2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants for International Journalists
The National Press Foundation invites international journalists to apply for a fully online training program focusing on rare diseases, healthcare access, and medical research, with reporting grants of up to $2,000 available for select participants.
Overview
The 2026 Rare Disease Reporting Fellowship and Grants, supported by Fondation Ipsen and organized by the National Press Foundation (NPF), is a fully online training opportunity designed for professional journalists. The program provides five days of expert-led briefings, question-and-answer sessions, and discussions on subjects such as biotechnology, genetic screening, AI-driven drug development, healthcare infrastructure, and patient advocacy. Additionally, up to 20 participating journalists may receive reporting grants of up to $2,000 to support an independent reporting project.
Benefits
- Free participation in a five-day online training program from November 16–20, 2026.
- Access to expert briefings with leading specialists, patient advocates, and experienced journalists.
- Opportunity for up to 20 participating journalists to receive a $2,000 reporting grant, paid in two installments ($1,000 upon fellowship completion and $1,000 upon submission of the completed work).
- Publication of completed grant-supported reporting in a compilation book produced by Fondation Ipsen.
Eligibility
- Open to professional journalists worldwide across various media formats, including print, broadcast, online, digital, and social media.
- Applicants must be fluent in English, as all training sessions will be conducted in English.
- Employed journalists must provide a letter of support from their editor committing to release them from work for four hours each day (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ET) during the training week.
- Freelance journalists must provide a letter from an editor indicating interest in publishing their proposed reporting.
- Full attendance at all daily online training sessions is mandatory.
How to Apply
Interested professional journalists should complete and submit the official online application along with all necessary supporting documentation before the closing date.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted by October 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Grant-supported reporting projects must be published no later than March 1, 2027.