The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Research Fellowship Awards support post-doctoral individuals aiming to advance their research capabilities in the field of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This award is designed for researchers early in their careers, rather than those already well-established in IBD research. The program provides resources to help fellows gain experience in basic scientific investigation under the guidance of a senior research mentor.

Applicants must hold an MD and/or PhD or equivalent degree and be employed at a public non-profit, private non-profit, or government institution in the United States engaged in healthcare or health-related research. Citizenship is not a requirement, but applicants must have legal work status. MD applicants must have at least two years post-degree experience, including one year of IBD-relevant research, while PhD holders must demonstrate at least one year of post-doctoral IBD-relevant research. Applicants exceeding seven years (MD) or five years (PhD) post-terminal degree must justify the benefit of additional post-doctoral support for their career development.

The award is offered for one to three years, with a maximum annual award of $70,000, subject to approval based on yearly progress. Stipends are structured to match institutional salaries, up to $50,000 annually, with fringe benefits allowed up to 25% of salary (max $12,500). An additional $7,500 annually may be used for project-related non-salary expenses such as travel or professional memberships, but not for additional salary or fringe benefits. Awardees must commit at least 80% of their professional time to the funded research.

Proposals must be relevant to IBD and include a detailed training and mentoring plan. Only one application per applicant is allowed per cycle, and simultaneous submissions to other Foundation awards such as the Senior Research Award are prohibited. A specialized opportunity—the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation/NASPGHAN IBD Young Investigator Award—is available for one applicant annually whose work focuses on pediatric IBD. Applicants must indicate pediatric IBD relevance in their proposal submission to be considered.

Applications are submitted via Proposal Central, where applicants can find all instructions and policies. The Fall/Winter 2024 cycle included a Letter of Intent deadline of December 5, 2024, but this was later canceled. The Spring/Summer 2025 cycle has an online application deadline of February 13, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Review of applications will take place from April through May, with final decisions announced in October 2025. For submission questions, applicants may contact N'Dea Johnson at training_awards@crohnscolitisfoundation.org. Post-award management inquiries should be directed to postaward@crohnscolitisfoundation.org.