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Fellowship Grant Award

Fellowship Grant Award

Application Deadline: January 31, 2026

Application Overview and Guidelines

Application Checklist
Your completed application must include all of the following:

  • Online Application via Open Water. All documents listed below will be uploaded into the Open Water application system.
  • Current CV including education, experience, degree, training, specialty or subspecialty board certifications, all publications, academic and professional honors, membership in professional societies.
  • Letter of Nomination from the Celiac Disease Unit Recognized Program Unit (CDURP) Director that outlines the applicant’s track record, aptitude, and institutional commitment to the research program.
  • NIH Biographical Sketches of the applicant, principal investigator, and sponsors. Format instructions: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm
  • One-Year Budget & Budget Justification for up to $16,000.
  • Training and Career Plan (up to 2 pages), including:
    • Personal Statement (½ page): Interest in a career as a gastroenterologist or researcher with expertise in celiac disease.
    • Proposed Fellowship Structure (1 page): Goals for the fellowship year; clinical and research training; role of mentors.
    • Career Development (½ page): Long-term plans in celiac disease and how this fellowship will facilitate them.

I. INTRODUCTION
The Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (SSCD) and the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF) are pleased to announce the SSCD-CDF Fellowship Grant Award, a competitive program designed to support the professional development of promising early-career researchers in celiac disease.

One fellow will be awarded a $16,000 grant to conduct a one-year mentored research fellowship at a CDURP center.

Fellows will:

  • Conduct a focused research project in celiac disease.
  • Gain mentored training in clinical, translational, or basic science research.
  • Submit work for presentation at a national/international meeting and prepare a manuscript for peer-reviewed publication.

II. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must:

  • Hold an M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree.
  • Be employed by or in training at a CDURP.
  • Demonstrate strong commitment to advancing celiac disease research and clinical care.

III. FUNDING & BUDGET POLICIES

  • The Fellowship Award provides $16,000 for a one-year period.
  • Funds must be used for research-related expenses (supplies, participant costs, travel for data collection or presentation).
  • Salary for trainee or mentor is not permitted.
  • No indirect costs are allowed.

IV. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
By the conclusion of the fellowship year, fellows must submit:

  • A scientific abstract and manuscript for presentation and publication.
  • A final progress report (2–3 pages) summarizing research activities, findings, and career development.
  • Budget reconciliation and report of expenditures.

V. APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS
Applications will be reviewed by the SSCD/CDF Research Committee.

Scoring criteria include:

  • Significance and innovation of the proposed research.
  • Feasibility and rigor of the one-year plan.
  • Applicant’s career potential and commitment to celiac disease research.
  • Strength of mentorship and institutional environment.
  • Quality of the nomination letter.

VI. PROJECT-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
Applicants must also address the following as part of the online application.

  1. Title of research proposal
  2. What is the specific research question or hypothesis?
  3. How does this project advance knowledge or care in celiac disease?
  4. What is novel or innovative about your approach?
  5. What resources at your CDURP support success (patient population, lab facilities, data sets, etc.)?
  6. What challenges do you anticipate and how will you address them?
  7. What is the timeline for milestones within the fellowship year?
  8. How will the work be disseminated (presentations, publications, community engagement)?
  9. How will the fellowship support your transition to the next stage of your career (e.g., NIH K award, faculty position)?

 

VII. APPLICATION PORTAL

Applications must be submitted through Open Water.

Link to Application