The UMDF is committed to funding strategic research and clinical work that advances cures and treatments for primary mitochondrial disease. For 30 years the UMDF has provided critical seed funding to researchers around the world through its annual Research Grant Program.
The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF), in collaboration with the Mito Foundation (Australia), is pleased to announce the 2026 Research Grant Program. UMDF and the Mito Foundation are committed to advancing research that leads to improved diagnosis, treatment, and ultimately cures for individuals affected by primary mitochondrial disease (PMD). Once again, the foundations aim to demonstrate the power of collaborative 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:
- Graduate Student Award – Up to USD $25,000 total for one year
- Postdoctoral Fellowship Award – Up to USD $50,000 total for two years
- Principal Investigator Award – Up to $100,000 total for for two years
While applications addressing any form of primary mitochondrial disease are welcome, the following disease classes are areas of high interest in the 2026 grant cycle:
- Disorders of mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis, including MEPAN syndrome (Mitochondrial Enoyl‑CoA Reductase Protein‑Associated Neurodegeneration)
- Disorders caused by single large‑scale mitochondrial DNA deletions (SLSMDs), including Kearns–Sayre syndrome (KSS)
- Leigh syndrome and related disorders, including Neuropathy, Ataxia, and Retinitis Pigmentosa (NARP)
Alignment with these priority disease areas will be considered as part of post‑review portfolio construction and does not constitute an eligibility requirement.
The Selection Process
All applications will undergo rigorous peer review conducted by experts in mitochondrial biology, clinical care, and translational research. Review criteria include scientific merit, rigor, innovation, relevance to mitochondrial disease, and alignment with program priorities.
Following peer review, UMDF and the Mito Foundation will consider overall portfolio balance, including disease focus, career stage, and strategic alignment, when making final funding decisions.
Submission Process
All applications to the 2026 Research Grant Program must be submitted using the UMDF grant portal found here.
Timing of Awards
- Applications Open: Monday, February 2, 2026, at 09:00 EST
- Submission Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026, at 17:00 EST
- Award Announcement: June 2026 at the UMDF Mitochondrial Medicine Conference, Orlando, FL, USA
- Funding Start Date: As early as September 2026, pending grant award agreement execution
Important Program Information
- The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2026 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 grants@umdf.org with any questions.
A blank template for the application process is available for review. Please click on the program below:
