Research Funding Opportunities (Topic RFAs)

RFA: Common Mechanisms in Autoimmunity Insight Awards

Supports studies on common autoimmune mechanisms to inform shared treatment strategies for type 1 diabetes and related conditions.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

Breakthrough T1D — formerly JDRF, rebranded June 2024 — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has funded T1D research since 1970 and estimates 9.5 million people worldwide live with the condition. Its FY26 topic-specific RFA titled "Common Mechanisms in Autoimmunity Insight Awards" solicits research identifying shared mechanistic pathways across autoimmune diseases that yield translational insights relevant to preventing or treating type 1 diabetes. The scientific premise is that T1D shares immunological mechanisms with other autoimmune conditions, and discoveries in those areas could accelerate T1D-specific therapy development.

Unlike most RFAs in Breakthrough T1D's FY26 portfolio, this solicitation did not use a two-stage LOI plus full-application process — it accepted full proposals directly, with a deadline of January 8, 2026. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research organizations, and nonprofits with research capability; individual applicants and for-profit entities are not eligible. Award amounts and durations are specified in the governing RFA document, available at the Breakthrough T1D website. Submissions were made through the online portal at breakthrought1d.smartsimple.us.

The Insight Award mechanism in Breakthrough T1D's portfolio is designed for research that generates foundational scientific understanding rather than near-term clinical translation, making it appropriate for investigators studying immunological mechanisms across disease contexts. The focus on common autoimmune mechanisms positions this RFA at the intersection of T1D and broader autoimmune research communities, including those working on conditions such as celiac disease, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis where shared B- and T-cell pathways are relevant. Investigators whose work involves cross-disease mechanistic analysis are the primary target applicant pool for this solicitation.