Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship
Funds advanced postdoctoral researchers with substantial support to strengthen independent study in type 1 diabetes science.
Breakthrough T1D — formerly JDRF, rebranded in June 2024 — is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) founded in 1970 with the mission to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. The organization funds research through academic and industry partnerships rather than operating its own laboratories, and its training awards program is one mechanism through which it builds global T1D research capacity. The Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship (APF) is a career-stage training award specifically designed for senior postdoctoral researchers who are progressing toward independent investigator status in the T1D field, including those conducting human subject research on long-term complications such as eye, kidney, and cardiovascular disease.
Applications for the FY27 Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowship are due July 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. ET, consistent with the uniform deadline Breakthrough T1D applies across all FY27 training awards. Submissions are accepted exclusively through the online portal at breakthrought1d.smartsimple.us. Eligibility is restricted to researchers at academic institutions or qualified research organizations; for-profit entities and nonprofits are not eligible applicants. The award is intended for individuals rather than institutional teams. Specific award amounts and duration are defined in the FY27-APF-RFA.pdf, which is the authoritative governing document for this cycle.
The APF represents a competitive pathway for senior postdocs who have progressed beyond early-career stage and are building the track record needed to launch an independent lab or research program focused on T1D. Reviewers assess applicants against career-stage criteria, research scope, and alignment with Breakthrough T1D's five priority research areas: early detection, disease-modifying therapies, cell therapies, improving lives, and growing the T1D research community. Prospective applicants should download the FY27-APF-RFA from the organization's website and review the full Grant Handbook at breakthrought1d.org/granthandbook before submitting.
Type 1 diabetes research conducted by senior postdoctoral researchers, including human subject research on long-term T1D complications such as eye, kidney, and cardiovascular disease.
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