The Litwin IBD Pioneers initiative, previously known as the Broad Medical Research Program, is a funding opportunity from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation that supports innovative clinical and translational research aimed at improving treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. The initiative focuses on pioneering, high-impact ideas that may lead to diagnostic or therapeutic advances in the near future. It seeks to enable investigators to explore novel concepts, gather preliminary data, and conduct pilot studies that could lead to more extensive research efforts.

This program encourages submissions from both established and new investigators, including those from fields not traditionally associated with IBD. International applicants are welcome, and there are no geographical restrictions on the location of the research institution or site. The applicant institution must be a nonprofit or charitable organization, such as a university, hospital, or research entity. Principal Investigators (PIs) must hold faculty appointments, and the institution must confirm the applicant’s eligibility to serve as PI. Only one PI is allowed per application, and only one submission per applicant is permitted per cycle. Simultaneous submission of the same proposal to other Crohn's & Colitis Foundation award mechanisms is not allowed.

The Litwin IBD Pioneers program operates on a two-phase application process. The first step is submission of a Letter of Interest (LOI) via Proposal Central. Applicants receive a decision within four to six weeks. If the LOI is accepted, they are invited to submit a full proposal. If the review decision on the LOI is delayed beyond the full proposal deadline, the proposal will roll into the next review cycle. The submission portal for the Spring/Summer 2025 cycle opens on October 23, 2024, with the LOI due by December 5, 2024, at 11:59 pm EST. Full applications are due by February 13, 2025. Reviews occur in April through May, and decisions are announced in October. The Fall/Winter 2024 cycle has been cancelled.

Grants are awarded for a one-year period but may be renewed for a second year upon satisfactory performance and competitive reapplication. Continuation funding is contingent on achievement of Year 1 milestones and is subject to full peer review. Year Two renewal applications are due March 1, 2025. Budgets must be aligned with the scope of work. Clinical trial projects may request up to $130,000 per year, including a maximum of 10 percent indirect costs, while laboratory-based projects are limited to $110,000 per year, also including 10 percent indirect costs. All necessary expenses for the research, such as personnel, equipment, and travel, may be included in the budget.

Proposals will be evaluated based on their scientific merit, degree of innovation, and relevance to IBD diagnosis, treatment, or prevention. Priority is given to proposals with strong potential for clinical application and those involving patients or patient-derived materials. Applicants interested in submitting a proposal must contact Saleha Hossain at litwinrenewals@crohnscolitisfoundation.org to request an invitation to the submission portal. Questions regarding submissions can be directed to litwinprograms@crohnscolitisfoundation.org, and post-award inquiries should be sent to postaward@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.