The Preeclampsia Foundation has announced a call for Letters of Intent under its Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants program. This initiative aims to advance scientific discoveries that could eventually eliminate the need for premature delivery as a treatment for severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and other pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. Established in memory of Peter Joseph Pappas, the infant son of preeclampsia survivor Lauren Pappas and her husband Clement, the program plans to distribute multiple research grants in 2025, with total funding of up to $200,000 over two years.

Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals addressing priority gaps identified during a 2020 workshop on preeclampsia jointly organized by the Preeclampsia Foundation and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Relevant topics may include investigating the biological mechanisms and subtypes of preeclampsia, developing more accurate diagnostic or predictive tools, exploring treatments that can prevent, reverse, or stop placental and organ damage associated with the disease, and promoting preconception and inter-conception health to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Preference will be given to projects that utilize or expand resources available through the Preeclampsia Registry™, which includes self-reported information, whole-exome sequencing data, and clinical records. Proposals that generate new datasets or biological samples suitable for inclusion in the Registry are also encouraged. Detailed eligibility requirements and application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.

The grant program honors Peter Pappas, who was born at 29 weeks following complications from severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Since its inception, the fund has supported nearly a dozen research projects focused on areas such as potential treatments, genetic factors, and the role of placental function in the development of preeclampsia.

Reflecting on their motivation, Lauren Pappas shared that the loss of their son after a 29-week delivery caused by preeclampsia inspired the family to establish the Peter Joseph Pappas Fund to help prevent similar tragedies for others.

Clement Pappas noted that continued support from relatives, friends, and the Foundation has enabled meaningful progress toward the long-term objective of eliminating preterm births caused by preeclampsia by the year 2050.

Additional information about the funding opportunity is available online. Letters of Intent must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 14, 2026.

The UNFCU Foundation has announced its call for submissions for grant applications for the year 2024, inviting interested parties to apply for funding support up to a maximum of $50,000. Eligible organizations must exhibit a robust correlation with the UNFCU Foundation's virtuous objective of promoting sustainable pathways for women and youth to surmount poverty. Prospective and past recipients of the foundation's grants can easily access all pertinent information, such as submission deadlines and an informative FAQ guide, through the online application portal, which is hosted on unfcufoundation.org.
 
“In collaborating with innovative partners, we want to expand and create new opportunities for vulnerable women and youth to flourish,” said Yma Gordon, the Executive Director of the UNFCU Foundation.
 
“Our approach centers on advancing impactful programs in the communities we serve. At this midway point in the world’s accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals, the moment is now to do more.”

Application Guidelines
 The UNFCU Foundation places a strong emphasis on funding projects that prioritize access to quality education, critical healthcare, and successful livelihood training outcomes. Projects that integrate sustainability and sustainable development practices will receive special attention.
 
Specifically, the Foundation seeks to benefit marginalized women and youth in Kenya, Senegal, Uganda, and designated areas of the United States, including New York City, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland.
 
Eligible entities must be a US-based 501(c)(3) organization, a United Nations agency or program, or an international organization with a US-based 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.
 
 When evaluating new grant requests, the UNFCU Foundation considers several criteria, such as alignment with their mission and the Sustainable Development Goals, a strong track record over a minimum of three years or an extended pilot period, sustainability with access to additional support, and the ability to track the impact of the project or organization through reporting of results.
 
The Foundation does not provide grants to private individuals, projects without measurable goals and impacts, political campaigns or candidates, religious, fraternal, or professional sports organizations, documentaries, performing arts groups, or productions, organizations without tax-exempt status, or undergraduate scholarships, personal needs, or operational expenses/existing deficits.