ACE applications are now open through October 15. Join a national network committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive Ataxia care. Apply Now!
ACE applications are now open through October 15. Join a national network committed to providing high-quality, comprehensive Ataxia care. Apply Now!
NAF’s programs that support your work to accelerate treatment development.
NAF works with the most knowledgeable, accomplished Ataxia researchers in the world. We are committed to providing the resources that help support researchers to pursue a cure and better quality of life for people with Ataxia.
Each year, the National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) funds cutting-edge basic, translational, and clinical research relevant to hereditary, sporadic, and acquired Ataxia. For decades, NAF has served as a catalytic supporter of ataxia research by investing in high-impact, investigator-driven work across the research and clinical spectrum.
NAF invites research applications from domestic and international non-profit and for-profit institutions. Applications are accepted across career stages, from graduate students through senior researchers and established clinicians. Researchers based outside the United States are eligible to apply for most research grants from NAF. Specific eligibility requirements will be updated and published each application cycle.
Funding amounts, award mechanisms, program policies, and application and award processes may be adjusted periodically to reflect NAF’s strategic research and clinical funding priorities, existing grant commitments, and overall resource availability. These adjustments ensure that the Foundation can steward funds responsibly while investing in initiatives that advance our mission to accelerate treatments and improve the lives of those affected by Ataxia.
Applications are selected for funding each year following a multistage, competitive peer-review process. All applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI). High-scoring applicants will be invited to submit full grant applications.
NAF funds research through 7 distinct award mechanisms:
All NAF research grant funding mechanisms follow the same application timeline.
| Grant Submissions | Open Date | Deadline | Decision Notification |
| Letter of Intent | September 14, 2026 | November 18, 2026 | January 2027 |
| Full Proposal | Upon LOI approval | March 1, 2027 | June 2027 |
Applicants should review this webpage and all applicable materials, including the detailed, mechanism-specific application instructions and NAF Annual Grant Program Policies. Posted materials cover eligibility requirements, funding priorities, application deadlines and submission instructions, content and formatting guidelines, allowable costs, and other grant requirements.
All applications are subject to eligibility requirements and competitive review. Funding recommendations are subject to final approval by NAF’s Board of Directors.
Applicants who have questions after reviewing all published materials should review the Applicant Questions section below for inquiry deadlines and contact information.
The Michael Lundquist Grant to Advance MSA-C Research is a $50,000, 1-year, merit-based, nonrenewable grant awarded annually to independent researchers for outstanding proposals that aim to make meaningful advancements in the treatment and care of individuals affected by multiple system atrophy, cerebellar subtype (MSA-C). While proposals may include aspects relevant to other forms of ataxia, the primary focus must be on preclinical, translational, or clinical research directly related to MSA-C.
This grant honors the legacy of Michael Lundquist and reflects NAF’s commitment to advancing research that improves outcomes for people living with MSA-C.
LOIs accepted beginning September 14, 2026:
View FY2027 Michael Lundquist Grant to Advance MSA-C Research Instructions
November 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
To utilize the proposalCENTRAL online portal to submit letters of intent and applications, a user account needs to be created. Use this weblink https://proposalcentral.com to create an account. Creating an account can be done any time prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply.
March 1, 2027 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application is not available until LOI has been approved.
Eligibility & Guidelines
1. Applicants must have completed postdoctoral training and hold a full-time appointment as a faculty member, clinical fellow, or senior scientist at an academic institution, non-profit organization, or for-profit company.
2. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for this NAF grant award.
3. Grant applications are accepted from U.S. and international institutions.
4. Prior NAF Awardees: Individuals are ineligible to apply if they received any NAF grant within the past two fiscal years, have an active NAF grant under a no-cost extension at the time of application, or are delinquent with NAF grant reporting requirements. Previous NAF Michael Lundquist Grant to Advance MSA-C Research awardees are also ineligible to apply.
5. Applicants may not apply for or receive duplicate funding for their research. Applicants who have other current or pending funding must ensure that NAF Grant funds are not requested for or allocated to project aims, activities, expenses, salary support, or stipend support already funded for the same purpose by another source. All current and pending support must be disclosed to NAF as part of the application process, and applicants must notify NAF of any additional funding received during the review, pre-award, or active Grant period that may overlap with the proposed NAF-funded project.
6. Applicants may submit only one Letter of Intent to NAF per funding cycle. Applicants should select the strongest project and apply under the funding mechanism that best aligns with their career stage, eligibility, and proposed research.
The NAF Research Seed Money Grant provides support for new and innovative studies that advance understanding of the cause, pathogenesis, or treatment of hereditary, sporadic, and acquired ataxias. These $50,000, 1-year, merit-based, nonrenewable grants serve as seed funding to assist investigators during the early or pilot phases of research, or to support ongoing innovative projects demonstrating a critical need. It is expected that funded projects will generate preliminary data to support applications for larger grants from other funding sources.
LOIs accepted beginning September 14, 2026:
View FY2027 Research Seed Money Grant Instructions
November 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
To utilize the proposalCENTRAL online portal to submit letters of intent and applications, a user account needs to be created. Use this weblink https://proposalcentral.com to create an account. Creating an account can be done any time prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply.
March 1, 2027 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application is not available until LOI has been approved.
In rare circumstances, NAF may consider Seed Money Grant requests above the standard $50,000 funding limit. Any request for an increased funding amount must be discussed with and approved by NAF’s Chief Scientific Officer prior to LOI submission.
At the time of application, applicants must:
The Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Award is annually granted to independent researchers to support outstanding research proposals that aim to make significant advancements in the development of treatments and/or improvements to patient care for Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3). This 1-year, merit-based, nonrenewable grant provides $100,000 in direct research funding. Proposals must have a predominant focus on SCA3 preclinical, translational, or clinical research.
LOIs accepted beginning September 14, 2026:
View FY2027 Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Award Instructions
November 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
To utilize the proposalCENTRAL online portal to submit letters of intent and applications, a user account needs to be created. Use this weblink https://proposalcentral.com to create an account. Creating an account can be done any time prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply.
March 1, 2027 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application is not available until LOI has been approved.
Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Award Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
The NAF Early Career Investigator Award is a $50,000, 1-year, merit-based, nonrenewable grant designed to support outstanding early-stage scientists. This award aims to foster the development of independent research careers by providing seed funding for innovative, high-impact studies in the field of ataxia. Proposals are welcome across the full spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical research, but must have a clear and significant focus on advancing our understanding of the causes, pathogenesis, or treatment of hereditary, sporadic, or acquired ataxias. It is expected that the projects supported by this program will catalyze significant progress toward meaningful scientific insights and therapeutic advances in ataxia.
LOIs accepted beginning September 14, 2026:
View FY2027 Early Career Investigator Award Instructions
November 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
To utilize the proposalCENTRAL online portal to submit letters of intent and applications, a user account needs to be created. Use this weblink https://proposalcentral.com to create an account. Creating an account can be done any time prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply.
March 1, 2027 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application is not available until LOI has been approved.
Early Career Investigator Award Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements
The NAF Postdoctoral Fellowship Award is a $40,000, 1-year, merit-based, nonrenewable grant that provides support for early-career researchers conducting innovative studies that can expand our understanding of the cause, pathogenesis, or treatment of hereditary, sporadic, and acquired ataxias. This fellowship is intended to foster the development of promising scientists by supporting mentored research experiences that build toward independent research careers. Funded projects are expected to generate high-quality preliminary data, strengthen research skills, and position fellows for future grant applications and academic advancement.
LOIs accepted beginning September 14, 2026:
View Postdoctoral Fellowship Award Instructions
November 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
To utilize the proposalCENTRAL online portal to submit letters of intent and applications, a user account needs to be created. Use this weblink https://proposalcentral.com to create an account. Creating an account can be done any time prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply.
March 1, 2027 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application is not available until LOI has been approved.
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. Applicants must have completed a PhD, equivalent research degree program (e.g., PharmD, PsyD, ScD), formally combined MD/PhD program, or other combined professional/clinical and research doctoral degree (e.g., DDS/PhD).
2. Applicants must have completed at least one year of post-doctoral training, but not more than four years of post-doctoral training at the time of application and should have shown a commitment to research in the field of ataxia.
3. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for this NAF grant award. Grant applications are accepted from U.S. and international institutions.
4. Prior NAF Awardees: Individuals are ineligible to apply if they received any NAF grant within the past two fiscal years, have an active NAF grant under a no-cost extension at the time of application, or are delinquent with NAF grant reporting requirements. Previous NAF Post-doctoral Fellowship awardees are also ineligible to apply.
5. Applicants may not apply for or receive duplicate funding for their research. Applicants who have other current or pending funding must ensure that NAF Grant funds are not requested for or allocated to project aims, activities, expenses, salary support, or stipend support already funded for the same purpose by another source. All current and pending support must be disclosed to NAF as part of the application process, and applicants must notify NAF of any additional funding received during the review, pre-award, or active Grant period that may overlap with the proposed NAF-funded project.
6. Applicants may submit only one Letter of Intent to NAF per funding cycle. Applicants should select the strongest project and apply under the funding mechanism that best aligns with their career stage, eligibility, and proposed research.
The Pre-Doctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Ataxia Research is a competitive, merit-based, non-renewable award that provides two years of partial support ($25,000 annually; $50,000 total) for the research training of eligible pre-doctoral students. This program is designed to enhance the diversity of the ataxia research workforce by supporting eligible students at U.S. not-for-profit institutions who identify as members of racial or ethnic groups underrepresented in biomedical research, as LGBTQIA+, and/or as individuals with disabilities. Applicants must meet the citizenship or immigration status requirements outlined below and demonstrate a commitment to a career in ataxia research. NAF welcomes proposals across the full spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical research, provided the project has a clear and significant focus on hereditary, sporadic, or acquired ataxias.
NAF believes that diversity is essential to driving innovation, equity, and excellence in ataxia research. We are committed to fostering an inclusive scientific community that reflects a broad range of perspectives and experiences.
LOIs accepted beginning September 14, 2026:
View Pre-Doctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Ataxia Research Instructions
November 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
To utilize the proposalCENTRAL online portal to submit letters of intent and applications, a user account needs to be created. Use this weblink https://proposalcentral.com to create an account. Creating an account can be done any time prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply.
March 1, 2027 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application is not available until LOI has been approved.
At the time of application, the applicant must:
The Graduate Research Fellowship is a competitive, non-renewable, merit-based award intended to encourage pre-doctoral students to pursue research and a career in the field of ataxia. This award provides partial support ($25,000, 1-year) for study and research and may be used to support pre-doctoral students who are pursuing research with an ataxia-relevant theme. Applications for any type of ataxia are accepted for this award. Proposals across the spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical research are welcome.
LOIs accepted beginning September 14, 2026:
View Graduate Research Fellowship Instructions
November 18, 2026 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
To utilize the proposalCENTRAL online portal to submit letters of intent and applications, a user account needs to be created. Use this weblink https://proposalcentral.com to create an account. Creating an account can be done any time prior to submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) to apply.
March 1, 2027 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Application is not available until LOI has been approved.
At the time of application, the applicant must:
Have a baccalaureate degree or equivalent and be currently enrolled in a PhD or equivalent research degree program (e.g., PharmD, PsyD, ScD), a formally combined MD/PhD program, or other combined professional/clinical and research doctoral program
Additional Guidelines
Eligibility requirements vary by funding mechanism. NAF accepts applications from both U.S. and international researchers and institutions; however, certain funding opportunities may have additional citizenship, geographic, institutional, or other eligibility requirements.
Allowable cost requirements generally apply across all NAF funding mechanisms; however, salary and stipend rules vary by funding mechanism. Applicants should review the applicable funding opportunity for mechanism-specific salary and stipend rules.
NAF does not permit duplicate funding. A Principal Investigator (PI) may not request, use, or accept NAF funding for a research project, or any portion of a project, that is already supported for the same purpose by NAF or another public or private funding source.
Applicants must disclose all current and pending support as part of the application process. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that NAF Grant funds are not requested for or allocated to project aims, activities, expenses, salary support, or stipend support already funded for the same purpose by another source. If additional funding is received during the review, pre-award, or active NAF Grant period that may overlap with the proposed NAF-funded project, the PI must promptly notify NAF. NAF will review the potential overlap and determine whether modification or termination of the NAF Grant is required.
Applications that do not meet eligibility requirements may be administratively rejected without review.
Applicants and their institutions must comply with all applicable grants program policies, reporting requirements, and award terms and conditions, and must resolve any outstanding obligations to NAF. NAF may withhold funding or determine that an award cannot be made if eligibility or compliance requirements are not met. NAF will not release new award funds to an institution until any outstanding obligations to NAF have been resolved.
All NAF-funded research must be initiated at the beginning of the established award period and may not be deferred to accommodate other funding.
NAF utilizes ProposalCentral to manage the application, review, award, and reporting processes.
Start by reviewing the eligibility criteria for all NAF funding mechanisms. Once you have identified the mechanism that best fits your eligibility, career stage, and proposed research, review the linked mechanism-specific instructions above and the linked resources below.
Additional Resources & Guidelines
Applicants are responsible for:
Applicants should review all published application instructions, funding mechanism requirements, policies, and FAQs before contacting NAF with programmatic questions. NAF will make every effort to respond to questions not addressed in the published materials when submitted by:
Programmatic questions may be directed to Aimee Alcott, Senior Research Coordinator, at aimee@ataxia.org. NAF cannot guarantee responses to questions received after the applicable inquiry deadline.
Technical questions must be directed to the ProposalCentral support team at pcsupport@altum.com or by calling 1-800-875-2562.
Applicants are responsible for allowing sufficient time to complete and submit their Letter of Intent (LOI) and, if invited, their full application by the published deadlines. Applicants should verify all application requirements and formatting rules and request all required letters of support, institutional approvals, and e-signatures well ahead of time.
Please Note: All technical questions (creating a ProposalCentral account, updating your profile, adding contacts and updating permissions, starting and submitting applications) must be directed to the ProposalCentral support team at pcsupport@altum.com or by calling 1-800-875-2562. NAF does not have access to applicant or institution ProposalCentral account views and cannot troubleshoot account-specific technical issues.
NAF cannot accept incomplete applications, late applications, or applications delayed because of technical issues, internet connectivity, missing institutional approvals or electronic signatures, ProposalCentral registration or account issues, or other last-minute submission problems.
LOIs and proposals must be written and submitted by the applicant. Researchers are responsible for ensuring that all submitted materials accurately represent their own scientific work, analysis, conclusions, and intellectual contributions.
Researchers remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and completeness of all application materials, regardless of any tools used during preparation.
All references and source materials must be appropriately cited.
1. Create a proposalCENTRAL account.
2. Submit a Letter of Intent by the deadline
3. If your LOI scores highly, you will be invited to submit a full application
Does my proposal need to focus on ataxia?
Yes. All applications must demonstrate a clear and significant focus on hereditary, sporadic, or acquired ataxia. Some funding mechanisms require a direct focus on one specific type of ataxia.
Applications with only indirect, incidental, or tangential relevance to ataxia are not responsive to program priorities and may not be advanced for review.
Under which grant mechanism should I apply?
| If you are a: | Please consider and review guidelines for: |
|---|---|
| Graduate Student | Predoctoral Fellowship Programs |
| Postdoctoral Researcher | Postdoctoral Fellowship Award |
| Early Career Researcher | Early Career Investigator Award |
| Established Investigator | Research Seed Money Grant |
| Senior SCA3 Researcher | Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Award |
Senior MSA-C Researcher | Michael Lundquist Grant to Advance MSA-C Research |
Eligibility requirements and funding priorities vary across award mechanisms. Depending on career stage, institutional affiliation, citizenship, NAF award history, research focus, and other funding support, some researchers may not be eligible for NAF funding opportunities in a given cycle.
What should be included in the Letter of Intent (LOI)?
All LOIs must be submitted through ProposalCentral by the stated deadline.
In addition to general applicant and institutional information and selection of relevant research keywords to assist with reviewer matching, LOI contents include brief need and impact statements, a researcher biosketch, and a one-page Specific Aims document. Please review LOI instructions and formatting guidance linked on this webpage and on ProposalCentral.
May I request NAF funding for a project that is already funded, in whole or in part, by another organization? What happens if my proposal is funded elsewhere?
No. NAF does not permit duplicate funding for the same research activities. A PI may not request or accept NAF funding for a research project, or any portion of a project, that is already supported for the same purpose by NAF or another public or private funding source.
Applicants must disclose all current and pending support as part of the application process. If additional funding is received during the review, pre-award, or active NAF Grant period that may overlap with the proposed NAF-funded project, the PI must promptly notify NAF. NAF will review the potential overlap and determine what action, if any, is required with respect to the proposed or awarded NAF funding.
May I submit more than one LOI or apply to multiple programs in the same application cycle?
No. Researchers may only submit one LOI per cycle. Applicants must select one project for consideration and apply through the single funding mechanism that best aligns with their career stage and research interests.
May I resubmit a project that was not selected for funding in a previous cycle?
Yes. Applicants whose proposals were not selected for funding in a previous cycle are welcome to resubmit in a future funding round. Wherever possible, resubmitted applications should reflect meaningful improvements and address prior reviewer feedback.
Every application is evaluated independently within the current funding cycle and is subject to NAF’s multistage competitive peer review process. Advancement in a previous review cycle or prior NAF award history do not guarantee the same outcome in current or future application cycles.
May multiple investigators from the same institution apply?
Yes. However, each application must be distinct and may not include overlapping scientific aims or duplicated budget requests.
Am I eligible if my institution is located outside the United States?
Yes, with one exception: applicants applying under the Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Ataxia Research mechanism must meet U.S. citizenship or immigration status requirements and be enrolled at not-for-profit U.S. institutions of higher education.
I have previously been awarded funding from NAF. May I apply for another grant type in this new funding cycle?
It depends: there are some restrictions on when you can apply again and which funding mechanism you can apply for.
For the FY2027 funding cycle, you are not eligible to apply if you were the Lead PI or fellowship recipient on an NAF Grant in FY2025 or FY2026, currently have an NAF Grant under a No-Cost Extension, or are behind on required NAF Grant reports.
Receiving an NAF award does not mean you are limited to one NAF grant over the course of your research career. In general, researchers may receive funding through different NAF grant mechanisms as their careers and research progress, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements for each mechanism when they apply.
There are two important exceptions:
How are applications evaluated and selected for funding?
All applications undergo competitive peer review by scientific experts at both the LOI and full proposal stages. Full proposals are evaluated based on scientific merit, feasibility, innovation, potential impact, and alignment with NAF’s mission and applicable funding priorities.
Funding recommendations are informed by peer review results, portfolio balance considerations, strategic funding priorities, and available funding. Recommendations from NAF’s Research Review Subcommittee are presented to NAF’s Board of Directors for final approval.
If my proposal is funded, may I delay my project start date if I have existing or pending funding?
No. NAF awards must begin at the start of the published award period. Award start dates may not be deferred to accommodate existing stipend or salary support or funding related to the same research.
Are there any restrictions on how my awarded funds may be used?
Specific restrictions on use of funds vary by funding mechanism. Applicants should review NAF’s Annual Grant Program Policies and the instructions associated with their selected funding opportunity before preparing their proposed project budget.
Common Budget Questions:
Are indirect/F&A costs allowed?
No.
Can awards support stipends or salary?
Yes, subject to applicable NIH salary or stipend limits, effort levels, and mechanism-specific personnel cost limitations.
Are fringe benefits allowed?
No.
Is tuition support allowed?
No.
Can funds be used for conference travel support?
Yes, subject to program-specific limitations.
Can funds be used for publication support?
Yes, subject to program-specific limitations.
Can I rebudget after award activation?
Only with prior written approval from NAF.
All proposed budgets must comply with NAF’s allowable and unallowable cost guidelines. Awards are contingent upon compliance with all NAF grant policies, terms, and conditions. Researchers may be required to revise their proposed budget before funds will be released.
After the award period ends, all final financial reports will be reviewed against approved award budgets and allowable cost guidelines. Institutions are required to return any unspent award funds. Expenditures determined by NAF to be unallowable may be disallowed and, where appropriate, require reimbursement to NAF.
What reporting requirements does NAF have for awardees?
NAF awardees must complete all required pre-award, interim, post-award, and longitudinal reporting, as applicable, in accordance with the Award Agreement by completing and submitting assigned reports in ProposalCentral.
Timely completion of required deliverables across the award lifecycle is a condition of every NAF award. Required reporting supports award initiation, project monitoring, and assessment of funded research outcomes and impact.
Award payments and researcher and institutional eligibility are contingent upon compliance with reporting requirements and all other applicable award terms, conditions, and grants program policies.
Want to check out research that we have funded in the past? Click a link from past years to a see a list of researchers and information about their studies.
NAF uses ProposalCentral to manage its research grants and is transitioning post-award administration into the platform. Grantees should use ProposalCentral to complete reporting and other award-related tasks assigned by NAF. When a report, form, or other requirement is assigned through ProposalCentral, please complete and submit it within the platform rather than sending materials separately by email. This helps NAF and grantees maintain a complete, centralized record of award activity, requirements, and submissions.
Grantees should keep their ProposalCentral profile and institutional information current and monitor ProposalCentral and associated email notifications for assigned tasks and deadlines.
NAF may update the administrative procedures, forms, submission methods, reporting processes, and other requirements used to administer its grants, provided those updates do not materially alter the substantive terms of the Grant. Current grantees should follow the procedures and instructions communicated by NAF for their award.
Please contact NAF as early as possible if you have questions about an assigned requirement or if circumstances arise that may affect your project, timeline, budget, funding, Principal Investigator, or institution. Early communication helps us determine what information or approval may be needed and avoid delays or compliance issues.
Questions or need to report a change?
Contact Aimee Alcott, Senior Research Coordinator, at aimee@ataxia.org.
Common situations that require contacting NAF include:
Need more time to complete your project?
No-Cost Extensions (NCEs) of up to 12 months may be considered under extenuating circumstances and require prior written NAF approval. An NCE does not provide additional funding and must be requested at least 30 days before the current Grant end date. Contact NAF as soon as you anticipate needing additional time. Requests extending a Grant beyond 12 additional months, or requests for a second NCE, may require additional information or discussion before NAF will consider the request.
Receive or anticipate other funding that may overlap with your NAF-funded work?
Current and pending support must be disclosed. During an active Grant, funding received for the same or overlapping project aims, activities, expenses, salary or stipend support, or effort must be reported to NAF in writing within 15 days. NAF will review the potential overlap and determine whether any changes to the NAF Grant are required.
Is the PI leaving the project or moving to another institution?
If the PI withdraws from the project, the Grant will terminate. If the PI is moving to another institution and would like the Grant to move with them, contact NAF before the move. Transfer of an NAF Grant requires prior NAF approval.
Will the PI take an extended leave of absence?
Contact NAF before the leave whenever possible. NAF will determine whether the Grant may continue as approved, requires a plan or modification, or must be suspended or terminated.
Need to make a significant budget or project change?
Some changes require prior written NAF approval. Contact NAF before making a material change to the approved project, budget, use of funds, or other award terms.
Has a required regulatory approval changed?
Notify NAF promptly if a required institutional or regulatory approval changes, expires, is suspended, or is withdrawn, or if another regulatory issue may affect the NAF-funded research.
Something else changed?
Please notify NAF promptly of any other material change, event, or circumstance that may significantly affect the conduct, scope, timeline, financial administration, regulatory compliance, or completion of your NAF-funded research.
Not sure whether you need NAF approval?
Contact us before making the change. Requirements vary depending on the circumstances and the terms of the individual award.
We know that patient recruitment for research is important to the success of your work. NAF is here to help.
We maintain an active list of Ataxia research opportunities for patients on our website. We ensure that studies listed on our site have undergone approval by esteemed Institutional Review Boards (IRBs), Research Ethics Boards (REBs), and/or Research Ethics Committees (RECs). In addition, NAF offers recruitment assistance via email and social media, including targeted recruitment efforts by location and Ataxia type. We can also work with you to develop and deliver an informational webinar on your research study.
If you would like to have your study listed on our website or request help with recruitment, download the Research Recruitment Application or email research@ataxia.org with your question.
NAF hosts an annual patient conference each year which is attended by those affected by Ataxia and their caregivers/family members. Attendance is often over 500 individuals. Presentations by leading Ataxia researchers are given during the 2-day conference. Ataxia researchers are invited to participate in the exhibit area of the meeting to recruit patients for IRB approved research studies or share their research findings.
If you are interested in recruiting patients at NAF’s Annual Ataxia Conference, please contact us at (763) 553-0020 or email research@ataxia.org.
NAF partners with Sanford Research Coordination of Rare Dieseases (CoRDS) to maintain a registry of Ataxia patients. Access the registry to find potential participants for your research studies.
NAF and the University of Florida’s Center for NeuroGenetics are working together to maintain a repository of brain and spinal cord tissue from Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) donors. This tissue is available to SCA researchers to help advance our understanding of these diseases. To learn what is available and how to request tissue, download our instruction sheet.
The Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia (CRC-SCA) is on a mission to better understand the factors that determine disease progression among Cerebellar Ataxia with the goal of improving the understanding of disease process, current treatments, and development of disease-modifying therapies. CRC-SCA collects longitudinal data and biospecimens for research participants who have a confirmed diagnosis of SCA 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 or 10. Ataxia researchers can request data and biosamples.
ICAR is a collaborative research environment that promotes exchanges of ideas and knowledge to improve understanding of Ataxias and accelerate treatment development initiatives. This bi-annual conference is hosted by NAF, Ataxia UK, FARA and AGI. It is attended by hundreds of delegates from countries around the world. The event offers oral presentations, poster presentations and networking opportunities.
The Ataxia Global Initiative (AGI) is a worldwide research platform that has the goal to facilitate the clinical development of therapies for ataxias. AGI´s activities are based on the principles of openness, transparency, flexibility and fairness.
The Centralized Ataxia Genomics Core (CAGC) is a freely accessible resource developed with support from the National Ataxia Foundation and hosted within the Clinical Neurogenomics Research Center based at the University of California, Los Angeles. This application is designed to facilitate connections within the ataxia research community related to shared interest in the same gene(s) and/or genetic variant(s). The goal of the CAGC is to improve collaboration to help solve undiagnosed Ataxia cases through a centralized ataxia-specific data repository of genomic data collected from both research and/or clinical sources.
