Skip to content

Registration for 2024 Annual Ataxia Conference is NOW OPEN! Early-bird discount available for a limited time.  LEARN MORE!

Researcher Resources

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 needed to pursue a cure and better quality of life for people with Ataxia.

Research Grants

The National Ataxia Foundation is committed to funding the best science relevant to hereditary and sporadic types of Ataxia in both basic and translational research. NAF invites research applications from domestic and International non-profit and for-profit institutions. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for some research grants from NAF, please check the PI Qualifications for more information.
 

The FY2024 Letter of Intent review period has now closed. Invited applicants are preparing full proposals for review in winter 2023-24. Additional information for researchers planning to apply for FY2025 grants will be available in summer 2024. 

You may contact Aimee Alcott, NAF Research Services Assistant, at aimee@ataxia.org with questions.

Requirements for NCE Consideration and Approval

If you are considering requesting a No-Cost Extension for your funded award, please review the below and reach out to Aimee Alcott, NAF Grants Manager, at aimee@ataxia.org for more information and next steps. 

  • A no-cost extension (NCE) allows a grantee to extend the project period end date and budget period by up to 12-months for the sole purpose of completing grant activities. NCE’s can only be requested by the lead PI or fellowship recipient in the original grant proposal.  
  • An NCE must be received at least 30 calendar days prior to the end of the original funding period.  
  • If an NCE request exceeds the 12-month period or if a grantee is requesting a second NCE, the grantee is required to schedule a meeting with NAF’s Chief Scientific Officer, Lauren Moore, prior to NCE consideration. You can schedule a meeting by emailing lauren@ataxia.org.  
  • NCE requests will not be approved for the sole purpose of using unobligated balances. NCE does not authorize additional spending on any new activities beyond the purposes consistent with the project proposal. 
  • A grantee cannot be the lead PI on any new NAF grant application during the period of an approved NCE.  
  • A grantee must complete their ResearchFish grant evaluation annually regardless of whether they have been approved for an NCE. If they fail to complete their ResearchFish annual evaluation, NCE approval may be rescinded.  

NAF Research Grant Types

Seed Money Research Grant

Pioneer SCA3 Translational Research Awards

Post-doctoral Fellowship Award

Early Career Investigator Award

Pre-doctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Ataxia Research

National Ataxia Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Additional Eligibility Information: Application acceptance from U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens vary for each grant type. Please check the qualifications for each grant type for more information. Applications from for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, public or private institutions, and institutions both inside and outside the United States will be considered.

Grant Process

NAF utilizes proposalCENTRAL for grant applications.

1. Create a proposalCENTRAL account.

2. Submit a LOI that contains a full title and one-page scientific abstract of your research proposal.

3. Once your LOI is accepted, apply through proposalCENTRAL.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. If a letter of support is required for a grant, can I provide two letters of support?

Yes, if you would like to provide additional letters of support, please upload to proposalCENTRAL during the application process. However, only one letter of recommendation is required.

2. I have previously been granted a Early Career Investigator Award, may I apply for another Early Career Investigator Award in this new funding cycle?

No, please check your eligibility for NAF’s other grant types and consider applying for a different NAF grant.

3. When applying for a Early Career Investigator Award, is there a time restriction for amount of years after obtaining my PhD in order to be eligible?

There is no time restriction regarding amount of years after obtaining a PhD. However, applicants must not be an Associate Professor or higher.

4. Are there any restrictions on how my awarded funds may be used?

No funds provided by National Ataxia Foundation may be used for indirect/F&A costs.

 

Recruit Research Participants

Research Study Promotion

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.

Ataxia Patient Meeting

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.

Access Patient Registry

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. 

Additional Resources

Ataxia Brain/Tissue Banking Program

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.

Clinical Research Consortium for the Study of Cerebellar Ataxia (CRC-SCA)

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.

International Ataxia Congress for Ataxia Research (ICAR)

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.

Ataxia Global Initiative (AGI)

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.

Centralized Ataxia Genomics Core (CAGC) Website

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.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Translate »

Join the Ataxia community today!

Become a free member for exclusive content from NAF.