Opportunity Has Closed
The ALS Association’s Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports the development of early career scientists by funding junior postdoctoral fellows doing research of high scientific merit and relevance to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Overview
The ALS Association is the largest philanthropic funder of ALS research worldwide. Through our global research program, we are at the forefront of efforts to find new treatments and a cure for ALS in addition to making life better for people currently living with the disease, their caregivers and their families. Association-funded grants and awards have led to some of the most promising and significant advances in ALS research.
We understand that attracting bright, young scientists to enter and then remain in ALS research is essential for developing more effective treatments and a cure as soon as possible. That is why we support the development of early career researchers through the Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral Fellowship. The Safenowitz family established this award in memory of Milton Safenowitz, who died of ALS in 1998.
Safenowitz fellows work with a senior mentor and receive extensive exposure to the ALS research community through meetings and presentations. After completing this fellowship, approximately 75% of awardees stay in ALS research. Many go on to establish their own laboratories and mentor more ALS researchers along the way. Other Safenowitz fellows have moved on to successful careers in industry, medical writing and non-profit organizations.
To view the full funding announcement, click here.
Topics of Interest (Scope)
We are especially interested in supporting fellowships focused on:
- New target validation, including in animal models and human cell models.
- Target or pathway biology in disease-relevant models, including defining upstream/downstream modifiers and convergence of promising target pathways.
- Factors that could ultimately reduce the risk of developing ALS, including studies of genetic risk factors, epigenetics, gene-environment interactions, lifestyle, occupational or dietary factors and epidemiology.
- New biomarker identification and the development and/or validation of biomarker assays.
- Managing ALS, including the development and/or validation of novel assistive technology and measurement of patient/caregiver/family burden.
- Analysis of omics data from resources including, but not limited to, PRO-ACT, Project MinE or Answer ALS to identify disease-relevant patient subtypes, new therapeutic targets or new biomarkers.
Please note: Priority will be given to biological targets and areas of research not funded through this program in the last three years. Proposals with significant overlap to already funded work will likely not be considered. Click here to review previous fellowships awarded through this program.
Funding and Eligibility
Budgets for total direct costs up to $75,000 per year may be requested ($150,000 total direct costs for two years of support). Indirect costs are not provided for postdoctoral fellowship awards.
Applicants who received their highest degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D.) less than two years before the date the award starts are eligible to apply. Individuals must have the skills, knowledge and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research and have an existing postdoctoral position, including the support of their mentor.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- Letter of Intent Due Date: March 8, 2023, 5 p.m. US ET
- Full Proposal Due Date (by invitation only): May 10, 2023, 5 p.m. US ET
- Anticipated Award Decision: July 2023
- Anticipated Earliest Start Date: August 2023
Submissions
All materials must be submitted electronically. To register for a ProposalCentral account, create a new Letter of Intent or access an existing saved Letter of Intent, please visit proposalcentral.com.
Instructions for ProposalCentral:
Questions
We encourage inquiries concerning this fellowship program and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants. Submit general questions and other related correspondence to ResearchGrants@als.org.
