The Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports basic and clinical research on the causes of human disease with the mission of improving its treatment. The program provides funding to mid- to late-stage postdoctoral fellows and mentored clinician scientists training in Massachusetts to help them become independent investigators. In keeping with the mission of the Charles A. King Trust, the program is designed to support research across biomedical fields that focuses on the causes of human diseases with the mission of improving treatment.
Applicants may apply under one of the two separate, but linked programs:
Additional funding from the Sarah Elizabeth O’Brien Trust and Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Foundation supports research focused on cancer or vision. Applicants in these research areas are highly encouraged to apply.
To advance scientific discovery through diversity of thought and maximize the impact of biomedical research funding, the program seeks to support the next generation of scientific leaders who are dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive research environment, and who contribute to the wider research community and promote positive research culture.
Awards are for two years, starting October 1, 2026, and range from $194,100 to $215,000 total, inclusive of a $25,000 annual flexible expense allowance.
Funders:
Bank of America, N.A., Melissa MacGillivray Dane, and Susan Monahan serve as Co-Trustees of the Charles A. King Trust. Private foundations, individuals and other contributors have joined the Charles A. King Trust in supporting the Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program. Proposals focused on cancer or vision are highly encouraged due to the availability of dedicated fellowships supported by the generous funding contributed respectively from the Sara Elizabeth O’Brien Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee, and the Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee.
Because HRiA grant programs vary, the most reliable predictors of success are criteria derived from typical HRiA RFPs and public health grant best practices:
1) Alignment With Program Focus
Each HRiA grant is funded by a partner with a specific mission (e.g., advancing health equity).
✅ Success predictor: Your proposal must faithfully address the priority topics and questions defined in the RFP, such as community strategies to reduce health disparities for a given population.
2) Clear Contribution to Public Health & Equity
HRiA’s work emphasizes equity-centered approaches to health problems.
Successful applications typically highlight:
How the project advances equity and addresses social determinants of health
How results will benefit communities experiencing disparities
This reflects HRiA’s organizational values in evaluation and systems change.
3) Strong Methodology & Feasibility
Like most competitive health grants, reviewers look for:
Well-defined research questions or intervention goals
Appropriate and rigorous methods
A realistic timeline and budget
Clear metrics to assess impact (especially in community health or implementation studies)
This is especially important in research-focused HRiA grants like the Jeffress Trust Awards Program.
4) Community Engagement & Partnership
Many HRiA grants fund work that involves community stakeholders.
💡 Predictor of success: Demonstrating authentic engagement with the communities affected by the problem — including partners, service users, or local organizations — strengthens applications and aligns with HRiA’s public health impact mindset.
5) Demonstrated Impact & Sustainability
Funders partnering with HRiA want to see:
Meaningful outcomes that go beyond data collection
Clear pathways for how results will be used to inform policy, practice, or community capacity
Plans for sustaining benefits beyond the grant period
These aspects are often embedded in scoring rubrics for community health and health equity research programs.
6) Equity & Systems-Level Thinking
HRiA’s institutional work includes policy and systems change approaches. Grants oriented toward system-level improvements tend to favor proposals that:
Address upstream factors (e.g., structural barriers to health)
Integrate equity principles into design and evaluation
This reflects the organizational ethos of advancing equitable health outcomes.
Because HRiA programs are customized by funder, make sure you:
✔ Read the RFP carefully.
Target all priority areas and evaluation criteria precisely; each program defines its own review priorities.
✔ Show alignment with the funder’s goals as expressed in the RFP.
✔ Emphasize equity, community impact, and practical relevance.
✔ Include a feasible timeline, rigorous design, and clear outcome measures.
✔ Invest in quality summaries and plain language sections, especially for community stakeholders.
✔ If required, document community partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
From what HRiA’s LinkedIn and related postings show, this program:
Focuses on research addressing root causes of systemic barriers to health equity
Encourages partners and applicants to engage with community priorities
Has a defined application deadline and office hours for applicants to ask questions — a good predictor of interest in fit and feasibility.
Predictors of success for this type of program include:
Clear alignment with health equity, not just health outcomes
Rigorous research design with community or real-world relevance
Feasible plans with measurable outcomes
| Success Predictor | Key Element |
|---|---|
| Alignment to RFP focus | Address priority topic accurately |
| Equity-centered project design | Shows impact on disparities |
| Scientific/public health merit | Rigorous methods & feasible outcomes |
| Community engagement | Demonstrated local partnerships |
| Clear outcomes & sustainability | Plans for measurable impact & lasting value |
Senior postdoctoral researchers and mentored clinician scientists working in the state of Massachusetts, by October 1, 2026. See the 2026 Application Guidelines for full criteria.
Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Health Resources in Action
Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit
Address: 2 Boylston Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA, 02116.
Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.
Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.
Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.
Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.
Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.
Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.
Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.
Mar 25, 2026
Mar 25, 2026
$25,000
Affiliation: Health Resources in Action
Address: 2 Boylston Street, 4th Floor, Boston, MA, 02116.
Website URL: https://hria.org/grants/king/
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.