Free scoping read. A written assessment of your manuscript in two business days, at no cost.

Start one

Funding callPharmacology and drug development · Saudi Arabia

King Faisal Prize 2028 – Medicine (RNA-Based Therapeutics) nominations

The King Faisal Prize 2028 in Medicine, on the topic of RNA-based therapeutics, invites nominations of researchers for published work, submitted by eligible institutions, with a prize of SR 750,000 (about US$200,000) plus a gold medallion. This guide covers research areas consistent with the topic, eligibility and readiness checks, what selection committees typically value and how to prepare a nomination before the 31 March 2027 deadline.

Pubrica InsightsEditorial team, reviewed by a subject specialist
Next deadline
31 March 2027
Last checked
10 November 2026
Funder
King Faisal Prize
Sources
1
Apply through the official call

Key dates

Application deadline
31 March 2027
Details last checked
10 November 2026
Apply through the official call

About the call

Funder
King Faisal Prize
Country
Saudi Arabia
Scheme type
Prize
Funding
SR 750,000 (about US$200,000) plus a gold medallion
Eligibility
Nominations of researchers for published work on RNA-based therapeutics, submitted by eligible institutions; self-nominations, posthumous nominations and past laureates are not accepted.
Scope
Pharmacology and drug development

Topics consistent with the call

  • Messenger RNA therapeutics and vaccines for infectious and other diseases
  • Small interfering RNA and RNA interference-based medicines
  • Antisense oligonucleotides for genetic and acquired diseases
  • Delivery systems for RNA therapeutics, including lipid nanoparticles
  • RNA editing and RNA-targeting therapeutic strategies
  • Chemical modification and design of therapeutic RNA molecules

Based on the published scope; the official page sets out the full themes and requirements.

Is your work a fit? Check before you apply

  1. Confirm that the nominee’s published work is on RNA-based therapeutics.
  2. Check that the nominating institution is eligible under the prize rules.
  3. Note that self-nominations, posthumous nominations and nominations of past laureates are not accepted.
  4. Assemble the nominee’s publications and supporting documents as required in the nomination guidelines.
  5. Submit a complete, institutionally approved nomination before 31 March 2027.

Why This Funding Call Matters

RNA-based therapeutics have moved from laboratory concept to approved medicines and vaccines, built on decades of work on RNA chemistry, delivery and biology. Recognising the researchers behind such advances draws attention to the field and to the long-term research that made it possible. For institutions, a well-prepared nomination is an opportunity to document the contribution of a leading scientist to an area of medicine with broad clinical potential.

Who Should Apply

Academic backgrounds

  • RNA biology
  • Molecular medicine
  • Pharmacology and drug development
  • Immunology and vaccinology
  • Nanomedicine and drug delivery

Institutions and sectors

  • Universities and medical schools
  • Research institutes
  • Academies and scientific societies eligible to nominate

What Reviewers Typically Value

  1. Published work that has made a foundational or transformative contribution to RNA-based therapeutics.
  2. Evidence that the nominee’s research has influenced the direction of the field.
  3. A clear account of how the work has benefited, or may benefit, patients.
  4. Recognition of the work by peers, demonstrated through its uptake and citation.

Ideas You Could Develop

Advances in RNA deliveryA nomination documenting a researcher’s published contributions to delivery technologies that enabled RNA medicines to reach target tissues.
Antisense therapy for rare diseaseA nomination highlighting published work that led to antisense treatments for a genetic disorder.
Chemical modification of mRNAA nomination describing research on nucleoside modifications that improved the stability and tolerability of therapeutic mRNA.

Your Plan to the Deadline

A suggested schedule working back from 31 March 2027. Adjust it to the stage your work has reached.

  1. By 3 Feb 2027

    Read the call documents; confirm eligibility, budget limits, assessment criteria and institutional requirements.

  2. By 17 Feb 2027

    Agree the research question, aims, team and partners; contact your research office.

  3. By 3 Mar 2027

    Draft the case for support, methods, impact and budget.

  4. By 17 Mar 2027

    Obtain internal review, letters of support and institutional sign-off.

  5. By 26 Mar 2027

    Final checks against the funder’s guidance and formatting rules.

  6. By 31 Mar 2027

    Submit through the funder’s system before the deadline.

What you gain

  • Funding for the research, team and resources it needs.
  • Recognition from a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
  • Reviewer feedback that strengthens future applications.
  • A track record for larger grants and fellowships.

What happens after you apply

  1. Eligibility check: the funder confirms the application meets the call rules.
  2. Peer review: external reviewers assess the proposal against the published criteria.
  3. Panel: a committee ranks proposals; some schemes include an interview.
  4. Decision: outcomes are released on the funder’s timetable.
  5. Award: successful applicants agree terms and reporting requirements before starting.

What the Funder Are Looking For

The King Faisal Prize seeks nominations, made by eligible institutions, of researchers whose published work has advanced RNA-based therapeutics. Strong nominations typically set out the significance of the nominee’s contributions, their influence on the field and their relevance to medicine. Nomination rules, required documents and institutional eligibility should be confirmed on the official King Faisal Prize nominations page.

Read the official pageThis guide summarises the opportunity. Confirm deadlines, eligibility and requirements on the official page before you plan your work, and record the date you checked it.Open the official page

Expert help

How Pubrica Can Help

Pubrica’s subject specialists can help you prepare a competitive proposal, planned back from the deadline. You remain the author of your work.

Grant writingProposal writing structured to the funder’s guidance and assessment criteria. Literature review and gap analysisThe evidence base and the gap your proposal addresses. Study designStudy design and methods that reviewers can assess. Statistical analysis planSample size and analysis plans for the proposal. Data management planData management and sharing plans to funder requirements. Proposal editingEditing of the full proposal for clarity and consistency.
Go to the official page

FAQs

Questions Researchers Ask

The next published deadline is 31 March 2027. Dates can change, so confirm them on the official page before you plan your work.

Self-nominations are not accepted, and nominations must be submitted by eligible institutions. Check the King Faisal Prize nominations page to confirm which institutions may nominate and what documentation is required.

Nominations of researchers for published work on RNA-based therapeutics, submitted by eligible institutions; self-nominations, posthumous nominations and past laureates are not accepted. Confirm the full eligibility rules in the call documents.

Yes. Pubrica’s specialists can review, write, edit and format your proposal. You remain the author and the person responsible for the submission.

Sources

  1. King Faisal Prize. (2026). King Faisal Prize 2028 – Medicine (RNA-Based Therapeutics) nominations. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://kingfaisalprize.org/nominations/

How to cite this page

Pubrica Insights. (2026). King Faisal Prize 2028 – Medicine (RNA-Based Therapeutics) nominations. Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/insights/calls-and-conferences/king-faisal-prize-2028-medicine-rna-based-therapeutics-nominations/

  • King Faisal Prize
  • RNA therapeutics
  • Medicine
  • Nominations
  • Saudi Arabia

Other Open Funding Calls

Closes 19 November 2026FAPESP Young Investigator Grant for International ResearchersBrazil Closes 24 November 2026MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 (HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01)International Closes 30 November 2026First in the World Challenge Grants 2026India

All calls, conferences and fundingGrant writing

King Faisal Prize 2028 – Medicine (RNA-Based Therapeutics) nominationsNext deadline 31 March 2027

Official page
Get a free quote

Regulations

Check your project against this rule

  1. 1Your work
  2. 2Your details
  3. 3Send
What do you need?

Material you send is held under signed confidentiality, with access limited to the assigned team and encrypted transfer. It is not used to train anything and is not passed to third-party tools. Ask for the agreement before you send anything you would rather cover first.