Funding
Travel Awards
The O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA) Travel Awards are open to trainees and early-stage career faculty (ESI status) to help support training and networking opportunities.
Applications are currently closed. Please check back in January 2027 for the next OKRA Travel Award opportunity.
When applications are open, eligible applicants may apply for up to $500 in reimbursement for travel expenses related to attending a kidney-related conference. To be eligible, the applicant must be the first and presenting author. Applications are reviewed by the OKRA Training and Outreach Committee on a rolling basis. basis. Please note that applicants are eligible to receive one travel award per academic year, beginning July 1.
Visit the OKRA Travel Award website for further instructions and to access the application.
Opportunity Pool Program
The George M. O’Brien Kidney Resource Alliance (OKRA) offers the OKRA Opportunity Pool Program on a yearly basis to early-stage investigators and investigators new to kidney research. This program supports pilot grants (up to a maximum of $50,000 total costs) that address scientific and technological gaps in kidney research and promotes new collaborations.
Applications are currently being accepted. Additional details can be found in the attached announcement and on the OKRA website. Optional letters of intent are due Sunday, September 20th, 2026, by 5pm CT and full applications are due Tuesday, October 20th, 2026, by 5pm CT.
Each project must utilize an existing OKRA resource at one of the seven OKRA National Resource Centers. Eligible applicants must be either: 1) an early-stage investigator or 2) an investigator new to kidney disease research.
Visit the OKRA website for full details for this funding opportunity and to apply. Contact okrancc@uab.edu for all program-related questions.