Grants & Sponsorships
Learn more about each of the different grant programs with Ionis, qualifications and requirements for each, and deadlines for submissions
Ionis recognizes the importance of Independent Medical Education (IME) and is committed to supporting programs that seek to advance clinical care. Ionis supports targeted high-quality accredited and non-accredited medical education programs to advance excellence in healthcare by improving disease awareness, clinical knowledge, and multidisciplinary management within our therapeutic areas of focus.
IME is defined as education that is evidence-based, fair-balanced, unbiased, and independent of industry influence. Therefore, all aspects related to IME including but not limited to the agenda, content, and faculty, must remain fully independent and be under the sole control of the activity organizers. Ionis will not provide any guidance to the IME provider. All accredited programs must follow the standards set forth in the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.
FUNDING PRIORITIES:
Requests with multiple potential supporters are preferred. Due to the number of requests received not all submitted requests will be approved or approved at the amount requested. Ionis will consider funding requests in the following therapeutic areas of focus for medical educational programs in the United States:
Areas of Focus
We are accepting grant applications for medical education programs within the United States for the following therapeutic areas:
Hereditary angioedema (HAE):
- Unmet needs of patients living with HAE and how to routinely assess and define disease control
- Current treatment challenges related to long-term prophylaxis for HAE, including treatment attributes most important to patients and the role of shared decision making in evaluating treatment goals and options in an evolving therapeutic landscape
- Barriers to acceptance of long-term prophylaxis and the benefits of preventative vs acute therapy
- Highlight the benefits of long-term prophylaxis in the management of HAE and un-derstanding the importance of optimizing and individualizing therapy selection to reduce HAE attacks and improve QoL while meeting patient's desired attributes for treatment
- New therapies in long-term prophylaxis of HAE with a focus on addressing patient's desired treatment attributes that have been identified and emerging therapeutic approaches in HAE long-term prophylaxis
Severe Hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG):
- Risk and prevention of acute pancreatitis associated with severely elevated triglycerides
- Diagnosis, pathophysiology and clinical management
- Disease burden and unmet patient need
GRANT SUBMISSION PROCESS:
All IME grant request applications must be submitted through our online Ionis Medical Grants portal by clicking here: Apply Now. Please note that the Grant requests must be submitted at least 60 calendar days prior to the program/event start date.
The following elements will be required when submitting the online grant request application. The submitter will be able to save their work and continue at another time. In addition to the required fields on our application form, the submitter will have the opportunity to upload PDF documents of additional information which may be relevant or taken into consideration.
- Requesting Organization
- Program Title
- Program Description
- Needs Assessment
- Needs Assessment References
- Program Learning Objectives
- Information if program has been held previously
- Designation if program is affiliated with a congress
- Partner Organization Information
- Funding decision needed by date
- Program Start Date
- Program End Date
- Total Number of Activities Planned
- Activity Type (Live in Person, Live Virtual, Hybrid, Enduring)
- Activity Location
- Number of Speakers/Faculty Members
- Geographic Reach
- Activity Target Audience
- Expected Number of Attendees
- Expected Audience Information
- Audience Generation Tactics
- Activity Start/End Dates
- Accrediting Bodies and Number of Credit Hours
- Outcome Measures
- Detailed Budget
- Amount Requested from Ionis
Please note that the recipient of the grant must be an appropriate organization such as a hospital, university, school of medicine, nursing, or pharmacy, a professional society or association, a medical education communication company, or other institution specializing in specific healthcare-related disciplines (e.g., public health, quality improvement). Ionis does not support IME grant requests from healthcare providers, including individual physicians, private practice groups, group purchasing organizations, managed care organizations, preferred provider organizations, or similar institutions.
Note regarding grants in the ATTR therapeutic area
Global and United States IME grants requests for amyloid transthyretin cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) and amyloid transthyretin polyneuropathy (ATTR-PM) will now be submitted to and reviewed by our global development and commercialization partner AstraZeneca. Please visit www.astrazenecagrants.com to review the application procedure and/or to submit.
MED-US—2300828 v7 07/2026
Overview
As a part of our commitment to discover, develop, and deliver medicines to the patients who depend on us, we believe in supporting investigator-initiated research (IIR) to advance medical and scientific knowledge in our research areas of interest.
We define IIR as unsolicited independent scientific or medical research conceived, initiated, and conducted independently of Ionis. An external investigator, together with their institution, serves as the sponsor, and is wholly responsible for the design, implementation, conduct of the research, data collection, data interpretation, publication, and all compliance, quality, and regulatory requirements.
IIR proposals are evaluated on scientific merit of the research, alignment with our research areas of interest, and availability of resources. Proposal must be scientifically rigorous, ethically conducted, and aimed at advancing patient care and medical knowledge.
Any support provided by Ionis for IIR is independent of and is not in any way conditioned on or related to, past, present, or future prescribing, purchasing, or recommending of Ionis products. Submission of a proposal does not guarantee Ionis' support.
Research Areas of Interest
Cardiovascular/Metabolic
- Disease State
- Burden of severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) and unmet treatment need
- Impact of sHTG and AP on patient quality of life (QoL)
- Guidance from clinical community on triglyceride (TG) monitoring
- Exploring the effects of sHTG and ApoC-3 on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems
- The role of ApoC-3 in AP pathogenesis and its treatment
- Implementation Projects
- Patterns of treatment initiation and management of sHTG in large health systems
- Health care disparities related to TG management
- Utilization and barriers to care with registered dietitians in sHTG
- Olezarsen Related Research
- Real world evidence (RWE) of olezarsen in various populations
- Evaluating pharmacodynamics timing of fasting ApoC-3 and TGs with olezarsen
- Health economic impact of treatment with olezarsen in sHTG
- Observational Research and Clinical Experience (Real-World Evidence)
- Observational research that generates meaningful real-world evidence from clinical practice. This includes non-interventional studies, registry or database analyses, natural history research, and patient-reported outcomes.
- Proposals exploring clinical experience in patients with significant comorbidities or complex disease characteristics are also encouraged, including structured case series that provide scientifically valuable insights.
Pulmonary & Allergy
Hereditary Angioedema (HAE)
- Disease State
- Burden of hereditary angioedema and unmet treatment needs
- HAE patient and clinical experience
- Improved diagnosis of HAE and additional biomarkers
- Donidalorsen Related Research
- Special patient populations in the treatment of HAE
- Effects on contact system regulation and immunoregulation
- Feasibility/proof of concept studies for use of donidalorsen in other disease states
- Real-world effectiveness and evidence
Neurology
Alexander diseae (AxD)
- Disease State
- Improved diagnosis of AxD across all age groups, including identification of misdiagnosis in other disorders
- Accelerating patient and clinician recognition and diagnosis of AxD
- Identification of diagnostic and disease progression biomarkers
- Predictors of disease severity and progression
- Impact of disease on caregiver quality of life (QoL)
Angelman syndrome (AS)
- Disease State
- Improved early and accurate diagnosis of patients
- Characterization of the disease across different age groups and genetic subtypes
- Understanding the burden of limited expressive communication
- Characterize various modes of expressive communication (such as non-verbal gestural or use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication [AAC])
- Understanding the relationship between functional and foundational domains within development
How to submit an IIR grant application:
How to submit an IIR grant application: If you are interested in submitting a research concept, please contact [email protected]. We will provide further information and guidance on next steps.
MED-US-2300825 v9 8/2026
What is the Neurology Ionis Young Investigator Grant (YIG)?
Ionis Pharmaceuticals is pleased to announce the Ionis Neurology Young Investigator Grant (YIG). This grant was established by the Neurology division within Medical Affairs to recognize early-career investigators conducting high-quality research on Angelman Syndrome. Ionis values developing clinicians and scientists who will influence the field and support new research for years to come.
Who is eligible?
The Ionis Neurology YIG provides research funding to fellows at eligible academic or non-profit institutions who submit innovative proposals in translational, clinical, or applied research. The Ionis Neurology YIG encourages early-stage investigators with strong potential who are engaged in cutting-edge research on Angelman syndrome to apply.
The research should advance understanding of Angelman Syndrome, facilitate early diagnosis, characterize disease across age groups and genetic subtypes, identify undiagnosed/misdiagnosed patients, and/or improve patient care.
Specifically, the grant will annually support two fellows, residents, or junior faculty to advance high-quality research and develop future researchers and clinicians.
Overview
This grant is awarded by a review committee on a competitive basis for a maximum of two academic years, with the first year guaranteed and the second year contingent on approval of a progress submission demonstrating progress towards the pre-stated research objectives and ongoing research.
Deadlines and important dates based on grant program approval
- Application deadline – 11:59 PM PST on Friday, May 29, 2026
Late submissions or incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Award notification – Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Grant recipients and their affiliated institutions receive grant notification.
- Acceptance of contract – 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, September 30, 2026
Grant acceptance must be signed by the investigator, mentor, and institution and returned to receive grant funds. Failure to accept grant funds by this date will result in forfeiture of the award.
Neurology Young Investigator Grant funds
- The Neurology Young Investigator Grant will be paid directly to the grantee’s institution
- Grant will be funded in the amount of $50,000 per year and may be renewable for a second year at the same level, provided sufficient progress has been made towards the research objectives, and with approval of a progress submission demonstrating progress and ongoing research
- The grant may be transferred to another investigator if needed upon renewal for the second year after approval from Ionis (ex. after completion of a 1-year fellowship)
- Grant may only be used as described in the granted proposal submission
- Institution is not limited in the amount of additional support it may provide the investigator
- Submissions duplicative of other research, prior submissions of Investigator sponsored studies, or projects focused on competitor products are not eligible for the Neurology Young Investigator Grant Program
Applicant eligibility and qualifications
- Mentors may submit the application on behalf of the investigator if not yet selected; this will allow the institution to know if funding has been secured to support a fellowship position in advance
- Investigator must hold a doctoral degree during the grant period
- Investigator may not have more than 4 years of post-doctoral research experience at the time of the application deadline
- Investigators working full-time and currently in training are eligible to apply, including residents
- Applicants with existing tenure-track research positions or senior faculty appointments are ineligible
Neurology Young Investigator program requirements
- Funded research must be conducted in an academic or non-profit institution
- Grant should broaden the postdoctoral research experience of the young investigator and not be used for further support of preexisting and extensive postdoctoral research training
- Funded research must be conducted under the supervision of an experienced mentor at the sponsoring institution
- Proposed research must have anticipated completion timeline of 2 years or less
- The grant cannot be transferred to an alternate investigator or institution in the event the original institution and investigator dissolve their association without approval by Ionis
- Ionis Medical Affairs must be notified, in writing with appropriate justification, immediately if the sponsoring institution anticipates any delay of the term
- Expected Outcomes: submission of data for external presentation and/or publication within 2 years of initial funding
Application materials
The following must be submitted via email to [email protected] to apply:
1. Grant Request Letter
Must be on institutional letterhead, written and signed by the Department Chair, Division Chief or Training Program Director and include:
- Academic term dates for investigator’s current position if applicable (e.g., July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028)
- Statement of:
- Mentor’s qualifications to supervise and train the investigator
- Scientific prowess of the institution
- Institutional commitment to advancing the care of patients with cardiology or metabolic disease
2. Current curriculum vitae or NIH biosketch
- Mentor (required)
- Investigator (required if known)
3. Research proposal (preferably not to exceed 5 pages) to include:
- Introduction, research objectives and rationale
- Background and significance
- Specific area of research
- Preliminary data (if available)
- Design and methods (including statistical analyses)
- Patient population
- Investigator’s role in design and execution of research proposal
- Detailed budget, including other funding sources (if applicable)
- References
4. Letter of support from mentor
- Detail the eligibility, scientific skills, and background of the investigator and how the grant would be beneficial for the development of this young investigator
OR, if investigator not yet identified,
- Describe the selection process for identifying an investigator to complete the funded research and how the grant would be beneficial at his/her institution for developing a young investigator
5. Formal brochure/overview of training program or department
MED-US-AS-2600001 v1 01/2026
Application Update
The application period for this year’s Ionis CM Young Investigator Grant (YIG) has concluded. We encourage interested investigators to visit this page again in the first week of January 2027, when details for the next grant cycle will be available.
MED-US-OLZ-2600038 v1 2/2026
Ionis Patient Advocacy Organization Support Overview
Ionis is committed to partnering with patient advocacy organizations (PAOs) to understand patient needs, advance disease education, and raise awareness of the lived experience of individuals and families affected by serious and rare diseases. Through ethical, transparent, and independent collaborations, Ionis supports programs that make a positive impact in patient communities. All support is provided only to qualified not-for-profit organizations, and additional eligibility requirements may apply. Ionis prioritizes independent initiatives that empower PAOs to deliver meaningful, sustainable impact while maintaining their autonomy and trusted roles within the communities they serve.
Funding Types
Sponsorship Request
Financial support to a qualifying non-profit organization (such as a PAO) in support of a specific meeting, program, activity, or event. The sponsorship opportunity, including tiers and associated benefits, must not be unique to Ionis and should be equally available to other companies. Ionis may receive reasonable, customary recognition in return for sponsorship (for example, acknowledgment in materials, signage, or exhibit space), consistent with applicable laws and Ionis policies.
Independent Charitable Patient Assistance Program (PAP) Request
Independent Charity Patient Assistance Programs (Independent Charity PAPs) are independent, non-profit, charitable organizations operating in the United States that provide eligible individuals with financial assistance to help with out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Ionis does not receive any promotional or other tangible commercial benefit in return for this type of funding.
Focus Areas
Ionis supports patient advocacy organizations in the following areas (not exhaustive):
- Patient & Caregiver Education Supporting educational programs and resources that increase disease awareness, improve understanding of diagnosis, and help individuals navigate care.
- Community Resources & Peer Support Enabling initiatives that foster connection among patients, caregivers, and families through both in-person and digital engagement opportunities.
- Patient Insights & Engagement Collaborating on independent, patient-driven research, advisory boards, and listening initiatives that deepen understanding of the lived patient experience.
- Disease Awareness & Public Education Promoting broader understanding of rare and serious diseases through awareness campaigns, public education, and community-focused outreach.