Litwin IBD Pioneers

Litwin IBD Pioneers

Provides research teams and institutions for Litwin IBD Pioneers in biotechnology and medical technology.

Eligibility · Global — open worldwide

The Litwin IBD Pioneers award, formerly known as the Broad Medical Research Program, is a Crohn's & Colitis Foundation grant for innovative clinical and translational pilot research with near-future impact on the diagnosis, therapy, or prevention of inflammatory bowel disease. Uniquely among CCF mechanisms, the program explicitly welcomes investigators from non-IBD disciplines who bring novel methodologies or perspectives to IBD research. Eligible applicants must hold a faculty appointment at any non-profit or charitable institution worldwide — universities, hospitals, and research organizations — with no geographic restriction. One principal investigator per proposal is permitted, and only one application per applicant per cycle is allowed.

For the 2026 cycle, the pre-application portal opened April 4, 2026; the pre-application deadline is June 2, 2026; invited full proposals are due July 23, 2026; applications are reviewed September–October 2026; and decisions are announced in December 2026. Pre-application decisions are provided within four to six weeks of submission. Budget limits depend on study type: clinical trials may request up to $130,000 including 10% indirect costs, while lab-based studies may request up to $110,000 including 10% indirect costs. Awards fund up to two years, with funding disbursed one year at a time — Year 2 requires a separate Competing Renewal Application (the 2026 renewal deadline was March 2, 2026). Evaluation criteria emphasize scientific strength, innovation, IBD relevance, and preference for work involving patient or patient-derived materials with clear clinical applicability.

Applications use proposalCENTRAL (GMID=96). Full page limits and format specifications are published in the RFP PDF (revised March 2026), which must be consulted before writing. Proposals from non-IBD scientists should articulate explicitly how their methodology applies to Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis and why a pilot investment is likely to produce near-future clinical impact. Inquiries should be directed to litwinprograms@crohnscolitisfoundation.org, and Year 2 renewal questions to litwinrenewals@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.