ALS Network, ALS United calling for ‘bold’ research proposals for funding
Up to $150K on offer for projects using innovative tech, new methods
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- In a joint initiative, the ALS Network and ALS United are seeking research proposals that advance new treatments for ALS.
- Researchers can apply for up to $150K in project funding, with a letter of intent due by April 20.
- Funding will be awarded to projects using innovative technologies and novel methods.
The ALS Network and ALS United are inviting U.S. researchers to submit proposals for a new round of funding aimed at accelerating progress toward new treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The funding is part of the expanding ALS Research Innovation Initiative. It’s intended to support “bold” and “imaginative” projects that could address key problems in ALS using innovative technologies and methods, according to a press release from the ALS Network, which is partnering with ALS United on the initiative.
Interested researchers must first submit a letter of intent — a short, preliminary application used to identify the most promising ideas — by April 20. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit full proposals, with final funding decisions expected in November. The total number of awards will be determined by the ALS Network. For now, applications are only being accepted from U.S. researchers, per the ALS Network’s webpage.
Each project may receive a maximum of $150,000 in funding, which includes as much as 15% indirect costs. Projects will be reviewed after one year, with the possibility of a second year of support depending on progress, according to the webpage.
“Collaboration is essential to changing the course of ALS,” said Sheri Strahl, president and CEO of the ALS Network. “Through partnerships like this with ALS United, we are able to invest in promising ideas and empower researchers who are working to unlock new possibilities for people living with this devastating disease.”
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease in which motor neurons — the nerve cells that control muscle movement — gradually deteriorate and die. As the disease advances, people progressively lose the ability to control their muscles, which interferes with many daily functions.
Funding will go toward potential treatments, causal research
While some therapies can help manage symptoms or modestly slow progression for certain patients, there is still no cure for ALS. This underscores the urgent need for new treatment strategies that improve care and outcomes for people with the disease, according to the two nonprofits.
The new funding program is designed to support forward-thinking projects that challenge conventional approaches in ALS research, with an emphasis on innovation and potential impact.
According to the funding announcement, proposals may span basic research, which focuses on understanding the underlying biology of ALS, to translational research that aims to turn those basic discoveries into potential treatments. Causal research projects, which investigates cause-and-effect relationships, can also be awarded funding.
Eligible applicants may come from universities, nonprofit organizations, or for-profit companies, reflecting the program’s focus on supporting the strongest ideas regardless of where they originate. At this time, however, applications are limited to researchers based in the U.S.
Researchers and institutions interested in applying can direct questions regarding the application process or the ALS Research Innovation Initiative to [email protected].
