Funding Opportunities

Opportunity Type: Education and Career Development

Goal: To reduce the barrier to entry and facilitate their conduct of rare disease research, the ARISEN Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Pilot Research Award invites applications from ESIs for pilot research projects that accelerate clinical research in rare diseases aligned with the consortium’s mission, including autoimmune encephalitis, Rasmussen syndrome, and new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), including its subtype with prior fever, Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES). Applicant eligibility is limited to ESIs according to the NIH ESI definition.* Applicants already pursuing research topics within the ARISEN portfolio and newcomers to rare disease research with relevant expertise are eligible to apply, provided they have ESI status at the time of the application deadline. *NIH DEFINITION of Early Stage Investigator (ESI): ESI is a Program Director/Principal Investigator who has completed their terminal research degree or end of post-graduate clinical training.

Sponsor: Autoimmunity, Rasmussen’s, Inflammation & Status Epilepticus research Network (ARISEN)

Eligibility Criteria: This career development pilot targets investigators at ARISEN and non-ARISEN institutions, who are early-stage investigators according to the NIH definition at the time of this application’s due date. Applicants are required to have a scientific mentor, and research aims must be aligned with studying diseases within the ARISEN portfolio. The PI must hold an MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DO, RN or more advanced, PharmD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent, be a faculty member at U.S.-based academic institution, and be eligible to serve as PI on an extramural grant.

Letter of Intent Due Date: 2026-03-06

Application Due Date: 2026-04-23

Term: 12 months

Opportunity Type: Pilot Grants and Other Requests for Applications

Goal: The Autoimmunity, Rasmussen’s, Inflammation & Status Epilepticus research Network (ARISEN) invites applications for pilot research projects that accelerate clinical research in rare diseases aligned with the consortium’s mission. ARISEN includes autoimmune encephalitis, Rasmussen syndrome, and new onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE), including its subtype with prior fever, Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES).

Sponsor: Autoimmunity, Rasmussen’s, Inflammation & Status Epilepticus research Network (ARISEN)

Eligibility Criteria: The PI must hold an MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DO, RN or more advanced, PharmD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent and be a faculty member at U.S.-based academic institution.

Letter of Intent Due Date: 2026-03-06

Application Due Date: 2026-04-23

Term: 12 months