THE RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM
One approach the organization uses to find a cause and cure for ALS is a peer-reviewed Research Grant Program, in which the investigator selects the area and method of research. The application/review process is modeled after the grant system used by NIH. The organization solicits investigator-initiated research proposals, which are peer-reviewed by the organization's Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and competitively evaluated for their scientific merit and ALS relevance. Criteria for funding include:
- innovative, cutting edge research;
- a process which lessens or eliminates favoritism and bias;
- to a specific description of the intended use of the grant funds by budgets and experimental design; and
- accountability by way of annual progress reports.
The SRC grant process generally involves the review of 200-300 abstracts per year with 20 to 25 grants receiving funding. This NIH-style, peer-reviewed grant process provides The ALS Assocation with a credible and equitable approach for finding and supporting the best possible research into discovering the cause and cure for ALS. The ALS Assocation currently has commitments of more than $7 million to active research grants with new commitments in the range of $2-2.5 million added each fiscal year.
Program Outline
The ALS Association's biannual INVESTIGATOR-INITIATED RESEARCH GRANT PROGRAM supports innovative research of high scientific merit and ALS relevance in areas of stem cell research, disease mechanism, therapeutic approaches, model systems and genetics.
Awards are in two categories:
Multi-year Awards
The Association will support research that is projected for periods of up to three (3) years. Funding for multi-year grants is committed for one (1) year only, with noncompetitive renewals conditioned upon receipt of satisfactory interim progress reports. Awards will be in an amount of $60,000-80,000 a year.
Starter Grants These are one-year awards for NEW INVESTIGATORS ENTERING THE FIELD OF ALS proposing innovative and novel projects likely to provide important results relevant to ALS research. Alternatively, they can be PILOT STUDIES BY ESTABLISHED ALS INVESTIGATORS. These applications do not require strong preliminary data but must emphasize novelty, feasibility, innovation and relevance to ALS. The maximum amount awarded is $35-40,000.
Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award
The investigator-initiated grant program is now offering an annual post-doctoral fellowship award. The maximum amount awarded is $35,000-$40.000 annually for 2 years. Applicants who are eligible are new post-doctoral fellows or those that have been a fellow for no more than one year. One to two post-doctoral fellowships two years in length will be awarded in the spring cycle (see schedule).
Investigators are requested to submit an abstract form for any of these categories and will be notified within two weeks of the abstract submission due date whether they are eligible to submit a full application. Abstract forms can be downloaded from the website www.alsa.org. They should only be submitted according to the dates in the schedule above. If you would like to be added to the mailing list please e-mail researchgrants@alsa-national.org.
The ALS Association is the only national not-for-profit voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS through research, patient support, education, public awareness and advocacy. The Association is the largest private source of funding for ALS-specific scientific research in the world.
