2026 NKF Young Investigator Research Grant Application

Welcome!

Please review the Instructions to Applicants for National Kidney Foundation Research Grants before completing this application.

All applications and supplementary materials are due by February 9, 2026.

Project Information

Title of Research Project

Please do not exceed 255 characters, including spaces.

This Project Proposal is:

NewA Renewal

Please describe in the space provided below, the relevance of the proposed project to the research agenda of the NKF, explaining, if appropriate, the specific research recommendation(s) from the KDOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines, Commentaries, or Controversies Reports that the proposal addresses. (A complete listing of KDOQI Research Recommendations is available here)

Please provide a short list of issues that the proposed research addresses:

About Applicant

Applicant's Highest Degree:

Citizenship or Visa Status

Degree Sought During Proposed Award:

(if applicable)

Expected Graduation Date:

Present Mailing Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

Postal Code

Country

Is your Permanent Address the same as your Present Address?

YesNo

Permanent Mailing Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

Postal Code

Country

Phone and Fax

Work Phone

Mobile Phone

Facilities

Indicate the facilities available for the applicant's use and briefly describe their capacities, relative proximity and extent of availability for applicant's use. Use "other" to describe the facilities at any alternate or secondary research sites or field study sites pertinent to the applicant's research.

Laboratory Space:

Major Equipment (pertinent to project):

Clinical Facilities:

Computer Capabilities:

Office Space:

Other (Provide any other information describing the environment for the project. Identify support services such as consultants, secretaries, etc., that are pertinent to the applicant's research and their availability to the applicant.):

Department Chairman's Letter of Commitment/Verification

Applicants for National Kidney Foundation research grants should attach a letter of commitment from the chairman of their department.

*All uploaded files must be in either PDF or Microsoft Word format

Department Chairperson's Letter

Applicant Biosketch

Upload Biosketch. Note: Upload the Biosketch (using the NIH Biosketch format as detailed in the Instruction to Applicants)

Thesis/Dissertation

Title(s) of Thesis/Dissertation(s)

Name of Dissertation Advisor or Chief of Service

First Name

Last Name

Advisor's Title

Advisor's Department

Advisor's Institution

Applications for Concurrent Support

Is this an application for concurrent support?

YesNo

List all pending support (training, research, supplies, travel, etc.) that would run concurrently with the period covered by this application whether or not you are the Principal Investigator. Include the type, date, source and amount.

Pending Support 1

Type

Source

Date From

Date To

Amount

Pending Support 2

Type

Source

Date From

Date To

Amount

Pending Support 3

Type

Source

Date From

Date To

Amount

Pending Support 4

Type

Source

Date From

Date To

Amount

Pending Support 5

Type

Source

Date From

Date To

Amount

Explain any potential budgetary and/or scientific overlap with the proposed NKF funding and the relationship between the project proposed and any other application for research support:

Time Commitment

Approximate percentage proposed time in activities identified below during period of NKF grant.

Research

%

Teaching

%

Clinical

%

Course Work

%

Total

%

Lay Summary (A brief (150 words) description of the research that the NKF Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Grant investigator proposes to undertake should be written as a summary for a lay audience. The summary should include a brief discussion of the proposed research and an indication of its potential benefits to the patient with kidney disease. Scientific jargon, abbreviations and complex discussions should be avoided.)

PART I: Research Proposal

Upload the research proposal using the format and page limits specified in the Instructions to Applicants

*All uploaded files must be in either PDF or Microsoft Word format

Research Proposal Upload

References

List the names and contact information of three individuals familiar with your scientific interests and abilities.

Download the Reference Form and ask each person to complete it and email it to: christine.persinger@kidney.org

Reference 1

Full Name

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Title

Institution

Department

Email

Reference 2

Full Name

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Title

Institution

Department

Email

Reference 3

Full Name

First Name

Middle Name

Last Name

Title

Institution

Department

Email

Career Development Plans and Statement of Eligibility

(to be completed by the Applicant)

Describe how an NKF research award will help the grantee to take steps towards an independent research career, rather than merely supplement funding from other agencies:

Signatures

The individuals signing below attest that:

research funded pursuant to this application will be conducted as described herein and
that institutional resources will be made available, as specified, to pursue this investigation. They agree to follow the terms and comply with the policies for the research funding mechanism for which funding is sought.

Note: By signing this application electronically, I certify the information provided is accurate, and the department head and fiscal officer have reviewed all information. I understand that an electronic signature has the same effect and can be enforced in the same way as a written signature.

Applicant's Signature

Date

Department/Division Head

First Name

Last Name

Fiscal Officer:

First Name

Last Name

Title of Fiscal Officer:

FINALIZE

Finalize Application

Acute Kidney Injury	Cardiology	CKD
Conservation Mgmt	Diabetes	Diabetes Educator
Dialysis	Electrolytes	Electrolytes
Endocrinology	Family Medicine	Gastroenterology
Geriatrics	Glomerulonephritis	Hemodialysis
Home Dialysis	Hypertension	Infectious Disease
Internal Medicine	Living Donation	Mineral Bone
Nephrology	OB/GYN	Other
Patient Care Technician	Pediatric	Peritoneal Dialysis
Polycystic Kidney	Pre-Dialysis Consultation	Pre-ESRD
Primary Care	Radiology	Research