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 When grants are frozen or withdrawn, meritorious projects face significant disruption.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 federal agencies. Supported NIH mechanisms will be R- or K-series grants (including K99/R00 grants), and DP2 and DP5 grants. Terminated grants from other federal agencies under mechanisms similar to those listed for NIH will be considered on a case-by-case basis
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 Criteria
An applicant must:
- Be the Principal Investigator (PI) or co-PI of an immunology-focused NIH R- or K-series grant (including K99/R00 grants), or DP2 or DP5 grant, or a grant from NSF or another federal agency, that was awarded to a 501(c)(3) institution with public charity status or to a public institution AND was terminated in 2025 due to non-scientific reasons.
- Be an AAI member in good standing for at least two of the last three years (2023-2025) and at the time of application. (Member dues must have been paid in full for 2025 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.
- Reside in the U.S. and work at a qualifying U.S.-based research institution.
- Only one terminated or frozen grant per applicant will be considered for funding.
Members of the RESTORE Grants Review Group are not eligible to apply.
A recipient organization must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) institution with public charity status or a public institution.
Grant Funding and Conditions
Program Budget: Up to $8 million
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, with membership being maintained for the duration of the award term.
- 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.
- Any publication, poster, or presentation describing research conducted under this program during the period of the award must cite support from AAI.
- Institution 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 an institutional commitment letter):
- Reasonable compensation for key personnel other than PIs (e.g., postdocs, technicians)
- Research supplies and resources, including core or animal facilities
- Equipment repair/maintenance
Unallowable Costs:
- PI compensation
- Indirect costs or overhead
Application Components
- Online grant application form with applicant information
- Applicant’s NIH biosketch
- Institutional commitment letter to:
- affirm allowable costs
- commit to efficient processing of the grant agreement (for funding to begin October 1), and
- commit to alert AAI promptly to any changes in federal funding status for the frozen/terminated grant, or if the recipient institution ceases to conduct the funded research for any reason, including departure of the PI from the institution
- Specific Aims page from terminated federal grant
- Total grant amount awarded and budget from terminated federal grant
- Copy of the federal grant termination notice
- Funding confirmation form reporting current funding for (1) the research project supported by the terminated federal grant, and (2) the laboratory. See Funding Confirmation Form Instructions and download Funding Confirmation Form.
Award Cycle
- Applications will be accepted immediately upon program implementation with an application deadline of August 28, 2025.
- Decisions on applications will be finalized by September 15.
- Grant agreements for applicants selected for funding will be sent to recipients for signature by the end of September 2025.
- Grant term will be October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.
- Funds will be provided on or as soon after October 1 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.
AAI Policy Statements