IBRO Parenthood Grants 2026: Funding for Early-Career Principal Investigators Worldwide

The International Brain Research Organization is accepting applications for the IBRO Parenthood Grants 2026, a funding program designed to help early-career principal investigators maintain continuity in their scientific research while approaching or experiencing parental leave.

Pregnancy, childbirth, parental leave and adoption can occur during an important stage of a researcher’s professional career. During this period, researchers may face challenges in continuing experiments, producing research results, publishing papers and obtaining new grants.

The IBRO Parenthood Grant seeks to address these challenges by providing financial support for research-related expenses. The program aims to help eligible researchers continue their scientific projects while managing pregnancy, recent childbirth, adoption or primary caregiving responsibilities.

Applications for the second 2026 round opened on 1 July 2026 and will close on 15 August 2026.

Key Information About the IBRO Parenthood Grants 2026

• Program name: IBRO Parenthood Grants
• Application status: Open
• Applications open: 1 July 2026
• Application deadline: 15 August 2026
• Open to: International applicants
• Maximum project duration: One year
• Maximum grant amount: Varies according to the applicant’s region
• Next application round: February 2027

Applications must be submitted through the IBRO Grants Portal using the application link available on the official opportunity page during the application period.

About the IBRO Parenthood Grants Program

Pregnancy, parental leave and adoption leave often coincide with a busy and important period in a researcher’s professional life.

Researchers may experience difficulties in maintaining continuity in their work during this period. Such challenges can affect the production of research results, publication of scientific papers and ability to obtain further grant funding.

A temporary reduction in research activity may also create the perception that a researcher has become less competitive, particularly when professional progress is measured through research outputs, publications and grants.

The IBRO Parenthood Grant aims to counter this potential disadvantage by supporting early-career researchers who are approaching parental leave or experiencing circumstances related to pregnancy, childbirth or adoption.

The funding can be used for approved research-related expenses that contribute to the continuation of the applicant’s scientific project.

What Expenses Can Be Covered?

The IBRO Parenthood Grant can be used to cover a range of research-related and professional expenses.

According to the official program information, eligible expenses may include:

• Research reagents
• Research facility costs
• Outsourcing of experiments
• Data acquisition
• Transportation of non-commercial research samples
• Transportation of non-commercial reagents
• Travel expenses for attending a conference
• Childcare expenses related to conference attendance
• Grant-writing services
• Consultation services

Applicants must provide a detailed budget breakdown identifying the items or services for which IBRO funding is requested.

Who Can Apply for the IBRO Parenthood Grants?

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements stated in the official call.

Early-Career Principal Investigator Requirement

Applicants must be early-career principal investigators.

They must have held the role of principal investigator for a maximum of seven years.

Applicants are required to provide a signed and dated letter from their affiliated institution confirming their independent principal investigator status.

Consideration of Previous Research Breaks

Extended breaks from research may be accepted when determining an applicant’s eligibility.

Such breaks may include previous maternity leave or adoption leave. Any relevant extended research break must be explained and justified in the application.

Publication Requirement

Applicants must have at least one published, peer-reviewed paper in which they have served at least as the corresponding author.

Pregnancy, Birth or Adoption Requirement

The applicant or the applicant’s partner must meet at least one of the following conditions:

1. Be pregnant for at least four months;
2. Have given birth within the four months before the grant application deadline; or
3. Be close to adoption, with the applicant assuming the role of primary caregiver.

Applicants must also provide an official letter confirming the relevant pregnancy, birth or adoption circumstances.

Maximum Grant Amounts by Region

The maximum grant amount that an applicant may request depends on the region in which the applicant resides.

The maximum amounts specified by the respective IBRO Regional Committees are:

• Africa: USD 3,000
• Asia-Pacific: USD 2,000
• Latin America: USD 2,500
• Pan-Europe: USD 4,000
• United States and Canada: USD 3,000

Applicants should prepare their requested budget within the maximum amount applicable to their region.

Project Duration

The proposed project must be completed within a maximum period of one year from the proposed project start date.

The research proposal submitted with the application should therefore describe the project for which IBRO support is requested and explain how the proposed work will be completed within the required period.

Grant Reporting Requirement

Successful applicants will be required to submit a grant report after completing the proposed project.

The required report must be submitted no later than three months following the conclusion of the project.

The remaining portion of the approved grant will be processed after the project has been completed and the required grant report has been submitted.

Grant Payment Structure

IBRO will transfer the approved funding according to an 80:20 payment arrangement.

Under this arrangement:

• 80 percent of the approved grant will be awarded two months before the proposed project start date.
• The remaining 20 percent will be processed after the project has been completed and the required grant report has been submitted.

Available Payment Account Options

The grant funds may be transferred to:

• A bank account in the grantee’s name;
• An account belonging to the grantee’s institution; or
• An account belonging to another person directly involved with the grant, such as the applicant’s departmental chair.

IBRO may consider exceptions depending on the individual circumstances.

Information Required in the Application

The IBRO Parenthood Grants application form asks applicants to provide the following information and supporting documents.

1. Applicant Details

Applicants must provide a brief description of their academic background and current research focus.

2. Grants Received

Applicants must provide a list of grants they have previously received, including any grants previously awarded by IBRO.

3. Research Proposal

Applicants must submit a detailed description of the research project for which they are requesting IBRO support.

4. Motivation and Impact Statement

Applicants must provide a comprehensive explanation of:

• Their motivation for applying for the program; and
• The impact that the requested funding will have on their research project and laboratory.

5. Budget Request

Applicants must provide a detailed budget breakdown specifying the proposed items or services to be funded through the IBRO grant.

6. Curriculum Vitae

A copy of the applicant’s current curriculum vitae must be submitted with the application.

7. Confirmation of Independent Principal Investigator Status

Applicants must provide a signed and dated letter from their affiliated institution confirming that they hold an independent principal investigator role.

8. Confirmation of Pregnancy, Birth or Adoption

Applicants must submit an official letter confirming the applicable pregnancy, birth or adoption circumstances.

9. Acceptance of Terms and Conditions

Applicants must agree to the relevant terms and conditions, including the requirements stated in the IBRO Privacy Policy and payment guidelines.

How Applications Will Be Evaluated

Submitted applications will be assessed according to the evaluation criteria identified by IBRO.

Eligibility Criteria

The application will be assessed to determine whether all eligibility requirements stated in the call have been met.

Scientific Credentials

The applicant’s scientific credentials will be assessed based on:

• Academic record
• Publication record
• Relevant work experience
• Demonstrated progress to date

Quality of the Research Proposal

The proposed research project will be assessed according to whether it:

• Reflects a high standard of work;
• Addresses a significant research area;
• Contains clear aims and objectives; and
• Presents a structured plan.

Applicant’s Justification

The applicant must clearly explain the impact that the grant will have on their scientific progress.

Funding Request

The application must contain:

• A sufficiently detailed funding request; and
• A clear plan explaining how the requested funds will be spent.

How to Apply for the IBRO Parenthood Grants 2026

Eligible applicants should follow the official application process outlined by IBRO.

Step 1: Create an Applicant Account

Applicants must create an account through the IBRO application system.

Step 2: Review the Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants may consult the official Frequently Asked Questions section for information about the grant and application process.

Step 3: Prepare the Application

Applicants must complete the required application sections and upload the necessary supporting documents, including:

• Applicant details
• List of grants received
• Research proposal
• Motivation and impact statement
• Detailed budget request
• Curriculum vitae
• Confirmation of independent principal investigator status
• Confirmation of pregnancy, birth or adoption

Step 4: Access the Application Link

The application link appears in the key information section at the top of the official program page during the application period.

Applicants using the link will be redirected to the IBRO Grants Portal.

Step 5: Submit the Application Before the Deadline

The complete application must be submitted by 15 August 2026.

For technical issues with the application website, applicants may submit a customer-support request form.

Application Rounds

The IBRO Parenthood Grants program accepts applications twice each year.

The current call is the second application round for 2026. The next call is expected to open in February 2027.

Applicants should refer to the relevant official call when the next application round opens.

Contact Information

Applicants with questions about the program may contact the IBRO programs team.

The official IBRO Secretariat email address is:

secretariat@ibro.org

Visit HERE for more information.

Conclusion

The IBRO Parenthood Grants 2026 support early-career principal investigators who are managing pregnancy, recent childbirth, adoption or related primary caregiving responsibilities.

The funding is intended to help eligible researchers maintain continuity in their scientific projects by covering approved expenses such as research reagents, facility costs, outsourced experiments, data acquisition, transportation of samples or reagents, conference travel, childcare related to conference attendance, grant-writing services and consultation services.

Applicants must have held an independent principal investigator role for no more than seven years and must have at least one peer-reviewed publication as a corresponding author. They must also meet the applicable pregnancy, birth or adoption conditions and submit the required supporting documentation.

The maximum award ranges from USD 2,000 to USD 4,000, depending on the applicant’s region. Proposed projects must be completed within one year, and the final grant report must be submitted within three months after project completion.

Applications opened on 1 July 2026, and the final deadline to apply is 15 August 2026.

For more global opportunities, visit HERE.