Best Grants for Rare Diseases in California

Napa Valley Community Foundation

We work side-by-side with local donors and nonprofits to tackle the most important challenges our Valley faces.

Our Board and staff are completely dedicated to the people and causes of Napa Valley and represent communities from American Canyon to Calistoga. They share skills, perspectives and the collaborative spirit that define our Napa Valley diversity.

Healthcare Scholarship Fund

The Healthcare Scholarship is made possible by Queen of the Valley Foundation and benefits Napa County residents enrolled in nursing and respiratory therapy programs at Napa Valley College or Pacific Union College. Previous recipients are eligible to reapply in subsequent years for additional funding while completing their studies.

U.S.-based 501(c) nonprofit organizations running community programs in nutrition, healthcare access, STEM education, or climate and nature that serve historically excluded groups in California can apply for the Community Solutions Challenge, with awards up to Up to US $30,000. Grants from Astrazeneca Foundation may benefit programs addressing respiratory diseases and related health inequities.

Early-career medical and health researchers at low- or middle-income country institutions conducting clinical trials can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award, with approximately US $140,000 in support. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help California and other LMIC-based investigators build independent research careers in areas like respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, cancer, and environmental health.

Early-career clinical and scientific investigators conducting innovative sarcoidosis research at U.S. institutions can receive US $150,000 over two years to build skills and advance patient care. With a mission to deepen understanding of sarcoidosis, Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research supports respiratory and immune disease projects; international applicants are welcome if hosted by a U.S. institution.

Biomedical research institutions and early-career or senior scientists conducting leprosy research can apply for US $87,500 - US $250,000 in funding, including projects based in California. The New York Community Trust’s Heiser Program supports work on diagnosis, transmission blocking, treatment development, and surveillance related to leprosy and associated skin and neurological conditions.

Biomedical and clinical research institutions in California conducting work on respiratory or related diseases can access funding through the National Institutes of Health for NHLBI-supported career transition awards. This K22 program supports NHLBI intramural postdoctoral fellows moving into extramural faculty roles, with a mentored intramural phase followed by independent research support at a new institution.

Early-stage pulmonary fibrosis researchers in the U.S., including those based in California, can apply for Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s PFF Scholars awards of US $100,000 over two years to support mentored basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, or health services research. Eligible applicants hold doctoral or professional degrees and junior academic appointments pursuing interstitial lung disease careers.

U.S. institutions with missions serving health disparity populations and training predoctoral or postdoctoral researchers in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, or sleep disorders can apply for National Institutes of Health T32 support. Programs in California working on respiratory or related rare disease research may be eligible to build diverse research training pipelines under this NOFO.

U.S. institutions with eligible biomedical, behavioral, or clinical science faculty can secure up to US $130,000 to support mentored career development toward research independence in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic diseases, and sleep disorders. The National Institutes of Health provides California rare disease and respiratory health researchers with funding to train diverse early-stage investigators under experienced mentors.

Health care professionals focused on respiratory diseases and systems in California may be eligible for the American Respiratory Care Foundation’s International Fellowship, which offers a structured U.S.-based observational program. Fellows visit multiple hospitals and educational programs, observe respiratory care in diverse settings, and attend the AARC Congress, with in-country lodging, food allowance, and local transportation covered.

Early-career respiratory care researchers focusing on pediatric respiratory therapy can receive up to US $5,000 to support their first research projects and professional development. Grants from American Respiratory Care Foundation help California rare and respiratory disease investigators fund mentoring, hands-on experience, and small equipment or supplies through the Smallwood Young Investigator Fellowship.

Nonprofit organizations conducting respiratory care or cardiopulmonary research in California can apply for the Jerome M. Sullivan Research Fund, offering up to US $10,000 to supplement other project support. Focused on respiratory diseases and systems, the American Respiratory Care Foundation requires meaningful involvement of respiratory therapists or technicians as principal or co-principal investigators.

Nonprofit organizations in California conducting respiratory care research can apply for the American Respiratory Care Foundation’s Parker B. Francis Respiratory Research Grant; awards up to US $10,000 to supplement other project funding. Projects must involve respiratory therapists or technicians in a meaningful way and may benefit programs addressing rare respiratory diseases.

Graduate students and other qualified investigators conducting respiratory care education or credentialing research can apply for grants from American Respiratory Care Foundation, including those in California. Awards up to US $5,000 support master’s theses, doctoral dissertations, or complete research proposals that advance respiratory diseases and systems knowledge, including rare respiratory conditions.

Researchers conducting university hospital studies in respiratory care and airway management can receive support for original research, including projects using bench, animal, or human models. Grants from American Respiratory Care Foundation help California respiratory diseases and systems investigators attend the AARC Congress with airfare, lodging, registration, and recognition for high-quality accepted abstracts.

Respiratory therapists pursuing advanced degrees, including those in California, can apply for postgraduate education funding from the American Respiratory Care Foundation. With a mission to promote respiratory health, the foundation provides up to US $5,000 plus travel, lodging, and AARC Congress registration to support continued study in respiratory care.

The C. Edward and Edith Strobel Charitable Trust Grant aims to support conservation and health-related initiatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established in 1968, this foundation honors the legacy of its founders, Carolus Edward and Edith McCammon Strobel, who tragically lost their lives in an accident. The trust primarily funds medical research for children's diseases and heart and lung health, along with various environmental and animal welfare projects.

Early-career research scientists in low- or middle-income countries with junior faculty appointments can apply for the Emerging Global Leader Award to support mentored health research and career development. This NIH program provides approximately US $140,000 over three to five years for projects addressing national health priorities, including respiratory and other diseases, potentially benefiting rare disease research in California-linked collaborations.

With a mission to advance nonmalignant hematology research, the National Institutes of Health provides California medical and research institutions with R01 funding for basic and early translational studies in blood and related systems. Projects on hematological mechanisms underlying conditions like respiratory, kidney, digestive, or sleep-related rare diseases may be eligible across multiple NIH institutes.

Small biomedical businesses developing heart, lung, blood, or sleep disorder technologies for rare diseases or young pediatric populations in California can seek up to US $3,500,000 for Phase IIB research and commercialization. With a mission to advance public health, National Institutes of Health supports later-stage SBIR projects needing federal regulatory approval and third-party investment partnerships.

Small business concerns developing heart, lung, blood, or sleep-related technologies that need federal regulatory approval can seek Phase IIB SBIR funding for later-stage R&D and commercialization, including work in California. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help bridge the gap after Phase II awards, with up to US $3,500,000 available for promising, clinically relevant products.

The Promotion of Doctoral Studies Scholarships, offered by the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research, provides a $7,500 annual scholarship for doctoral students completing coursework at accredited institutions. Applicants may receive up to $15,000 in pre-candidacy scholarships and a total of $45,000 throughout their doctoral program. The Foundation encourages research in areas such as acute care, cardiology, pulmonary health, and PT education, fostering a new generation of skilled researchers in physical therapy.

The T32 Training Program aims to enhance the participation of individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in cardiovascular, pulmonary, hematologic, and sleep disorders research. This initiative, funded by the NIH, supports institutions committed to diversity and health disparity populations. By providing training opportunities for students and postdoctoral trainees, the program seeks to foster research that improves health outcomes for these communities. Note that appointed trainees cannot lead independent clinical trials but can gain experience in trials conducted by mentors.

The EMF/Fisher and Paykel High Flow Therapy Research aims to explore the use of high flow therapy as a first-line respiratory support in emergency departments. This research seeks to assess the number of patients with acute respiratory failure who may benefit from this therapy, understand the characteristics of EMS services, and identify patient outcomes. By analyzing these factors, the study intends to enhance patient care and inform effective health policies in emergency medicine.

The Hope APFED/AAAAI Grant Award aims to support innovative research projects related to Eosinophilic Disorders, excluding asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. This initiative encourages collaboration between the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders, providing a platform for independent researchers to secure future funding. Applicants must be AAAAI members and hold relevant academic positions, ensuring a commitment to advancing knowledge in allergy and immunology.

The NHLBI Catalyze program aims to transition basic science discoveries into effective treatments for diseases under the NHLBI mission. This initiative supports early-stage product definition, prototype design, and assay development for HLBS disorders. The R61 phase focuses on initial designs and experimental setups, while the R33 phase extends support for prototype testing and user feedback. Successful completion prepares products for in vivo testing, enhancing health and societal outcomes with NIH and other support.

The IRSS RIFM Special Award for Inhalation Toxicology offers a $500 prize for trainees contributing to inhalation toxicology research. Sponsored by the Society of Toxicology, this award encourages innovative evaluations of inhaled toxicants, exposure science advancements, and risk assessment research. Applicants must submit a one-page summary of their work and a pending abstract for presentation at the SOT Annual Meeting, alongside a mentor's support letter. This award aims to promote excellence in the field.