Current funding opportunities

Here are the most recent rare diseases funding opportunities identified by RARE.Qc:

• D2R Commercialization Priming Program

  • The D2R Commercialization Priming program, in partnership with Genome Quebec, aims to provide short-term financial support for early-stage efforts that test or validate the commercial potential of well-defined concepts, technologies, or inventions tied to the D2R Initiative’s priority areas.
  • Amount : Between $50,000 and $100,000 for up to 12 months (non-renewable).
  • Next deadline: Application deadline: August 15, 2026 

• CQDM’s SynergiQc 

  • The CQDM Biopharmaceutical R&D Funding Program is designed to support innovation among Quebec companies through the completion of research projects in collaboration with Quebec’s public research centers. The project must involve at least one eligible Quebec small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
  • Amount : Maximum budget : 1,25 M$ over three years
  • Next deadline: Application deadline: August 18, 2026 

• The Ehlers-Danlos Society Research Inner Circle

  • Supporting diverse research on Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD), with a focus on musculoskeletal, dermatological, hematological, and rare disease aspects to foster advancements in understanding and treatment of these conditions.
  • Amount : There is no minimum or maximum funding limit.
  • Next deadline: Applications Close: Friday, August 21, 2026

• Joint research call with CMT-France – “Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease”

  • Application open to foreign organizations. This call aims to support innovative, fundamental, translational or clinical research programs on CMT.
  • Amount : Up to 25 000 €, for a maximum duration of 24 months
  • Next deadline: Application deadline: Friday, August 25, 2026 11 am EST

• AO Innovation Funding

  • We support innovations that address unmet clinical needs in musculoskeletal care: Hardware medical devices (implants, fixation systems, instruments), Digital health technologies (apps, AI, surgical planning software), Biologic solutions and/or combination devices, Medical imaging solutions for AI applications, Strategic initiatives advancing MSK treatment or surgeon education
  • Amount : Customized amounts and timelines matched to your project milestones
  • Next deadline: Application deadline: August 31, 2026 

• Rare-To-Common Neurodegeneration Impact Prize

  • This initiative supports collaborative research linking CLN3 Batten disease with common neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, cellular aging, retinal degeneration, and lysosomal dysfunction. The goal is to uncover shared mechanisms and develop therapeutic strategies benefiting both rare and widespread disorders.
  • Amount : € 200,000
  • Next deadline: Preliminary proposal deadline: August 31, 2026 

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research Operating Grant : Data Analysis Using Existing CDN Databases and Cohorts (2026)

  • Support projects that use data from existing Canadian-based cohorts, databases, cohort catalogues, and data platforms, to advance knowledge in human development, child and/or youth health with the goal to improve patient, population, and system outcomes.
  • Amount : $75,000 per year for up to one (1) year
  • Next deadline: Registration deadline : September 2, 2026

• Cure SMA Request for Proposals for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Research Projects

  • Cure SMA encourages applications on novel research that will enhance our understanding of SMA disease pathology at the molecular, cellular, and biochemical level; generate key reagents and tools to facilitate drug development and clinical trials; and identify new therapeutic strategies for SMA. Particular interests exist in understanding mechanisms underlying the pathology of disease and/or identifying drug targets synergistic with SMN-upregulating therapeutics for use in older/symptomatic patients. Cure SMA welcomes high risk, high reward projects and values the ability to provide seed funding for these types of exploratory projects. Please note that all projects, including those that are high risk, are generally not awarded maximum funding without compelling preliminary data.
  • Amount : $75,000 per year for up to two (2) years
  • Next deadline : Proposal due date : September 4, 2026

• Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation (MDF) 2027 Early Career Scholar Grant

  • Early Career Scholar – Basic/Translational Science: This award supports projects in basic research or translational DM research. Early Career Scholar – Clinical Research: This award, geared toward physicianscientists, supports clinical research projects in DM.
  • Amount : $95,000 per year for up to two (2) years
  • Next deadline : Proposal due date : September 4, 2026

• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program Clinical/Translational Research Award

  • Supports advanced translational research to accelerate promising ideas in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) research toward clinical applications. Research must address at least one of the FY26 CTRA Focus Areas. Research projects investigating therapies that will be efficacious across the life span are strongly encouraged.
  • Amount : From USD 0.91M to 1.90M
  • Next deadline : LOI deadline: September 4, 2026

• Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Program (DMDRP) Idea Development Award (IDA)

  • This award supports impactful, high-risk/high-reward research that could lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate progress in improving outcomes for individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in the near term.
  • Amount : USD 500,000
  • Next deadline : LOI deadline: September 4, 2026

• ERDERA Clinical Trial Call 2026 (ECTC)

  • To support multinational, GCP‑compliant Phase I, Phase I/II and Phase II interventional clinical trials in rare diseases. This call aims to generate robust clinical evidence and, where appropriate, data of regulatory relevance to support future regulatory interactions and subsequent clinical development. It is designed for rare disease trials where patient populations are often small and geographically dispersed, making multinational collaboration essential. Priority areas (not eligibility criteria): paediatric rare diseases; rapidly progressive rare diseases; and rare diseases with no approved therapeutic options or with substantial residual unmet medical need despite existing treatments.
  • Amount : €1 million to €5 million
  • Next deadline : EOI deadline : September 10, 2026

• European Partnership on Rare Diseases (ERDERA) (Phase 2) – Horizon Europe ‘Health’

  • This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden”:The EU strengthens its role as a global leader in rare disease research and innovation by aligning research policies, integrating data infrastructures, and fostering cross-border FAIR data use to improve knowledge generation and translation. This coordinated ecosystem enables more effective collaboration among researchers, funders, patients, and public–private actors, accelerating the development of cost-effective diagnostics and treatments. As a result, people living with rare diseases—especially underrepresented groups—gain more timely, equitable access to high-quality, innovative healthcare across Europe and beyond.
  • Amount : EUR 91.3 million committed in annual instalments over the two years
  • Next deadline : Deadline date : 15 September 2026, 17:00 (CEST)

• Clinical Studies of Orphan Products Addressing Unmet Needs of Rare Diseases (R01 Clinical Trials Required)

  • Support clinical trials of orphan products in all phases of product development (phase 1, 2 and/or 3) for rare diseases with unmet medical needs. These clinical trials should evaluate safety and/or efficacy of medical products in support of a new indication or a change in labeling.
  • Amount : $650,000 per year for 4 years
  • Next deadline : LOI deadline: September 21, 2026

• European Respiratory Society (ERS)/ERN-lung joint fellowship

  • This programme supports qualified clinicians/healthcare professionals who work in respiratory medical practice, with a specific interest in rare respiratory disease, to receive clinical training at a European institution outside of their home country.
  • Amount : Clinical training fellowships include a living stipend, a child allowance and a travel grant. Clinical training fellowships’ duration is between 1 and 6 months maximum.
  • Next deadline : Application deadline: October 1, 2026

• Dr. Imelda de Groot Award 2026

  • The Dr. Imelda de Groot Award is an incentive prize for care and innovation, initiated by Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands. With this award, Treat-NMD aims to stimulate innovative ideas that contribute to improving care and the daily lives of people with Duchenne. The award is open to innovative ideas that improve the lives of people with Duchenne. International submissions are also welcome. Projects eligible for the award are practical, innovative, and directly applicable. This may involve starting a new project or supporting or further developing an existing initiative.
  • Amount : €10,000
  • Next deadline : Submission deadline: October 1, 2026

• Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) Individual Investigator Research Award

  • Supports innovative research targeting inherited orphan retinal degenerative diseases and dry age-related macular degeneration (dAMD). Focus areas include genetic technologies, restorative therapies, novel medical treatments, clinical structure-function studies, genetics, and disease mechanisms, with emphasis on translational and groundbreaking approaches.
  • Amount : Upper: $300,000 USD, Lower: $100,000 USD
  • Next deadline : Anticipated LOI deadline : October 15, 2026

• GREGoRi Innovation Projects (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)

  • This initiative seeks transformative experimental and computational approaches to improve rare genetic disease diagnosis. Focus areas include developing novel molecular technologies, analytical tools, and machine learning methods to identify causal genes or variants, integrate diverse datasets, and streamline diagnostic processes.
  • Amount : $1,500,000 USD for three years
  • Next deadline : Application deadline : October 30, 2026

• CHS Dream of a Cure Research Program

  • Supporting research to improve health outcomes for individuals with inherited bleeding disorders, including hemophilia A and B, von Willebrand disease, rare factor deficiencies, and platelet function disorders, with a focus on developing innovative treatments and finding a cure.
  • Amount : $75,000 per year for two (2) years
  • Next deadline : Application deadline : November 28, 2026

• CHS Dream of a Cure Research Program – Summer Studentships in Inherited Bleeding Disorders Research

  • Supports Canadian medical and science students in summer research focused on inherited bleeding disorders, including hemophilia, von Willebrand disease, rare factor deficiencies, and platelet function disorders. Aims to enhance treatments, improve quality of life, and advance toward finding cures.
  • Amount : $6,000
  • Next deadline : Application deadline : November 28, 2026