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

August 15, 2025 (Letter of Intent) | December 5, 2025 (Full Application, by invitation)

Up to $100,000 for a 1-year project (April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027); direct costs only, no indirects.

Annual award supporting translational research that advances treatment and care for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3).

LOI required; only invited applicants may submit a full proposal.

--- ## Description The Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Award, offered by the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF), is an annual, merit-based grant for independent researchers proposing outstanding projects that accelerate the development of treatments and improve care for individuals with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3). The award supports preclinical, translational, or clinical research with a predominant focus on SCA3, aiming to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and therapeutic application, improve clinical trial readiness, enable biomarker discovery, and advance mechanistic understanding of disease pathogenesis. Interdisciplinary and collaborative projects, as well as those leveraging cutting-edge technologies or resources, are encouraged. --- ## Due Dates - **Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline:** August 15, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time - **Full Application Deadline (by invitation only):** December 5, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time - **Funding Decisions:** February 2026 - **Funding Period:** April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027 --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Amount:** Up to $100,000 for a 1-year project - **Allowable Costs:** Direct research expenses only; no more than 50% may be allocated to personnel costs. - **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 organization. - Open to U.S. and international applicants; non-U.S. citizens are eligible. - Prior lead Principal Investigators (PIs) on a funded NAF grant within the past two fiscal years are ineligible. - Applicants must be in good standing with any previous NAF awards. - Only one application per applicant (as lead PI) per year; select the program that best matches your career stage and research proposal. --- ## Application Process 1. **Create a ProposalCentral Account:** All applications are managed via [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com). 2. **Submit Letter of Intent (LOI):** Required by August 15, 2025. LOIs will be competitively reviewed for alignment with NAF’s mission, scientific merit, and relevance to ataxia. Only the top 30–50% of LOIs will be invited to submit a full application. - **LOI Components:** Statement of need, impact statement, specific aims (1 page), and biosketch (5 pages). 3. **Full Application (by invitation):** Invited applicants must submit a complete application by December 5, 2025. Requirements include: - Scientific abstract - Lay summary - Specific aims - Biosketch - Research plan (max 6 pages) - Budget and justification - References 4. **Review and Notification:** Funding decisions will be communicated by February 2026. --- ## Funding Priorities Priority will be given to proposals that address one or more of the following areas for SCA3: - **Therapeutic Development:** RNA-targeted/gene editing therapies, small molecules, drug repurposing - **Biomarkers & Outcome Measures:** Imaging, digital/wearable assessments, fluid biomarkers - **Natural History & Clinical Trial Readiness:** Epidemiology, disease progression modeling - **Mechanistic Research:** Neuronal/non-neuronal pathways, CAG repeat toxicity, protein aggregation, peripheral pathology - **Care Optimization & Symptom Management:** Therapy interventions (physical, occupational, speech), swallowing/vision therapies, genetic counseling --- ## Additional Information - Funds may not be used for indirect costs or cost sharing. - No-cost extensions are rare and must be justified. - Only one application per lead PI per year is allowed. - Applicants should review the [NAF General Grants Policy](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-General-Grants-Policy.pdf) for full details. --- ## External Links - [Full Program Instructions (PDF)](https://www.ataxia.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FY2026-Pioneer-SCA-Award-Instructions.pdf) - [NAF Researcher Resources](https://www.ataxia.org/researcher-resources/) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com) - [2024 NAF Funded Research](https://www.ataxia.org/2024-naf-research-grants/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | More Info | |------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------|------------------------------------| | Aimee Alcott (Program) | aimee@ataxia.org | +1 763-553-0020 | [Contact NAF](https://ataxia.org/contact) | | National Ataxia Foundation | naf@ataxia.org | +1 763-553-0020 | [NAF Home](https://ataxia.org) | ---

Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Award

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