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Request for Applications 

We seek out and fund a diverse range of research projects by issuing requests for applications (RFAs) throughout the year. Each RFA outlines the scope of the opportunity and who is eligible to apply. RFAs also include application instructions, review criteria and deadlines. 

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Letter of Intent 

All applicants are required to submit a letter of intent (LOI), which generally includes a scientific rationale for the proposed project, its relevance to ALS, overall objectives and an experimental plan to meet those objectives. Letters of intent will be either accepted or declined. If the letter of intent is accepted, the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal. Reviewer comments from the LOI phase are not provided to applicants.  

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Full Proposal 

When an applicant’s LOI is accepted, they receive instructions for submitting a full proposal. The full proposal provides more space to expand on the project introduced in the LOI. Elements of the full proposal are summarized in the RFA. Reviewers of full proposals do not have access to the LOI, so only information submitted as part of the full proposal will be reviewed. 

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Scientific Review Committee 

Full proposals are peer-reviewed, critiqued and scored by a Scientific Review Committee made up of independent external experts. The committee then provides recommendations to the Association as to which projects to fund. This rigorous review process enables us to select the best science to fund no matter where the idea comes from. Reviewer comments from the full proposal phase are provided to all applicants. 

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Research Committee Approval 

The Scientific Review Committee’s recommendations are presented to the Research Committee of the Association’s Board of Trustees, which provides final approval for funding and budget. The Research Committee is comprised of volunteers, including people living with ALS, current and former caregivers, scientists, clinicians and business professionals. 

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Proposal Revision 

For applications selected for funding, the Association recommends that the principal investigator integrate any recommendations suggested by the reviewers to the extent practical and within the scope of the budget to further optimize the project and outcomes.  

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Pre-Award Process and Contracting 

Approved applications undergo a final review to confirm the applicant’s eligibility; identify any scientific, budgetary and/or commitment overlap; and ensure compliance with the protection of animals and human subjects, among other considerations. Awardees will also receive a Research Grant Agreement. Our expectation is that the terms and conditions will be finalized, and the Agreement signed, within 60 days of the award offer. If not, we reserve the right to rescind the offer and redirect the funds to other projects.  

Read Our Grants Policy Statement

Thank You to Our Reviewers 

We greatly appreciate the global network of experts that dedicate their time, knowledge and skill to reviewing grant applications and providing input on our funding programs. 

ALS Association Reviewers (2023)