The 2009 Kyle Bryant Translational Research Award sponsored by Ride Ataxia, the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance and the National Ataxia Foundation
The Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) and the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF)
invite proposals, under a competitive Request for Applications (RFA) process, to award a grant
focusing on pre-clinical and clinical investigations that will advance treatments for Friedreich’s
Ataxia. We anticipate funding three one-year awards under this program. The total award is
limited to $120,000 (direct costs only) for each.
Program Objectives/Criteria
Proposals should be for pre-clinical/translational or clinical research focused on Friedreich’s
ataxia with aims targeting one or more of the following:
o Identification of biomarkers for FA that will elucidate disease variability, severity,
and prognosis; facilitate drug screening, and/or optimize selection of patients and
clinical endpoints for clinical trials. Could center on various approaches such as:
Genetic-based studies
Protein-based studies
Imaging studies
Metabolomics
o Development of animal or cellular models that permit further evaluation of
candidate therapeutics
o Development of tools and technologies that can be directly used for therapy
development. Examples include novel gene therapy vectors, genetically-modified
cells, drug delivery devices, etc... These tools or technologies should overcome
existing obstacles to treatment and be capable of being directly applied to, or
adapted for, delivery of potential therapeutics.
o Pre-clinical development and testing of potential targets, biologics, and devices in
cells and animals
o Clinical studies of patient outcome measures, potential interventions, or devices
Guidelines: All applications must be received by July 31st, 2009. A letter of intent should be
submitted with your title and a few sentences describing the focus of your proposal by July 15th,
2009. Applicants must complete the Kyle Bryant Translational Research Award application form.
Applications will be accepted from for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, public or
private institutions, and foreign institutions. Budget must be for direct costs only and must not
exceed $120,000.
Selection Criteria: All applications will be peer-reviewed and scored based on significance of
proposal, approach/methods of the research plan, innovation, investigator/experience,
environment/resources and budget. The proposal with the best score will be awarded. Scientific
advisors from both FARA and NAF will oversee the review, decision and notification process.
Timeline:
RFP release date: June 1, 2009
Letter of intent: July 15, 2009
Application/Proposal due date: July 31, 2009
Award announcement: October 1, 2009
Grant start date: October 15, 2009
Budget: It is required that the funds awarded under this program be used for direct research
support. The proposed budget must not exceed $120,000.
Allowable costs under this award:
• Laboratory supplies, reagents, purchase and care of laboratory animals
• Small pieces of laboratory equipment
• Salary for the principal investigator, scientific (including postdoctoral fellows) and
technical staff (including laboratory technicians)
Costs not allowed under this award include:
• Support for travel to scientific and professional meetings usually attended by the
investigators
• Computer hardware or software
• No indirect costs
Contact:
Jennifer Farmer
Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance
Grants & Program Manager
610-246-9017
Susan Hagen
National Ataxia Foundation
Patient Services Director
susan@ataxia.org
(763) 553-0020
