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

August 2026 (Letter of Intent) | December 2026 (Full application, by invitation)

Up to $50,000 for a 1-year project; direct research costs only; no indirects allowed.

Supports early-stage or innovative research to advance understanding, treatment, or clinical trial readiness for all forms of ataxia.

Full application is by invitation only following LOI review; international applicants eligible.

--- ## Description This merit-based, nonrenewable grant from the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) provides seed funding for new and innovative research studies that further the understanding of the cause, pathogenesis, or treatment of hereditary, sporadic, and acquired ataxias. It is designed to help established investigators launch pilot projects or supplement ongoing research that addresses a critical need. The goal is to generate preliminary data that will support applications for larger grants from other sources. Research priorities include advancing clinical trial readiness, developing treatments, elucidating disease mechanisms, and improving patient care or outcomes. Foundational research on rare or less-characterized ataxias, such as developing new disease models or addressing basic mechanistic questions, is also encouraged. --- ## Due Dates - August 2026 (anticipated): Letter of Intent deadline (submit via ProposalCentral by 11:59 PM ET) - December 2026 (anticipated): Full application deadline (by invitation only; submit via ProposalCentral by 11:59 PM ET) *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. - No more than 50% of the award may be allocated to personnel costs. - Equipment purchases may not exceed 20% of the total budget. - Travel for scientific meetings is capped at $2,000; publication costs up to $2,500. - Indirect costs and cost sharing are not permitted. - No-cost extensions may be considered under extenuating circumstances with NAF approval. --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must have completed postdoctoral training more than five years before the start of the funding term. - Must hold a full-time faculty, clinician, or senior scientist position at an academic institution, non-profit, or for-profit organization. - U.S. and international applicants are eligible; U.S. citizenship is not required. - Applicants who were the lead Principal Investigator (PI) on a funded NAF grant within the past two fiscal years are ineligible. - Only one application per applicant (as lead PI) per year is allowed. - Applicants must be in good standing with any previous NAF awards. --- ## Application Process 1. **Register on ProposalCentral**: Create an account at [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com). 2. **Letter of Intent (LOI)**: Submit an LOI via ProposalCentral by the anticipated August 2026 deadline. The LOI should include: - Statement of need (≤4 sentences) - Impact statement (≤4 sentences) - Specific aims (1 page max) - Biosketch (5 pages max) 3. **Invitation to Apply**: Only top LOIs (approximately 30–50%) will be invited to submit a full application. 4. **Full Application** (by invitation only, due December 2026): - Scientific abstract (300-word limit) - Lay summary (200-word limit) - Specific aims (1 page max) - Biosketch (5 pages max) - Research plan (6 pages max) - Budget details and justification - References 5. **Review and Notification**: Applications are peer-reviewed for scientific merit and relevance to ataxia. Funding decisions are typically communicated in early the following year. --- ## Additional Information - No indirect costs or cost sharing are allowed. - Only direct research costs are permitted; see grant guidelines for details on allowable and unallowable expenses. - Funded projects must generate a final scientific and lay summary report within four months of project completion, as well as annual follow-up reports for up to three years. - All publications or presentations resulting from the award must acknowledge NAF support. - International wire transfers are available for non-U.S. institutions. --- ## External Links - [National Ataxia Foundation Researcher Resources](https://www.ataxia.org/researcher-resources/) - [NAF Research Seed Money Grant – FY2026 Instructions (PDF)](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-Research-Seed-Money-Instructions.pdf) - [NAF General Grants Policy – FY2026 (PDF)](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-General-Grants-Policy.pdf) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Web Form | |-------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------| | National Ataxia Foundation | naf@ataxia.org | +1 763-553-0020 | [Contact Form](https://ataxia.org/contact) | ---

NAF Research Seed Money Grant

Sign in to see full grant listing