Department of Defense Funds $2.7 Million in ALS Research;
Funding More than Doubles Last Year’s Award

January 17, 2005

Two grants totaling more than $2.7 million for ALS research have been awarded by the Department of Defense under its Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP). The grants were awarded to Dr. Katrin Andreasson at the John Hopkins University, Baltimore Campus for research into the role of inflammatory processes in ALS enabling the development of novel therapeutics for ALS, and Dr. Alberto Ascherio at the Harvard University School of Public Health for research into ALS mortality among World War II, Korea, and Vietnam Veterans. These grants represent the second consecutive year in which funding of ALS-specific research by the Department of Defense has been approved and more than a doubling of the awards from last year.

The grants are two of 16 that have been awarded thus far and represent only a portion of the total grants that will be awarded under the PRMRP’s FY2004 budget.  The continued funding of the PRMRP and the inclusion of ALS as one of the eligible projects was one of ALSA’s top public policy priorities for 2004.  This culmination of ALSA’s efforts is another example of the continued achievements that result from effective advocacy.  The ALS Association hopes that this success story will encourage even greater involvement in our advocacy programs and, more specifically, the upcoming National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference, which will take place in Washington, D.C. May 9 -11.   ALSA thanks those advocates who contacted Congress in support of funding for the PRMRP and who continue to participate in our advocacy programs. 

Grants are still available for FY 2005 and researchers are encouraged to continue to apply.  In order to complete the submission requirements for the FY 2005 PRMRP grant request process, ALS researchers will need a copy of the FY 2005 Supplement and the USAMRMC BAA 04-1, which is available at http://www.usamraa.army.mil. 

Proposals will be assessed based on how they complement existing DOD research. The submission of a Letter of Intent, due no later than February 8th, 2005 is required to facilitate this objective. Applicants are expected to survey the peer-reviewed literature to avoid duplication of previously described research efforts. Any queries about the application process or project relevance should be directed to researchgrants@alsa-national.org.

Contact Pat Wildman, Director of Federal Advocacy Outreach at pwildman@alsa-national.org, or toll-free at 1-877-444-ALSA (2572), with questions about this award or the National ALS Advocacy Day and Public Policy Conference.