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About FARA's Research Program

 
FARA supports research through funding competitive grants across the spectrum from basic research through drug development and clinical research programs in Friedreich's Ataxia (FA). We promote collaboration among scientists, advocate for public-private partnerships and host open forums for leading scientists to share their insights and ideas to advance therapeutic development for FA.

FARA's Grant types, Deadlines, and Budget Limits are described in the table below. You can view special interest requests for proposals (RFPs) and other grant program updates and announcements here.

All investigators interested in FA-related research are invited to submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) through our submission portal. All proposed research must fall within FARA's Grant Program Priorities. For more information on how to apply for a FARA grant, click here.

Grant types, Deadlines, and Budget Limits
Grant Type Letter of Intent
(LOI) Deadline
Application Deadline Award Notice Grant start dates Maximum Budget
(in US dollars)
 +  General Research Grant Feb 15
Aug 15
Apr 15
Oct 15
Aug 1
Feb 1
Sep 1 - Oct 1
Mar 1 - Apr 1
$125,000 per year for 1 or 2 years
 +  Award for Innovative Mindset (AIM) No LOI Feb 1 May 1 Jun 1 - Jul 1 $100,000 for 1 year
 +  Keith Michael Andrus
Cardiac Award
Nov 1 Feb 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 - Aug 1 $150,000 per year
for 1 or 2 years
 +  Kyle Bryant Translational
Research Award
Nov 1 Feb 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 - Aug 1 $250,000 per year
for 1 or 2 years
 +  Bronya J. Keats
Research Collaboration Award
Nov 1 Feb 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 - Aug 1 $200,000 per year
for 1 or 2 years
 +  Postdoctoral
Research Award
Feb 15
Aug 15
Apr 15
Oct 15
Aug 1
Feb 1
Sep 1 - Oct 1
Mar 1 - Apr 1
$100,000 per year
for 1 or 2 years
 +  Postdoctoral
Fellowship
Feb 15
Aug 15
Apr 15
Oct 15
Aug 1
Feb 1
Sep 1 - Oct 1
Mar 1 - Apr 1
Trainee salary
up to 2 yrs
 +  Graduate Research Fellowship Mar 15 May 15 Sep 1 Oct 1 - Nov 1 $50,000 per year up to 3 years
 +  Request for Proposals
and Ad-hoc Requests
FARA will issue requests for proposals (RFPs) on an ad-hoc basis.
The FARA Fellow Program

The FARA Fellow Program recognizes young investigators who will commit their early career to FA research. Growing and training the next generation of FA scientists is a priority for FARA and this program provides young investigators the opportunity to grow their profile within the research community and network with other investigators, together with a cash award and opportunity to attend scientific conferences. Eligible candidates are postdoctoral trainees who have demonstrated or hold promise for outstanding research achievements in FA. Both new and existing postdoctoral trainees with fewer than 6 years working as a postdoctoral trainee, accounting for career disruptions, and fewer than 4 years working in an FA lab as a postdoctoral trainee, can be nominated to receive the award. Nominations must be submitted by the trainee’s PI or prospective PI and consist of the trainee’s CV, a brief abstract describing the trainee’s project with a list of publications and/or presentations related to the project, documentation providing evidence that the PI can support the trainee’s salary for 2 years and a letter briefly describing how the trainee’s qualities and research accomplishments will support FARA's mission of developing treatments and a cure for FA.

The award consists of $10,000 USD and financial support to attend one scientific conference per year and the FARA & CHOP FA Symposium in Philadelphia (maximum covered cost of $4000 USD that includes: airfare in coach class, hotel accommodation and conference registration fees. These expenses will be reimbursed directly by FARA). Postdoctoral trainees can be nominated and receive the award for a maximum of 3 years, but nominations are required each year. Nominations must be submitted by the PI and include trainee’s CV, a brief abstract describing the trainee’s project with a list of publications and/or presentations related to the project, documentation providing evidence that the PI can support the trainee’s salary and a letter briefly describing the trainee’s research accomplishments.

As FARA Fellows, trainees will be invited to attend round table discussions with other Fellows, present at the FARA Forum and at the FARA Flash Talks, and contribute their FA knowledge and results of their research to the FA CollaMap (https://www.collamap.org/).

Nomination must be submitted by June 1 via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Grant program updates and announcements

The FARA forum webinars​

The FARA Forum is a monthly webinar featuring investigators who have been awarded FARA grants. The webinar is open to FARA grant awardees and it is held on the second Tuesday of every month. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

February 13, 2024 12 PM ET
Ankur Jain (Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research)

March 12, 2024 12 PM ET
Xinnan Wang (Stanford University)

April 9, 2024 12 PM ET
Hélène Puccio (Institute NeuroMyoGène, Lyon)