Table of Contents

• Purpose
• Research Grant
• Development Grant
• Tenure
• Awards
• Application Procedure
• Complete Guidelines
• Contact
• Request for Grant Applications

PURPOSE

MDA supports research aimed at developing treatments for the muscular dystrophies and related diseases of the neuromuscular system. These are the muscular dystrophies (among which are Duchenne and Becker); motor neuron diseases (including ALS and SMA); the peripheral nerve disorders (CMT and Friedreich's ataxia); inflammatory myopathies; disorders of the neuromuscular junction; metabolic diseases of muscle as well as other myopathies. Please see diseases for complete list.

RESEARCH GRANT

To be eligible to apply for an MDA research grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a professional or faculty member (Professor, Associate Professor or Assistant Professor) at an appropriate educational, medical or research institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct and mentor a program of original research within their own laboratory;
4. Assume both administrative and financial responsibility for the grant; and
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project.

Proposals from applicants outside the United States will be considered for projects of highest priority to MDA and when, in addition to the applicant's having met the requirements noted above the applicant's country of residence may not have adequate sources of financial support for biomedical research.

NOTE: To apply for a Research Grant, you must be an independent investigator, i.e., not a trainee, not a post-doctoral fellow, not a research assistant, not a research associate and not under the supervision of another person (Principal Investigator/Independent Investigator) who is directing the research.

DEVELOPMENT GRANT

MDA will consider an application for a research grant from a candidate who may be a member of a research team in the laboratory of an independent investigator (Principal Investigator) under whose guidance the applicant will be given flexibility to conduct a neuromuscular disease research project.

To be eligible for a Development Grant, an applicant must:

1. Hold a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) or equivalent degree (i.e. D.O.);
2. Be a member of a research team at an appropriate institution;
3. Be qualified to conduct a program of original research under the supervision of a Principal Investigator;
4. Have an acceptable research plan for a specific disease in MDA's program;
5. Have access to institutional resources necessary to conduct the proposed research project; and
6. Have eighteen (18) months of post-doctoral research laboratory training at the time of application, but no more than 5 years (60 months) post degree.

TENURE

Awards are for either one, two or three years for all grant types.

AWARDS

Funding levels for primary Research Grants are unlimited. Development grants are a maximum of $60,000 per year. Overhead is limited to a maximum of 10% percent of direct costs to be included in the total amount of the grant request.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A pre-proposal form must be submitted through proposalCENTRAL® to formally request an application for an MDA research grant. Requests for applications can be submitted anytime prior to the applicable deadline date.

Applications are not open to institutions for general distribution.

ONLY TWO GRANT REVIEW ROUNDS ARE HELD EACH YEAR.
ONLY ONE "LETTER OF INTENT" IS PERMITTED PER GRANT REVIEW ROUND.

DEADLINE DATES

This link will take you to proposalCentral®, our online application process. You will need to register with proposalCentral and request a letter of intent. If approved, you will be given access to the full online application.

CONTACT

Muscular Dystrophy Association
Grants Manager - Research Department
3300 E. Sunrise Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 529-2000
(520) 529-5454 (fax)
grants@mdausa.org

COMPLETE GUIDELINES COVERING MDA RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS

• Research Grants Policy (Adobe Acrobat)
• Research Development Grants Policy (Adobe Acrobat)
• Insider Tips for Submitting a Successful MDA Research Grant or Development Grant Proposal
  (Adobe Acrobat)