Objective

The objective of the 2026 Pilot Research Awards is to provide funding to early career investigators for highly innovative projects that address novel and important questions related to liver transplantation and other RFP focus areas described below.

Advanced liver therapeutics encompass a broad range of cutting-edge interventions designed to treat, repair, or replace the liver in patients with end-stage or complex hepatic conditions. The focus of this RFP is innovative research that could ultimately lead to therapeutic advances in this area. Focus areas encompass liver transplantation (spanning clinical to experimental research approaches), stem cells, liver regeneration, advanced in vitro human models, and gene/cell-based therapies (see below for details).

Pilot Research Awards provide funding to Junior Faculty during the pilot phase of research projects focused on new areas of investigation, innovative ideas, or “high-risk, high-reward” projects that have the potential to generate breakthrough findings and significantly advance the field. Pilot projects should address key outstanding questions in basic, translational, or clinical research on the topics listed below.

Proposals do not require extensive preliminary data but need to articulate a clear, testable hypothesis and well-defined goals that are achievable within the award duration and amount. Funded projects are expected to result in the acquisition of key preliminary data that will enable early career recipients to successfully compete for research awards from NIH and other national sources to support larger studies in these innovative research areas.

ALF will accept applications focused on research areas listed below (please contact research@liverfoundation.org if you have questions about the topics under consideration for this award):

Liver transplantation (including clinical, translational, and experimental research such as xenotransplantation, donor organ optimization, ex vivo organ preservation and machine perfusion, graft engineering, ischemia reperfusion injury, immunomodulation and tolerance induction, and integration with gene- or cell-based therapies)
Stem cells and stem cell biology (including hepatic stem or progenitor cells, lineage specification and differentiation, and stem cell derived hepatocyte like cells)
Liver regeneration (including molecular and cellular mechanisms of regeneration, injury responses, and strategies to enhance endogenous liver repair)
Advanced in vitro human liver models (including organoids, engineered liver microenvironments, microphysiological systems, and bioartificial liver platforms)
Gene- and cell-based therapies for liver disease (including hepatocyte transplantation, engineered or genetically modified cells, and immune cell-based approaches)

Please direct all questions about Pilot Research Awards to the ALF Research Awards Program at research@liverfoundation.org.

Pilot Research Awards At-A-Glance:

Career Level: Junior Faculty

Award Type: Pilot Research Award

Research Topic: Liver transplantation, stem cells, liver regeneration, advanced in vitro models, and gene/cell-based therapies

Research Type: Basic, Translational, or Clinical Research

Funding Amount: $50,000

Award Duration: 1 year

Mandatory Letter of Intent Deadline: April 10, 2026

Application Deadline: May 15, 2026

Mandatory Letter of Intent (LOI)

A Letter of Intent is required to apply for funding. The Letter of Intent must be prepared using the fillable LOI PDF template form provided by ALF. Download the LOI template form and submit the completed form via email no later than April 10, 2026 to:

Helene Jordan, PhD

American Liver Foundation

National Senior Director, Research Program Management

research@liverfoundation.org

Please contact research@liverfoundation.org if you need assistance.

How to Apply for a Pilot Research Award

1. Download the 2026 Pilot Research Award Application Guidelines for details on eligibility and required application materials

2. Download the LOI template form and submit the mandatory Letter of Intent via email by April 10, 2026 (see Application Guidelines for details)

3. Applicants who submitted a Letter of Intent will be contacted directly by April 15, 2026 at the latest with detailed instructions on how to submit their application.

4. The application submission deadline is May 15, 2026.

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Last updated on March 13th, 2026 at 03:49 pm