The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) has launched an $8 million emergency funding initiative called the RESTORE Grants Program to support scientists whose immunology-focused federal research grants were abruptly terminated or frozen in 2025 for reasons unrelated to their scientific merit.
The temporary program will provide one-year grants of up to $100,000 for principal investigators to continue research progress and remain competitive for future funding opportunities. The move comes amid growing concern about the downstream effects of unstable federal science funding on the U.S. biomedical research enterprise.
AAI created the RESTORE Grants Program in direct response to increasing reports from scientists whose NIH R- or K-series grants, as well as DP2/DP5 grants, were frozen or terminated due to non-scientific reasons.
“We are hearing from accomplished investigators who’ve had grants pulled or frozen with little notice, placing entire labs and years of scientific progress at risk,” said AAI President Dr. Uli von Andrian. “We cannot let this volatility dictate the trajectory of scientific discovery.”
“AAI and the wider community have been sounding the alarm all year about the severity of the situation and the broader concern that funding instability is beginning to damage U.S. research capacity. I’m pleased that AAI can offer help in some way to immunologists struggling to keep their work going. But it is frustrating that we are in this position,” added Dr. von Andrian.
The $8 million available through the AAI RESTORE Grants Program reflects the dire impact grant terminations are having on the research community. Applications for RESTORE funding are due by August 28 and the awarded grants will begin on October 1, 2025.
“AAI is fortunate to be in a financial position to help researchers in this way. But we are only able to put a band-aid on the ongoing cuts to good science. The real solution must come from stable, sustained public investment in research. As Congress contemplates FY2026, AAI has been urging lawmakers to continue their longstanding bipartisan support for NIH and allocate no less than $51.3 billion for the NIH base budget,” said AAI CEO, Dr. Loretta Doan.
About the RESTORE Grants Program
AAI’s RESTORE Grants Program provides up to one year of funding for principal investigators to conduct immunology focused research projects that were unexpectedly frozen or terminated by NIH or other federal government agencies due to non-scientific reasons. These grants are designed to enable investigators to retain research personnel, continue research progress, and remain competitive for future funding opportunities. Visit the AAI website for more information.
