Open 2027 competition: Letter of Intent due November 12, 2026, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. amfAR’s Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research provide research grant funding to eligible nonprofit research institutions to support an exceptional postdoctoral fellow’s transition toward an independent career in biomedical HIV/AIDS research. Although eligibility is evaluated at the investigator level, amfAR awards the grant to the research institution; it is not a standalone stipend paid directly to an individual.
Individual institutional award: Phase 1 provides up to $180,000 total over two years, including up to 10% indirect costs, for projects beginning April 1, 2027 and ending March 31, 2029. A fellow who secures an independent research position at an eligible nonprofit institution may qualify for a separate, conditional Phase 2 award of up to $50,000, including up to 10% indirect costs, for a one-year period. Phase 2 may start during Phase 1 or no later than September 30, 2029. The combined possible award is not guaranteed; Phase 2 is subject to its own eligibility and later approval. A universal cash matching percentage is not published; the host institution must support the fellow’s training and career development.
Applicant eligibility: early-career researchers affiliated with nonprofit research institutions anywhere in the world. The candidate typically must hold a research or clinical doctorate completed between October 2020 and October 2023, subject to the funder’s rules on leave, service-related extensions or documented exceptions. The researcher must have a record of impactful peer-reviewed publication and research presentations, be positioned to secure independence by September 2029 and have an experienced eligible mentor at the same institution. At least 50% time and effort must be committed to the fellowship project; the proposed line of work must be independently distinguishable from the mentor’s research.
Research scope: biomedical investigation relevant to HIV prevention, treatment or cure. The current RFP expressly excludes epidemiological, behavioral or social-science, health-services, policy, and implementation-science studies. The award is aimed at individual investigator career development within eligible institutions rather than institutional general operating support. Researchers should not seek overlapping project-specific support from other fellowships or grants.
Two-stage application: submit the initial Letter of Intent in the amfAR Grants Portal by November 12, 2026, at 3 p.m. ET. Include the proposal, candidate career credentials, mentor information and required mentor letter of support. Budgets and reference letters are not requested at LOI stage; invited applicants provide the full application with the institutional signature, detailed budget and justification by January 11, 2027, at 3 p.m. ET. The funder anticipates sending invitations November 30, 2026. An informational webinar is scheduled October 29, 2026 at 3 p.m. ET.
Controlling sources verified October 26, 2026: amfAR 2027 Mathilde Krim Fellowship RFP and submission details and current applicant FAQs. The 2026–27 page specifies 10% indirect cost allowance, unlike an older closed cycle’s different terms. Applicants should verify all institutional eligibility, permitted budget lines, required supporting documents and final portal submission confirmation with amfAR. This is an institutional research grant, not a vendor procurement contract.