Welcome to the researcher noticeboard. Here you can find information on the latest MND-related news, grant deadlines, awards and meetings. To receive updates on current grants, awards and events relating to MND straight into your inbox, you can subscribe to our quarterly e-newsletter 'The Researcher'.
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Grant deadlines, awards and job postings
See MND Association grant page or view other grants and awards available to MND/ALS researchers below.
NC3Rs: International 3Rs Prize
Have you published a paper that describes outstanding and original work that has or could have major impacts on the replacement, reduction or refinement of the use of animals in research? If so, then you should apply for the annual NC3Rs prize which is co-funded by GSK to recognise a paper published in the last three years with demonstrable 3Rs impacts. This prestigious award consists of a £28k prize grant and a £2k personal award.
Application Deadline: 1st May 2024.
LifeArc: MND drug repurposing grant
LifeArc is excited to announce the launch of an international funding call in February as part of its drug repurposing programme in Motor Neuron Disease (MND). This £5 million funding initiative aims to expedite the development of more effective repurposed treatments for a wider spectrum of MND patients.
LifeArc is actively seeking expressions of interest from research teams in academia and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) possessing a repurposed drug and therapeutic target, accompanied by preliminary experimental evidence showcasing its potential in treating MND.
Funding of up to £750,000 will be made available for successful applicants.
Application Deadline: 10th May 2024.
My Name'5 Doddie Foundation awards
My Name'5 Doddie Foundation have announced that they are accepting expressions of interest for two award schemes.
The Discovery Network is a new funding opportunity for multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional teams to apply for £1 million over 3 years. Teams will take on bold ideas and innovative approaches to better understand the biology of MND, with a focused goal of identifying new therapeutic targets. The Network will be underpinned by a culture of collaboration and open science.
The 2024 Advancing Treatments Award will support the early-stage development of new treatments to slow, stop or reverse MND disease progression. The development of treatments to better manage the symptoms of MND will also be considered, where they could transform the lives of people living with the condition. Applications are encouraged for projects with the potential to be effective across a broad range of people living with MND. The Award aims to help researchers build data packages that will attract onward investment and strategic partnerships to accelerate promising treatments through further testing and towards commercialisation. Awards are for a maximum of £500k for up to 5 years.
Expressions of interest deadline: 17th May (12pm GMT)
Eppendorf and Science Prize for Neurology
The Prize is awarded annually to one young scientist for the most outstanding neurobiological research based on methods of molecular and cell biology conducted during the past three years. Prize money: US$25,000.
Application Deadline: 15th June 2024
Radala Foundation: Advanced research grants in ALS
The Radala Foundation is looking for established, leading principal investigators eligible for 200,000 CHF research funding to pursue a potentially ground-breaking, high-risk project for 2 years in basic research in ALS. One or two grants of 200,000 Swiss francs will be given each year.
Application deadline is on 30 June 2024.
Frick Foundation for ALS research
The Frick Foundation is looking for talented early-career scientists who have already produced excellent supervised work, ready to work independently and shows potential to be a research leader. Two researchers will receive 100,000 Swiss francs each that can be used over 2 years. Researchers of any nationality with 5 years of experience since completion of their PhD, a scientific track record showing great promise and an excellent research proposal. Research must be conducted in a public or private research organisation (known as a Host Institution/HI).
Application Deadline: 30th September 2024
The Healey & AMG Center prizes for innovation in ALS
The Healey & AMG Center offers four prizes for innovation in ALS as global awards celebrating advances in research and care: the Sean M. Healey International Prize for Innovation in ALS, the Gupta Family Endowed Prize for Innovation in ALS Care, the Drs. Ayeez and Shelena Lalji & Family ALS Endowed Award for Innovative Healing, and the Drs. Ayeez and Shelena Lalji & Family Student Scholar Award for Repair and Regenerative Mechanisms in ALS.
The Sean M. Healey International Prize for Innovation in ALS Research recognizes an individual or a team of investigators who catalyze exceptional discoveries leading to a transformative advance in therapy development in ALS.
Gupta Family Endowed Prize for Innovation in ALS Care is a global prize to honor ground-breaking new approaches that lead to exceptional care for individuals living with ALS.
Drs. Shelena and Ayeez Lalji established the Endowed Award for Innovative Healing to recognize an individual or team of investigators for excellence in their transformative scientific discoveries focused on repair of neurological function in ALS.
Drs. Shelena and Ayeez Lalji established the Student Scholar Award for Repair and Regenerative Mechanisms in ALS to recognize bright young scientists in the field of ALS research facilitating meaningful projects to understand the mechanisms underlying axonal and neuronal repair and regeneration.
Events and meetings
See below for information on events that might be relevant to you.
17th UK Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference 2024
The UK Neuromuscular Translational Research Conference is being held in London, England on the 17th and 18th April.
The event is designed as a scientific meeting to promote and share cutting edge clinical and scientific advances in the neuromuscular field, and to encourage new research and collaborations. The event will include invited guest lectures with Q&A, research posters, and flash presentations from early career scientists.
Registration is now open.
ENCALS 2024
The European Network for the Cure of ALS (ENCALS) aims to develop a European trial network and initiate collaborations in Europe. Membership is open to Universities/Hospitals in Europe with ALS clinical/research activity.
The ENCALS meeting 2024 will be hosted in Stockholm, Sweden on the 17th to 20th June.
14th International Conference on Frontotemporal Dementias (ISFTD2024)
The 14th International Conference on Frontotemporal Dementias (ISFTD 2024) is scheduled for 19 - 22 September 2024 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The conference will cover basic science, through to clinical trials, genetics and clinical research.
A pre-worshop titled "Defining the FTD & ALS Spectrum" will be held on September 18. More details will be available soon.
35th International Symposium on ALS/MND
The key to defeating MND lies in fostering strong collaboration between leading researchers around the world, and sharing new understanding of the disease as rapidly as possible. This was the MND Association’s rationale behind the creation of the International Symposium on ALS/MND.
Each year, the Symposium attracts over 1,000 delegates, representing the energy and dynamism of the global MND research community. It is the largest medical and scientific conference specific to MND/ALS and is the premier event in the MND research calendar for discussion on the latest advances in research and clinical management.
The 35th Symposium will be held in Montreal, Canada from 6-8 December 2024.
Keep an eye on our Symposium website to find out more over the coming months.
If you would like us to help you promote funding deadlines, meetings, awards or any job opportunities, please email us at [email protected]