Who funds virus research?

We count 608 funded virus projects, active between 2019 and 2035, from 8 funders. The most came from Wellcome (125 projects), EU · ERC (122 projects) and NIH · NIAID (80 projects). The median award is $2.5M, across the 579 of 608 projects that list an amount.

Funded projects

608

Funders

8

Median award

$2.5M

Open calls now

6

Top funders of virus research

Projects whose title or summary mentions virus. Median award: of the projects that list an amount, in US dollars; “—” when fewer than 3 do.

Open virus funding calls

6 open calls mention virus today.

• Development of monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat infections from Filo-, Nairo-, Phenui-, Picorna- and Toga viruses
  European Commission · Horizon Europe€9,000,000 – €10,000,000Deadline: February 17, 2027 ·
• Pilot Projects to Enhance the Human Virome Program (R03 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
  National Institutes of Health$50,000 – $100,000Deadline: November 10, 2026 ·
• Translational Efforts to Advance Gene-based Therapies for Ultra-Rare Neurological and Neuromuscular Disorders (U01 - Clinical Trial Optional)
  National Institutes of HealthNot specifiedDeadline: October 8, 2027 ·
• Mechanistic Evaluation of Therapeutic Targets derived from Treatable Traits to Improve CNS Outcomes in People with HIV (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
  National Institutes of HealthNot specifiedDeadline: October 28, 2027 ·
• Avant Garde/Avenir Awards for Investigators Conducting High Risk/High Reward Research on HIV and Substance Use (or Substance Use Disorders) (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)
  National Institutes of HealthNot specifiedDeadline: September 25, 2028 ·
• Plant Biotic Interactions
  U.S. National Science FoundationNot specifiedDeadline: Rolling (no fixed deadline listed)

Forecast: announced, not open yet

2 forecast calls on virus. Funders publish forecasts before a call opens; you can't apply to these yet, and dates can change.

• ForecastIntegrated Viral Hepatitis Surveillance, Testing, Treatment, and Prevention Programs for Health Departments (IVH-STTP)
  Centers for Disease Control - NCHHSTPNot specifiedExpected to open December 1, 2026
• ForecastNational Viral Hepatitis Education, Awareness, and Capacity Building for Communities and Providers
  Centers for Disease Control - NCHHSTPNot specifiedExpected to open March 30, 2027

Funded virus projects

A sample, latest start first, at most three per program.

• Targeted Pathogen Degradation and its Synergy with Antiviral Immunity
  Wellcome · £3,000,000 · ends 2035
• Dengue Host–Virus Co-genomics: Genetic Interactions that Drive Disease Severity
  Wellcome · £3,350,466 · ends 2035
• Structure and mechanism of translation initiation in picornavirus infection
  Wellcome · £2,502,350 · ends 2034
• CSHL Cancer Center Support Grant
  NIH · NCI · $4,477,024 · ends 2031
• Immune mechanisms shaping airborne influenza transmission
  NIH · NIAID · $3,987,706 · ends 2031
• Center for Rational HCV Vaccine Design & Evaluation
  NIH · NIAID · $3,282,170 · ends 2031
• Protective immunity to HCV and rational vaccine design
  NIH · NIAID · $3,263,400 · ends 2031
• Research Infrastructure: Robust software infrastructure for bioBakery microbial community analyses in diverse environments
  NSF · BIO · $1,732,918 · ends 2031
• CAREER: Genetic Determinants of Giant Virus Host Range
  NSF · BIO · $1,600,000 · ends 2031
• CAREER: Electrically Encoded Innate Immune Sensing in Cardiomyocytes
  NSF · BIO · $702,662 · ends 2031

How we count

Funded projects come from public award records (NIH RePORTER, NSF, EU CORDIS, UKRI Gateway to Research, Wellcome, the Gates Foundation, DOE, NASA and USDA NIFA) whose title or summary matches “virus or viral”. NIH lists each budget year separately; one project counts once. Amounts are as the funder lists them; medians use only projects that list one, in US dollars. Open calls and forecasts are from our listings of October 28, 2026. A project can mention a topic without being mainly about it, so treat the counts as a guide to who funds the area.