[National Ataxia Foundation](https://ataxia.org)

August 2026 (Letter of Intent) | December 2026 (Full application)

Up to $50,000 for 1 year; no indirect costs; max 50% to personnel

Annual grant supporting research to advance understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of multiple system atrophy, cerebellar subtype (MSA-C).

Forecasted dates—check program page for updates before applying.

--- ## Description The Michael Lundquist Grant to Advance MSA-C Research, offered by the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), is a competitive annual award supporting independent researchers pursuing innovative projects focused on multiple system atrophy, cerebellar subtype (MSA-C). The grant aims to accelerate the development of disease-modifying therapies, enhance clinical trial readiness (including biomarker discovery and validation), improve diagnostic methods, bridge the gap between discovery and therapeutic application, and deepen mechanistic understanding of MSA-C pathogenesis. Proposals may be preclinical, translational, or clinical, but must have a primary focus on MSA-C. This program is part of NAF's broader mission to improve outcomes for those living with ataxia. --- ## Due Dates - **Letter of Intent deadline (anticipated):** August 2026 - **Full application deadline (anticipated):** December 2026 *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - **Maximum award:** Up to $50,000 (direct costs only) - **Project duration:** 1 year - **Personnel costs:** No more than 50% of the total award may be allocated to personnel expenses (salary capped at NIH levels) - **Indirect costs:** Not allowed - **No-cost extensions:** Considered only under extenuating circumstances and subject to NAF approval --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must have completed postdoctoral training and hold a full-time appointment as a faculty member, clinical fellow, or senior scientist at an academic institution, non-profit, or for-profit entity. - Open to both U.S. and international researchers; non-U.S. citizens are eligible. - Applicants are **ineligible** if they were the lead PI on a funded NAF grant within the past two fiscal years or are not in good standing with prior NAF awards. - Only one application per applicant (as lead PI) per year is allowed. - Proposals must focus primarily on MSA-C. Projects solely focused on MSA-P (Parkinsonian type) are not eligible. --- ## Application Process 1. **Create a ProposalCentral account:** All submissions must be made via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/). 2. **Submit a Letter of Intent (LOI):** LOI must include a statement of need, impact statement, specific aims (1-page max), and biosketch (5-page max). 3. **Invitation to submit full application:** Only top-scoring LOIs will be invited to submit a full proposal. 4. **Full application requirements:** Scientific abstract, lay summary, specific aims, biosketch, detailed research plan (6 pages max), budget and justification, and references. 5. **Review and notification:** Applications are peer-reviewed; funding decisions are communicated by NAF. --- ## Additional Information - Funds may only be used for direct research expenses (see [NAF Annual Grant Program Policies](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-General-Grants-Policy.pdf) for details). - No indirect costs or cost sharing are permitted. - Only one application per lead PI per year across all NAF grant mechanisms. - Awardees must comply with NAF’s annual reporting and data-sharing requirements. - No-cost extensions are rare and require strong justification and NAF approval. --- ## External Links - [National Ataxia Foundation Researcher Resources](https://www.ataxia.org/researcher-resources/) - [Program Guidelines & Application Instructions (PDF)](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-Michael-Lundquist-Grant-Research-Instructions-1.pdf) - [Letter of Intent Instructions (PDF)](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/FY2026-LOI-Instructions.pdf) - [NAF Annual Grant Program Policies (PDF)](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-General-Grants-Policy.pdf) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/) --- ## Contact Information | Purpose | Contact | |--------------------------|------------------------------------------| | General inquiries | [naf@ataxia.org](mailto:naf@ataxia.org) | | Application questions | [Aimee Alcott](mailto:aimee@ataxia.org) | | Phone | +1 763-553-0020 | | Contact form | [NAF Contact Page](https://ataxia.org/contact) | ---

Michael Lundquist Grant to Advance MSA-C Research

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