Grants & Sponsorships

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):

  • Current challenges to initiating or switching long-term prophylactic (LTP) treatment for HAE
  • Benefits of LTP treatment for HAE and defining the ongoing unmet need in the emerging landscape
  • Identification of patients with suboptimal HAE disease control and use of standardized measures to define disease severity and control
  • Investigational drugs in late-stage development for long-term prophy-laxis of HAE with a focus on differentiation of underlying targets, mechanisms of action and clinical profiles
  • Barriers and drivers to achieving guideline recommendation of control-ling HAE attacks, including breakthrough attacks, with next generation LTP therapies

Severe Hypertriglyceridemia including genetic conditions such as Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome:

  • Risk and prevention of acute pancreatitis associated with severely elevated triglycerides.
  • Diagnosis and pathophysiology of FCS.
  • Disease burden, unmet patient need, and management of FCS.
  • Disease burden, unmet patient need, and challenges in treating sHTG.
  • Treatments in development for sHTG.

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.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the Ionis IME Grant program, please email MAGrants@ionis.com.

For Technical Support with the Ionis Grant Portal, please contact SteepRock Client Services via email at Support@SteepRockInc.com or phone at +1 (718) 576-1406 (M-F 8am – 6pm US ET).

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 v4 02/2025

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 research conceived, initiated, and conducted independently of Ionis. An external investigator serves as the sponsor, and with their institution, 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, alignment with our research areas of interest, and availability of resources. Submission of a proposal does not guarantee Ionis' support.

Research Areas of Interest

Cardiovascular/Metabolic

  • Disease State
    • Burden of sHTG and unmet treatment need
    • Guidance from clinical community on TG monitoring
    • Exploring the effects of sHTG and ApoC-3 on the cardiovascular and endocrine systems
    • Identification and evaluation of risk factors for acute pancreatitis (AP) in people with sHTG
    • The role of ApoC-3 in AP pathogenesis and its treatment
  • Olezarsen Related Research
    • RWE of olezarsen in various populations
    • Evaluating pharmacodynamics timing of fasting ApoC-3 and TGs with olezarsen

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

How to submit an IIR grant application:

Please submit grant proposal applications through our online Ionis Research Grants portal by clicking here: Apply Now. If a proposal is of interest, a request for full protocol submission and detailed budget will be issued to enable final review.

The IIR proposal application will request the following details for submission:

  • Research Study Title
  • Background, Clinical Significance, and Rationale
  • Specific Aims/Objectives
  • Study Design
  • Study Endpoints (Specify Primary, Secondary, and Exploratory)
  • Safety Consideration
  • Statistical Methodology
  • Estimated Study Duration
  • Potential Pitfalls and Contingencies
  • References
  • Estimated Total Study Budget
  • Publication Plan
  • Investigator’s CV and Medical License

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding the Ionis IIR Grant program, please email MAGrants@ionis.com.

For Technical Support with the Ionis IIR Portal, please contact SteepRock Client Services via email at Support@SteepRockInc.com or phone at +1 (718) 576-1406 (M-F 8am – 6pm US ET).

MED-US--2300825 v5 6/2025

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
  • Investigator must be either a United States citizen, in possession of a current student visa or a permanent alien resident, specifically:
    • US Citizen
    • Green Card - permanent residency visa – unlimited duration, can lead to US Citizenship
    • H1B Visa - the primary US Work Visa for professionals & students from all over the world or in the USA, who work in specialty occupations. Valid up to 6 years, dual intent visa (can apply for Green Card)
    • E3 Visa - similar to the H1B but is available to Australian Citizens only
    • TN1 Visa - similar to the H1B but is available to Canadian & Mexican Citizens only
    • J1 Visa (must be valid until January 2028)

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 ionisgrants@ionis.com 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

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Ionis Medical Affairs at ionisgrants@ionis.com.

MED-US-AS-2600001 v1 01/2026

What Is the lonis Cardiometabolic Young Investigator Grant? 

lonis Pharmaceuticals, a pioneer in RNA therapeutics, is pleased to announce the Cardiometabolic (CM) Young Investigator Grant (YIG). This grant was created in 2023 by the CM Division within Medical Affairs to advance high-quality research in the field of severe hypertriglyceridemia. lonis values supporting and developing clinicians and scientists who will positively influence the field and advance new research for years to come.

Who is eligible?

The lonis CM YIG provides research grants to residents, fellows, and junior faculty who are at eligible academic or non-profit institutions and submit innovative research proposals in the areas of translational, clinical, or applied research. The lonis CM YIG encourages early-career investigators who are engaged in innovative research on the topic of severe hypertriglyceridemia to apply for the following categories:

  • Clinical investigations
  • Basic and/or Translational Science
  • Outcomes Research (and/or Electronic Medical Record-Related Research)

The goal of the research application should focus on understanding the effects of chylomicron and/or triglyceride elevations on cardiovascular and/or metabolic disease. Specifically, the grant will support residents, fellows, and/or junior faculty to promote quality research and contribute to the development of future researchers and clinicians.

Overview

This grant is awarded by an independent review committee on a competitive basis for a maximum of two academic years, with the first year guaranteed and the second year contingent upon approval of submission demonstrating progress towards the pre-stated research objectives and ongoing research.

Deadlines and Important Dates 

  • Application Deadline – June 15, 2026

Late submissions or incomplete applications will not be considered.

  • Award Notification – July 15, 2026

Grant recipients and their affiliated institutions will receive grant award notifications.

  • Acceptance Deadline – September 14, 2026

Grant acceptance must be signed by the investigator, mentor, and institution and be returned to Ionis to receive grant funds.

Grant Funds

  • The CRM YIG will be paid directly to the grantee’s institution
  • The 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
  • The grant may be transferred to another investigator, if needed, upon renewal for the second year after approval from lonis (e.g., after completion of a one-year fellowship).
  • The grant may only be used as described in the granted proposal submission.
  • The institution is not limited in the amount of additional support it may provide to the investigator.
  • Submissions duplicative of other research, prior submissions of investigator-initiated research, or projects focused on competitor products are not eligible.

Applicant Eligibility and Qualifications

  • Mentors may submit the application on behalf of the investigator if one has not yet been selected; this will allow the institution to know in advance if funding has been secured to support a fellowship position.
  • The investigator must hold a doctorate degree during the grant period.
  • The investigator may not be more than 3 years removed from post-doctoral research experience.
  • Investigators working full-time and currently in training are eligible to apply.
  • Applicants with existing tenure-track research positions or senior faculty appointments are ineligible.
  • Applicants employed or affiliated with a government institution are ineligible.
  • The investigator must be a United States citizen, in possession of a current student visa, or a permanent alien resident, specifically:
    • US Citizen
    • Green Card - permanent residency visa – unlimited duration, can lead to US Citizenship
    • H1B Visa - the primary US Work Visa for professionals & students from all over the world or in the USA, who work in specialty occupations. Valid up to 6 years, dual intent visa (can apply for Green Card)
    • E3 Visa - similar to the H1B but is available to Australian Citizens only
    • TN1 Visa - similar to the H1B but is available to Canadian & Mexican Citizens only
    • J1 Visa (must be valid until January 2027)

Program Requirements

  • Funded research must be conducted in an academic or non-profit institution.
  • The 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 without approval by Ionis in the event the original institution and investigator dissolve their association.
  • lonis Medical Affairs must be notified immediately in writing, with appropriate justification, if the sponsoring institution anticipates any delay in the project 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 ionisgrants@ionis.com 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 and/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

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Ionis Medical Affairs at ionisgrants@ionis.com.

MED-US-2300913 v4 01/2026

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.

Sponsorship Portal

To submit a sponsorship application, please visit the request portal ionis.medcompli.com.