investigators and/or Research Fellow – It is mandatory that the Cystinosis Research Foundation cover sheet is included as part of your application. Please download and attach the applicable cover sheet, either the Research Grant Proposal Cover Sheet or Fellowship Grant Proposal Cover Sheet.
Please format Grant and Fellowship Applications as follows:
- Abstract/Summary of project – Explain the relevance to cystinosis. What problem does the project or fellowship address? Why is the work important to children and adults with cystinosis? How will the project be accomplished?
- Specific Aims – List the study or fellowship objectives and describe the specific goals of the research, including any hypotheses to be tested.
- Preliminary Studies/Progress reports – Proposals should include preliminary data to support the objectives and goals of the study.
- Research Design and Methods – Describe the research design and methodology that will be used to accomplish the study or fellowship aims.
Additional Information NOT part of the maximum length requirement for the Research Grant and Fellowship Grant Applications:
- Detailed Budget – The Cystinosis Research Foundation will generally provide up to 10% of indirect costs. Requests for higher amounts must be carefully justified but are not guaranteed to be approved. Funding requests must be submitted in U.S. dollars.
- Currency exchange rates will be established at the time the grant contract is issued.
- The Cystinosis Research Foundation will not cover travel expenses as part of a grant or fellowship budget.
- Budget Justification – Please explain items that might be confusing or unusual to the review committee.
- Key Personnel – Please include a current CV or a bio sketch (maximum of 5 pages) and indicate the percent of effort that each person is expected to devote to the project.
- Statement detailing all other available resources including other grant support available or other grant applications pending. Indicate the amount and granting organization for any other sources (current or pending) of funding for the study.
- IRB (human subject) approval and consent forms or plan to obtain such approval, if applicable. Animal subject approval if applicable. Funds for awards will not be released until all necessary approvals for human and/or animal studies are received.
- A statement as to why funding from the Cystinosis Research Foundation is essential for the execution of this project. Please include other funding support for this study if applicable. If you have submitted an application for the same study or a similar study to another funding source and are awaiting notification from that source, please include information about the potential funding source and timeline.
Additional Requirements for Fellowship Applicants
In addition to the above, fellowship applications must provide a CV or a bio sketch (maximum of 5 pages) of the proposed candidate and a statement outlining his/her career goals. Please discuss why this fellowship is important to the applicant. It should be clear who the fellow’s mentor(s) will be. The mentor must provide a CV or a bio sketch (maximum of 5 pages) as well as a statement of the plan for training the fellow.
In the case of a fellowship application for a fellow to be named, the same type of CV will be required before final approval.
Additional Requirements for Applicants Who Have Previously Applied
If this grant is a revision of a previous grant that was not funded, please provide the title of the previous grant, the date of submission as well as a detailed and thorough response to the reviewers’ comments. Please clearly describe how the grant has been modified in response to the comments, and whether additional preliminary data are included.
Additionally, if appropriate, explain why other concerns could not be addressed. This response (“Response to Reviewers’ Comments”) should be no more than 2 pages and should be placed at the beginning of the grant application. It does not count toward the 9-page grant limit.
Application Process
Only investigators who have received a formal invitation from CRF following Scientific Review Board review of their Letter of Intent (LOI) may submit a full application. Full applications from investigators who have not been invited will not be accepted or reviewed.
Invited applicants must submit their complete grant proposals in one PDF document to nstack@cystinosisresearch.org. The applications must be submitted by Monday, October 12, 2026 by 5:00 PM PT. A confirmation of receipt of the application will be sent within 24 hours.
Successful applicants will be notified in January 2027.
Please contact Nancy Stack if you have any questions nstack@cystinosisresearch.org.
For Grant Awardees
CRF required reporting forms after receiving a grant:
Progress reports are required at regular intervals for the duration of the study and a final report is required at the study’s conclusion. These progress reports should be an executive overview of the study’s progress against key milestones and should include any personnel updates. The progress reports must also include a budget report which shall be a one-page detailed accounting of budget receipts and expenditures. Grant payments will be linked to these reports.
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