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Pediatric Fungal Network Study of Rare Invasive Fungal DisEases in Immunocompromised

Autoimmunity, Rasmussen’s, Inflammation & Status Epilepticus Research Network (ARISEN)

The PFN-STRIDE Pilot/Feasibility Grant uses a two-phase application process:

Pre-Application Deadline: December 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET
Full Application Deadline: March 19, 2027 at 5:00 PM ET.

Full applications are by invitation only. Selected applicants will be notified by January 22, 2027. This page provides an overview of the pre-application requirements.

Applicants should review the Full RFA for complete information on the award, program requirements, review criteria, and current PFN-STRIDE research projects.

Program Overview

The Pediatric Fungal Network Study of Rare Invasive Fungal DisEases in Immunocompromised Pediatric Patients (PFN-STRIDE) is a Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (RDCRC) focused on advancing diagnostic, therapeutic, and supportive care strategies for rare pediatric invasive fungal diseases (IFDs).

The PFN-STRIDE Pilot/Feasibility (P&F) Core invites applications for one-year pilot research projects that address important gaps in rare pediatric IFD research and align with the goals of PFN-STRIDE. Awards will provide up to $30,000 in total (direct and indirect costs) for a one-year period.

Only proposals with NO scientific overlap to with current PFN-STRIDE research projects will be considered. Applicants should review current project descriptions and aims (see Full RFA, Appendix 1) to confirm that their proposal meets this requirement.

RFA Scope and Priority Topics
Projects focused on rare IFD-causing pathogens under these categories will be considered (See full RFA, Appendix 2):

Aspergillus species
Non-Aspergillus molds
Rare yeasts (generally non-Candida species)
Dimorphic fungi

Priority topics of research include, but are not limited to:

Patient and caregiver knowledge studies related to rare pediatric IFD
Studies that generate foundational data, methods, or infrastructure to enable larger future studies or help patients and clinicians make better-informed decisions
Studies evaluating the feasibility or acceptability of antifungal therapies
Development or early evaluation of novel diagnostic approaches; and
Novel approaches to overcome challenges in study design, e.g., identification and collection of data that can serve as controls.

Proposals outside these priority areas are welcome if they address a compelling gap in rare pediatric IFD research and align with PFN-STRIDE goals. Projects involving animal models will not be considered.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

Predictor	Relevance to grant success
Alignment with ARISEN's disease priorities	Research must address one or more of the consortium's target diseases.
Clinical or translational relevance	Projects should address clinical research gaps rather than animal-only studies.
Scientific significance and innovation	Strong rationale, novel research questions, and potential to advance understanding or treatment.
Methodological rigor and feasibility	A sound study design, realistic timeline, milestones, and achievable objectives.
Patient-oriented impact	Potential to improve diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, or patient outcomes.
Preliminary data and future funding potential	Ability to generate evidence supporting subsequent external funding applications.
Multidisciplinary collaboration	Collaboration across research centers and relevant clinical specialties.
Patient engagement	Meaningful involvement of patients, caregivers, or patient advocacy groups.
Research team and environment	Appropriate investigator expertise, mentoring when required, and access to research resources.
Impact and sustainability	Measurable outcomes and a credible plan for continuing the research beyond the pilot award.

These predictors reflect ARISEN's published research priorities and peer-review criteria; they are not a statistically validated ranking of historical award-winning factors.

arisen.rarediseasesnetwork.org

Grant and organization classification

Category	Details
Organization type	U.S. federally funded research consortium
Funding source	NIH, including NCATS and NICHD
Grant programs	ARISEN Pilot Research Grant; Early-Stage Investigator Pilot Research Grant
Maximum award	Up to $45,000 total costs for the published pilot programs
Project duration	12 months
Historical success rate	Not verified; applicant counts and comparable award data are needed
Official website	ARISEN Funding Opportunities

The 2027 funding announcements list a letter-of-intent deadline of November 13, 2026, with full applications due in February 2027. The pilot grant permits one award, subject to funding approval.

arisen.rarediseasesnetwork.org

Excel-ready entry — Previous Success Predictors: Disease-area alignment; clinical and translational significance; scientific innovation; methodological rigor; preliminary data; patient-oriented research; multidisciplinary collaboration; patient advocacy involvement; investigator expertise; feasibility; measurable outcomes; sustainability; and potential to secure future external funding.

Specialties

Infectious Diseases

Rare Diseases

Pediatrics

Eligibility Requirements

This program is primarily intended to support full-time, early-career faculty. Any member of a PFN-STRIDE participating institution is eligible to apply. Investigators from institutions outside PFN-STRIDE may apply for an award but must agree to have their site join the PFN-STRIDE during the award period.

Early-career is defined as:

Junior faculty within 7 years of Assistant Professor appointment OR
Medical, pharmacy, or post-doctoral fellows with anticipated faculty appointment at the time of award distribution OR
A current Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) status with the NIH

Senior or mid-career faculty initiating new lines of investigation may apply with justification for pilot funding. However, in the case of similar review scores, priority will be given to proposals from early-career faculty.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Autoimmunity, Rasmussen’s, Inflammation & Status Epilepticus Research Network (ARISEN)

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229,

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