The Find For Rare Research Grant Initiative offers research grants of up to €50,000 to support original studies on Fabry disease, alpha-mannosidosis and cystinosis. Eligible researchers from qualifying regions can apply for funding toward projects that advance knowledge of rare diseases and improve patient-tailored clinical management. The application deadline is 31 October 2026.
Background & Grant Description
The Find For Rare Research Grant Initiative is a new funding opportunity designed to support original research in the field of rare diseases. The initiative focuses on three conditions: Fabry disease, alpha-mannosidosis and cystinosis.
Eligible researchers can apply for grants of up to €50,000 to support a research project. The maximum grant amount includes all project costs, including indirect costs.
The initiative is intended to advance scientific knowledge and support research that could contribute to a better understanding of these rare diseases and improved approaches to patient care.
Projects from global regions other than North, Central and Latin America are eligible for submission. All application documents must be prepared in English.
The maximum duration of a funded project is 24 months.
Research Areas
The Find For Rare Research Grant Initiative supports original research projects designed to advance knowledge in the following areas.
Understanding Rare Diseases
Eligible projects can focus on improving understanding of factors affecting the diseases, including research covering areas from pathogenesis to disease progression.
Patient-Tailored Clinical Management
Researchers may also propose studies focused on patient-tailored clinical management, with the goal of generating knowledge that can contribute to better approaches to managing affected patients.
The research proposal should clearly demonstrate the significance of the proposed work and explain how the project could contribute to the relevant therapeutic area.
Grant Amount
Successful applicants may receive up to:
€50,000
The total funding cannot exceed €50,000, or the equivalent amount in another currency.
The stated maximum includes all costs associated with the project, including indirect costs.
Research grants are awarded to eligible organizations rather than being paid directly to individual researchers. Each organization receiving funding must be the actual beneficiary and direct user of the grant.
An organization can submit more than one project proposal, with no restriction on the number of proposals submitted per therapeutic area. However, each individual researcher can submit only one project proposal.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for funding, the applicant must meet the initiative’s eligibility requirements.
The applicant must:
- Be a principal investigator, research scientist or physician scientist.
- Work at an academic organization operating in the health or scientific research sector.
- Hold a professional degree such as a PhD, MD or PharmD.
- Be responsible for conducting the proposed research study.
- Have permission from their organization to apply for the grant.
The academic organization must operate in accordance with applicable local legislation.
The initiative also excludes individuals from organizations affiliated with directors of Chiesi Global Rare Diseases or Chiesi Group, as well as certain family members of those directors.
Eligible Countries and Regions
The application information states that research project proposals from regions outside North, Central and Latin America are eligible.
Applicants should therefore carefully check that both their location and institution meet the geographic and organizational requirements before submitting an application.
Projects That Are Not Eligible
Not every rare disease research project qualifies for funding.
The following projects will not be considered:
- Studies for which extensive data have already been published.
- Studies directly or indirectly investigating the efficacy and safety of approved drugs.
- Pre-clinical and clinical interventional or observational studies that investigate the efficacy or safety of approved drugs.
- Projects with the same objectives or endpoints as investigator-sponsored studies already supported by Chiesi Group or Chiesi subsidiaries.
Researchers should therefore ensure that their proposed project demonstrates sufficient originality and novelty.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to prepare three main documents:
- Application form
- Curriculum vitae (CV)
- Cover letter
Download the Find For Rare application form
The CV must not exceed two pages. It should provide a comprehensive overview of the applicant’s educational background, research experience and publication record. The CV must also have been updated within the previous six months.
The cover letter must not exceed one page. Applicants should use it to explain their motivation for seeking the grant, provide a concise overview of their proposed research topic and explain the significance of the research.
All application documents must be submitted in English.
Participation in the call for applications is free of charge.
How to Apply
Applicants should complete the official application form and prepare their supporting documents before submitting the full application package.
The application package consists of:
- Completed application form
- CV of no more than two pages
- Cover letter of no more than one page
The documents must then be submitted to the Find For Rare Grant Office by email at the address specified in the official call.
Apply for the Find For Rare Research Grant
Applicants should follow the submission procedure exactly because applications submitted after the deadline or through other procedures will not be considered.
Application Deadline
The Find For Rare Research Grant Initiative is currently open for applications.
Deadline: 31 October 2026
All application documents must reach the Grant Office by 31 October 2026.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Applicants should also note that submissions must follow the procedures specified by the initiative.
After an application has been submitted, the Grant Office will issue confirmation of receipt and confirm whether the application is complete.
Application Review and Selection
Applications will first be reviewed by the Grant Office to determine whether they are complete and meet the eligibility requirements.
Eligible research proposals will then be assessed by an independent Steering Committee made up of leading scientific experts in the field of lysosomal storage disorders, with expertise in Fabry disease, alpha-mannosidosis and cystinosis.
The evaluation process focuses on four main areas.
Strength of the Proposed Research Project
The committee will consider:
- Scientific rigor of the study design
- Comprehensiveness of the proposal
- Appropriateness of the technology being used to achieve the research goals
Innovation and Novelty
Researchers will be assessed on:
- Originality of the research topic
- Innovation in the proposed methodology
- Potential for the project to generate impactful future research
Relevance and Impact
The proposal should demonstrate:
- Relevance to the therapeutic area
- Clinical and research significance of potential findings
- Potential to improve patient care
Potential for Success
The assessment also considers:
- The prospects of achieving the proposed goals
- Timeliness of the research
- Relevance of potential findings if the goals are not fully achieved
- Whether the proposed budget demonstrates effective use of resources
Independent Scientific Evaluation
The initiative states that Chiesi will not influence the application, evaluation or grant selection process.
The funding is also stated to have no commercial objective and is not intended to induce or encourage the prescription, use or purchase of Chiesi products.
Organizations receiving funding must formally certify that they meet the requirements of the research grant. They must also commit not to reinvest or reuse the grant for profit generation.
Research Ownership
Organizations awarded research grants will maintain ownership of inventions or rights generated through the funded research project.
According to the application information, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. will have no entitlement to interests, rights or authority in inventions or rights generated by the research project.
Applicants remain responsible for the ownership and content of their research proposals and for complying with all relevant regulations.
Award Ceremony
Grant recipients will be notified by email, and their names and affiliations will be publicly announced.
An award ceremony is planned to take place in Italy. Chiesi will cover travel and accommodation expenses for grant recipients or their delegates.
Virtual attendance will also be available for recipients who cannot attend the ceremony in person. The current information states that grant recipients from the UK, Ireland and Sweden can only participate virtually.
Additional details about the ceremony and programme are expected to be provided later.
Who Can Benefit From This Grant?
The Find For Rare Research Grant Initiative is particularly relevant to researchers working in the field of rare disease research and lysosomal storage disorders.
Potential applicants include:
- Principal investigators
- Research scientists
- Physician scientists
- Academic researchers
- Researchers with PhD, MD, PharmD or comparable professional qualifications
The proposed research must focus on one of the three specified therapeutic areas and satisfy the initiative’s requirements concerning originality, scientific quality, relevance and potential impact.
Final Takeaway
The Find For Rare Research Grant Initiative provides an opportunity for eligible researchers to secure up to €50,000 for original research involving Fabry disease, alpha-mannosidosis or cystinosis.
The programme supports projects focused on improving understanding of disease factors, from pathogenesis to progression, as well as research involving patient-tailored clinical management.
Applicants must be appropriately qualified researchers working through eligible academic health or scientific research organizations. Projects can run for a maximum of 24 months, and all application documents must be submitted in English.
The current application deadline is 31 October 2026.
Official Find For Rare Grant Application Page
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