Verified

Emerging Investigator Research Grants Program

Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance

Childhood skin diseases are associated with a severe burden on patients, families, and healthcare providers. Despite this burden, effective treatments remain sparse, and the pace of research remains slow. To help overcome these challenges while developing the next generation of leaders in the field, the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) is offering the Emerging Investigator Research Grants (EIRG) program to support short-term (12-week maximum) mentored research experiences for medical students, pediatric residents, and recent graduates to conduct projects relevant to pediatric dermatology. The expectation is that awardees will complete EIRG projects during the summer (e.g., between MS1 and MS2) or another suitable time that is mutually agreed upon with a project mentor.

Goals

The EIRG program is driven by PeDRA’s mission to create, inspire, and sustain research to prevent, treat, and cure childhood skin disease. Grants are intended to support a focused research experience that equips awardees with valuable skills and relationships, fosters interest in pediatric dermatology from a broad cohort of applicants, and contributes meaningful research outcomes to the field of pediatric dermatology. Priority consideration will be given to mentored research projects that demonstrate meaningful and sustained engagement with the patient advocacy community. Additional priority will be given to projects that align with the scientific focus, strategic priorities, and ongoing initiatives of PeDRA’s Focused Study Groups.

Important Details

Eligibility criteria can be found on the EIRG RFA.
Awardees will receive $4,000 to support an in-person project or $1,500 to support a remote project, plus $1,000 to support travel to attend the PeDRA Annual Conference.
Applications are due at 11:59 PM PT on:
- Thursday, April 16, 2026 (past)
- Thursday, October 22, 2026

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to pediatric dermatology (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is the most important criterion.

Competitive proposals should focus on childhood skin diseases, such as:

Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Pediatric psoriasis
Birthmarks and vascular anomalies
Ichthyosis
Epidermolysis bullosa
Pediatric hidradenitis suppurativa
Pigmentary disorders
Genetic skin diseases
Pediatric skin infections
Autoimmune skin disorders
Pediatric skin tumors

Projects outside pediatric dermatology are generally not competitive.

2. Innovation and early-stage research (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

PeDRA specifically supports early-stage research projects where preliminary data may be limited.

Competitive proposals should include:

Novel hypotheses
Innovative methodologies
New diagnostic tools
Precision medicine
Translational science
Emerging technologies
Digital dermatology
AI-assisted dermatology
New therapeutic strategies

The goal is to generate new ideas that can lead to larger externally funded studies.

3. Strong potential to improve pediatric skin health (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive projects should demonstrate potential to:

Improve diagnosis
Develop better treatments
Improve quality of life
Reduce disease burden
Improve long-term outcomes
Advance standards of care

Research with clear patient benefit receives strong consideration.

4. Scientific excellence and rigorous methodology (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive applications include:

Clearly defined hypotheses
Robust study design
Appropriate statistical analysis
Feasible methodology
Clearly defined outcomes
Realistic milestones

Methodological rigor is essential for successful peer review.

5. Potential to generate preliminary data for larger grants (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

A defining feature of PeDRA Research Grants is that they are intended to support projects that:

Generate pilot data
Build research infrastructure
Support future NIH or foundation applications
Lead to multicenter studies

Applications should explain how the project will position investigators for larger external funding.

6. Collaboration and multidisciplinary research (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

PeDRA encourages collaboration among:

Pediatric dermatologists
Dermatologists
Pediatricians
Basic scientists
Geneticists
Immunologists
Epidemiologists
Biostatisticians
Patient advocacy organizations

Multi-institutional collaborations are welcomed and strengthen proposals.

7. Meaningful patient advocacy and community engagement (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

One of PeDRA's distinctive priorities is patient engagement.

Priority consideration is given to projects that demonstrate:

Meaningful collaboration with patient advocacy groups
Sustained engagement with patients and families
Patient-centered research questions
Incorporation of patient perspectives throughout the project

This is explicitly highlighted in the Emerging Investigator Research Grants (EIRG) program.

8. Alignment with PeDRA Focused Study Groups and strategic priorities (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals align with:

PeDRA Focused Study Groups
Existing research initiatives
Strategic research priorities
Disease-specific collaborative networks

Projects that fit ongoing PeDRA initiatives receive additional priority.

9. Early-career investigator development and mentorship (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

PeDRA places strong emphasis on developing future pediatric dermatology researchers.

Competitive applicants should demonstrate:

Strong mentorship
Career development potential
Commitment to pediatric dermatology research
Appropriate research training

Programs such as the Emerging Investigator Research Grants are specifically designed for medical students, pediatric residents, and recent graduates.

10. Feasible budget, dissemination, and compliance (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals include:

Realistic budgets
Appropriate project timelines
Clear dissemination plans
Publication strategy
Compliance with PeDRA grant policies

Awardees are expected to acknowledge PeDRA support in publications and presentations, and indirect costs are generally not allowed.

Specialties

Dermatology

Pediatrics

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be actively enrolled as either medical students or pediatric residents in an accredited medical school or recent graduates and able to devote at least 50% of their effort to research during the award period.

• Mentors must be Active, Affiliate, or Emeritus Members of PeDRA in good standing. Applicants need not be PeDRA members at the time of application.

• Applicants are responsible for identifying and engaging their own mentor.

• Applicants may be concurrently enrolled in the PeDRA Mentorship Program.

• Applicants may not concurrently hold a Mentorship Grant from the Society for Pediatric Dermatology* , or Research Fellowship Grant from PeDRA.

• Mentors may not be listed on more than one application in the same cycle.

• Applicants must consult with their institution's grants or sponsored research office to confirm internal submission processes and obtain necessary approvals prior to submitting their application.

• Applicants who hold any concurrent research or mentorship support must provide an explanation of how they will manage potentially overlapping funds and/or programs in their cover letter.

• Research projects must be completed in the designated award period.

Research projects must be carried out at an institution in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

Eligible Countries:

Canada

Mexico

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 205 SE Spokane St., Suite 300 Portland, OR 97202

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

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.

View Funding Opportunity