Next Generation Research Grant in ALS

The American Brain Foundation's Next Generation Research Grants support early career investigators conducting high-quality research intended to improve understanding, treatment, and cures for brain diseases. The program is grounded in the Foundation's Cure One, Cure Many philosophy, which holds that discoveries in one area of brain disease research can contribute to progress across multiple conditions. The Next Generation Research Grant in ALS is funded collaboratively by The ALS Association and American Brain Foundation and is administered by the American Brain Foundation. This two-year award supports clinical or preclinical research focused on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, including research into ALS disease mechanisms, diagnosis, or treatment. The proposed work should also have potential relevance beyond ALS to other diseases. The award provides $75,000 per year for two years, for a total award of $150,000. Of each annual award, $65,000 is designated for salary support and $10,000 for research-related expenses. Indirect costs are not supported, and all grant funds must be used directly for the proposed project. Applicants may supplement the award with other grants, but those other grants cannot exceed $75,000 annually. The RFP does not state a matching or cost-sharing requirement. Eligible applicants must be clinician-investigators holding an MD, PhD, or an equivalent terminal-level clinical or research degree and must have completed clinical residency or a PhD in 2022 or later. Applicants at accredited United States and international institutions are eligible, and there is no citizenship requirement. There is no institutional limit on the number of applications. An applicant may apply for more than one Next Generation Research Grant in the same application cycle if a separate complete application is submitted for each grant. Applicants may not apply for both this grant and the Richard Olney Clinician Scientist Grant in ALS during the same cycle, although the selection committee will automatically consider ALS applications for both programs. The award also requires 70 percent protected research time. Applications must be submitted through ProposalCentral. Required application materials include a lay summary of no more than 250 words for a non-specialist audience; an alignment statement of no more than 500 words explaining the project's fit with the ALS research goals and the Cure One, Cure Many philosophy; a career development plan of up to one page; a research plan of up to three single-spaced pages plus bibliographic references; and the applicant's current NIH Biosketch. 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. Any use of artificial intelligence to generate proposal ideas or assist with writing or editing must be disclosed. The application also requires a letter of support from the applicant's academic advisor, mentor, or lab head. The applicant supplies that person's name and email address, after which the letter writer receives an automated submission link. The letter is limited to 1,000 words and must address how the research fits the mentor's program, the mentor's relevant expertise and anticipated supervisory commitment, prior mentoring experience, and the applicant's potential for an independent research career. The letter writer must also upload an NIH Biosketch. In addition, the applicant's department chair or equivalent institutional official must complete an institutional sign-off confirming institutional support and adequate protected research time. Funding is contingent on receipt of all required institutional, ethical, and regulatory approvals, including IRB approval when applicable, before the award start date. Applications are evaluated by a selection 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 research career, feasibility of the proposed aims, attention to potential pitfalls and alternatives, and the quality and commitment of mentorship. The RFP further identifies a detailed statistical plan, strong mentorship, feasible and logically structured aims, innovation with relevance to multiple diseases or conditions, a well-defined gap-based training plan, and clear communication as characteristics of strong applications. All required materials must be submitted by October 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM CT, including the mentor letter and department chair sign-off. Incomplete or late applications will not be reviewed, and additional materials beyond those requested will not be considered. The anticipated award announcement is March 2027. The award and funding period is scheduled to begin July 1, 2027 and end June 30, 2029. Questions about the RFP or application process may be directed to grants@americanbrainfoundation.org, while ProposalCentral platform questions may be directed to pcsupport@altum.com.

Present a well-developed and testable hypothesis; include a detailed and appropriate statistical plan; demonstrate strong mentorship with relevant expertise and commitment; keep aims focused and feasible within the award period; emphasize innovation and relevance to multiple diseases or conditions; provide a clear gap-based career development plan; write clearly; make the lay summary patient- and family-focused and avoid technical jargon; submit only requested materials and ensure mentor and institutional sign-off are completed by the deadline