The Penn Institute for RNA Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania, CHOP, and Wistar seeks to support RNA-related basic, translational, and clinical research. Towards that goal, the institute requests applications for its pilot grants program for fall 2025. Pilot funding will provide initial support to establish proof of concept or extend findings to enable extramural funding and publications in the future. Due to changes in funding priorities at NIH, this pilot award will also be available for existing RNA-related projects that are being modified to bridge to new scientific areas that align with priority areas of the RNA Institute. These priority areas are indicated below, along with deadlines and application guidelines. 

The fall 2025 Pilot Grant Program research priority areas are: 

1. Cross-disciplinary research that will lead to extramurally funded research in either basic or translational science in the arena of RNA biology. Of note, applications related to vaccine research involving RNA continue to be welcomed.
2. Supplements to existing projects involving RNA basic or translational science in which a change in direction is planned to align with emerging NIH priorities.
3. Early-stage investigators undertaking new projects involving basic or translational RNA technology will be a priority for this RFA.  

Prior recipients of pilot awards from the RNA Institute are eligible to apply for new awards in different areas. Prior awardees may also apply for funds to extend research from a previous pilot award and will be judged based on progress made during the first funding period.

Use of the institute’s shared resource cores (the mRNA Core, LNP Core, Targeting Core, and High-Throughput Screening Core) is encouraged.

Applicants are encouraged to consult with core directors or any members of the institute’s leadership early in the preparation of their application. Allocation of core effort to assist in grant preparation will be available on a first-come first-served basis. 

Scientific areas for applications to address:

• RNA Basic Science: RNA processing, RNA binding proteins, noncoding RNAs, and nucleoside-modifications are encouraged along with the development of tools to further the use of RNA technology in the treatment of disease.
• Translational Science: RNA-based science relevant to prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics for human diseases. Projects and teams that bridge laboratory-based research and pre-clinical studies or models and/or that extend clinical observations to the laboratory (addressing mechanisms, identifying therapeutic targets, and developing novel interventions) are strongly encouraged to apply.

We hope you will consider this opportunity to creatively apply RNA-based approaches to new and exciting questions in your research.

Program Timeline

• Application Due: October 27, 2025 
• Decisions/Results Communicated to Applicant: December 2025
• Funding of Successful Applicants Begins: January 1, 2026

Eligibility

Principal investigators (PIs) for awards must have a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, or the Wistar Institute and hold the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor, research professor, or instructor. Postdoctoral trainees are also encouraged to apply, provided that a faculty sponsor includes a letter of support for the trainee in the application. 

Proposals may not describe the same specific research that is funded by other sources during the grant period.

Budget and Duration

Individual applicants may request budgets up to $50,000 in direct costs and may propose projects lasting up to 12 months. The total equipment budget must not exceed $10,000.

Application requirements and procedures, review criteria, requirements, and other pertinent information can be found here.