Clinical Research Investigator-Initiated Awards

Below, you'll find guidelines for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation’s Clinical Research Investigator-Initiated Awards (CRIA), which include Career Development Awards (CDA) and Senior Research Awards (SRA).

Objective: To directly impact patient care by addressing an important clinical question by studying people either through direct interaction with the people and/or indirectly by studying people through large databases, such as claims data or administrative data. Therefore, the expectation is that the research findings from funded CRIAs will result in highly-cited publications, citations in clinical guidelines, and/or follow-on funding to advance the research further.

Priority will be given to proposals that address the priorities outlined in the Pragmatic Clinical Research publication within the 2019 Challenges in IBD Research, and how the results would impact prevailing practice in this area. There needs to be a compelling clinical rationale to justify a focus outside of these priority areas.

Applicant eligibility

• Senior Research Award (CRIA-SRA): The lead PI must be a faculty member (minimum Assistant Professor level) with a successful track record of funded clinical research projects and relevant expertise in the clinical question to be addressed. There must be a research team that includes at least one junior Co-PI (Instructor or Assistant Professor, prior to receiving an independent RO1 grant or international equivalent) with experience in IBD research, who is committed to IBD research as a part of his or her career development.
• Career Development Award (CRIA-CDA): *The Foundation is sensitive to personal matters that impact career trajectories. Applicants who have taken leave from their career (e.g., parenting of a child, childbirth, long-term care of a parent/spouse/child/dependent, personal health issues), or have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that puts them outside of the eligibility time frame, should feel free to reach out to Foundation staff ahead of their application submission. We aim to be flexible and adjust these time frames if necessary and appropriate. This can be captured in the applicant's cover letter.* The lead PI must be a junior faculty member (Instructor or Assistant Professor, prior to receiving an independent R01 grant or international equivalent) with experience in IBD research, who is committed to IBD research as a part of his or her career development. Generally, junior PI candidates should not be more than ten years beyond the attainment of their doctoral degree at the time of application.
• PI and Co-PI must be employed by institutions (public non-profit, private non-profit, or government) engaged in health care and/or health related research. International applicants are also eligible to apply, and there are no geographical restrictions regarding research site locations.

Proposal eligibility 

• Proposed study matches the scope of the program, as described in the RFP, and eligibility criteria are met.
• Only one proposal may be submitted per submission date.
• Applicants for a CRIA-CDA may not simultaneously apply or be included in an application for a CRIA-SRA. CRIA-CDA and CRIA-SRA applications will compete for the same funding.
• Applicants for a CRIA may not simultaneously submit another application on the same research topic for a Litwin IBD Pioneer award, Clinical Research Network Award or Research Initiative. 
• Successful applicants may not hold concurrent Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation CDAs or SRAs; however, applications for new projects may be submitted 6 months prior to the termination of the awardee’s current grant.

Grant funding terms

• There is no maximum to the budget request; however, the Foundation will try to fund the greatest number of impactful proposals recommended for funding by the research review committee within its budget limits.  Therefore, it may choose to select a greater number of less costly proposals than fewer high cost proposals.  Applicants submitting proposals above $250,000/year in total costs (10% IDC maximum allowed) should speak with Foundation staff prior to submitting a letter of intent.
• The total budget can be requested for up to three years. Specific milestones will be agreed upon as part of the funding process, and continued funding is dependent on achieving these milestones, which will be reviewed scientifically and administratively.

The Foundation uses the Proposal Central system for all grants submissions. Just select the program to which you are applying. All instructions and policies are available at this site.

For matters related to pre- and post-award management for the Clinical Research Investigator-Initiated Awards, please contact Orlando Green: [email protected].

For all other questions: [email protected]

Before submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) or a Full Proposal, please view the Clinical Research Investigator-Initiated Award instructions and policies.

Dates to know—Spring/Summer 2025