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, whichever is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as a PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. 
 
The program aims to:
  • Generate preliminary data to support future extramural funding (e.g., NIH R21/R01/K23 or other career development awards) related to the above disorders in any manner, including etiology, pathophysiology, overlap and distinctions, best management, and prognostication.
  • Develop or validate tools such as biomarkers, endpoints, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).
  • Foster multidisciplinary, multi-center collaborations across RDCRN sites and patient advocacy groups (PAGs).
This ARISEN ESI Research Fund Award complements the ARISEN Pilot Award, which is open to all career stages. Both ARISEN pilot opportunities follow the same application submission and annual award cycle. Applicants may only apply to one funding mechanism per cycle.
 
Letter of Intent Due: March 6, 2026
Invitation to Submit Full Application: March 13, 2026
Application Due: April 23, 2026
Anticipated Award Notification: June 16, 2026
Anticipated Project Period Start Date: August 1, 2026
More info: https://grants.rarediseasesnetwork.org/grants/ARISEN-ESI-2026
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