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Request for Applications (RFA) – 2026 Pilot Research Grants

Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures

The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is issuing a Request for Applications (RFA) for up to two pilot research projects. These projects were developed through collaborative discussions at the 2026 Vascular Health Innovation Summit, Vascular Disease Through the Metabolic Lens.

Applications are due August 31, 2026.

Please submit all application materials to grants@vascularcures.org

Key Dates

● June 30, 2026: RFA released

● August 31, 2026: Applications due

● October 31, 2026: Award notifications

● November 2026: Project start date

● February 2028: Final reports due

Each year, the Foundation focuses the Summit on areas where emerging science, implementation strategies, and patient-centered innovation have the potential to improve vascular health outcomes. The purpose of the Foundation’s RFA is to support early-stage, innovative research that may be difficult to fund through traditional mechanisms because it is exploratory, multidisciplinary, translational, or implementation-focused in nature. Our goal is to support pilot projects that generate preliminary data, partnerships, methodologies, and strategic plans necessary to secure larger federal, foundation, or industry-supported funding opportunities.

The 2026 Summit examined the growing understanding of vascular disease as a
metabolic disorder and explored opportunities to improve outcomes through targeted
interventions, novel therapeutics, patient engagement strategies, and implementation
science. Participants highlighted significant advances in understanding inflammation,
insulin resistance, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction as contributors to vascular
disease. Particular attention was given to emerging therapies, including GLP-1 receptor
agonists and related metabolic interventions, as well as the challenges of translating
scientific advances into meaningful improvements in patient outcomes.
The Summit also identified the critical importance of building trust in healthcare and
science, improving disease awareness and health literacy, enhancing patient engagement
in clinical care and research, and developing reliable biomarkers and data resources to
support precision vascular medicine.

All proposals submitted in response to this RFA must directly address the relationship between metabolic dysfunction and vascular disease, with a particular focus on peripheral artery disease (PAD) and/or chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

All projects must demonstrate a clear connection to the metabolic-vascular relationship and explain how the proposed work will advance understanding, prevention, treatment,
implementation, or patient-centered management of vascular disease influenced by
metabolic dysfunction.

Responsive proposals may include studies focused on:

● Metabolic pathways that contribute to vascular disease development,
progression, or treatment response.
● Mechanisms through which GLP-1 receptor agonists and other metabolic
therapies improve vascular outcomes.
● Biomarkers, phenotypes, or surrogate measures associated with metabolic
dysfunction and vascular disease.
● The impact of metabolic interventions on wound healing, limb outcomes, and
patient-centered outcomes.
● Trust, education, adherence, implementation, and community engagement
strategies that support translation of metabolic and vascular science into
improved patient outcomes.
● Data resources, clinical trial infrastructure, and implementation approaches that
advance understanding of the metabolic-vascular relationship.

Funding

The Foundation intends to fund up to two pilot projects, not to exceed $75,000 and a project duration of up to 15 months.

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to vascular disease (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is the single most important success factor.

Competitive proposals should focus on vascular diseases such as:

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Critical limb ischemia (CLI)/chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI)
Aortic aneurysm
Carotid artery disease
Venous disease
Vascular trauma
Diabetic vascular complications
Microvascular disease
Vascular regeneration
Limb preservation
Endovascular therapies

Projects outside vascular medicine or surgery are generally not competitive.

2. Strong potential to improve patient outcomes (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

FAVC emphasizes research that can directly benefit patients.

Competitive proposals should demonstrate potential to:

Prevent limb loss
Improve vascular health
Improve diagnosis
Enhance treatment effectiveness
Reduce complications
Improve functional outcomes
Improve quality of life

Projects with a clear pathway to improving vascular care receive the strongest consideration.

3. Strong translational and clinical relevance (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

A defining feature of FAVC funding is the emphasis on translating discoveries into clinical practice.

Competitive proposals often include:

Translational vascular biology
Device development
Biomarker validation
Regenerative medicine
Cell-based therapies
Clinical research
Comparative effectiveness research
Implementation science

Projects should clearly describe how discoveries will improve patient care.

4. Innovation and originality (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive applications frequently investigate:

Novel vascular therapies
Precision vascular medicine
Artificial intelligence
Advanced imaging
Regenerative therapies
Tissue engineering
Endovascular technologies
Digital health solutions

Innovative projects with high clinical relevance are particularly competitive.

5. Scientific excellence and rigorous methodology (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive proposals demonstrate:

Important research questions
Strong biological or clinical rationale
Appropriate study design
Robust statistical analysis
Clearly defined endpoints
Realistic milestones

Methodological rigor is a key element of peer review.

6. Early-career investigator development (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

FAVC has historically invested in developing future leaders in vascular research.

Competitive applicants often include:

Vascular surgery fellows
Junior faculty
Early-stage clinician-scientists
Early-career vascular medicine investigators

Reviewers evaluate leadership potential and commitment to vascular research.

7. Strong mentorship and collaborative research environment (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive applications benefit from:

Experienced mentors
Multidisciplinary collaborations
Strong institutional support
Access to vascular patient populations
Appropriate research infrastructure

Mentorship is particularly important for career-development awards.

8. Feasible project design and realistic implementation (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Successful proposals demonstrate:

Achievable objectives
Realistic timelines
Appropriate budgets
Risk management
Available resources

Pilot studies should be appropriately scaled to the available funding.

9. Potential to generate future external funding (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

FAVC awards are intended to serve as seed funding.

Competitive projects should generate:

Preliminary data
NIH/NHLBI grant applications
Larger multicenter studies
Long-term vascular research programs

A clear strategy for future funding strengthens an application.

10. Dissemination and impact on vascular practice (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals should demonstrate potential to:

Publish in peer-reviewed journals
Present at vascular surgery meetings
Influence clinical guidelines
Improve standards of vascular care
Advance evidence-based vascular medicine

Broad dissemination increases the long-term impact of the research.

Specialties

Vascular Surgery

Eligibility Requirements

All researchers are invited to apply.

Proposals that do not include collaboration between two or more institutions will not be considered. Priority will be given to proposals led or co-led by attendees of the 2026 Vascular Health Innovation Summit (held on May 18, 2026 in San Francisco) when applications receive similar review scores.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 274 Redwood Shores Parkway #717 Redwood City, CA 94065

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