Richard Olney Next Generation Clinician Scientist Grant in ALS

The Richard Olney Next Generation Clinician Scientist Grant in ALS is part of the American Brain Foundation's Next Generation Research Grants program, which supports early career investigators conducting high-quality research intended to improve understanding, treatment, and cures for brain diseases. The program reflects the American Brain Foundation's Cure One, Cure Many research philosophy, which emphasizes that discoveries in one area of brain disease research can accelerate progress across multiple diseases. This ALS-focused grant is funded by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation and is administered by the American Brain Foundation. The award supports clinical or preclinical research in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and is specifically intended for early career researchers studying disease mechanisms, diagnosis, or treatment. Proposed research should have potential relevance beyond ALS to other diseases. The award provides $80,000 per year for three years, for a total award of $240,000. Of each annual award, $75,000 is designated for salary support and $5,000 for research-related expenses. Indirect costs are not supported, and all grant funds must be used directly for the proposed project. Applicants may supplement this grant with other awards, but the other grant or grants cannot exceed $80,000 annually. The program specifies 70 percent protected research time. Eligible applicants must be clinician-investigators with an MD, PhD, or an equivalent terminal-level clinical or research degree and must have completed clinical residency or PhD training in 2020 or later. Applicants at accredited United States and international institutions may apply, and there is no citizenship requirement. There is no limit on the number of applications from a single institution. An applicant may apply for more than one Next Generation Research Grant during the same application cycle if a separate and complete application is submitted for each grant. However, an applicant may not apply for both this grant and the Next Generation Research Grant in ALS in the same application cycle. The ALS selection committee will automatically consider ALS applications for both programs. Funding is contingent on receipt of all required institutional, ethical, and regulatory approvals, including IRB approval when applicable, before the award start date. Applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral. Required materials include a lay summary of no more than 250 words describing the project and its potential impact for patients and families in language appropriate for a non-specialist audience; an alignment statement of no more than 500 words explaining how the project advances ALS research and the Cure One, Cure Many philosophy; a career development plan of up to one PDF page; and a research plan of up to three single-spaced PDF pages, excluding bibliographic references. The research plan must address the hypothesis, objectives and specific aims, background and significance, methodology, potential pitfalls and alternative approaches, and any supporting preliminary data or figures. Applicants must also provide a current NIH Biosketch. The research plan must represent the applicant's original work, and any use of AI to generate proposal ideas or assist with writing or editing must be disclosed. Applicants must identify an academic advisor, mentor, or lab head who will receive an automated email link to submit a letter of support of no more than 1,000 words and upload the letter writer's NIH Biosketch. The support letter should address how the research fits within the mentor's program, the mentor's expertise and anticipated supervision and training commitment, prior experience mentoring early career researchers, and the applicant's potential for an independent research career. A department chair or equivalent institutional official will separately receive an automated link to confirm institutional support and adequate protected research time; no separate institutional letter is required. All components, including the mentor letter and institutional sign-off, must be received by the deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed, and materials beyond those requested will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of experts convened by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation. Core review considerations include scientific rationale, innovation, methodological rigor, a well-developed and testable hypothesis, potential clinical impact and translational value, alignment with grant research priorities, investigator expertise and potential for an independent career, feasibility of the proposed aims, identification of pitfalls and alternative approaches, and the quality and commitment of mentorship. Competitive applications are also described as having a detailed statistical plan, focused and achievable aims, originality and relevance to multiple diseases or conditions, a clear gap-based career development plan, and strong written communication. Applications are due October 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT. Award announcements are anticipated in March 2027, with funding beginning July 1, 2027 and ending June 30, 2030. Questions about the RFP or application process may be sent to grants@americanbrainfoundation.org, and ProposalCentral technical support is available at pcsupport@altum.com.

Lead the lay summary with why the research matters to patients and families, use plain language, and state specific impact; present a clear testable hypothesis and detailed appropriate statistical plan; keep aims feasible and identify potential pitfalls and alternative approaches; demonstrate strong mentor commitment and a clear gap-based career development plan; emphasize originality, translational value, and relevance beyond ALS to multiple diseases or conditions; communicate the project clearly; ensure the mentor letter and institutional sign-off are completed by the deadline.