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Rationale

Many researchers and research institutions, including 501(c)(3) organizations, have faced unexpected grant terminations in 2025. When grants are frozen or withdrawn, meritorious projects face significant disruption.

The AAI RESTORE Grants Program is geared toward replacing some of these terminated or frozen funds for immunology-focused grants from NIH or other U.S. federal agencies. Supported NIH mechanisms will be R-, K-, or F-series grants (including K99/R00 and F99/K00 grants); DP2 and DP5 grants; and start-up funding for new PIs through the NIH FIRST Program. Terminated grants from other U.S. federal agencies under mechanisms similar to those listed for NIH will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

AAI encourages early-career researchers affected by funding cuts such as the NIH MOSAIC and FIRST programs to apply.

By offering this funding, AAI aims to:

• Provide temporary resources to immunologists in the face of abrupt unforeseen funding cancellation.
• Retain top scientific talent in the field.
• Help institutions and AAI members remain competitive for successful future applications for funding opportunities.
• Support vital immunology research.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

1. Be the Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI of an immunology-focused NIH R-, K-, or F-series grant (including K99/R00 and F99/K00 grants), or DP2 or DP5 grant, or a grant from NSF or another U.S. federal agency, that was awarded to an eligible institution (see below) AND was terminated in 2025 or 2026 due to non-scientific reasons. International PIs with terminated U.S. federal grants by these mechanisms will be considered, provided that their institution qualifies. New PIs whose start-up funding through the NIH FIRST Program was awarded to an eligible institution and was terminated in 2025 or 2026 are also eligible.*
2. Be an AAI member in good standing for at least two of the last three years (2024-2026) and at the time of application. (Member dues must have been paid in full for 2026 in order to apply.) The membership requirement can be satisfied by two or more years of regular membership OR a combination of trainee and regular membership years. How to check your membership status.**
3. Only one terminated or frozen grant per applicant will be considered for funding for each application cycle.
4. Previous RESTORE Grant recipients may apply for funding for another terminated/frozen federal grant but will be given lower priority vs. new applicants.

Members of the RESTORE Grants Review Group are not eligible to apply.

´¡â€¯recipient organization m³Ü²õ³Ù:

• If based in the U.S., be recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with public charity status or be a public institution.
• If based outside the U.S., demonstrate it would qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or that it is otherwise a public institution.

*Please reach out to awards@aai.org to inquire about grant mechanisms not listed here or under the FAQ tab.

**For student applicants with terminated NIH F-series grants, the two-year membership requirement may be fulfilled by two years of membership by the student applicant or their mentor.

Grant Conditions

• Program Budget: Up to $8 million in total for all RESTORE cycles
• Award Amount: Up to $100,000 per award
• Number of Awards: Dependent on amount per award
• Award Duration: Up to 12 months
• Award Payment Schedule: Paid in one installment at the start of the grant term
• Award Conditions:
  • AAI membership in good standing must be maintained for the duration of the award term.
  • If based in the U.S., the recipient institution must either be recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with public charity status or be a public institution. If based outside the U.S., the recipient institution must demonstrate it would qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or that it is otherwise a public institution.
  • Any publication, poster, or presentation describing research conducted under this program during the period of the award must cite support from AAI.
  • Institutions must verify at time of award that the federal grant funds have not been reinstated and agree to notify AAI immediately if reinstatement occurs after the award is given. If funding for the frozen or terminated grant is restored prior to the award being conferred, the AAI grant will not be awarded/activated.
  • If the funding for the frozen or terminated grant is restored during the AAI grant term, or if the recipient institution ceases to conduct the funded research for any reason, including departure of the PI from the institution, then the institution must alert AAI and return any unused AAI grant funds that remain at the time of federal grant restoration.
  • A final expenditure report describing actual expenses must be submitted within 60 days of the end of the grant term. Any unused funds must be returned to AAI.
  • The grant is non-transferable between individuals or institutions.
• Allowable Costs (must be addressed in institutional commitment letter):
  • Reasonable compensation for key personnel (e.g., postdocs, technicians)
  • Research supplies and resources, including core or animal facilities
  • Equipment repair/maintenance
• Unallowable Costs:
  • PI compensation
  • Indirect costs or overhead
  • Travel

Award Cycle

• Applications for a second RESTORE cycle will be accepted starting January 8, 2026, with an application deadline of February 5, 2026. If available funds remain, there will be a third application cycle shortly following the second cycle.
• Decisions on applications will be finalized by February 26.
• Grant agreements for applicants selected for funding will be sent to recipients for signature by March 13, 2026.
• Grant term will be March 15, 2026, to March 14, 2027.
• Funds will be provided on or as soon after March 15 as possible, depending on institutional verification that the federal grant remains frozen or terminated, and receipt by AAI of fully executed copies of grant agreements.

Review Process

AAI will not conduct a thorough scientific review but the RESTORE Grants Review Group will review the contents of the grant to ensure that it is immunology focused. All immunology-focused grants will be assessed based on the stated criteria.

FAQs

Q: Are frozen or terminated NIH Training (T) grants eligible for funding under the RESTORE program?

A: This program supports NIH R-, K-, or F-series grants (including K99/R00 and F00/K00 grants), or DP2 or DP5 grants, or a similar grant from NSF or another U.S. federal agency. New PIs whose start-up funding through the NIH FIRST Program was awarded to an eligible institution and was terminated in 2025 or 2026 are also eligible. T grants are not currently eligible.

Q: A copy of the federal grant termination notice is listed as a requirement for RESTORE application. All federal grants at my institution have been frozen in an institution-wide freeze but grant termination notices were not issued by NIH for each individual grant. Can I still apply without a termination notice and, if so, how should this be addressed in the application?

A: Yes, you can apply. In place of the grant termination notice, please provide an affidavit from your institution confirming that all grant funding has been frozen as of [effective date].

Q: I have more than one frozen or terminated federal grant. Can I submit a separate application for each grant?

A: Only one frozen or terminated NIH grant will be considered per applicant for each application cycle, so you will need to select which grant to submit for your single RESTORE application. Please know, however, that there is a section on the application Funding Confirmation Form on which you will report all federal grants for your laboratory which are terminated or frozen (Section C), so this will be considered for evaluation of financial need.

Q: My frozen federal grant is currently being subsidized by my university, but it is uncertain how long this may continue. Can I apply for RESTORE funding for this grant and, if so, how should this be addressed in the application?

A: Yes, you can apply. Please report this interim funding from your institution in the section on the application Funding Confirmation Form for institutional bridge funding (Section F). This section addresses funds which are intended to bridge funding gaps but are not renewable funding mechanisms. Please report as accurately as possible given the uncertain duration of the funding.

Q: I am not a member of AAI.  Can I join now to become eligible to apply for the RESTORE Grants Program?

A: This program is intended to assist current and active AAI members, requiring membership for at least two of the past three years and current membership at the time of application.  It is not possible for you to join now, or join and retroactively pay the past dues, to qualify for this program.

Q: I am a student with a terminated NIH F-series grant. While I am not a member of AAI, my mentor is and meets the two-year membership requirement. Can I apply?

A: For student applicants with terminated NIH F-series grants, the two-year membership requirement may be fulfilled by two years of membership by the student applicant or their mentor. Please know that the RESTORE application must be submitted by a current AAI member, so your mentor will need to submit the application on your behalf through their AAI member profile.

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