IBRO Parenthood Grants

The IBRO Parenthood Grants program is an initiative administered by the International Brain Research Organization, a global federation of neuroscience organizations dedicated to advancing neuroscience research and education worldwide. The program is specifically designed to support early career researchers who are navigating the challenges associated with pregnancy, parental leave, or adoption. These life events often coincide with critical stages in scientific careers, where continuity of research output is essential for maintaining competitiveness. IBRO aims to mitigate the potential negative impact of such interruptions by providing targeted financial support to ensure that research projects can continue without disruption. The primary purpose of the grant is to sustain the momentum of scientific research led by early career principal investigators during periods when caregiving responsibilities may limit their capacity to conduct experiments or manage projects directly. The funding is intended to address gaps that arise due to reduced availability, enabling researchers to maintain productivity and progress in their work. This includes supporting ongoing experiments, data collection, and project management tasks that are critical to achieving research objectives within established timelines. Grant funds may be used for a range of research-related expenses. Eligible costs include laboratory reagents, facility usage fees, outsourcing of experiments or data acquisition services, and transportation of non-commercial scientific materials. In addition, the program allows for expenditures that support professional engagement and career development, such as travel to conferences, childcare expenses incurred during such travel, and costs associated with grant writing or consultation services. These flexible funding categories reflect the program’s goal of addressing both scientific and logistical challenges faced by parent researchers. Eligibility for the program is limited to early career principal investigators who have held their role for no more than seven years. Applicants must demonstrate an established research track record, including at least one peer-reviewed publication in which they served as corresponding author. The program also requires that applicants, or their partners, are currently pregnant, have recently given birth within four months prior to the application deadline, or are in the process of adopting and will assume primary caregiving responsibilities. Any previous career interruptions, such as earlier parental leave, are accepted but must be clearly justified within the application. The application process requires submission of a comprehensive set of materials. Applicants must provide personal and professional background information, a detailed research proposal outlining the project to be supported, a motivation and impact statement explaining how the funding will benefit their work, and a detailed budget. Additional required documents include a curriculum vitae, institutional confirmation of independent principal investigator status, and official documentation verifying pregnancy, birth, or adoption status. Applicants must also agree to the program’s terms and conditions as part of the submission. Applications are evaluated based on several criteria, including adherence to eligibility requirements, the applicant’s scientific credentials and publication record, the quality and feasibility of the proposed research, and the clarity of the justification for funding. Reviewers also assess the specificity and appropriateness of the requested budget. The program operates on a competitive basis, emphasizing both scientific excellence and the potential impact of the funding on the applicant’s research continuity. The grant cycle for this program is offered twice annually. For the current round, applications open on July 1, 2026 and close on August 15, 2026. Projects funded under the program must be completed within one year from the proposed start date, and a final report is required within three months after project completion. Funds are disbursed in two installments, with 80 percent provided prior to project initiation and the remaining 20 percent released upon submission of the final report. Applicants submit their materials through the IBRO Grants Portal, and inquiries can be directed to the IBRO programs team for support and clarification.

Clearly demonstrate impact of funding on research continuity and provide a detailed justified budget aligned with project goals