Muscle Disorders Grants

National Parkinson Foundation 2011 Request for Applications

Individual grants will be limited to a maximum of $250,000 over a period of up to two years.

NPF is pleased to issue its yearly Request for Applications (“RFA”) with the goal of funding clinical investigations in several specific areas of Parkinson’s disease research led at NPF Centers of Excellence (“COE”) and Care Consortium Centers. This RFA will provide support for well-designed clinical research that addresses comparative effectiveness of treatment, current unmet needs, and/or clinical controversies. This RFA will fund programs based on scientific merit, as determined by the NPF’s Clinical and Scientific Advisory Board (“CSAB”) in a peer-review process.

Applications will be accepted from any principal investigator affiliated with a currently certified NPF COE or a member of the NPF Care Consortium (“Applicant” from an “Eligible Institution”). Investigators not from Eligible Institutions are invited to participate as collaborators. Total grant funding is dependent upon quality of applications.

The following are the key dates for this RFA:

Release date: August 12, 2010
Application deadline: December 10, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. EST
Anticipated award announcement: On or before April 15, 2011

NATIONAL PARKINSON FOUNDATION, INC.
1501 N.W. 9th Avenue / Bob Hope Road
Miami, Florida 33136-1494
Telephone: (305)243-6666
Toll Free National: 1-800-327-4545
Fax: (305)243-6073
E-mail inquiries: contact@parkinson.org

Elaine Chapin Fund for Scholarships for Post-Secondary Education of Students Impacted by Multiple Sclerosis

Named in honor of Elaine Chapin, this scholarship will provide funds to support the post-secondary education of students impacted by multiple sclerosis, either directly or as a family member.

The scholarship fund will accept applications from November 1st through April 30th each year, although the scholarship application is available for download at any time. The family of Elaine Chapin has determined that the scholarship fund will be awarding a minimum of (7) $1,000 scholarships for the fall 2011 semester to deserving students. Scholarship recipients will be notified prior to June 1st. Proof of registration will be required before the scholarship fund makes payment to the schools.

Recipients will be chosen on the basis of financial need, academic standing and the impact with which multiple sclerosis has affected their lives. Applicants must be citizens of the United States who plan to enroll or are enrolled in an undergraduate course of study at an accredited two or four year college, university, vocational or technical school located in the United States. Applicants must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester in course work leading to a degree, license or certificate.

For the Fall 2011 scholarship awards, applicants must send their completed application, an official transcript of their most recent academic grades, a personal essay detailing how MS has affected your life (500 word maximum), plus (2) letters of reference by April 30, 2011 . The final selection of the scholarship recipients will be made by the family of Elaine Chapin.

Elaine Chapin Memorial Scholarship Fund 4367 Humber Circle Saint Louis, Missouri 63129

www.ElaineMemorial.com

International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses Fellowship Program

Funding for this program will be determined on an annual basis. The total budget will be dependent upon available funding from grants made to IOMSN. The majority of the funds will be allocated to funding educational programs.

▪ Funding for the MS Nursing certification (MSCN) exam is limited and $200.00 maximum. The funding will be divided between the spring and fall exam registrants. Applicants must contribute $50.00 US to be eligible for support. Application must be submitted prior to taking the exam.

▪ Funding for attendance to an education meeting or a conference will be given to nurses who currently are members of IOMSN. The awards will be given preferentially to those presenting a platform, or a poster presentation, or to those active on an IOMSN committee. The amount awarded per person will not exceed $1,000.00 for a conference or educational offering. Funding will not be granted to those applicants who have received awards within a one year period of time.

Applications must be completed in full before the committee reviews any request for funding. Requests for funding are due by April 15 and September 15. Requests should reflect scholarship activities falling within the bi-annual submission.

Scholarship awards are available to maximum of two per center/clinic per calendar year.

The recipient of a scholarship is required to submit a paragraph reflecting the activity supported to the IOMSN Fellowship Committee and may be shared with permission.

Please Note:

▪ Applicants must be members of IOMSN.
▪ Application must be submitted prior to taking the exam.
▪ Requests for funding are due by April 15 and September 15. Requests should reflect scholarship activities falling within the bi-annual submission.

To Apply:

Interested applicants, please download the application form from our Web site. Please include at least one letter of recommendation from a professional colleague.

The committee will review your request and make a decision based on eligibility. Preference will be given to applicants seeking funding for a meeting at which he/she is presenting a paper or a poster. You will receive a response within 4 weeks of your application.

International Organization of Multiple Sclerosis Nurses (IOMSN)
359 Main St. Suite A
Hackensack, NJ 07601
USA

E - Mail info@iomsn.org

John Dystel Prize For Multiple Sclerosis Research

In conjunction with the American Academy of Neurology, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society established the John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research in 1994 for the purpose of recognizing outstanding contributions to research in the understanding, treatment or prevention of multiple sclerosis. This annual prize is funded through the John Dystel Multiple Sclerosis Research Fund at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

All investigators who are actively engaged in fundamental or clinical research related to multiple sclerosis are eligible for nomination for this prize. The annual award will be made in the amount of $15,000, to be used at the discretion of the winner. The selection of the prize winner will be in the hands of a special joint committee of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Neurology. The award will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, during an MS research symposium which will include a presentation by the winner on his/her research. Full recognition of the award will be made in Society publications and to the media.

All nomination materials must be submitted by November 1, annually. The Prize winner will be notified by February 1, annually. Further information is available from the Research and Clinical Programs Department of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or from the "John Dystel Prize Subcommittee" at the American Academy of Neurology, 1080 Montreal Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55116, (800) 879-1960 or (651) 695-1940.

Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Research Grant Program

The 2011 letter of intent is due by December 1, 2010. Full proposals will be requested after review by our Scientific Advisory Board and will be due by February 1, 2011.

Contact us

Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, Inc
1610 14th St NW Suite 300
Rochester, MN 55901

PHONE: 507-287-6465
FAX: 507-287-6312
EMAIL: rlsfoundation@rls.org
WEBSITE: www.rls.org

Muscular Dystrophy Association Research Infrastructure Grant

The Infrastructure Grant is designed to fund the development of infrastructure — tools, techniques or services — that will be of use to the neuromuscular disease research community for the purpose of therapy development. Although the need for the proposed infrastructure can be presented in the context of a specific research project or projects, the grant will ultimately be evaluated on the need for the infrastructure by the community at large, and on the applicant’s specific plan for making this resource available to the community. Collaboration and compatibility of the proposal with relevant existing infrastructure is encouraged.

Letter of Intent: September 15, 2010
Grant Application: October 15, 2010
Start Date: July 1, 2011

The applicant should be a professional or faculty member at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution who is qualified to conduct and supervise a program of original research. The applicant should hold a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Science or equivalent degree.

Examples of acceptable infrastructure projects include, but are not limited to, development of databases, core facilities (e.g., vector production, muscle imaging, drug screening), microarray chips, animal model resources, tissue repositories, and components of clinical research networks.

Contact
Elizabeth Habeeb-Louks
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 615-6704
(520) 529-5454 (fax)
elouks@mdavp.org

Muscular Dystrophy Association Research Grants Programs

MDA supports research aimed at developing treatments for the muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. These are the muscular dystrophies (among which are Duchenne and Becker); motor neuron diseases (including ALS and SMA); the peripheral nerve disorders (CMT and Friedreich's ataxia); inflammatory myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; metabolic diseases of muscle as well as other myopathies.

RESEARCH GRANT

To be eligible to apply for an MDA research grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct and mentor a program of original research within their own laboratory;
4. Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant; and
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project.

Proposals from applicants outside the United States will be considered for projects of highest priority to MDA and when, in addition to the applicant's having met the requirements noted above the applicant's country of residence may not have adequate sources of financial support for biomedical research.

NOTE: To apply for a Research Grant, you must be an independent investigator, i.e., not a trainee, not a post-doctoral fellow, not a research assistant, not a research associate and not under the supervision of another person (Principal Investigator/Independent Investigator) who is directing the research.

DEVELOPMENT GRANT

MDA will consider an application for a research grant from a candidate who may be a member of a research team in the laboratory of an independent investigator (Principal Investigator) under whose guidance the applicant will be given flexibility to conduct a neuromuscular disease research project.

To be eligible for a Development Grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a member of a research team at an appropriate institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct a program of original research under the supervision of a Principal Investigator;
4. Have an acceptable research plan for a specific disease in MDA's program;
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
6. Have eighteen (18) months of post-doctoral research laboratory training at the time of application, but no more than 5 years (60 months).

TENURE

Awards are for either one, two or three years for all grant types.

AWARDS

Funding levels for primary Research Grants are unlimited. Development grants are a maximum of $60,000 per year. Overhead is limited to a maximum of 10% percent of direct costs to be included in the total amount of the grant request.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A pre-proposal form must be submitted through proposalCENTRAL® to formally request an application for an MDA research grant. Requests for applications can be submitted anytime prior to the applicable deadline date.

Applications are not open to institutions for general distribution.

Only two grant review rounds are held each year.
Only one "letter of intent" is permitted per grant review round.

Deadline dates

Spring Review Letter of Intent: December 15

Fall Review Letter of Intent: June 15

Muscular Dystrophy Association
Grants Manager - Research Department
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 529-2000
(520) 529-5454 (fax)
grants@mdausa.org

Muscular Dystrophy Association Research Grants Programs

MDA supports research aimed at developing treatments for the muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. These are the muscular dystrophies (among which are Duchenne and Becker); motor neuron diseases (including ALS and SMA); the peripheral nerve disorders (CMT and Friedreich's ataxia); inflammatory myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; metabolic diseases of muscle as well as other myopathies.

RESEARCH GRANT

To be eligible to apply for an MDA research grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct and mentor a program of original research within their own laboratory;
4. Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant; and
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project.

Proposals from applicants outside the United States will be considered for projects of highest priority to MDA and when, in addition to the applicant's having met the requirements noted above the applicant's country of residence may not have adequate sources of financial support for biomedical research.

NOTE: To apply for a Research Grant, you must be an independent investigator, i.e., not a trainee, not a post-doctoral fellow, not a research assistant, not a research associate and not under the supervision of another person (Principal Investigator/Independent Investigator) who is directing the research.

DEVELOPMENT GRANT

MDA will consider an application for a research grant from a candidate who may be a member of a research team in the laboratory of an independent investigator (Principal Investigator) under whose guidance the applicant will be given flexibility to conduct a neuromuscular disease research project.

To be eligible for a Development Grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a member of a research team at an appropriate institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct a program of original research under the supervision of a Principal Investigator;
4. Have an acceptable research plan for a specific disease in MDA's program;
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
6. Have eighteen (18) months of post-doctoral research laboratory training at the time of application, but no more than 5 years (60 months).

TENURE

Awards are for either one, two or three years for all grant types.

AWARDS

Funding levels for primary Research Grants are unlimited. Development grants are a maximum of $60,000 per year. Overhead is limited to a maximum of 10% percent of direct costs to be included in the total amount of the grant request.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A pre-proposal form must be submitted through proposalCENTRAL® to formally request an application for an MDA research grant. Requests for applications can be submitted anytime prior to the applicable deadline date.

Applications are not open to institutions for general distribution.

Only two grant review rounds are held each year.
Only one "letter of intent" is permitted per grant review round.

Deadline dates

Spring Review Letter of Intent: December 15

Fall Review Letter of Intent: June 15

Muscular Dystrophy Association
Grants Manager - Research Department
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 529-2000
(520) 529-5454 (fax)
grants@mdausa.org

Conference Student Scholarships: Genetics, Immunology and Repair in Multiple Sclerosis

Scholarship Deadline: October 18, 2010 (Midnight US Mountain Standard Time)

Although the specific etiology of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) remains unknown, important insights into the genetics and environmental triggers underlying the disease have been made. This conference will discuss advances in MS genetics, epigenetics and the interaction of genetics with the environment, particularly with vitamin D metabolism and Epstein Barr Virus. There will be a focus on the immunopathogenesis of MS, including pre-active MS lesions, mechanisms of lymphocyte activation, the B cell and trafficking of cells across the blood brain barrier. The application of new imaging methods and therapeutic strategies that target the immune system and promote remyelination will be discussed. The challenge of integrating emerging insights in the basic mechanisms of myelination, autoimmune demyelination, and neurodegeneration with translational science will he discussed. The goal of this meeting is to provide a broad spectrum of MS researchers with a forum to discuss recent advances, and to foster cross-disciplinary interactions and collaborations.

Keystone Symposia is offering scholarships to students and post-docs this conference season. These scholarships, of up to $1000 each, are to be used to help defray the expenses associated with conference attendance, including air (on a U.S. air carrier), ground transportation and lodging costs. Receipts will be required to receive reimbursement.

Abstracts submitted for poster presentation will be used as the basis for awarding the scholarships. Conference organizers will select the scholarship recipients based on the quality of science of the abstract and the relevance of the abstract to the conference topic. Only one application per abstract is accepted.

Keystone Symposia
221 Summit Place #272
PO Box 1630
Silverthorne, CO 80498
www.keystonesymposia.org

Financial Assistance / Student Scholarships
Phone: +1 (800) 253-0685 or
Ksenia Shambarger - +1 (970) 262-1230 extension 140
Fax: +1 (970) 262-0311

Conference Student Scholarships: MicroRNAs and Human Disease

Scholarship Deadline: October 12, 2010 (Midnight US Mountain Standard Time)

MicroRNAs have emerged as key regulators of numerous diseases including cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders and vascular abnormalities. This meeting will bring together international leaders in the field of microRNA biology and its relationship to human disease. Because the meeting will be concurrent with the Keystone meeting on non-coding RNAs and cancer, we will focus on diseases other than cancer. There will be combined plenary sessions focusing on microRNA mechanisms of action and the identification of microRNA targets. Subsequent sessions will cover the latest advances on the roles of microRNAs in stem cells, cardiovascular, muscle, infectious, and neurological diseases. The meeting will conclude with combined sessions on recent advances in microRNA therapeutics. Keystone Symposia is offering scholarships to students and post-docs this conference season. These scholarships, of up to $1000 each, are to be used to help defray the expenses associated with conference attendance, including air (on a U.S. air carrier), ground transportation and lodging costs. Receipts will be required to receive reimbursement.

Abstracts submitted for poster presentation will be used as the basis for awarding the scholarships. Conference organizers will select the scholarship recipients based on the quality of science of the abstract and the relevance of the abstract to the conference topic. Only one application per abstract is accepted.

Keystone Symposia
221 Summit Place #272
PO Box 1630
Silverthorne, CO 80498
www.keystonesymposia.org

Financial Assistance / Student Scholarships
Phone: +1 (800) 253-0685 or
Ksenia Shambarger - +1 (970) 262-1230 extension 140
Fax: +1 (970) 262-0311