Food Allergy Fund
Request for Proposals
We’re committed to bridging the funding gap for scientific research into food allergies and are accepting Letters of Intent for three of our leading programs: The Microbiome Collective, the Drug Repurposing Program and Innovators Research Grants.
Eligibility and Submission Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed and scored based on innovation and collaboration (across disciplines and/or institutions).
Teams should have adequate pharmaceutical expertise or microbiome, genetic and human clinical trial expertise to document an eventual developmental approach for human use.
The letter of intent is limited to two pages outlining the approach and rationale involved in the studies. A third page identifying the team involved is also required.
An estimate of the potential budget is also requested. Overall budgets should be appropriate for the scope of work proposed.
The top scoring proposals will be requested to submit a 10-page proposal with a fully documented budget and evidence of institutional approval.
Grants will be reviewed by the Food Allergy Fund’s Scientific Advisory Board.
Grant indirect costs are capped at 10%.
Suggested annual funding tiers are $75,000, $150,000, and $250,000. Requests outside these tiers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
FAF PROGRAM PROPOSALS:
Food Allergy Fund Microbiome Collective
Grants will be awarded to research teams that propose innovative approaches to understanding the role that the microbiome plays in the development and persistence of food allergy. We would welcome proposals identifying investigations into the interaction between the mucosal surfaces and the immune system that result in the development of allergic responses to food. We also would be interested in approaches that would interrupt this process and could be useful for the prevention or treatment of food induced allergy and anaphylaxis.
Examples of relevant studies include those that define mechanisms of microbiome/immune interactions which produce food allergy and provide a scientific rationale use to understand this process. Also, we encourage work identifying methods of altering the microbiome environment to maintain food tolerance in previously allergic patients.
Examples could involve specific organisms or small molecules which can be used therapeutically to alter intestinal, mucosal or immune function.
DEADLINE: January 31, 2026
Food Allergy Fund Drug Repurposing Program
Grants will be awarded to research teams that propose innovative approaches to repurposing therapeutics for the prevention or treatment of food allergy. We would welcome proposals identifying either an existing FDA-approved drug or drug in development with human safety data that has a rationale for the prevention of food allergies, prevention or treatment of food induced anaphylaxis, or an improved method for maintaining food allergic tolerance in previously allergic patients.
We are particularly interested in either small molecule drugs or biologicals that have well defined mechanisms of action that provide a scientific rationale for use in food allergies. Examples could involve drugs such as enzyme inhibitors or immunomodulators with specific activities that lend themselves to alter intestinal, mucosal or immune function.
DEADLINE: January 31, 2026
Food Allergy Fund Innovators Research Grants
On a rolling basis, FAF will award grants to the researcher or team of researchers who demonstrate the most innovative approach to identifying what causes food allergies or an improved treatment.
Proposals will be reviewed by FAF’s Scientific Advisory Board and scored on the NIH scoring scale (1-9). Innovation and collaboration (across disciplines and/or institutions) will be prioritized in the scoring process. The top scoring candidates based on the letter of intent and CV will be notified and requested to submit more detailed proposals.