Kyowa Kirin North America – Grants Program | Independent Medical Education, Charitable Contributions & Investigator-Initiated Research

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Organization: Kyowa Kirin

About the Funder

Kyowa Kirin North America (KKNA), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, supports organizations advancing healthcare education, patient well-being, and scientific innovation. Through its formal Grants Program, KKNA provides funding across three distinct areas:

Independent Medical Education (IME) Grants
Charitable Contributions
Investigator-Initiated Research (IIR) Grants

All funding is governed by strict ethical, regulatory, and compliance standards, and all programs must remain non-promotional, scientifically balanced, and independent of commercial influence.

What This Program Funds

KKNA offers three types of grant opportunities:

1. Independent Medical Education (IME) Grants

Supports independent, non-promotional medical education for healthcare professionals.

Eligible activities include:

Accredited and non-accredited medical education
Scientific meetings and symposia
Evidence-based training programs
Continuing Medical Education (CME/CE) activities

IME programs must maintain complete independence from KKNA’s commercial organization.

2. Charitable Contributions

Supports nonprofit organizations advancing:

Community health and wellness
Patient advocacy and disease awareness
Programs that address unmet medical needs
Activities benefiting patient quality of life

Charitable contributions cannot support promotional activities or serve as product advertising.

3. Investigator-Initiated Research (IIR)

Funds scientific research initiated and designed by independent investigators.

Eligible studies may include:

Clinical research
Preclinical research
Observational studies
Real-world evidence projects

Investigators retain full control over study design, data, and publications.

Therapeutic Areas of Interest

While specific annual priorities may vary, KKNA typically funds work aligned with its core therapeutic categories, which include:

Nephrology
Oncology
Immunology
Neurology
Rare diseases

Programs must directly relate to areas where KKNA has scientific, medical, or patient-care focus.

Eligibility

Applicants may include:

Nonprofit organizations
Academic institutions and teaching hospitals
Medical societies and professional associations
Accredited CME/CE providers
Research institutions and qualified investigators
Patient advocacy organizations

Programs must:

Be independent and non-promotional
Demonstrate unmet educational or scientific need
Comply with all U.S. healthcare regulations
Operate within KKNA’s therapeutic focus and ethical guidelines

KKNA does not fund:

Individuals for personal support
Political or religious programs
Fundraising galas or ticketed sponsorships
Promotional speaker programs
Requests intended to influence prescribing

Funding Amounts

KKNA does not publish minimums or maximums.

Award amounts depend on:

Educational or scientific merit
Rigor of the program design
Target audience size and impact
Clear, justified budget
Alignment with therapeutic areas of interest

Deadline

Applications are accepted year-round.

Requests should be submitted:

At least 60–90 days before the scheduled program, event, or study start date

IIR submissions may require additional review time.

Geographic Focus

Funding is available for programs delivered in the United States or benefiting U.S. patients, clinicians, or scientific understanding.

Global programs may be considered if relevant to KKNA’s therapeutic areas.

Application Process

Visit the Kyowa Kirin North America Grants page
Select the appropriate grant category (IME, Charitable, or IIR)
Submit:
- Organizational details
- Program description or study protocol
- Needs assessment
- Objectives and outcomes
- Budget and justification
- Required documentation
KKNA reviews for scientific merit, independence, and alignment
Applicants receive notification via the grants portal