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

August 2026: Letter of Intent deadline (projected) | December 2026: Full application deadline (by invitation) (projected)

Up to $50,000 for one year; direct research expenses only; no indirect costs allowed.

Supports innovative, early-phase or pilot research advancing understanding, treatment, or foundational knowledge of hereditary, sporadic, and acquired ataxias.

--- ## Description This grant provides seed funding for new and innovative studies that advance understanding of the cause, pathogenesis, or treatment of hereditary, sporadic, and acquired ataxias. It is designed to assist established investigators in launching early or pilot projects, or to supplement ongoing innovative research with a critical need. The goal is to generate preliminary data that can support applications for larger grants from other sources. The National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) prioritizes both translational research for well-characterized forms of ataxia and foundational studies for rare or less understood forms, aiming to improve outcomes for all individuals affected by ataxia. --- ## Due Dates - August 2026: Letter of Intent deadline (anticipated/projected) - December 2026: Full application deadline (by invitation) (anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: Up to $50,000 for a one-year period. - Funds may be used for direct research expenses only. - Personnel costs may not exceed 50% of the total award. - Indirect costs and cost sharing are not permitted. - No-cost extensions are considered only under extenuating circumstances and require NAF approval. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must have completed postdoctoral training more than five years before the funding term starts. - Must hold a full-time appointment as a faculty member, clinician, or senior scientist at an academic institution, nonprofit, or for-profit organization. - Open to both U.S. and international applicants; U.S. citizenship is not required. - Applicants who served as lead Principal Investigator (PI) on a funded NAF grant within the past two fiscal years are ineligible. - Must be in good standing with any previous NAF awards. - Only one application per applicant (as lead PI) per year is permitted. --- ## Application Process ### Step 1: Create a ProposalCentral Account - Register at [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com/) to access the application portal. ### Step 2: Submit Letter of Intent (LOI) - Submit via ProposalCentral by the anticipated August deadline. - LOI components: - Statement of Need (≤4 sentences) - Impact Statement (≤4 sentences) - Specific Aims (1-page max) - Biosketch (5-page max; NIH format recommended) - Only the top 30–50% of LOIs will be invited to submit a full application. ### Step 3: Full Application (by Invitation Only) - If invited, submit a full application by the anticipated December deadline. - Components include: - Scientific Abstract (300-word limit) - Lay Summary (200-word limit) - Specific Aims (1-page max) - Biosketch (5-page max) - Research Plan (6-page max) - Budget Details and Justification - References ### Step 4: Review and Notification - Funding decisions are typically communicated by February following the application cycle. --- ## Additional Information - Research priorities include translational and foundational studies for all forms of ataxia. - For well-characterized forms: projects should have strong translational potential (e.g., clinical trial readiness, treatment development, impact on patient outcomes). - For rare or newly identified forms: foundational research and novel disease model development are encouraged. - Only one application per PI per year for all NAF grant mechanisms. --- ## External Links - [NAF Research Seed Money Grant — FY2026 Instructions (PDF)](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-Research-Seed-Money-Instructions.pdf) - [NAF Researcher Resources](https://www.ataxia.org/researcher-resources/) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com/) - [NIH Biosketch Format Page](https://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms/biosketch.htm) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | Website | |----------------|------------------------|-----------------|--------------------------------------------| | Aimee Alcott | Aimee@ataxia.org | +1 763-553-0020 | [Contact Form](https://ataxia.org/contact) | | General NAF | naf@ataxia.org | +1 763-553-0020 | [National Ataxia Foundation](https://ataxia.org) | ---

NAF Research Seed Money Grant

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