About the Young Investigator Draft
The Young Investigator Draft is the result of Uplifting Athletes’ ongoing commitment to cultivate resources that accelerate scientific advancements for rare disease treatments and potential cures while facilitating the next generation of rare disease researchers.
Young Investigator Draft grants fund collaborative basic bench research in order to positively impact treatments and potential cures for the entire Rare Disease Community.
Uplifting Athletes has provided more than $1,020,000 in funding to 54 rare disease researchers through its first six Young Investigator Drafts.
Underrepresented Researchers in Medicine Initiative
In May of 2020, conversations began with industry partners about ways that life sciences can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in medicine and medical research. The vision and purpose of the URM initiative is to engage with rare disease researchers from underrepresented backgrounds and leverage the mechanism of the Young Investigator Draft to fund and celebrate underrepresented researchers.
2025 Young Investigator Draft Class
2025 Patient Advocacy Partners
Uplifting Athletes has the privilege to partner with disease specific Patient Advocacy Organizations (PAOs) who nominate a researcher and co-fund the research grants that are awarded to the early career researchers that we select through the Young Investigator Draft.
Past Draft Classes
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Young Investigator Draft Sponsors
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
