The UMDF is committed to funding strategic research and clinical work that advances cures and treatments for primary mitochondrial disease. For more than 25 years the UMDF has provided critical seed funding to researchers around the world through its annual Research Grant Program.
In 2025, the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF) and the Mito Foundation of Australia are pleased to announce the joint UMDF & Mito Foundation 2025 Research Grant Program. Together the foundations aim to demonstrate the power of patient advocacy-driven research funding in the hope that additional patient advocacy organizations will join such an effort in the future.
In the current cycle the following grant awards are available:
- accelerators Postdoctoral Fellow – $50,000 total for up to two years
- Principal Investigator – $100,000 total for up to two years (one or more awards available)
- Clinical Trial Readiness – up to $50,000 total for one year (one or more awards available- smaller budget projects are highly encouraged)
The Selection Process
The UMDF and Mito Foundation ensure rigorous peer review, with all submissions treated confidentially and conflicts of interest managed carefully. Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of experts including UMDF and Mito Foundation staff members, scientific and medical advisors, and external experts. We also involve the UMDF/Mito Foundation donor community in selecting a winner for the accelerators prize.
Submission Process
All applications to the 2025 Research Grant Program must be submitted using the UMDF grant portal found here.
Timing of Awards
- Applications Open: January 31, 2025, at 09:00 EST
- Submission Deadline: February 28, 2025, at 17:00 EST
- Award Announcement: June 2025 at the UMDF Mitochondrial Medicine Conference, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Funding Start Date: As early as September 2025, pending grant award agreement execution
Important Program Information
- The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2025 Research Grant Program is now available for review by clicking here. Review the RFP carefully before beginning an application.
- Principal Investigators and Postdoctoral Fellows from the same lab should not submit the same project to multiple funding programs in this cycle. Duplicate submissions will not be considered for review.
- UMDF will be the contracting organization in this joint grant cycle and all awardees will be required to execute a UMDF Research Grant Agreement. Please be aware that UMDF policy prohibits the paying of indirect costs within grant awards.
- A blank UMDF Research Grant Agreement is available by clicking here. Interested parties should carefully review the award agreement prior to applying for a grant, especially the language pertaining to intellectual property. Contact [email protected] with any questions.
A blank template for the application process is available for review. Please click on the program below:
