Grant Program
Types of Grants
General Research Grants | New Investigator Grants
Named Grants and Awards | Requests for Proposals
Workshop / Meeting Grants
General Research Grants
FARA will support research with grants provided by the organization itself and in collaboration with partner organizations dedicated to advancing FA research and treatments.
FARA pursues a multi-tiered approach. FARA, itself, provides support for the first couple of tiers — smaller, short-range "seed" grants, and somewhat larger, mid-range (R21-type) grants. The smaller, "seed" grants (usually $25,000 to $60,000 per year for one or two years) are intended to attract new research investigators and assist existing investigators by supporting the early phases of their research. These "seed" grants will permit investigators to collect preliminary data and test initial hypotheses. In some cases, significant findings might result, or additional investigators might be attracted to the field. In other cases, this preliminary research will better prepare the investigators to submit successful applications for the second-tier, mid-range (R21-type) FARA grants or even third-tier, larger, longer-term (2-5 year, R01-type) grants from larger grant-making Agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The second-tier FARA grants (usually $60,000 to $150,000 per year for one or two years) are intended to advance more mature research.
Applications for grants greater than $150,000 are considered on an ad-hoc basis. Researchers looking for higher levels of support are encouraged to submit letters of intent to FARA prior to sending a full application.
General Research Grants are accepted on a rolling basis through the year – 24 x 7 x 365.
Letter of intent is only required for proposals exceeding $150,000 per year. Letters of intent can be submitted via email to FARA’s Executive Director, jen.farmer@curefa.org
A Letter of Intent must include a brief description of the proposed project objectives with the relevance to FA and the hypothesis or hypotheses, key preliminary data or research findings that support the rationale for the proposal, and brief summary of the Principal Investigator’s background and contact information.
All grants should be submitted using FARA’s Research Portfolio Management Program – www.curefa.org/rpmp
FARA only funds direct costs. No indirect costs will be awarded.
Grant proposals should not exceed 24 months in duration.
Grant awards are made in one year allocations. All subsequent payments are contingent upon receipt and satisfactory review of a progress report. FARA reserves the right terminate any grant award for inadequate progress, failure to submit reports, deviation in scope of the original research, and/or changes in funding priority.
A detailed budget must be submitted with all proposals, including a justification to support reported expenses. Allowable expenses include: personnel costs/salary, laboratory reagents and supplies, equipment, animal expenses, patient expenses directly related to study and not reimbursable by third party insurers, and patient travel. Expenses not awarded: indirect costs/overhead, travel to meetings and conferences, membership to scientific societies
If human subjects are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Full funding will not be provided until proof of IRB approval is demonstrated to FARA. Human subjects studied in the course of research conducted under a grant are under no circumstances a responsibility of FARA.
If animals are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (or equivalent) indicating that appropriate precautions have been taken to assure that proper treatment, care and humane conditions have been provided.
New Investigator Grants
These grant awards are for young or new investigators who have demonstrated an interest in FA research and want to further that commitment. We believe in welcoming, mentoring and supporting new scientists in the FA research community so that they have the necessary experience and motivation to launch successful independent careers.
New Investigator Grants are accepted twice a year March 1st and September 1st then awards are announced June 1st and December 1st.
The terms of the awards are July 1 – June 30 for awards submitted March 1st and January 1 – December 31 for awards submitted September 1st.
Grant proposals should not exceed 24 months in duration.
Grant awards are made in one year allocations. All subsequent payments are contingent upon receipt and satisfactory review of a progress report. FARA reserves the right terminate any grant award for inadequate progress, failure to submit reports, deviation in scope of the original research, and/or changes in funding priority.
- All grants should be submitted using FARA’s Research Portfolio Management Program – www.curefa.org/rpmp
On the Main Grant Page of the application please indicate “NIA” in the RFP field.
A letter of support should be provided by the applicant’s supervisor/advisor.
A personal statement from the applicant should also be included that addresses the applicant’s current interests, career goals and interest in Friedreich’s ataxia research.
FARA only funds direct costs. No indirect costs will be awarded.
A detailed budget must be submitted with all proposals, including a justification to support reported expenses. Reasonable and customary salary support and benefits are acceptable for the applicant. The budget should not exceed $100,000.
Additional allowable expenses include: laboratory reagents and supplies, equipment, animal expenses, patient expenses directly related to study and not reimbursable by third party insurers, patient travel
Expenses not awarded: indirect costs/overhead, travel to meetings and conferences, membership to scientific societies
Individuals who receive this award cannot reapply through this same mechanism. This award is intended to help the scientist achieve additional sources of funding and independence.
If human subjects are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Full funding will not be provided until proof of IRB approval is demonstrated to FARA. Human subjects studied in the course of research conducted under a grant are under no circumstances a responsibility of FARA.
If animals are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (or equivalent) indicating that appropriate precautions have been taken to assure that proper treatment, care and humane conditions have been provided.
Named Grants and Awards
The Bronya J. Keats Award for International Collaboration in Research on Friedreich’s Ataxia
Dr. Bronya J. Keats has made remarkable contributions to the advancement of the field of genetics and rare disease, specifically demonstrated in Friedreich’s ataxia. As a founding director and scientific director of the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), Dr. Keats has also made monumental contributions to establishing FARA, defining its mission and goals, instructing its operations, shaping its research portfolio, educating its lay participants, and advancing the research that holds so much promise and that owes so much to her efforts. She has helped establish and maintain FARA’s commitment to a high standard of peer-reviewed science and has kept FARA’s compass set on the most meritorious research that will lead most effectively and quickly to treatments and a cure. Dr. Keats has earned the respect and gratitude of FA families and scientists around the world. We are deeply in her debt.
FARA is truly privileged to honor and recognize Dr. Keats by establishing the Bronya J. Keats Award for International Collaboration in Research on Friedreich’s Ataxia.
The Bronya J. Keats Award for International Collaboration in Research on Friedreich’s Ataxia will be given on an annual basis to investigators performing high-quality, promising Friedreich’s ataxia research that relies on international collaboration among scientists.
All awards will be to grant proposals that feature key contributions from investigators in at least two countries.
Special consideration will be given to grants that:
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Bring new scientists to the FA community – either new investigators or experienced scientists from related disciplines that bring new insights or technologies to FA.
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Focus on genetic basis of, or mitochondrial dysfunction in FA.
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Address needs of special FA populations (such as individuals with point mutations, Acadian population, etc.).
Guidelines for The Bronya J. Keats Award for International Collaboration in Research on Friedreich’s Ataxia |
Applications are accepted once a year on June 1st then awards are announced September 1st.
The terms of the awards are Sept 1 – Aug 31.
Grant proposals should not exceed 12 months in duration.
All grants should be submitted using FARA’s Research Portfolio Management Program – www.curefa.org/rpmp
On the Main Grant Page of the application please indicate “Keats Award” in the RFP field.
FARA only funds direct costs. No indirect costs will be awarded.
A detailed budget must be submitted with all proposals, including a justification to support reported expenses. Reasonable and customary salary support and benefits are acceptable for the applicant. The budget should not exceed $50,000.
Additional allowable expenses include: laboratory reagents and supplies, equipment, animal expenses, patient expenses directly related to study and not reimbursable by third party insurers, patient travel.
Expenses not awarded: indirect costs/overhead, travel to meetings and conferences, membership to scientific societies.
If human subjects are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Full funding will not be provided until proof of IRB approval is demonstrated to FARA. Human subjects studied in the course of research conducted under a grant are under no circumstances a responsibility of FARA.
If animals are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (or equivalent) indicating that appropriate precautions have been taken to assure that proper treatment, care and humane conditions have been provided.
2009 Kyle Bryant Translational Research Award
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.
Full RFA
Kyle Bryant and Ride Ataxia
Kyle Bryant is a young man with FA who has incredible determination, spirit and vision. In 2007, Kyle embarked on an amazing journey and fundraising and awareness initiative – Ride Ataxia. He and his Dad biked from San Diego, California to Memphis, TN. The money Kyle raised was matched by FARA and NAF and both organizations announced the first Kyle Bryant Translational Research Award. In 2008 with a trip from Sacramento, California to Las Vegas, Nevada and in 2009 with a trip from Portland, Oregon to Seattle, WA, Kyle’s success has only grown - in participants, in opportunities to raise awareness and in critical funds raised for research. For more information on Kyle Bryant and Ride Ataxia go to RideAtaxia.org
2007 Kyle Bryant Translational Research Award was given to:
- Dr. Nuri Gueven. Project title: Use of a novel catalytic antioxidant, CTMIO, in a GAA repeat mouse model of FRDA
- Dr. James Rusche - Repligen Corporation, Project Title: Development of Methods to Determine the Pharmacodynamic Effect of HDAC Inhibitors on Frataxin Expression
- Drs. Subha V. Raman and Roula al-Dahhak - Ohio State University, Project Title: Preclinical Markers of Cardiomyopathy in Friedreich's ataxia
Proposals should be for pre-clinical/translational or clinical research focused on Friedreich’s ataxia with aims targeting one or more of the following:
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
Development of animal or cellular models that permit further evaluation of candidate therapeutics.
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.
Pre-clinical development and testing of potential targets, biologics, and devices in cells and animals.
Clinical studies of patient outcome measures, potential interventions, or devices.
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.
The award recipients will be announced October 1st, 2009 and the term of the awards will be October 15th, 2009 – October 14, 2010.
Grant proposals should not exceed 12 months in duration.
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.
Letters of intent and applications are to be submitted electronically to jen.farmer@cureFA.org and susan@ataxia.org.
Budget must be for direct costs only and must not exceed $120,000.
If human subjects are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Full funding will not be provided until proof of IRB approval is demonstrated to FARA. Human subjects studied in the course of research conducted under a grant are under no circumstances a responsibility of FARA.
If animals are used in the proposed study, the study must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (or equivalent) indicating that appropriate precautions have been taken to assure that proper treatment, care and humane conditions have been provided.
Requests for Proposals
FARA will issue RFPs on an ad-hoc basis. These RFPs will be targeted to areas of special interest or to solicit proposals to address a question, issue or resource that has priority. All RFPs will be announced through this website and through our e-bulletin list. If you are not a subscriber please sign-up by selecting “Join Mailing List” at the top of this page and follow the prompts.
Workshop / Meeting Grants
FARA fosters collaboration and supports the research community through sponsorship and organization of scientific workshops or meetings. We feel strongly that sharing insights, ideas, and expertise is essential for bringing treatments forward for FA faster and for helping scientists advance their work effectively. Workshops that bring FA researchers and researchers in related disease and specialty areas will generate new hypotheses, discoveries and collaborations. These workshops will be of two types - full-scale workshops and project-specific workshops.
Full-Scale Workshops — FARA sponsors periodic, comprehensive, international workshops like the ones it organized, co-sponsored, and co-hosted with NIH in 1999, 2003 and 2006. These workshops provide the opportunity for the full scientific community involved in all aspects of research related to FA to come together to share findings and insights. Basic, translational and clinical research areas are all highlighted. The conferences are usually a minimum of three days in length. When necessary, FARA will seek financial support from other organizations to help support these workshops.
FARA is willing to receive requests from other organizations hosting similar workshops for grant support.
Project-Specific Workshops — FARA also supports workshops that are more focused and in-depth on a specific topic area or arranged for smaller groups of investigators to establish collaborations or to organize a specific project that requires multiple collaborators. Such workshops should align with FARA’s scientific priorities, mission and optimize collaboration and minimize costs.
FARA has organized two workshops in specific areas of research that have been identified as priority areas and where there was benefit to bringing in expertise from outside the FA research community to apply new insights, share knowledge and latest advances and build new collaborations and resources. In 2006, FARA and NIH co-hosted a biomarker meeting and in 2008 FARA, MDA, and the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University organized and sponsored a workshop on Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Therapeutic approaches.
FARA will fund direct costs only.
Individuals or organizations with a specific interest in a full-scale or project specific workshop should contact FARA’s Executive Director directly. An executive summary outlining the goals and objectives of the meeting, intended participants, explanation of relevance to the FARA mission, timeline and budget will be required. All requests will be reviewed by FARA’s scientific review committee and a recommendation will be submitted to FARA’s Board of Directors. All decisions will be made by the Board.
info@cureFA.org|www.cureFA.org|(484) 875-3015