[ALS Association](https://www.als.org)

April 2026: Letter of Intent deadline (projected) | June 2026: Full proposal deadline (by invitation) (projected)

$50,000 total for 1 year (inclusive of direct and indirect costs); indirect costs capped at 10% of direct costs.

Supports early-stage ALS research by funding critical experiments to generate preliminary data for larger grants or industry partnerships.

--- ## Description The ALS Association Seed Grants program provides short-term funding to support innovative, early-stage research projects in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The program aims to catalyze high-impact research by enabling investigators to conduct one or two critical experiments that generate the preliminary data needed to pursue larger-scale funding or industry partnerships. Projects should have a clear scientific rationale and the potential for significant impact in ALS, but do not require existing preliminary data. The program encourages applications from established ALS researchers, early career investigators, and those from outside the ALS field. --- ## Due Dates - April 2026: Letter of Intent deadline (anticipated/projected) - June 2026: Full proposal deadline (by invitation, anticipated/projected) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $50,000 total for a 1-year project (inclusive of direct and indirect costs) - Indirect costs capped at 10% of direct costs - Number of awards depends on available budget and merit of applications --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Individuals:** - Open to individuals worldwide with the skills, knowledge, and resources to carry out the proposed research - No requirement for prior ALS research experience - Established investigators, early career investigators, and investigators from outside the ALS field are encouraged to apply - Senior postdoctoral fellows (≥3 years in current position) may apply as PI; junior postdocs are not eligible - **Eligible Organizations:** - U.S. and non-U.S. public and private non-profit entities (universities, colleges, hospitals, labs, governmental units) - U.S. and non-U.S. for-profit entities (biotech/pharma companies) - **Collaborations:** - Collaborative projects are allowed; one PI must be designated. Letters of collaboration required at the full proposal stage. --- ## Application Process - **Two-stage process:** 1. **Letter of Intent (LOI):** - Submit via ProposalCentral by the anticipated deadline - Include project summary, scientific rationale, aims, and path to follow-on funding - No preliminary data required 2. **Full Proposal (by invitation only):** - Detailed research plan (6 pages), budget, biosketches, and supporting documents - Letters of collaboration (if applicable) and summary statements from prior unfunded applications (if relevant) - **Submission Platform:** - All applications must be submitted through [ProposalCentral](https://proposalcentral.com) - **Review:** - LOIs are screened for fit and potential; selected applicants are invited for full proposal submission - Full proposals undergo peer review by external experts; final funding decisions made by the ALS Association Board of Trustees --- ## Additional Information - Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: ALS and FTD continuum, caregiver/family impact, clinical tools, trial participation, diagnosis, biomarkers, prevention, big data, assistive technologies, and drug target identification. - Projects focusing on preclinical drug development, early drug development, or interventional clinical trials are not supported under this program. - Applicants must identify a future funding opportunity that the project aims to pursue with data generated. - Salary for PI is permitted only if indirect costs are waived; other personnel costs are allowed. - Final deliverable is a draft application for follow-on funding or a justification if not pursuing further funding. --- ## External Links - [ALS Association Seed Grant Program Details](https://www.als.org/research/research-we-fund/our-awards-and-programs/seed-grant-program) - [Current ALS Association Funding Opportunities](https://www.als.org/research/funding-opportunities) - [ALS Association Grants Policy Statement](https://www.als.org/Grants-Policy-Statement) - [ProposalCentral Application Portal](https://proposalcentral.com) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Web Contact Form | |--------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------|-----------------------------------------| | Research Grants Team | researchgrants@als.org | +1 800-782-4747 | [Contact ALS Association](https://www.als.org/contact-us) | ---

Seed Grants

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