Biswas Family Foundation Fast Grants Program 2026: Funding AI and Health Breakthroughs

The Biswas Family Foundation is offering Fast Grants to researchers working at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and health. These grants are designed to provide quick funding for innovative ideas that might not fit traditional grant structures. If you have a project that could lead to a health breakthrough using AI or data, this program could be the seed capital you need.

Understanding the Fast Grants Program

The Biswas Family Foundation recognizes that many researchers face challenges in obtaining funds for specific needs like computing power, model-training credits, or access to specialized datasets. The Fast Grants program aims to bridge this gap by offering accessible, rapid funding. The foundation is committed to supporting curiosity-driven research that pushes the boundaries of AI in healthcare.

Themes for Exploration

Fast Grants are open to projects connected to several key themes. These include training, fine-tuning, or evaluating AI models using biomedical data. Researchers can also apply for funding to explore or create datasets that could offer new clinical or biological insights. The program also supports the development of AI tools or agents that can increase a scientist’s efficiency. Furthermore, pilot experiments designed to de-risk larger funding requests are encouraged, as is any other AI or data-driven approach that could accelerate a health breakthrough.

Grant Amounts and Cycles

The Biswas Family Foundation plans to sponsor two funding cycles each year, with a total of up to $3 million to be distributed annually. Each cycle is structured to support different project scopes:

• $25,000 Grants: These are intended for small curiosity sprints and are the only tier open to undergraduates.
• $50,000 Grants: These grants are designed for pilot experiments.
• $100,000 Grants: These are for more ambitious projects requiring a larger investment.

Eligibility Requirements

Researchers at any stage of their careers, affiliated with academic institutions worldwide, are eligible to apply. The foundation particularly welcomes applications from early-career faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates who have faculty sponsorship for the $25,000 tier. Applicants must be connected to an institution that can receive charitable gifts from a US private foundation. This includes US-based 501(c)(3) organizations like universities and non-profit research institutes. Non-US institutions must have an equivalent status or work through a US-based fiscal sponsor. For-profit companies, individuals receiving funds personally, and institutions under OFAC sanctions are not eligible.

Application Process

The application for the Biswas Family Foundation Fast Grants is designed to be straightforward and concise. Applicants must format each section using bullet points according to specific requirements. These include a project title, a one-sentence summary of the project, and a description of the question or idea being explored. Applicants also need to detail their experimental approach, explain the timeliness and team’s relevance, and provide a budget breakdown. Finally, they should outline the intended outputs and include a brief biography. The entire application process is intended to be low-friction, allowing researchers to focus on their ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions